Exact shotshell manufacturers Identification can be a very difficult process. It often requires far more than just the headstamp. Often the identification requires the headstamp, primer, the shell case and often the topwad. Sometimes the only sure way is to have the actual box itself, especially for dating. Many companies such as Winchester may only place a "Winchester" wording on the headstamp but used for various models of shotshells which are very different from each other. For example, the "Winchester" only headstamp is used on "Winchester Standard" loads, "Winchester Magnum" loads, "Winchester Duck and Pheasant" loads etc. Many shpotshell companies also provide their casings for other companies they load themselves and this can be worldwide. Today companies such as Cheddite and Fiocchi have their headstamps (full cases) sent to 100's of other companies who use to load their own brand of shotshells. Headstamp Identification on shotshells over all, unless you have the box is a vague science to say the least. Small companies often buy hulls from the larger manufacturers to re-load and sell themselves and have done so for over 125 years. It is therefore important to note what is written on the shell casing itself (either on the top wad or written on the casing) to aid in the identification and aging of the shell. The color of the plastic or paper hull as well as the case size and the size of the brass rim must also be taken in to consideration for identification purposes. The color, size and type of primer used may also be an indicator of the manufacturer or if it is a re-loaded case. Primer size, color, type and size have changed over the years and can sometimes also give an idea to the age of a shell. Keep in mind though, that many companies keep the exact same headstamp for many many years, so dating a headstamp just on it's own is not usually a reliable method. Even when they have changed their headstamps, there are usually still many hulls around that have been sold to other companies or re-loaded years afterwards. These pages are really to help you ID who made the casing.

(If you can add other headstamps please send via email and I will cite you for photo credit. Thanks)

(Also Thanks to Mike and Rene Polman, Jim Buchanan, Bob Ruebel and aussiemetaldetecting.com who provided some photo's on this page)

Argentina

Aimarettie Ind Arg

Baja Low

Calibre Stars or asterisks

(Made by Orbea circa 1960's)

Calibre cross or orbs

Calibre (other)

Calibre (COA)

COA = Cartucherie Orbea Argentina

Canedo

No 12

Londres

Cartucherie Orbea Argentina

Cartucherie Orbea Argentina Colon

Casa Canedo

Buenos Aires

Casco

Ciervo

Ciervo MMC

Defensor

+ +

Dos Leones Extra

El Correo Letter looking symbol

F.L.B

(Fray Luis Beltran)

Geco BMD

(German made for BMD)

Hurrican S G

La Sembradora Crosses

Lab D Orsi SCA Industria Argentina

Martiquez

Orbea

Orbea Orbea

Orbea Primera

"Rasetti|

RD RD

Rigel

12 12

Industria Argentine

Ryser

S.P crosses Extra

T & F Especial

"T-Rasetti"

C. Pinzani Cordoba

Vulcano Caxias Sul

Australia

Thanks to members of The I.A.A and to Mike at https://aussiemetaldetecting.com/ for some photo's

Alcock & Pierce Pty.LTD

12 Melbourne 12

Alcock & Pierce

No 12

Eley Melbourne

Alcock & Pierce

No 12

Eley London Melbourne

Alcock & Pierce

No 12

Kynoch Melbourne

Alcock & Pierce

No 12

Melbourne Made in Germany

ADI P/L NSW Aust (Birdfrite shel)

Australia

.Birdfrite.

Blue Seal Smokeless No 12

Bronzewing Australia

Made by ADI

Browning

Brundle Hobart

Eley No 12

Bulls-Eye Eley

Bull's Eye

G.C.C (Gordon Cartridge Company)

Castle Bros

No 12

Kyneton

Castle Bros

No 12

Kyneton

Climax Shell Loaded

in Australia

Ekins

12 12

Adelaide

Fitzroy

Star GCC

(Gordon Cartridge Company)

ICIANZ

Eley Kynoch

ICI ICI

IMI lines IMI

Imp Ctge Co

J Mues Shell Melbourne

J.W Rosier

No 20 or No 12

Melbourne

Loaded in Australia

Locksley Cartridge Co

12 Sydney 12

Mullerite Stars

(made in Belgium)

N.S.W. Aust

12 12

A D.I. P/L

Ringer

Scorpio

Special Stars

(Made by Eley Circa

1901-1912)

Super

12 12

Express

Super All Metal

Super Super

The Boomerang

(also in 12 gauge)

T-Warnock

12 12

Benalla

W. Enkins Adelaide Eley

W. Enkins Adelaide

Western Xpert

Winchester Australia

W.J Fell

No 12

Reliable

W.J Fell

No 12

Warracknabeal

Brazil

2 stars

Cartuchose Municoes

Also in 12 gauge

CBC Lines

Also in 16 gauge

CBC CBC

(also in 20 gauge)

CBC Cruzerio

(also in 12 and 20 gauge)

CBC S. Paulo

also in 12 gauge

CBC Tropical

CBC Velox

Also in 16 & 20 gauge

Rocket Brasil

SBC

20 20

S. Paulo

Sea Parts (Snap Caps)

S.N.C.M S.Paulo

S.N.C.M Stars

Vulcano Caxia Suhl

Chile

Nitro Chile made by Remington-UMC

Black dot = Photo by Gabriel Vasque (Deteccion Belloto)

Colombia

Cuba

Gonzales Marina Y Ca

No 16

Ecuador

Mexico

(also in yellow)

Made by Dominion Cartridge Company, Canada for Mexico (1920's)

Red dot and label = Photo by Heath Kushner

OTHERS with No picture

Campo

20 20

Field

New Zealand

Ammo-House

Bycroft

No 12

Palmerston

CAC

CAC lines

CAC Championship

CAC Eleven Fifty

CAC Gauge

CA Gun Club

CAC Long Range

CAC New Zealand

CAC Rabbit Board Shot

CAC Standard

CAC Standard Heavy

Col. Amm.

No 16

Coy LTD.

Colonial Ammunition

No 16

Company Limited.

The Colonia Ammunition Co Ld

No 12

D. Evitt. Auckland Eley

Falcon

Farmers Trading

H L S

L-L

No 12

Auckland

New Zealand Loan & M.A Co

Target NZ

The Club

No 12

Special

W.H Tisdall

No 12, 16 or 20

Wellington

W.H Tisdall Ltd

No 12, 16 or 20

Wellington &

Christchurch

Peru

Uruguay

Venezuela

Armeria Masina

12 12

Caracus

Unknowns

(If you can assist with ID please email)