Western Cartridge Company
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The Western Cartridge Company was an American manufacturer of small arms and ammunition formerly based in East Alton, Illinois. Founded in 1898, it was the forerunner of the Olin Corporation, formed i
Typical consumer packaging from the Western Cartridge Company, c. 1960
Western calendar, 1927
World War II era advertisement explaining ammunition shortages and the company's contribution to the war effort
Centerfire ammunition
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A center-fire is a type of metallic cartridge used in firearms, where the primer is located at the center of the base of its casing. Unlike rimfire cartridges, the centerfire primer is typically a sep
Western Cartridge Company
…the Western Cartridge Company in 1898 to manufacture sporting rifle powder and shotgun shells for settlers of the Great Plains. The shotgun shells used primers manufactured by larger eastern ammunition firms. When the firms with primer manufacturing facilities raised primer prices in 1900 to reduce competition…
Two rounds of .357 Magnum, a centerfire cartridge; notice the circular primer in the center
The primer of this unfired cartridge has been sealed with red lacquer to prevent oil or moisture from reaching the powder charge and priming explosive.
Berdan (left) and Boxer (right) primed rifle cartridges
Large (top row) and small (bottom row) pistol cartridge Boxer primers. (L–R fired, unfired, and inside view.) The tri-lobe object inside the primer is the anvil.