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I only have a very few boxes. This particular came in a package with my cased A-2 special,

Last photo for the day. I don't think this box of bullets has been posted, Savage, .25-35, 117 gr.

Lots of information rhere

Early box I had.. With the headstamp of UMC 303 S.R.A.Co along with label saying it's loaded with the Savage brand of smokeless powder, I always presumed this was ammunition made by UMC for Savage Arms to sell in the 1895-1897 timeframe?

"Lots of information there".

That's one of the nice things about collecting Savage. There is always something to learn and the more you dig the more you realize you have a long way to go.

I bought a 2nd edition of Zimmermans ammo book when it was published. I had some early boxes and a lot of early catalogs, an area he was lacking a lot of info on. I asked him of he wanted some help filling in the blanks. I did the best I could at piecing the early years together. Sent info and photos and it wasn't long till the 3rd revision was out. I'm still learning. Everytime I look through the printing I find something that needs tweaking. That keeps it interesting.

I also have this box, tho mine is in worse shape. Almost totally identical, except mine is labeled FOR 303 SAVAGE MINIATURE on the side label inside the cartridge, no mention of "METAL CASED". The 1897 catalog lists two miniature loads, one with lead and one lead with metal cover. So I have to presume our boxes date to the same timeframe, just different loads.

But I'm not sure if they are cartridges sold thru Savage Arms? Like yours, I think my label shows UMC 303 SRACo on the headstamp, but also like yours the actual headstamp on the cartridges is UMC 303 SAV. No S.R.A.CO. I wonder if it wasn't UMC ammunition that they just didn't update the label picture for. My box says it's loaded with SPECIAL SMOKELESS POWDER, not SAVAGE BRAND SMOKELESS POWDER - but I'm not sure if any miniature bullet boxes say SAVAGE BRAND SMOKELESS POWDER?

Being one of the younger members of this group I appreciate all of the great information I get from everyone!! All the help is greatly appreciated.

Rory, I agree. I think both miniatures are UMC, sold by UMC and not made for Savage. SRA excited only about 3 years and Savage was loading / selling under their own name, SRA, before the Repeating was dropped. It's my understanding that Savage used the square cornered box while UMC used the round cornered box.

I was thinking the same thing on the rounded corner vs square cornered boxes. It'd be nice to find UMC catalogs for 1895 and 1896.

Could Savage have been basically handloading their own cartridges with all 3rd party components by 1897? Enough to meet demand for 5000 rifle owners? I suppose so, they didn't have anything resembling a plant to make primers, brass or metal jacketed bullets. Could have been..

I wouldn't look at UMC as the main source for components.. obscure source tells me they were getting most primers from a company named Waterbury by later 1897. Probably "Waterbury Brass Co." of Waterbury, CT. They mostly did brass wire/fiittings, but an ad I find for Waterbury Brass in 1897 says they are selling Hicks and Berdan primers and the company is listed as an Arms & Ammunition company in 1897 magazines. Maybe they made the brass for Hicks & Berdan primers also? Or maybe Savage just bought Hicks or Berdan primers through Waterbury and called them "Savage" primers?

Wish I had a nickel for every bullet in this thread.

Hope more will be coming.

Don't think I've seen these before.
The patch bullets are interesting. So is the UMC dummy. Good stuff!

Forgot I had this. Early UMC round cornered box. Full, but it's about half and half UMC 303 SAV headstamps, and UMC 303 SRACo headstamps. The SRACo headstamped ammo has quite a bit of corrosion.

One with a U marked copper primer so maybe three different rounds in the box. Are all the bullets full metal jacket?

Pretty common for people to combine partial boxes with similar rounds.

Not half and half.. 16 are SRACo, and are all Savage No. 1 I think - lead with full metal cover. Could be No. 3's I suppose, black powder with full metal covered bullet. Bet they're No 1 tho.
4 are UMC and all are expanding, two have the U on the primer.

Mine are all stamped UMC 303 SAV. All appear to be lead bullets and I suppose they could be reloads but all are uniform in length 2.430"-2.431".

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The #3 and the #5 came in Black Power the #5 that I have is lead bullet

in 38-55 one box is Moose Horn done in red label one is Moose horn done

in orange label the boxes are not the same on the back.

There were multiple #5's cartridges, by the way.

There was a 303 Savage #5, there was a 32-40 #5, there was a 38-55 #5, etc.

So an early 303 Savage #5 cartridge would be a Paper Patched Schuetzen Target Cartridge (1903 catalog), but a 32-40 or 38-55 #5 cartridge would be a black powder cartridge (1907).

The rarest I had but was bought by Fugg and was the 308 in I think 110 grain? Or was it 120?

I think Savage only made a few cases and I had a box in mint shape.

Post a pic Fugg??

RAS

I have a box yellow with blue lines marked Gambles Airways 190 grain 303 Savage guess these were sold through Gambles stores. Tops gone but a different looking box.