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  1. #1
    Legacy Member Der Jagar's Avatar
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    'Old' 30-40 ammo

    Recently a friend gave me several dozen rounds of 30-40 cartridges, older stuff-probably dating back to ???. None have 30-40 stamped on flat of case rim, but are marked:
    PETERS 30 USG----PETERS 30 USG----WESTERN 30----REM-UMC 30 USAicon---WESTERN 29
    Some are soft lead points, others are FMJ. Thought about shooting them in the Krag I bought last summer, but am wondering what would be the approximate age of these rounds. I'm not real 'up' on older ammo ID and it's value, but can tell if it is of recent manufacture. I'm sure these would be safe to shoot, but am wondering just by the case ID I provided if any of you in MILSURP land can advise if these may have a value as far as collectability. Even if they aren't of any value, it wouldn't cause me to lose any sleep not to fire them. I'm just about ready to drop powder and bullet in some of the brass I bought for shooting. Factory stuff is to scarce and pricey anyway.
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    They may not even go bang, they are old. 1930s...? The powder may have turned back to liquid or be perfect. The primers may be prefect or dead. Maybe a bit of both in both. The cases will likely fracture at least neck crack. I've taken lots apart and reprimed and charged them, then the case doesn't stand up. Re annealing may help. I don't think they're particularly collectible. Keep one of each and go from there...
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member Der Jagar's Avatar
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    Thanks, I did have concerns about them, not knowing how well they were stored from excess heat or anything else that could possibly render them useless or not safe to shoot. My friend got them from a long time former Sheriff/Deputy Sheriff in a county where I was a Police Officer and I have a small electronic signal in my skull that these might have been some from a case way back when. Seems to me I recall some talk about it when shooting the 'bull' at the SO once. Don't want to mess up my shootin piece on account of several dozen rounds that were free in the first place. I'll have to ask the former sheriff the next time I see him where they came from. I think I'll leave them as is, I've a good supply of new 30-40 brass to reload.

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    Western 29 is 1929 manufacture.

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