Many years ago I was given several “Spam” cans of .30 Ball M2 192 cartridges (per can) 8rd clips, Bandoleers; Lot SL 9913. I was told that this lot was selected for Match and Rifle Team use. It does seem to be accurate stuff. This is a non-corrosive primer lot from the Korean War Era.
I have been happily opening the cans, shooting the stuff in my M1917 and then reloading the brass. However as I was about to open the next to last can, I was stopped and told that there was a value to the can intact that would exceed its value as practice ammunition and even that the bandoleers, cardboard, as well as the clips had value? Who knew? Well I suppose I did know that the clips had a nominal value.
I am not a military collector and do not own an M1. Do any of you have any direct knowledge about the value of this ammunition?
I do know that a case of Match 168 gr HPBT would cost around $300 so it’s a pretty high hurtle.
So should I shoot it or save it and if I save it what should I do with it?

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

What is the headstamp date, or date stenciled on the un-opened can?

edit to add: I looked up that lot, it is indeed non-corrosive. You might find someone that will give you a little more for a complete can, but shipping would eat into the value. You might try listing it on Jouster if you want to try to find a collector.

Personally, I'd shoot it and sell the clips (actually, I'd keep the clips, but I am a Garand guy).

Roger, save the brass, cardboard, bandoleer and clips and hawk them on eBay or the ODCMP forum. You can easily get 10 cents each for brass, maybe a buck for clips, a couple of bucks for bandoleers with cardboards. But ball ammo is ball ammo, true some lots might be more accurate than others but it is still ball, not match. If you want to sell it, around .75 a round would be fair. You "might" get a bit more for an unopened can but not from shooters, just collectors. Good luck!

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Old paratrooper in NC

I have not opened the two cans. There is no date stenciled on the cans only the information;
Do not use as a food container
192 cartridges
CAL .30 Ball M2
8 RD Clips
Bandoleers
LOT. SL 9913
The first non corrosive lot from SL was 9240 acceptance 5-52, so I assume this is either 52 or 53, probably 52.
I have been shooting FA 51, this lot just after the conversion 4159, those cans are gone but my best recollection is the Lot was in the 4300s.

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

Thanks TrooperDan,
My uncle was CO of the Post Rifle Team at Fort Sill in the early 50s, when he retired he had a bunch of left overs, which he gave me.
My M1917 is hardly a match rifle, but it is now being re-barreled and perhaps we will do better when I get it back.
The brass from previous lots has been good---worth more than ten cents to me.
I will preserve the other stuff, I have a big bag of clips somewhere.

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

I've bought several ammo cans of M2 ball from the CMP in past years. I always saved the bandoleers and cardboard as well as the clips and would sell them at gunshows and get as much as 20 to 30 bucks for the stuff.

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- Change it back -

A quick check on fleabay finds that a single bandoleer and set of cardboards but no clips goes for as much as $24.95

On gunbroker, 5 clips go for $14.95 plus $4.95 shipping

Hmm....I guess I shouldn't be throwing out those bandoleers and the cardboard things that wrap around the ammo in the clips, huh? When I bought my M1 Garand, I also got two ammo cans of 192 Rounds of M2 Ball...one never used or disturbed and the other one about 75% there, but I have been shooting up the one that isn't completely full. Maybe even I shouldn't use the one that is all there...including cardboard spacers to keep everything in place.

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Im a collector (not exactly this kind of stuff-yet) but-always keep everything associated with it. I bought a .22 cal STG-44 knockoff a few years ago-it was a crated rifle-which also came in a crate-size cardboard box. I also kept all the doodads etc that was inside the box-even plastic. If I ever sold it many years from now-it would be one of the raer pieces that is complete-originlal reciept and all.

About 8 years ago-on a militaria dealers site I used to buy from-they had a WWII German Mauser 98 box of ammo made of thick cardboard with metal suppports on all the edges with makers info yadda yadda. It was the same size as the metal cans-but this was for rifles only-and inside this cardboard box, were cardboard boxes that held 20 rounds each. I think 300? rounds total came in this. Some idiot who had it before-opened the outer box, then opened one of the inner boxes-I guess to see wat condition this stuff was in. It looked like it was just made it was so good. Each round of the opened box-date and maker-stamped and had a Waffenamt (small German eagle w/swaz underneath)on each round. This box sold ver quick at $1,500. I wanted it badly-but couldnt force myself to pay that price. I bought a near mint pair of Generalmajors shoulderboards instead-to go with my Generals collartabs.

BTW, last year I also bought the MP-40 knockoff as well. I was a bit perturbed they threw away the outer box for that crated rifle. Everything else is still with it though.