.30 Cal. M19 / M19A1 Ammo Box / Can
Belts of 200 7.62mm rounds packed in M19 / M19A1 ammo cans. Photo: GovernmentLiquidation.com.
The steel construction M19 / M19A1 Small Arms Box was introduced in the 1950s 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belts of .30-06 machine gun ammunition, but for many other small arms cartridges including the NATO 7.62mm rounds that superceded the .30-06 rounds.
No information has been developed to distinguish the M19 from the M19A1. The M19A1 can was introduced in the 1950s as a modification to the M19 can. On this page, both are referred to together.
The M19 / M19A1 ammunition can did away with the elaborage embossed rectangles and other characteristics of the M1 / M1A1 cans. The sides and top of the M19 / M19A1 are smooth and markings from the factory are minimal, consisting only of stamped indications of the supplier and the year manufactured. For example, "93 M19A1 S.C.F." stamped in the back panel (see top photo).
The top of the M19 / M19A1 box has "skirts" that shield the interior when the lid is partially open, such as when feeding a machine gun. Small dimples at the base of the skirt hold the lid in the open position when needed.
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. It is defined by MIL-DTL-3060F (drawing number 7553315 - Box, Ammunition, M19A1 Assembly) or earlier specs in the MIL–B-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.
Recommended Book about Browning Machine Guns
Find More Information on the Web
There 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.
