Value Of Full Can Of LC M72 Match Ammo?

[oldfoneguy]

I have the opportunity to purchase a full can of Lake City 1968 dated M72 match ammo for $350 us. Is this a decent price for this stuff? It works out to .87.5 cents a round and is much cheaper than new factory ammo. I know this stuff lasts a very long time but is it worth it for 52 year old ammo? Also is this collectible keeper stuff or for shooting? I virtually match this load with my 30-06 handloads and it works amazing. Brass wise I'd be set for life between this and what I have now.

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[Sunray]

How that can has been stored for 52 years is more important.
Legacy Collectibles, based in Paoli, Pennsylvania, say they "recently" (1/11/19) sold 4 boxes at $15 each.
Prices vary a great deal though. ammogarand.com wants $32.95 per 20.
"...handloads..." Yep. Hornady 168 grain HPBT's with IMR4064 out of my '03A4.

[oldfoneguy]

Well this stuff would work out to $17.50 per box. Not bad at all by today's prices. That's $12 per box cheaper than new Remingtons around here. Who knows what kind of condition those $15 boxes were in. I'll see the can on Monday but what the seller has told me is this belonged to his late brother-in-law and it's been sitting in an upstairs bedroom closet since 1969 so it's very clean and very dry. We'll see. I'll provide pictures when I get it.

[oldfoneguy]

Well the deal went down! The ammo was exactly as promised clean dry no evidence of moisture rust free ammo can. Now I have an excuse to go to the range, as if I needed one.

Here are some pictures, enjoy!

[Frank46]

M72 match ammunition is my weakness. Bought a couple ammo cans and for more years than I want to remember have slowly shot one can up and down to about a few hundred rounds. Off the top of my head mine were all one lot done in 1967. Have a sportered 1903A3 I rescued from a gun shop way back when. New issue barrel,steel Lyman 57 rear sight and Redfield ramp front sight. Had the gunsmith headspace both the original bolt and a sniper bolt. Shot some of the M72 and shot nice tight groups. I have an older Sako 75 Hunter that I reload for. Well got a big surprise when that Sako equaled my handloads with the M72. Have a 1966 Winchester M70 match rifle with few rounds down the tube. That will be the next in line for some of the M72. Just saw that you live on Long Island. Small world,used to live on Claridge street in Elmont. Now living in Louisiana.

[browningautorifle]

Thing is, now you have the brass for reloading later and it's all the same lot number. That's hard to do. Normally brass is from various sources. This ended up being a pretty good deal and it has follow up value.

[oldfoneguy]

M72 match ammunition is my weakness. Bought a couple ammo cans and for more years than I want to remember have slowly shot one can up and down to about a few hundred rounds. Off the top of my head mine were all one lot done in 1967. Have a sportered 1903A3 I rescued from a gun shop way back when. New issue barrel,steel Lyman 57 rear sight and Redfield ramp front sight. Had the gunsmith headspace both the original bolt and a sniper bolt. Shot some of the M72 and shot nice tight groups. I have an older Sako 75 Hunter that I reload for. Well got a big surprise when that Sako equaled my handloads with the M72. Have a 1966 Winchester M70 match rifle with few rounds down the tube. That will be the next in line for some of the M72. Just saw that you live on Long Island. Small world,used to live on Claridge street in Elmont. Now living in Louisiana.

Small world indeed Frank. My Uncle and his family lived on Stone St in Elmont for almost 60 years. They were across from the old Great Eastern if you go back that far. Remember "Gouz rhymes with cows"?

Unfortunately due to the plague I only had 1 opportunity to try the ammo out. In fact it was 3/14 and the following day the entire state shut down. There was a steady 15mph wind with gusts to 35 so not my best outing and definitely not conditions for top accuracy. Just hoping that once it starts to warm up 2021 will be a better shooting year and yes I do distinctly remember the last time I went to the range.