How can I identify loaded ammunition?
- Thread starter massnee
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Jorg Nysgerrig
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I would start by looking at the headstamps and comparing them to this list:
http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm
Do the headstamps not have any caliber information?
http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm
Do the headstamps not have any caliber information?
JesseL
Member
You could post pictures here (preferably with something in the picture to provide scale). Lots of high roaders love playing "guess the cartridge".
Do you need to ID the caliber or just the manufacturer?
If you need to ID the cal, post a picture, the overall length of the cartridge, length of the case and the diameter of the bullet. We'll figure it out. Heck, we could probably even do it without the picture.
If you need to ID the cal, post a picture, the overall length of the cartridge, length of the case and the diameter of the bullet. We'll figure it out. Heck, we could probably even do it without the picture.
HammerBite
Member
If it came in original boxes you would know what you had. The fact that it apparently didn't suggests to me that you might have reloads. I wouldn't shoot someone else's reloads under any circumstances.
Even with factory loads you take a risk identifying a cartridge by its dimensions. You can determine the caliber and which chambering the cartridge will fit in, but you still won't know what pressure level it's loaded to.
tkendrick
Member
I don't know about the rest of you guys, but am I seeing 44 rimfires?
Masnee, you may have some serious money setting there. Was this all you got, or is there more?
Masnee, you may have some serious money setting there. Was this all you got, or is there more?
.455_Hunter
Member
I know, I know...
The large copper cartridge looks like an inside-primed .50-70 government. Did the carbine loading of the .50-70 use the same case as the rifle round (like the .45-70 series)? If not, the large brass centerfire cartridge could be a later production .50 cal carbine round. Definitely a couple of early .44 rim-fires though- I don't think they are for a Henry or Win 66 since the tips are not flat.
The large copper cartridge looks like an inside-primed .50-70 government. Did the carbine loading of the .50-70 use the same case as the rifle round (like the .45-70 series)? If not, the large brass centerfire cartridge could be a later production .50 cal carbine round. Definitely a couple of early .44 rim-fires though- I don't think they are for a Henry or Win 66 since the tips are not flat.
Jorg Nysgerrig
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Whatever you do, don't try to clean them up. You really should talk to someone who specializes in this sort of thing to see what you have.
Poke around this site a bit. http://www.oldammo.com/
Poke around this site a bit. http://www.oldammo.com/
bogie
Member
Really. Start talking to the guys who do the collector stuff via "Gun List."
HammerBite
Member
WOW!! I thought you had some ammo for shooting, not for collecting!
NavyLCDR
member
Use a set of calipers, start with bullet diameter to get the caliber, then start checking in Cartridges of the World - probably find an older copy at the library for free. I think that book has all the drawings with the description. It wouldn't have values, though.
I shot an original 8mm Lebel cartridge from WWI once - man I wish have kept that instead of shooting it!
I shot an original 8mm Lebel cartridge from WWI once - man I wish have kept that instead of shooting it!
SDC
Member
Take a picture of each round (including the headstamp, if there is one), and a set of measurements, and post it here: http://cartridgecollectors.org/forumintro.htm
Tommygunn
Member
[QUOTE=" .455_Hunter " ]Definitely a couple of early .44 rim-fires though- I don't think they are for a Henry or Win 66 since the tips are not flat.[/QUOTE]
Actually, they could possibly be for a Henry. Early Henry cartridges weren't flat-nosed. In fact, it was Benjamin Tyler Henry himself who was responsible for the Henry "flat" -- after firing a Henry Rifle at the Winchester factory loaded with the early spire rounds, a whole tube load of rounds ignited due to recoil. Fortunatly, Mr. Henry wasn't injured; the magazine of that rifle had a slot along the bottom allowing the follower tab to move along (it's how the user manually retracted it to load the magazine from the muzzle) and this slot allowed the explosive force out without too much build up of pressure. It ruined the rifle's barrel -- and inspired Henry to develop the .44 Henry Flat. But other companies made the round, and I believe a lot of Henry ammo was still around with the spire bullet.
Actually, they could possibly be for a Henry. Early Henry cartridges weren't flat-nosed. In fact, it was Benjamin Tyler Henry himself who was responsible for the Henry "flat" -- after firing a Henry Rifle at the Winchester factory loaded with the early spire rounds, a whole tube load of rounds ignited due to recoil. Fortunatly, Mr. Henry wasn't injured; the magazine of that rifle had a slot along the bottom allowing the follower tab to move along (it's how the user manually retracted it to load the magazine from the muzzle) and this slot allowed the explosive force out without too much build up of pressure. It ruined the rifle's barrel -- and inspired Henry to develop the .44 Henry Flat. But other companies made the round, and I believe a lot of Henry ammo was still around with the spire bullet.
Bazooka Joe71
Member
Wow, what a find you got there!
Please, let us know what all you got when you figure it out!
Please, let us know what all you got when you figure it out!
MrPeter
Member
Serious money? Really?
I had no idea that there were such things as collectible ammunition. Can't you reload pretty much anything at home nowadays?
I guess there's a difference between new and original.
In any case, I'm interested to see what you find that you have! Hope you find that you have a fortune on your hands!
I had no idea that there were such things as collectible ammunition. Can't you reload pretty much anything at home nowadays?
I guess there's a difference between new and original.
In any case, I'm interested to see what you find that you have! Hope you find that you have a fortune on your hands!
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Anyone with a serious interest in shooting and cartridges should have a copy of this book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0896892972/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-4005860-3203213#reader-link
Hours of interesting reading, and if you don't find it here, it's a really really rare one!
rcmodel
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0896892972/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-4005860-3203213#reader-link
Hours of interesting reading, and if you don't find it here, it's a really really rare one!
rcmodel
Rumble
Member
I had no idea either, but a cursory google search turned up a place that was selling Henry Flat & Roundnose bullets for $35/cartridge. That ain't bad money, for old ammo. No sir.
SDC
Member
You can also get an idea of what you have (and what they're currently going for) at http://www.ammo-one.com/00.html ; this fellow sells single loaded rounds of just about any cartridge imaginable.
trueblue1776
Member
you can't reload those old rimfires!
tkendrick
Member
I was at a Greg Martin Auction a couple of years back.
An original box of 44 Henry Rimfire ammo, IIRC manufactured around 1890, went for about 100k
And the box was empty.
Yes, there is a huge collectors market for ammo and related paraphanalia, including the cardboard boxes it was shipped in.
To answer some one elses comment, I've seen both 50-70 and 45-70 govt issued ammo that was inside primed, copper cased, etc.
It caused quite a scandel in '76, when several papers accused the jamming of military rifles caused by these cartridges to be the cause of LTC G.A. Custer's demise.
All joking aside, and to repeat: You may have serious money setting there, do your research......and above all.........DO NOT MESS WITH THEM. Simply wiping them down with 409 could seriously lower the value to a collector.
An original box of 44 Henry Rimfire ammo, IIRC manufactured around 1890, went for about 100k
And the box was empty.
Yes, there is a huge collectors market for ammo and related paraphanalia, including the cardboard boxes it was shipped in.
To answer some one elses comment, I've seen both 50-70 and 45-70 govt issued ammo that was inside primed, copper cased, etc.
It caused quite a scandel in '76, when several papers accused the jamming of military rifles caused by these cartridges to be the cause of LTC G.A. Custer's demise.
All joking aside, and to repeat: You may have serious money setting there, do your research......and above all.........DO NOT MESS WITH THEM. Simply wiping them down with 409 could seriously lower the value to a collector.
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