Collecting inert ammunition

[techguy]

I've found some threads on here about collecting inert ammunition quite interesting, and the different types that can be found is rather fascinating.

I have a question to those of you who collect. How did you start collecting? Did you decide on a particular era or what? Where do you purchase your rare and random finds?

I've collected all sorts of things, from golf balls to American quarters, so this appeals to me greatly!

[Dougan]

I've recently got into this as well - I bought a small collection off someone on here, which added to what I already had makes about 50 complete rounds - I've also got 20 odd cases I need to get bullets for...and really need to go through the lot one day to make sure they actually have the correct bullet in the right case, and at the correct seating depth...

...I've not yet acquired anything rare...but am becoming more tempted...

[ovenpaa]

I am certainly not a collector however I do seem to end up with many unusual and obscure cases along with the more common things. Some of mine are sitting in a printers case on a wall in the living room along with other shooting related odds and send and I have many more cases in the workshop. As something new comes in it just gets popped in one of the compartments in the printers case and personally I like the look of it and I know the Viking is OK about it.

[Maggot]

Yea, I do.

Actually Ovenpaa has corrupted my ethics somewhat after a visit to Kynamco as I would not normally pay for them.

This is not a tightwad approach, but half the fun is finding the damned things, preferably with a story.

But in this instance it was a case of "I would never come accross them otherwise"...going to need a considerably bigger box Dave!!

I found my first one (a totally corroded .303 case) near home at about 7yrs and living next to a coastal artillery range it caught.

Then I started helping and old range warden and that helped.

Biggest faux pas

Trying to re-create that annealed look on a 7.62x51 with a live primer and a bullet (about 12...)

Lead melted, set off primer, sprayed molten lead all over cooker...thankfully it peeled off and missed me.

Primers...bundles of misery....

Back then I collected all sorts, flares, boxes, bit like steptoe and sons.

Now I just do small arms ammo (although I have some good stuff like 30mm from the WAH64, 40mm bofors, 20mm (various) al sorts, bits of Blowpipe missile etc).

I have about 200 rounds, all inert, about 90 types and a box of spares.

I am not a serious collector to the point I want live etc, unstable ammo is a pain...seen too much of it and not interested.

I drill and oil any with staked like primers (small hole about 10mm up from the base).

Just waiting for my Collectors slot to come back so I can have my sec5 heads back from an RFD (who has kindly taken custody for me rather than bin em).

I keep mine in plastis trays sat on bubble wrap (stops em rolling about). Modern stuff gets laquered as is, old stuff likewise as they often have interesting dinks, paterna etc.

Probably my most interesting is a genuine 7.92 S Patronen that came back with a rellie from the Somme.

I also have a .303 made in Tel aviv (star of david on the base) They were only made during 1948 apparently an dit si stamped 1948.

I tend to collect anything, not one particular area, just using cartridges of the world as a reference.

Its a harmless and very interesting niche. Plenty of info on tinterweb as well so you can catalogue them on a spreadsheet with links to WIKI, manufacturers etc.

[ovenpaa]

Looking back on it, probably the first time I got my hands on a cartridge case was back in the 1960's. We had gone with the Scouts to an open day to Kempston Barracks and they had a firing range at the back, the bigger lads were allowed to shoot a Stirling however we were too small so instead we pocketed a few spent cases. I remember showing them to my Father who moaned that we should not have been allowed to keep them in case they got into the 'wrong hands' I have picked them up ever since however I invariably give them away again so my collection is not huge.

[Dougan]

Colin - I'm bad for collecting all sorts of things too, and have been quite strict with my self about only collecting things I can find myself, like sea shells and stones; though I'm weakening on fossils, as it's hard for an amateur to find good ones...

...and it's the same problem now with cartridges - I've got most of the stuff you might find yourself, and have recently bought a few.

I was looking at the ones you got from Kynamco ( tongueout ) - cool place (had not heard of it before), but the site doesn't have prices on it...I've got a 357 H&H Magnum, which is pictured on the site, but have no idea what it's worth (?)...

...can you say how much they were?...assuming your missus doesn't read the forum

[Maggot]

Colin - I'm bad for collecting all sorts of things too, and have been quite strict with my self about only collecting things I can find myself, like sea shells and stones; though I'm weakening on fossils, as it's hard for an amateur to find good ones...

...and it's the same problem now with cartridges - I've got most of the stuff you might find yourself, and have recently bought a few.

I was looking at the ones you got from Kynamco ( tongueout ) - cool place (had not heard of it before), but the site doesn't have prices on it...I've got a 357 H&H Magnum, which is pictured on the site, but have no idea what it's worth (?)...

...can you say how much they were?...assuming your missus doesn't read the forum

Its Chris mate....dunno, ask Dave, he bought them.

By all accounts the cases were not that bad, it's the bullets (which I am very glad he got as they make the round really).

Kynamco is I think what used to be Kynoch and a few others amalgamated.

Someone very kindly sent me a handful of other cases (from the test range).

Funily enough I am sitting here looking at a pair of sick .303 cases of my own doing!!!

The thing about cartridges is they are a bloody sight cheaper, less hassle, and need much less room than collecting the guns that fired them!!

I have always tended to glue or re seat bullets in cases, but recently a gent with the Historic breech loading lot tells me the traditional way was to pack with ciggy papers so the bullet could be removed to examine it (from a fired case).

Hope they don't want me to keep any sec 5 inerts locked up!!! icecube45

Funny, I had all but lost real interest until I got my FAC and got exposed again.

Maggot

[Dougan]

I have always tended to glue or re seat bullets in cases, but recently a gent with the Historic breech loading lot tells me the traditional way was to pack with ciggy papers so the bullet could be removed to examine it (from a fired case).

Cheers for the tip (!)...I was starting to wonder how you go about seating the correct bullet in a fired case without borrowing/acquiring dies...

......and, sorry 'Chris' ( ) ...I'm crap with names...

[ovenpaa]

Prices at Kynmco for the once fired brass vary, as an example a 9,3x62 costs 75p plus VAT and a 600/577 costs GBP4.00 + VAT. The expensive one I noticed was the .700 Nitro Express and I think that was around GBP17.50 + VAT.

Bullets cost were anything up to GBP4.40 + VAT for the 750 grain jacketed 600/577 with the 9,3x62 286 grain solid at GBP1.05 + VAT.

I will see if I can get a full price list.

[Maggot]

I have always tended to glue or re seat bullets in cases, but recently a gent with the Historic breech loading lot tells me the traditional way was to pack with ciggy papers so the bullet could be removed to examine it (from a fired case).

Cheers for the tip (!)...I was starting to wonder how you go about seating the correct bullet in a fired case without borrowing/acquiring dies...

......and, sorry 'Chris' ( ) ...I'm crap with names...

That's allright Harry...I mean Pete...Gerald.....

I forget my own often enough as does'nt matter