A friend called me and asked what I knew about prices for old ammo, collectable stuff. I know nothing, I told him. Is there a web site for ammo collectors? Evidentally he has a bunch of old ammo, rim fire, etc.
Old Ammo
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Model19man
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DWalt
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There are also several dealers in collectible ammunition who MIGHT be interested in buying it. You can Google around to find them. But their main interest is not in common ammunition that is sort of old. They like unusual and scarce ammunition, full original boxes in high condition. They generally would not have much interest in a box of 12 gauge shotshells or a box of .30-30 ammunition from 1970. The IAA Journal does have a classified section. But you need to become an IAA member to get the Journal. I highly recommend joining if you have a serious interest in ammunition, as their forum is where the worldwide ammo experts hang out.
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Look up wards ammunition auctions.
AJ
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For many years I collected old vintage ammo - a side hobby I suppose you could call it. I made sure before acquiring it that it was in pristine original condition and most of the boxes, bricks and containers had never been opened. It came to the point that I had so much collectible ammo, it was taking away valuable space and storage from my regular range and carry ammo - not to mention how much money I had tied up in ammo not meant for using.
16 years ago I tried selling two sealed cases of Remington .38 special 148 grain wad cutters that were in unopened cases - right here on this forum. This ammo was from the mid to late 1960's and in pristine condition. I was asking an incredibly low price and I had not one bid or offer. At that point I decided to just shoot it and then realized just how incredible the ammo was! I was so happy to be shooting it rather than selling it and so happy no one bought it. I now have only two boxes of 50 rounds left out of 4,000 rounds (cases were 2,000 rounds each). I realized at that point it truly depends on which side of the counter you are on when buying or selling vintage ammo. When you want to purchase it - it seems it's very expensive but when you want to sell it, it's difficult to sell at any reasonable price.
It was then I made a decision to shoot out most of what I had collected over the years. I've now shot up cases of vintage 12 gauge shot shells in all shot sizes, getting many Pheasants and game birds with the stuff. I have won sporting clay competitions with Winchester AA ammo that was at least 55-60 years old. I routinely now shoot it, enjoying every moment of it and get a charge out of Range Officers, fellow shooters and friends asking me about the ammo that is older than many of them. BTW, to date, I have had absolutely no failures to fire from any of it - regardless of age.
There are a few individual boxes that I will keep, but at this point a lot of it has been shoy up and I surely enjoyed shooting it. It sure beats my kids giving it away or selling it for small meaningless amount after I am gone.
Sooooo, when it comes to collecting vintage ammo my honest opinion is to not pay large sums of money, be very selective and never think you will make a landfall profit years down the road. I acquired lots of it at my old Club Range where old timers started shooting up what they had. When I saw this happen I would offer them brand new boxes of ammo for their vintage stuff. I can never remember being turned down as they were just punching holes in paper anyway. More than likely a guy that is shooting a pristine box of vintage ammo at the Range has a bunch more at home.
16 years ago I tried selling two sealed cases of Remington .38 special 148 grain wad cutters that were in unopened cases - right here on this forum. This ammo was from the mid to late 1960's and in pristine condition. I was asking an incredibly low price and I had not one bid or offer. At that point I decided to just shoot it and then realized just how incredible the ammo was! I was so happy to be shooting it rather than selling it and so happy no one bought it. I now have only two boxes of 50 rounds left out of 4,000 rounds (cases were 2,000 rounds each). I realized at that point it truly depends on which side of the counter you are on when buying or selling vintage ammo. When you want to purchase it - it seems it's very expensive but when you want to sell it, it's difficult to sell at any reasonable price.
It was then I made a decision to shoot out most of what I had collected over the years. I've now shot up cases of vintage 12 gauge shot shells in all shot sizes, getting many Pheasants and game birds with the stuff. I have won sporting clay competitions with Winchester AA ammo that was at least 55-60 years old. I routinely now shoot it, enjoying every moment of it and get a charge out of Range Officers, fellow shooters and friends asking me about the ammo that is older than many of them. BTW, to date, I have had absolutely no failures to fire from any of it - regardless of age.
There are a few individual boxes that I will keep, but at this point a lot of it has been shoy up and I surely enjoyed shooting it. It sure beats my kids giving it away or selling it for small meaningless amount after I am gone.
Sooooo, when it comes to collecting vintage ammo my honest opinion is to not pay large sums of money, be very selective and never think you will make a landfall profit years down the road. I acquired lots of it at my old Club Range where old timers started shooting up what they had. When I saw this happen I would offer them brand new boxes of ammo for their vintage stuff. I can never remember being turned down as they were just punching holes in paper anyway. More than likely a guy that is shooting a pristine box of vintage ammo at the Range has a bunch more at home.
CAUTION: Collector ammo is "worth" a fortune when you buy it and very little when you sell it.
AJ
US Veteran
I have bunches and bunches of collectable ammo. Yes, expensive to buy and not worth what you paid for it when you try to sell it. I have made up my mind that the "collectable ammo" is now "shootable ammo". Only have one that I will make money on if I sell it. It ia 37MM Hotchkiss round. Made by Winchester in 1891. It is pictured next to a polymer cased .308 round.
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