Old box of 22lr cartridges: fire or not

[DirtyDiesel]

Going through grandpas old stuff and found multiple boxes of older 22lr rounds...this little box though seems to be in iffy condition. About halve of the rounds are tilted like the ones in the pics below. Should I shoot the straight ones or just stay away from them? Thoughts? They would go threw a single shot lever action

 

[Captains1911]

I personally would not shoot the angled ones, although if they chamber they would likely be ok. .22 ammo is cheap enough that it isn't worth the risk IMO.

 

[TurtlePhish]

I'd just hold on to those for novelty. The box is pretty neat.

 

[desidog]

It may have more collector value than it's replacement cost.

I don't really know, because old ammo isn't in my purview of interest, but based on the table or two at most gun shows covered with old ammo boxes, i'd have to guess that there is a market out there for certain collectors. Whether your particular box is worthy, i just don't know.

Of course, by the time you go to the effort of posting an ad, finding a buyer, etc, you may just get more enjoyment out of lighting them off...

 

[Kingcreek]

Shoot em. Most collectors are more interested in the box. The bent ones may not give superb accuracy but they will shoot ok. If they chamber it is because they have been straightened out in the process.

 

[sixgunner455]

It would shoot. But I wouldn't. As stated, they are old, and that is now a unique box. I'd keep'em.

 

[DirtyDiesel]

Didn't even think of the collectibility factor...good point. I think I'll just hang on to them. Thanks guys!

 

[Rayman1968]

It's .22lr ammo. Regardless of age, it's currently a collectors item.

Sell it for big bucks!

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

The box is worth more than the ammo as the ammo in the picture is not the original ammo to the box (only 1 round is). And no don't shoot the crooked ones. Looks like Gramps had a gun that was jamming causing the rounds to become deformed.

 

[DirtyDiesel]

You sure that only that one is? I think that one doesn't belong in it?

 

[joed]

I have some boxes of Remington that go back to the 50's that I inherited. I shoot them whenever I can. As was said the box is the item.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Well I can now see the hollow point, but wax coated it is not, it is copper coated so imho none of the ammo is original to the box.

 

[Captains1911]

None of the cartridges pictured are wax coated hollow points as the box indicates.

 

[inkinskin]

I just shot a box of those that looked about in the same shape. No problems.

 

[airedaleman]

Shoot all of them. Super Xs' wax coating would not show up well in a picture. The box dates back to the late 50's- early 60's, I'd say.The real Super-X 22's of my boyhood had nickel plated cases and copper plated bullets , and, as we all knew, were the hottest 22's available. Box is quite common, and this one's fairly worn. A good keep-sake or conversation piece, not much else.

 

[bannockburn]

I probably wouldn't shoot them. Instead I would keep them around in their original box on display for a little bit of good old nostalgia.

 

[Slamfire]

Shoot the stuff up and keep the box. Ammuntion does not get better with age and eventually it will either dud out, the cases will split through powder outgassing, or it will blow up your rifle when the powder breaks down to a dust.

 

[Cee Zee]

If the price was right I'd buy them from you right now. You'd come out with a lot more ammo that way. I'm no rich fanatic collector but I like antique stuff enough to pay you a reasonable price for that box of ammo.

 

[Fleetman]

I collect old ammo as well....I wouldn't shoot it, I'd hang on to it.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

When I was growing up, the "ancient" ammo was the only kind I shot (just happened that my dad have a bunch of boxes from his dad). They'll shoot just fine, but I'd hang onto them. I have an old box of .32's with a $3.50 price label on it. There's just something cool about it

 

[Fleetman]

Although the pic I posted is too small to really see some of the old ammo boxes, one of them, a 20 round box of .44 Rem Mags that came from GEM (remember them?), is priced at $2.49 (I purchased these although it was just a little less than one weeks allowance and no questions asked when I purchased them). The old, old box of five 16ga slugs is $0.51.

I have a belt of twenty-three .50 BMG all dated 1943 (LC 43)....I wish I had not deactivated all of them because they're pretty much worthless now.....the belt is probably worth more than the dummies. I deactivated them by using a pipe cutter to remove the crimp, pulled the bullets, added a couple of drops of ATF to kill the primer, filled them with sand, and glued the bullets back in. Ah, the ignorance of youth!!

 

[xfyrfiter]

Fleetman I like your man cave.

 

[Fleetman]

Thanks for the compliment xfyrfiter....here is the rest....

Certainly not trying to jack your thread DirtyDiesel but the other pics show (some) old ammo as well....

DirtyDiesel? Detroit Diesel related? I maintain diesels at my workplace...everything from Deutz single-cylinders to EMD 16's. We have an entire herd of Cat 3516's.

 

[DirtyDiesel]

Thanks for the info everyone! And fleetman: I'm an international light duty diesel kinda guy

 

[BigG]

They'll shoot.