Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors UMC Savage .303 head stamps

I came across this UMC block stamp recently.
It appears to date prior to the UMC/Remington merger ~1912.

It is known the UMC manufactured Savage ammo until Savage could manufacture it's own ammo.
Do we know the approximate dates UMC manufactured Savage ammo?
When did Savage begin ammo production?
Did UMC and Savage manufacture overlap?

It appears there were 2 versions of UMC/Savage head stamps. ??

What da ya know?

Great find!!! I'm jealous.. I'd love that have that.

I was just talking with Fug about this a week or so ago.

UMC (which Arthur had a relationship with before Savage Repeating Arms) made ammo for SRAC from 1895 to 1897, possibly part of 1898.

Three styles of boxes, I believe..

1) UMC only - no SRACO on headstamp, no mention of Savage on the package.

2) UMC / SRACO - box is labelled UMC, but mentions using Savage Brand of Smokeless Powder and headstamp has UMC / SRACO

3) SRACO - Box is labelled Savage Repeating Arms with either minimal or no mention of UMC. But almost surely had to be made by UMC.


Here's a style 2 box that I had.

Good stuff fellows! I have a reprint of the 1912 catalog and it too has the PP loads in it. I wonder if the same powder was used in the .303 as the .30-30? John Kort (RIP) had some great history on the .30-30 and it's powder.

Are you referring to the 30-30 loaded by other companies or by Savage?

The .30-30 round was not added to the Savage chamberings till 1900 and the first listing on the Savage powder can was 1901. The recommended load was the same for the .303 and the .30-30 at 27 grains max. The 1903 can shows the .303 at 27 and the max for .30-30 at 23 grains. The bullet to use just states "regular bullet". I don't have a 1911 can nor a photo clear enough to read the lads recommended.

I can't tell if the 1901 powder was reformulated or just dropped the load for the .30-30 in 1903.

Not to hijack your thread, but can someone help date aprox year of these ?

I was just wondering if the .303 was loaded with "DuPont .30 Caliber Smokeless" as was the early .30-30? Back then there wasn't many choices.

I think the are in the 1914-1922 group based on the size of the REMINGTON over UMC part of the label.

Remington and UMC merged in 1911.

Thanks !