30-06 stuff

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Hammer059

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Was over at my Great-grandfathers last evening and he gave me a few things. Among them were 107 rounds of M2 ball (1967), 76 rounds of M2 black-tipped AP rounds (3 boxes of 20, 2 loaded Garand clips with 8 each).

Anyway, I was wondering what they were worth, specifically the AP rounds from Twin Cities Arsenal.

Also, I don't have a 30-06. I kinda want one, but I don't hunt so I'm trying to justify getting one. Usually my reasons for owning firearms are because they serve a logical self-defense role or they're fun (and cheap) to shoot. This fills neither of those purposes. I'd love it if someone could give me a reason why I "need" one.
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He also gave me some antique boxes of Peters .22 long rifle and Remington Kleanbore .22 long rifle ammunition. Definitely very old and the boxes look cool. I only have one box of the Peters but he gave me 5 boxes of the Remington so I'm gonna shoot a box and see how it goes. Also an OLD container of Hoppes No. 9
 
I would say you don't "need" a .30-06 based on your statements. Most often, I find when people buy a firearm for which they don't actually have any application, they really don't end up using it (surprised?) and really don't end up enjoying it. A .30-06 rifle isn't cheap to shoot, and for plinking, it's not generally much fun to shoot either compared to many other viable cartridges available which are cheaper and more interesting/fun for plinking. I sure wouldn't buy a rifle simply motivated by the fact you have ~180rnds of ammo for it. I love the .30-06 as a cartridge, and I'm certain I will always own one, but if I'm honest, I rarely even recommend it any more to new hunters - there are simply better cartridges out there. For a plinker, I would never recommend a .30-06.

An ammo collector may come out of the sticks and have interest in the ammo, but in general, old surplus ammo just isn't worth the work to find a buyer who knows what it is and would buy it - assuming it had any collectibility in the first place.
 
Any chance your great-grandfather still has an M1 Garand to go with that ammo?
I don't know about "need" one, but if someone gave me that ammo I'd definitely take it as a message.
Unfortunately the days of $375 M1s from CMP are gone forever, but that doesn't mean you can't find them.
You'll never regret owning and shooting an M1.

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Those vintage rounds sure look like rifle seeds to me!

Hang on to them, and before you know it, a Garand or nice '03 has sprouted up in your safe.
 
You'll never regret owning and shooting an M1.
+1
I'm surprised availability has lasted as long as it has. Some of the more recent M1s have been the best ever.
Garands are great, get em while you can.
 
A few things I should mention to provide some context.

I have no intentions of taking up hunting.

I have shot an M1 Garand, a friend of mine has one. They're really cool rifles, I just don't know if I'd spend the $800+ to own one instead of using it for something else.

There's something cool about having all those big ol rounds in an ammo can. I have cans full or .22 and 9mm but 30-06 just "looks right" for obvious reasons.

I've narrowed it down to 2 options:
1) Keep an eye out for a used 30-06 and get it just to have a larger caliber rifle with a scope for the rare instances that I have the urge to shoot long range. Who knows, maybe the russians will invade and it'll come in handy.

2) Sell 100 rounds of the M2 ball and keep the Garand clips, ammo can, the AP rounds, and 7 rounds of ball. That way I'll have some to keep around for sentimental value, but I definitely don't need 100 rounds of '06 sitting around if I'm not gonna shoot it.
 
'03 Springfield or 1917 Enfield are other options.....................maybe less expensive, sporterized versions even le$$..
 
I see a lot of people talking about "collector ammo". Yes there are ammo collectors out there but you have to find ones willing to pay high prices. I see people asking big bucks for "collector ammo". I don't see anyone paying those prices.

I don't see any real collector value in your ammo.

Shoot it or sell it.
 
I never said it was collector ammo, I just was curious as to what it's worth. I do see the Twin Cities AP ammo going for $1.50/round and up on various websites, like you said it's another matter if anyone is paying for it.
 
I also forgot to mention: I'll be inheriting his 1917 Enfield in 30-06 and a sporterized 1903 Springfield, and also some kind of Savage rifle in 30-06. Last time he hunted was 1969. He's 91 or 93 (I forget) so sadly it'll probably be less than 10 years till I inherit them.

I just checked the CMP website. I'd love an M1, but they're almost all sold out. Any idea when they get new shipments?
 
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"...I kinda want one..." Best reason there is. Hunting isn't a requirement.
"...This fills neither..." Yes it does. They're fun. Cheap to shoot they ain't though. However, us big kids need our toys too.
"...when they get new shipments..." When somebody sends 'em some. It's rumoured the CMP has slowed their sales to catch up with the demand and they have a bunch. Absolutely an unverified WHAG though.
The biggest advantage to buying from the CMO is you can be completely sure the rifle is what they say it is and is safe to shoot. And there is no rifle that is quite like an M1 Rifle.
 
In the 70's I traded a motorcycle for a Foot locker full 30-06 AP rounds. They were decently accurate from my sporterized 03A3, but after a summer of shooting them and never cleaning the barrel the barrel lost it's accuracy. I still have the rifle which now has a Douglas barrel. The gunsmith who did the job, asked me if I had been shooting ammo with corrosive primers. I believe I responded, asking, "Whats corrosive primers?" Also don't tack your target on a utility pole.
 
From your post, I don't think you need one. If you want one just because that is fine. I have more calibers than I really want. I personally hate adding a new caliber into my collection as just yet another caliber I feel obligated to stock up on.
 
Hammer059;

A .30-06 can be decently accurate out to the maximum distance any range in your area may be able to supply. The question is; would you be interested in finding out what your own, and the gun's, capabilities are? Also keep in mind that many generations of our soldiers shot the .30-06, and won wars with it. The point being, it's not a monster shoulder-pounder that some make it out to be. Furthermore, there's several different ways to mitigate recoil when shooting from a bench at extended ranges, a bull-X bag, leadsled, modern recoil pad, and others.

900F
 
Squirrel away the rounds. You have a lot of years to figure out what to do with them. Personally, I'd save them.

About twenty years ago I shot up a a bunch of 270 Win my father hand-loaded in the 1960s. I wish I still had it.
 
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