Older .22 Ammunition

[Sealevel]

I have a half dozen or so older (probably 60's / early 70's vintage) boxes of .22 ammunition. I shot some so it still works. Before I shoot it all up I was wondering if this ammunition might have some collector's value to anyone.

On box top it reads: Hawthorne HIGH SPEED .22 LONG RIFLE Also has the warning: Keep out of reach of children. It has an ink stamp marking the box at $.79.

On box bottom it states: "These cartridges will not rust or corrode rifle barrels. If other cartridges have been used in your rifle, clean barrel with boiling water and dry thoroughly."

Then it says: Sold Exclusively by MONTGOMERY WARD
Chicago, Illinois Made in U.S.A.

Both sides of the boxes have the Hawthorne logo and these three statements:
* Copper Coated - Wax Lubricated
* Non-Corrosive
* Superior Accuracy

On both end flaps the boxes are marked:
Art. No. 60-905
50/RIM FIRE CARTRIDGES
.22 Long Rifle

The box colors are a combination of black, white and Carolina blue.

The detailed description is in lieu of a picture. The boxes look as if they were just taken off the shelf.


From that same era I have two boxes of Winchester "SuperX" Western 22 Winchester Magnum Rim Fire Full Metal Case 40 Grain. I just shot some rounds from one box so know they work.
The yellow and red box still has the sticky label from the hunting store where they were purchased by my Uncle -"Grayson's" in Keyser, West Virginia on 10-65 for the sum of $2.60 a box.

I remember that store well. I cobbled together $40 to buy myself a double barreled shotgun - Lefever 12 ga. Nitro Express. I used to keep that shotgun in my dorm room and some days after classes would take it up on the mountain to shoot squirrels. The folks that lived in the little shack tucked back in the hillside used to gladly accept the squirrels. I still have that gun, took lots of game with it when I hunted. With its 30" barrels choked F/M I downed a number of Canada Geese from the pit blinds of Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Sorry for being long winded. Sometimes early morning I like to think of fond memories hunting. That's what got me to start purchasing these S&W revolvers last summer. After not pulling a trigger for 20+ years I decided to shoot some paper targets.

 

[s&wchad]

I have one of the same Hawthorne boxes; it's blue and white with what looks like the trigger guard of a Remington rifle or shotgun in the corner. My BIL was given a brick and was shooting it up, so I swapped him a box of current ammo for it. It's not rare, but you don't see it every day either. I wrapped mine in plastic and don't want to mess with it, but if I remember correctly the ammo was made by Federal Cartridge Co and has an "F" headstamp. If the boxes are in pristine condition, they might bring $5-$10 each at a show. You can buy current bulk .22 Federal a lot cheaper, so I would recommend saving it.

The red/yellow Western .22 Mag ammo generally won't bring any more than current .22 MRF ammo (often less), so you might as well shoot it. Its good ammo and I buy all I can find at shows when I can get it for under $7/box. If you have one really nice box, wrap it in plastic and save it.

 

[Sealevel]

Thanks Chad. I appreciate your insight and will follow your advice.

I'm obtaining a new to me S&W Model 48 this week. From what i've read about them they have fouling issues, so will probably shoot the old Western .22 mag through my Colt New Frontier, or a friend's Ruger Single Six -- perhaps they are more tolerant.

 

[chief38]

In theory one would think (as I originally did) that vintage ammo would be worth a premium, but from what I have actually seen, they produced so much of this stuff and there is not enough collector demand to really make this ammo worth much more, unless of course you are talking about an extremely rare box of ammo.

That said, if I come across a pristine box of vintage ammo I will swap the owner a box of new stuff for it. The problem is I am starting to collect too much ammo that I won't be firing, and less than I will. I have to start learning to control myself - ammunition collectors anonymous might be the answer.

Chief38

 

[Sven]

Don't want to hijack your thread, but it reminds me of a story. . .

When I was in Jr. High (back in the mid-'60s), I used to mow lawn for friends of my next door neighbor. He ws getting up there in years -- probably about 80. One day he came out and asked me if I had a .22 (this was in a northern suburb of Chicago, so not many kids could say yes.) I replied yes I did (Dad had given me a Remington model 12C he bought from the butcher's kid in Deerfield shortly after WWII -- he complained about him not cleaning it so the barrel was quite pitted, but he had bought it anyway). So the old guy hands me a box of Winchester .22s and commented that not too many kids have a .22 these days. I seem to remember them being nickle plated brass with a copper colored bullet. Dad took them with him next time he shot his Single Six at the Highland Park/Deerfield police range and said that box must have been 50 years old -- had all kinds of orange sparks coming out the end of the barrel. I can't say that I was pleased that he shot them up and tossed the box -- "They wouldn't have been any good, anyway". If they weren't any good, I sure would have like to have just kept them! They'd be close to 100 years old, now!

Anyways, brings back memories.