.30 Cal. M19 / M19A1 Ammo CanThe .30 caliber M19 / M19A1 steel ammunition can / box was developed to deliver belts of 250 .30-06 cartridges for the .30 Cal. Browning machine guns and was later used for the NATO equivalent 7.62mm rounds for the M60 machine gun and other weapons. It has also been used for various calibers in cartons, clips, bandoleers or other packaging. The .30 cal. steel M19 / M19A1 ammo can replaced the steel Cal .30 M1 / M1A1 Ammunition Box after WW II.
.30 Cal. M19 / M19A1 Ammo Box / Can
The steel construction M19 / M19A1 Small Arms Box was introduced to replace the WW II era M1 / M1A1 .30 caliber ammunition box. Like its predecessor, the M19 / M19A1 can has been used not only for belts of .30-06 machine gun ammunition, but for many other small arms cartridges including the NATO 7.62mm rounds that superseded the .30-06 rounds. The M19 / M19A1 ammunition can improved upon the generally similar M1 / M1A1 .30 caliber ammunition box in a number of significant ways, for example:
The M19 / M19A1 ammunition box is used for many combinations of cartridges and packaging, primarily 7.62mm and .30-06 rifle and machine gun ammunition, but packed in belts, clips in bandoleers, bulk, cartons or other combinations. The M19 / M19A1 ammunition can measures 3 13/16 in. (96.8mm) x 7 1/4 in. (184.2mm) x 11 in. (279.4mm) in its outside dimensions. The M19A1 is defined by MIL-DTL-3060F (drawing number 7553315 - Box, Ammunition, M19A1 Assembly) or earlier specs in the MILB-3060 series. Four M19A1 boxes are packed into a wirebound, wood shipping crate (drawing number 7692103 - Box, Shipping, for Box, Ammunition, M19A1). The M19A1 ammunition box is covered by NSN 8140-00-828-2938 and the shipping crate NSN 8140-00-891-6322. Some documents give the M19A1 as NSN 8140-00-828-2939. History of the M19 / M19A1 Ammunition CanThe M19 Ammo Can (or Box, Ammunition, M19) was introduced in 1946 and was manufactured for a relatively short time. There are two known manufacturers of the M19, both in Michigan: Mt. Vernon Metals in Grand Rapids and the Rudy Furnace Co. of Dowagiac. Rudy was making these boxes as early as 1948 and possibly earlier. M19 production is believed to have been terminated no later than the end of 1953. The M19A1 superseded the M19 and was produced in much larger quantities, starting in 1954 or a little earlier. The M19A1 Ammo Can corrected all of the deficiencies noted in the M19. While M19A1 cans exist in abundance, by the end of the 20th century, M19 Ammo Cans were rare and seldom found outside of militaria collections. M19A1 vs. M19 Ammo Can
The M19 and M19A1 are very similar. but can be distinguished by these factors:
Additional photos of the relatively rare M19 Ammunition Cans are available here:
Thanks to Todd Kavanagh for providing much of the research for this page. Recommended Book about Browning Machine GunsFind More Information on the InternetThere are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there. For good results, try entering this: 30 cal ammo can box. Then click the Search button. |