Comp Cartridges, Headstamps

[Cheechako]

Several of the big-time cartridge collectors are what we call “headstamp hunters.” That means they specialize in one or two cartridges such as, say, the 30-06 or 9mm Luger, and try to collect every known headstamp of that particular cartridge. This pursuit can last a lifetime and could involve hundreds, if not thousands, of specimens. I do not do such a thing but I do watch for different or uncommon headstamps. There are only a few unusual ones among my competition cartridge collection and even these will probably be recognized by any shooter who has competed for more than a few years. But for you who would be interested in such things, here are 6 of them. Keep your eyes open! Some of these are rare and are worth more than a gallon of gas.

 

[JER]

Does the 222 Special have a large primer?

 

[Cheechako]

Jer

No, it's SR just like the 223 Remington. Only the headstamp is different. Later ones were headstamped REM-UMC 223, and the final version is what we see today, REM-UMC 223 REM. It's interesting that the original 222 Remington Magnum was called the 22 Special on the boxes but was not headstamped. I guess Remington liked the word "special".

Ray

 

[JER]

Ray, I believe you but I guess the photo is deceiveing because, to my eyes, the primer in the 222 Spl looks identical to the primers in the 30 cal cartridges and bigger than what's on the Sako 220 Russian,which I assume is a standard small rifle primer).

 

[Cheechako]

Jer

Maybe the camera angle? The top 3 are SR, the bottom 3 are LR.

Ray

 

[Forum Boss]

It's an optical illusion. If you take a set of calipers and actually measure the top cartridge's primer,not the beveled primer pocket), you'll see it is small than the primers in the bottom row.

 

[Cheechako]

Also notice the base of the 22 BR. Whoever was firing those cartriges was really pounding the brass. How fast do you suppose those bullets were going?

Ray

 

[Cochran]

Ray
Whats the history on that 22BR case? I have one with that exact headstamp. Its a .308 lenght case necked to .22 cal with a 40 degree shoulder. Where these originaly just like UBR cases with a 22BR headstamp ?

Jeff

 

[Cheechako]

Jeff

Yes. I have one of the full length 22 URBR cases. They are interesting because most guys will say that they were never made. All of the first BR brass was made from the URBR, an idea whose time never came. If Remington had made straight 6mm and 22 BR brass we might not have ever seen the PPC.

Yours is called the 22 CHeetah. A wildcat designed by Jim Carmichael,C) and Fred Huntington,H). There are quite a few other wildcats using the URBR brass. None of the CHeetah cases I have seen have "22" in the headstamp. Interesting.

Ray

 

[Cheechako]

I probably should qualify one thing. In the photo I labeled the 22 BR cartridge as the "1st 22 BR". Actually, the details about the very first 22 BR are very sketchy. It's possible that the first cartridges were made from 308W or even 30-06 brass. In other words a necked-down 308 x 1.5 which itself is a wildcat dating back to 1961. I believe the very first URBR brass was not headstamped. I have one in my collection. It also has the small flash hole. Some were also made with no flash hole, but all that I have seen have the small primer pocket. The 22 BR has always been considered a wildcat even though we have brass with the 22 BR headstamp, albeit shortened URBR. Confusing? You bet it is. If anybody out there can fill in the details I would sure like to hear them.

Ray