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March 3, 2025
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Hi guys, I received a dug out case with headstamp “WRACO” and “18” from a seller in China. Any idea about the headstamp? The case is about 57.66mm long, base diameter is 12.03mm.
The case looks a lot similar to 6.8x57mm Mauser which Mauser developed in 1907 specifically for China. I would be amazed that Winchester made 6.8x57mm Mauser for China!
Aaron
March 31, 2009
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Take some measurements with a set of calipers. Overall length, neck diameter, base diameter, rim diameter etc.
April 15, 2005
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Generally speaking, If Winchester manufactured a firearm for a military contract, they also manufactured and shipped 1,000 round per firearm.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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According to Donnelly’s manual for the Chinese 6.8 x 57 mm the dimensions for a new unfired case are:
OAL 55.676 mm
Head/base D 11.76 mm
Rim D 11.887 mm
Neck D 7.899 mm
March 3, 2025
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June 1, 2023
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Looks like it may be caliber 8×57 Mauser.
BRP
March 31, 2009
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The 18 on the head stamp usually means with military rounds the year of manufacture. So 1918. This one is a 1957.
October 29, 2011
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Look on page 337 of Dan Shueys book volume 1. It appears to be a 30-06 for a machine gun–Bill
March 31, 2009
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426crown said
Look on page 337 of Dan Shueys book volume 1. It appears to be a 30-06 for a machine gun–Bill
You might be on to something. I don’t see the machine gun connection, but I am blind sometimes, but the 1917 rifle that was used in WWI was a 30-06.
March 3, 2025
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Someone at Facebook group said this is a 6.8x57mm case modified from .30-06 case and it’s common to find in southern China.
May 23, 2009
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I’ve asked the guys on the IAA Forum about the case and will see what their response is.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
May 23, 2009
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Aaron Zou said
Someone at Facebook group said this is a 6.8x57mm case modified from .30-06 case and it’s common to find in southern China.
This seems to be the consensus with the guys on the IAA Forum.
Circa WW1 United States .30-06 cartridges that have been extensively modified into other calibers and were found by metal detecting in China. Along with other brand/make US WW1 .30-06 cases reformed into 6.8x57mm cartridge cases.
So originally a 30-06 Gov’t WRACo case with a 1918 dated head stamp that was re-sized into the Chinese 6.8x57mm case.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
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