Ammo worth question

[Longone]

I have an opportunity to pick up a large amount of 30-06 ammo. Here are the details, It's DEN-42 or 43 (corrosive) packed in 20 round cardboard boxes that are packed in spam cans. There are 11, 20 rd. boxes in each spam can and there are a total of 6 spam cans packed in a large ammo can with (I believe) 6 latches that hold the lid on. On the outside of the ammo can it is marked that it was re-packed in HI. in 1950.

Anyone care to take a guess???

Thanks, Longone

[Bill]

I have fired DEN 43 in a comparative test of various lots of GI ammo, and it was one of the best as far as accuracy and velocity vs spec was concerned.

I can only guess that value is in the eye of the beholder. No special collector value, in my opinion, so whatever it is worth as shooting ammo is whatever you are willing to pay for it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with corrosive ammo if you are willing to take a few minutes to clean after firing. During the 60s, I was in college with a Korean war vet who was in charge of ordnance at local national guard facility. They were issued certain amount of ammo, and required to fire it. If any was left over, they had to account for why it was not fired in mandatory qualification. This was mostly late war through 47 vintage corrosive ammo.

His choice was either dump it in the river or give it to someone who would use it. I fired several thousand rounds through my 03, and I still have the gun with very nice shiny bore to this day.

[Longone]

So should it be assumed to be worth .50 per round like the CMP is selling their ammo for?

Longone

[mercman]

Is it boxer primed? Even if not, being corrosive I would think that it would be more in line price wise with the supposedly 'corrosive' AP that was sold recently at the CMP. Even when reloaded it should still be treated as corrosive. You might also be prepared to lose some due to shrinkage if it is corroded by being in carboard boxes.

[Longone]

I looked at the CMP site and the AP corrosive ammo is sold out and did not list a price, does anyone recall what it was selling for?

[Rick the Librarian]

Corrosive, non-collectible ammunition does lower the worth, somewhat.

I was just reading John George's "Shots Fired in Anger" - a classic on combat during WWII. He used a M1903 sniper/target rifle and said he especially like Denver ammunition - he didn't say what year. He carefully hoarded a case of it for his personal use through much of WWII.

$70 for 192 rounds sticks in my mind for the cost of the CMP AP ammo.

[gwp]

4C3006U202-192P. Single spam can (192 rounds). $60.00. S&H at $8.95 per can.

http://www.ammoland.com/2010/05/10/3...ed-ammunition/

[carolinashooter]

Sealed spam cans of WW11 ammo will bring a premium over regular '06 ball ammo. There is some collector value to these cans.
The "corrosive" AP that the CMP was selling has turned out to be non-corrosive. They did not know for sure and simply said to treat it as corrosive. They were playing it safe from their end.