The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
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- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 477
- Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:25 am
- Location: NE Ohio
The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
Have been buying up and testing old ammo that I find at gunshows (348, 33 WCF, 32 WCF, and now 30WCF). Boy am I surprised! My procedure is to pull the bullet and examine everything then reseat the bullet. This does several things. First of all after 30-40-50 or even 60 years the bullet can sometimes "stick" itself to the case neck. I must assume this can raise pressure considerably. Second it helps me determine if the round is still factory or has been reloaded, third I can spot case corrosion or any other defect before I shoot it in an old gun. Here is a target from 3 groups I shot with a 94 trapper at 100 yards using old ammo, sights were a lyman receiver sight, and all ammo was 170 GN.
On the right is a 1.5" group from the winchester red box 170 JSP. From the 16" barrel muzzle flash was very evident. Anybody know the vintage of this box?
The left target has 3 groups on it. The extreme left pink group is a test group of handloads for my M71 348. Ignore that for now. The green group is 1.6" from the Western Box of ammo pictured. What year is this box from?? The blue group is from the yellow box of 170 GN silvertips and measure 1.8". All this from a 16" barrel M94. I find it amazing...my carefully testing handloads rarely do this.
I guess the old timers were not handicapped at all were they?
On the right is a 1.5" group from the winchester red box 170 JSP. From the 16" barrel muzzle flash was very evident. Anybody know the vintage of this box?
The left target has 3 groups on it. The extreme left pink group is a test group of handloads for my M71 348. Ignore that for now. The green group is 1.6" from the Western Box of ammo pictured. What year is this box from?? The blue group is from the yellow box of 170 GN silvertips and measure 1.8". All this from a 16" barrel M94. I find it amazing...my carefully testing handloads rarely do this.
I guess the old timers were not handicapped at all were they?
"...for there is a cloud on my horizon...and its name is progress." E. Abbey, 1958
- earlmck
- Advanced Levergunner
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- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:10 am
- Location: pert-neer middle of Oregon
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
Interesting test there, coyote nose. Did you get any chronograph data to go along with the groups?
Those left boxes look like some that dad might have had in the 50's when I was getting big enough to be interested. That doesn't do much to date them 'cause he would have figured a box of "30's" was good for a decade or so. Which remained true until I began to get into his stash...
I know we never thought we were handicapped. The model 94 was our "big gun" that we'd have confidently taken after elk if the chance came along.
Those left boxes look like some that dad might have had in the 50's when I was getting big enough to be interested. That doesn't do much to date them 'cause he would have figured a box of "30's" was good for a decade or so. Which remained true until I began to get into his stash...
I know we never thought we were handicapped. The model 94 was our "big gun" that we'd have confidently taken after elk if the chance came along.
The greatest patriot...
is he who heals the most gullies. Patrick Henry
is he who heals the most gullies. Patrick Henry
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
About 1970, I was shooting Spanish American war surplus 7mm @ 1 buck for a box of 20. Had a 93 Argintine Mauser. It always fired, and I seemed to hit stuff with it.
The Rotten Fruit Always Hits The Ground First
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
nice post--very interesting--I've shot some old 30/06 stuff from the 40's worked good, I remember that it was pretty accurate too... :)
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
Good post, but those boxes look new to me. Just as new as my face looks in the mirror.
Owen
Owen
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
Back then the oldtimers didn't know about Premiun bullets and Use enough gun. So they took their factory loaded 200 grain 348 bullets to Alaska and killed everything in site including the "great bears". Try that today and u will be tarred and featherd.
- kimwcook
- Advanced Levergunner
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- Location: Soap Lake, WA., U.S.A.
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
Great groups. And, no, they weren't undergunned.
Old Law Dawg
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- Senior Levergunner
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- Location: Bushwhacker Capitol, Missouri
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
Winchester Silver Tips were one of the first "premium" bullets.
They were responsible for the reputation of the .303 Savage as a bear and moose killer.
They were responsible for the reputation of the .303 Savage as a bear and moose killer.
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- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 477
- Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:25 am
- Location: NE Ohio
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
Earl, have not chrono'd yet but soon. So does anybody know the vintage of these boxes????
"...for there is a cloud on my horizon...and its name is progress." E. Abbey, 1958
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
I can only comment that those boxes would be worth more...full of ammocoyote nose wrote:Earl, have not chrono'd yet but soon. So does anybody know the vintage of these boxes????
I have seen them at soldusa.com....an auction site....you will be surprised
how much old ammo boxes are worth to collectors...
BTW nice shooting
LETS GO SHOOT'N BOYS
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- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 477
- Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:25 am
- Location: NE Ohio
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
This all started when I sold off my cartridge collection....there was some I could barely give away! If I recall I had 3 or 4 boxes of 32 WCF ammo (among others). The most I was offered was $10 per box of 50! So I shot them and was amazed at how accurate they were in my 1892. That got me buying the other calibers to try them out. Also had 38 SPL match ammo that goes for $30/box now. I was offered $5 per box! Those are going to my brother out west and I am keeping one box to shoot up in my Python. The problem with auctioning off old ammo via internet is the shipping fees! Just not worth it.
"...for there is a cloud on my horizon...and its name is progress." E. Abbey, 1958
Re: The old timers were NOT handicapped with their ammo!
Not much help , but I've got a box here like the red and yellow one on the right for 308 . My Dads re-load data sticker on it says he last reloaded them on 9/14/64 .
Also have same color box of 38-55 . Never reloaded , brand new full box ..... 'till last fall and the 5 I fired worked fine
Also have same color box of 38-55 . Never reloaded , brand new full box ..... 'till last fall and the 5 I fired worked fine
Phil