Old Ammo Gift

[nhcruffler]

Do we have any "old ammo" cranks here ? I recently had a 90 yr old gal give me an old box of Western Super X 30-06 , 180 gr Power Point ammunition. The box is not mint but in good shape. The cartridges look fine but I am wondering just how old this ammo is? The price sticker is from Jamesway for $8.79 . The inside flap is marked 57LF52. The small flap says Olinkraft K5726. The small flap on the oposite side of the box is marked CROSXO2 E108229. The outside of the box flaps are marked with 30064 in the upper rh corner. Any ideas of just how old this is ?

 

[Reloadron]

Still manufactured under Winchester X30064 180 grain soft point. Likely the only way to date it would be by the lot number information. Also the Winchester Western box design may get things narrowed down a bit. A picture of the box may help.

Ron

 

[d'Artagnan]

Post 1958 Winchester and all Western ammo lot numbers since the early 1900's are read from right to left. 57LF52 equates to 25 June 1936 or 1956 or 1976 or 1996, line 57. Since I believe the Western brand name ended in the 80's, we can dismiss 1996. I have to check my older Winchester/Western boxes to see when they used OLINKRAFT boxes. I'll get back to you. A photo would be useful.

 

[nhcruffler]

Let me see if I can get these pics to post. I just googled Jamesway. They were in business from 1961 to 1995. So how does 1976 sound ? Now for the $50 question....to shoot or save for decoration?

 

[Dr.Rob]

I have been given old ammo many times. Some of it I have fired, some has gone on display.

 

[d'Artagnan]

About 1962 the "WARNING: Keep Out of Reach of Children" became mandatory, so your box is post 1961. If the Winchester/Western lot number has the year substitution "L" and we've eliminated 1956 and 1996, that leaves 1976, 25 June 1976 to be exact. Perfectly good ammo, no collectors interest; shoot it.

 

[nhcruffler]

Pretty much what I was thinking. Thats only 38 years old. It will most likely get shot as I am trying real hard to cut down on the ammount of " stuff " that I have.Thanks for the replys and advice. NH

 

[d'Artagnan]

Because I said I would, and for future reference:
In my small collection:
1. yellow boxes with the red X 1961-1972
white boxes with red or yellow X 1975-1977
whether Winchester, Western, or Winchester-Western brand.
2. boxes with OLIN name on tab 1961-1966
boxes with OLINKRAFT on tab 1968-1979
--no boxes from the 1980's--
boxes with MANVILLE or RIVERWOOD INTERNATIONAL on tab 1990's
3. 30-06 SPRG and 308 WIN case headstamps
SUPER-X 1961-1966
W-W SUPER 1968-1971
4. 38 Special case headstamps
WRA in Winchester box 1964
WESTERN in Western box 1964
W-W in Winchester, Western, or Winchester-Western boxes 1965-1969
5. Winchester or Western or Winchester-Western 38 special boxes using cardboard (one-up-one-down) trays 1964, styrofoam trays 1964-1979.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Shoot it. Decorate with the box.

 

[minutemen1776]

Shoot it. I have CMP ammo for my Garand older than that.

 

[stiab]

I accumulate old ammo and chrono it as a hobby. As earlier stated, the child warning is a good way to date it. I actually hunt with some .30-06 ammo older than the ones in your pics. Older revolver rounds never live up to the advertised velocities from back then, a lot of stretching of the truth in yesteryear.