Old .32 Rimfire Ammo

S

Sixer

New member
My grandfather had a bunch of old ammo that he gave me. Most of it was loose in a paper bag, lol. This old box of .32 rimfire was also in the bag. Does anyone know much about it? (I will NOT be trying to shoot this ammo :D)

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He also gave me some old 30 Carbine ammo still sealed in the box. I was just wondering if I should shoot the stuff or hang onto it? I'm not so much worried about it from a safety standpoint, but wanted to find out if this old stuff would have any kind of collector's value? Thanks!

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take it to a gunshow, you might find a collector who wants it, extremely unlikely but worth a shot
 
I've got a friend with a .32 rimfire rifle given him by his father... can't find any ammo for it at all.

Lots of folks like that who might impulsively buy a box of old obscure ammo.
 
The .32 Rimfire Short by Western is highly collectible and may be worth a dollar or more per round. They will contain black powder, the casings are copper and they were made well before 1920, probably before 1900. The white coloration is due to oxidation of the lead bullets.
I'm pretty sure that the .30 Carbine ammo is WW2 era - it too has some collector value - not sure what that may be at this time - but certainly worth taking around a gun show to the guys who have plastic wrapped ammo boxes on their tables. Don't go for the first offer, check a couple guys to get a better feel.
 
Very cool! Thanks for the Info. I have no plans on selling the ammo right now, but I appreciate the information :)
 
nice to see some of that .32 Short Rimfire. I have a small Lee Arms Red Jacket revolver that belonged to my great grandmother in that caliber. My repeated attempts to find ammunition and test fire the weapon have failed.

I have ammo similar to what you have there, but again, heirloom value, not shootable ammo.
 
I shoot .32 rimfire ..i buy it from a man in N.J. However if you are interested in selling ,id be interested in buying if the price is right ,and you can keep the boxes ...

PM me .
 
ammo

the carbine ammo is WW2,non corrosive,they never made corrrosive.
the 32 rim is fairly new Pre WW2,but not 1900.I too had a Red jacket in 32 rim and fired it.$.35 box 50.they were always copper cases.
also had a blue bird #2 and marlin XX.:rolleyes: :eek: :D
 
I have an 1868 rimfire revolver, wall hanger that I would like to get one round to add to the display. Would you or perhaps others be willing to sell me one round?

Roger

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Thanks for the info! I had no idea the .32 was that old. I wonder if there is any certain way I should store it to preserve its current condition? As with anything given to me by my gradfather, I would like to keep it in the best shape possible.
 
Keep the ammo in a dry place like a closet or drawer or cabinet indoors. Just avoid basements, attics, or barns! The presumably stable climate in your home is probably the best one for it that you have. Maybe get a nice clean little cardboard box to put it in to keep out dust and small children, mark antique ammo on it and tape it shut. The box is probably collectable like the ammo itself. The lead will turn white just from exposure to air over many decades, regardless of the brass not turning green or something. That lead oxide used to be the pigment in white paint. Now stupid kids eat it and it is banned. Navy Arms sold newly made large rimfire ammo at one time, maybe still do. I have a box of their .32 rimfire made in S. America. They also made .41 rimfire ammo, which I once had. Now is expensive stuff. Limited production runs. The old rounds are strictly for display purposes. Carbine collectors will buy your old carbine ammo. Probably not for shooting it either. The yellow boxes of postwar Win & Western ammo are not so collectable but would have collector interest. How do I know they are postwar? the one has 30 carbine soft point ammo in it!
 
.32 Short Rimfire was one of the most common pistol cartridges in the latter part of the 19th century. It was ballistically the equivalent of the .32 S&W and .32 Short Colt.

For some time, Navy Arms has had batches of .32 Long RF and .32 Short RF made up from time to time, along with batches of .41 Rimfire (for derringers and some revolvers). If you need those, get them while you can as there usually is a period of several years between batches.

Jim
 
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