All brass shotgun shells

[Rob W.]

I picked up a box of 10 all brass shells and wonder if they are military and if WWII era. The box says 10 shells, shotgun; brass, 12 gage; No. 00 buckshot M19; Lot RA 5900; Remington Arms Company, Inc. 336 37. Each headstamp reads Rem-UMC No 12 and Best. An orange paper disc over the shot reads 00 Buck.

[James B.]

Rob
Yes, those Remington all brass shells are definately military. They were made in late WWII and were kept around maybe into Vietnam era.

James B.

[Rob W.]

Thanks James. I was able to do some other research and it looks like they had 25 rd. boxes first and then later these 10 rd. boxes. The last set of #s is supposed to be the date made, but I can't figure out what 336 37 would be unless the 336th day of 1937, but then that wouldn't be late WWII. I just saw an almost identical box of 10 listed on Gunbroker bid up to $100 so far - I just paid $25, so I'm happy!

[Tom Doniphon]

Those numbers may be a date code, but I'm not so certain that is what they really are.

As stated by James B above, M19 brass shells are of late WW2 mfg. Hardly any of it was actually used in the War. The 10 round boxes that replaced the 25 round boxes started to appear just around the time these brass shells were designed "M19" (late in WW2). The Military continued to use these brass shells up into the Vietnam War when they were replaced with plastic shells.

HTH