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The cartridge cases shown are a mixture of government (Frankford Arsenal) and commercial (Winchester and UMC). The brass ones MAY have been government contract as the same HS was used.
Cases are brass and an alloy called Bloomfield Gilding Metal, which looks like - and mostly is - copper. The non-headstamped brass case is probably Winchester. The case with the knurling around the center was loaded with smokeless powder, the others were loaded with BP. The knurl was required to hold the bullet as the case was no longer stuffed full.
I'm not sure about the green box, but the oatmeal/buff one is most likely pre-1900. UMC merged with Remington in 1912, when the headstamp changed to REM-UMC. The S-H (for solid head) was an early advertising gimmick, when many cases were stil being made as "balloon head" meaning they had an unsupported primer pocket.
While I see nothing "rare", all of that ammo is worth much more to a collector than to shoot. Even the boxes have value.
Many years ago, an acquaintence of mine had a LOT of Benet inside-primed FA ammo, from the 1870s and 1880s, and fired quite a bit of it, since it was cheap and plentiful. Even after 75 years of storage, he noted that over 90% fired properly.
Cases are brass and an alloy called Bloomfield Gilding Metal, which looks like - and mostly is - copper. The non-headstamped brass case is probably Winchester. The case with the knurling around the center was loaded with smokeless powder, the others were loaded with BP. The knurl was required to hold the bullet as the case was no longer stuffed full.
I'm not sure about the green box, but the oatmeal/buff one is most likely pre-1900. UMC merged with Remington in 1912, when the headstamp changed to REM-UMC. The S-H (for solid head) was an early advertising gimmick, when many cases were stil being made as "balloon head" meaning they had an unsupported primer pocket.
While I see nothing "rare", all of that ammo is worth much more to a collector than to shoot. Even the boxes have value.
Many years ago, an acquaintence of mine had a LOT of Benet inside-primed FA ammo, from the 1870s and 1880s, and fired quite a bit of it, since it was cheap and plentiful. Even after 75 years of storage, he noted that over 90% fired properly.
Plan on sighting it it with three targets at 50/75/100. Once I group 3 round at 100 yards then I'll bring it to the 200 yard range. (I've shot iron sights my whole life)
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