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.22 ammo… I was not aware of this

digi-shots

digi-shots

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In going thru some boxes of ammo, I came across these two boxes. I have no idea when or where I got them. I’m fairly sure I didn’t read the box very carefully when I got them. I assumed they were .22 long or whatever and worth $5 or so.

They are 22 Winchester Automatic and from what I understand were made only for the Winchester 1903 Rifle. I looked online to see if I could find a value but haven’t found any made by Western with a diamond headstamp.

Does everyone know this… I didn’t and never heard of these. I have a couple of older Winchesters but they shoot .22 LR.

Any thoughts what these might go for?

Thanks!
 

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The box has the 'Keep out of the reach of childern' waning on it.
That was a Federal mandated thing starting in 1962.

I don't see a ZIP code in the mfg'rs address on the box.
ZIP code use started in mid yr/1963

So that pretty much narrows the mfr period down.

The 60's production run of .22 Winchester Auto ammo was a special run to supply customer demand at the time for a new supply of the somewhat rare caliber to feed the '03 automatics still around and in use.
The Diamond headstamp was the last type of headstamp used on this special run of ammo.


A collector grade box of this special 60's run (like new condition w/no wear at all) complete with all 50 rds will usually sell for $75 to $100.
The box has to be absolutely new,,no wear at all.
That's why you see the collectors wrap them in clear plastic for display and sale.

The slightest handling wear beats the price down quickly on the collectors market and $50 is not unusual for such a box w/ 50 rds.

Shooters looking for ammo can find recent mfg Aguila (sp?) made ammo and some others at times at somewhat lower prices.

The real old orig mfg stuff from a century ago gets dramatic prices if pristine boxes and ammo.
Old shooter ammo of questionable quality and ratty boxes are usually passed up by both collectors and shooters,

added.

Here's a link to a sale of a box of ammo like yours
I don't know when the sale was.
Western 22 Winchester Auto For the 1903 Winchesters >> Harry Viezens Fine Guns
 
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The .22 Winchester Automatic and .22 WRF are two distinctly different cartridges! the WRF is still in limited production. there were quite a few different firearms chambered for it.

There is a third odd ball .22 cartridge, the .22 Remington Special, which also had a very limited number of firearm models chambered for it.
 
Thanks for the info and websites.. those are crazy prices, especially when you consider I thought it was a box of .22 LR.! I kept staring at the box and the “22 automatic” just didn’t register.

Both boxes are in very good condition and have been gently placed in clear baggies!
 
pre pandemic-- a brick (10 boxes) of Aguila .22 Winchester auto was selling for approximately $120-$130. Your boxes, if completely full (50 rounds) are in very good shape. I would value them at $20-$30 each. The older winchester boxes (pre-war) will bring more to collectors.
 
I have heard of them but never seen any or shot any but I really don't know anything about that ammo. It looks like you got some good info so far, good luck finding more info.

If you're not a collector you might want to sell it off and possibly buy some .22LR ammo you can use lol.
 
Here’s a photo I found online of a close up of the cartridge… you can see a slight impression/crimp mid center. The ‘03 was the first and last rifle ever made that accepted this cartridge. The ‘03 evolved into the model 63 and sales skyrocketed.

I found some interesting info on the model ‘03 while searching this round. There are quite a few websites to read.
 
The Model 1903 rifle was one of the earliest semiauto rifles, and it would clog up easily if used with black powder cartridges. So Winchester chambered it for a new cartridge which was loaded only with smokeless powder.
 
Alk8944 said:
The .22 Winchester Automatic and .22 WRF are two distinctly different cartridges! the WRF is still in limited production. there were quite a few different firearms chambered for it.

There is a third odd ball .22 cartridge, the .22 Remington Special, which also had a very limited number of firearm models chambered for it.
Click to expand...

The 22 Remington Special was just the Remington version of the 22 WRF cartridge. Many companies in the old days seemed to have a hang up about using a competitors name and would rename a cartridge if they offered it in one of their guns.

The real oddball was the 22 Remington Automatic cartridge. It was made for the Remington Model 16 rifle, intended to compete with the Winchester 1903. Not interchangeable with the Winchester loading and never chambered in any other firearm it wasn't particularly successful. Ammo has long been out of production and even ratty boxes can bring good money, especially if the shells are in good shape.
 
Here are some of the odd ball 22 RF cartridges. From ,” Cartridges of the World by Frank Barnes, edited by John T. Amber.17140A5F-A427-4317-9FA3-BC0E2D53A014.jpg

570956D8-DDBC-458F-B28C-46F20EAD32E1.jpg

F9442F99-1B04-4045-8F51-ADF8A7F5A912.jpg

CCFCBCC0-BBB4-414B-AC98-C8C95ACFA1D5.jpg
 
Nice find! The Winchester 1903 was the first successful auto-loading .22 rimfire rifle. .22 LR ammo was loaded to different power levels at the time. Some was black powder, some was semi-smokeless and some was smokeless.

In order to guarantee reliable functioning, Winchester developed the .22 Winchester Auto cartridge specifically for the gun. It was loaded with smokeless powder and the case was fatter above the rim than a .22 LR. Modern .22 LR cartridges will fire in a Winchester 1903, but it’s a bad idea. Cases will usually split, accuracy is poor and functioning is unreliable.
 
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