Old rifle ammunition?

[357_]

Wife was going through her mother's storage today and found a sealed can of ammunition from the Korean War.

It says ...

DO NOT USE AS A FOOD CONTAINER
192 CARTRIDGES
CAL .30 BALL M2
8RD CLIPS
BANDOLEERS

Any idea on the value of something like this? We thought it was pretty cool and my wife's father left behind a bunch of collectible fire arms and other assorted goodies from his days as an MP in the Korean War and a U.S. Marshall back in the 70's. Not sure we'd sell it unless it was worth a good deal. I'm liking the idea of keeping it and buying an M1 but the wife says we need money and not more guns (I know, right? :banghead

Thanks for any information.

 

[Murphy4570]

If Korean War vintage (1950-53), it is corrosive. I believe U.S.A. switched to non-corrosive a couple years later.

As for worth, 30.06 is going for around $0.50 a round. Only place you can buy good surplus ammo from is CMP nowadays. They sell their spam cans of it $96 a can. Yours is worth around that, or more.

 

[357_]

I was under the impression that since WWII the military has always used non corrosive primers and that pretty red seal around them (purple when I used it a few years back).

Was I wrong in that assumption?

 

[Jim Watson]

Yes.
Changeover did not occur until the 1950s and varies by source.
There is a chart at:
http://www.frfrogspad.com/miscellt.htm#corrosive
but you have to know the manufacturer and date or lot number.

I would think a sealed container that old might be worth more than loose ammo, but I don't know where to sell it for a premium.

 

[Huckelberry75]

No other markings or initials on the outside of the can???? Years??

 

[357_]

I can't find any lot #'s or packing stamps at all. It's a little dirty and dented, not sure if that affects the value or not.

 

[Nugilum]

The can is marked as ammo for an M1 Garand.

 

[jonnyc]

Probably good shooting ammo...worth about $100.

 

[Ro1911]

Are you selling it?

If so PM me.

 

[Nugilum]

Does the container look like this:


Or this:


(from http://browningmgs.com/AmmoCans/T-Chial/AmmoBoxes.htm by Thomas Chial)

 

[357_]

Top one, but it looks like the lot number was scuffed off.

 

[bergmen]

If Korean War vintage (1950-53), it is corrosive. I believe U.S.A. switched to non-corrosive a couple years later.

As for worth, 30.06 is going for around $0.50 a round. Only place you can buy good surplus ammo from is CMP nowadays. They sell their spam cans of it $96 a can. Yours is worth around that, or more.

This place has some pretty good looking stuff:

http://www.ammogarand.com/3006-m2-fmj-ball-300rds-in-30-can-n3006230030.html

Haven't seen it myself I got a can on order should be here in a couple of days.

Dan

 

[madcratebuilder]

To bad the ID is gone. These old tins bring about $150. Newer Greek is about $100-125 for 192 rds.

Here's some early 50's stuff.

 

[Huckelberry75]

If the initial letters of the lot # appear to be "KA" it is Korean made and corrosive primers. Shot some 73 KA im my Garand earlier this month and was ringing steel at 500!!!!