Need someone who knows about guns and ammo

[Wonderfoole WINO]

Need someone who knows about guns and ammo

I have been trying to orginize a large pile of junk in my basement. Along with a lot of garbadge and a few usefull items, I found several boxes of ammo. I know next to nothing about this stuff and I need to know a few things about what I have found.

I have 3 boxes of ammo, none of them are full. I estimate the ammo to be at least 10-15 years old.

I have:
22 long rifle mini mag
Remington 44 Mag
30-30 Winchester 150 gr. Power-Point (S.P.)

And whatever this bad boy is...

Spoiler

I am assuming that the hole near the bottom means that this round is not live.

Now, the questions.
1. Are these rounds any good? (again, they are 10-15+ years old.)
2. Are they worth any money? (I don't have the guns to use them.)
3. If they are no good, how do I dispose of them?

On another note, since I don't want to start another thread, does anyone know an affective way to get rid of spiders? I live in a basement and there are plenty of them down here.

 

[jwc2200]

Re: Need someone who knows about guns and ammo

The shell in the pic looks like a .50 cal cartridge for an M-2 machine gun. It also looks like a tracer, if the red around the middle is paint and not corrosion. That hole drilled in the side would have allowed the powder to be taken out, but it may still be lethal. If the primer in the back doesn't have a dimple in it be careful, the primer itself may be enough to ignite the tracer powder, and even if it isn't a tracer it could spit the slug out fast enough to hurt someone. To be sure what it is, measure the diameter of the small end of the shell itself, if it is 1/2 inch then it's a .50 cal. If it's 20 or 30 mm, then it's AA as John said.

The other stuff you have is probably not worth much. If the 44's are in good shape you could possible put it up for sale online for 50 cents a piece, and let them go for as little as 30 to 35 cents each. The .22'a you can toss in the trash can. The 30-30 as well since most folks who shoot that for hunting want consistent grain and grade, so an odd lot of that age is useless. I have always just thrown small caliber brass in the household garbage. I give the larger stuff to a friend who tests and reloads it, but you can toss it too. You can take it to a gun range or possibly a police station if you want to be extra careful. Without the right equipment don't try to get the powder out yourself, it isn't worth the possible lost fingers.

To know if it has gone bad, look for hairline splits, bumps and/or green spots on the brass, if it has any don't try to use it.

For spiders I use 'Hot Shot' bug bombs.

 

[Wonderfoole WINO]

Re: Need someone who knows about guns and ammo

I only have 14 of the 44 rounds. Thats not worth much. I'll just throw them out. Also found some shotgun shells, I guess I'll throw those out too.

As for the larger shell, just where exactly do I measure? The diameter of the very tip is about 1/4 inch, the smaller end of the red part is about 3/4 inch, and the back of the red part is 1 inch. The large end of the shell is about 1 3/4 inch, and the primer seems to be intact. And yes, the red on the shell is paint so it must be a tracer. I'l be careful with this thing. I took the mesurments by eyballing it with a ruler, so they might not be very accurate.

I have several relitives that where in both the air force and the navy, and it probably came from one of them if that helps at all. Most of this junk was left from my uncle who was in the navy on an aircraft carrier.

I'l probably toss the other ammo. I might keep the 44s just for kicks, they seem to be in good shape. I'd like to keep the large shell though, its really cool.

On another note, most of the stuff I'm finding in this huge pile under the stairs is mostly garbage now. Lots of old paint cans and other chemicals that will have to be disposed of properly, and some tools and roofing supplies. They best thing is probably all the scrap metal and copper tubing. I've already found several pounds of copper and I've barely made a dent in the pile. I'l see what my uncle wants to keep and take the rest to a metal recycling place that will buy it. Might be able to pawn some of the tools too. This stuff has been sitting down here for years and is of no value to me, so whatever cash I can get for it is a win-win. Extra room in my living space and extra cash in my pocket. I know my uncle wants some of the tools down here but in about 10 years he has never bothered to get them, dispite living fairly close to us. I'l give him an opportunity to take whatever he wants since its rightfully his, then the rest is as good as gone. After sitting down here for so long its mosty garbage anyway.

EDIT: I just noticed on the 44 rounds, 6 of them are fairly dark and a bit tarnished, while the other 8 look almost new. Their gold, shiney and clean. All of them seem to be free of cracks though. Also, the package sais they are 180 grain semi-jacketed hollow points.

 

[ScareCrowReturn]

Re: Need someone who knows about guns and ammo

Are you planning on Selling them?

I personally wouldn't, I love keeping old stuff.

But im sure that Last round, in the spoiler tag, Is an anti-Aircraft Round. Because that thing is huge.. But i Have very poor Gun/Ammo knowledge, Now if I was my dad, I could tell you .. Maybe ill ask him when he gets back from his hunting trip. Haha!

 

[FableFreak]

Re: Need someone who knows about guns and ammo

TJ, that large round you have isn't a .50 caliber. The neck and base are totally different, and it is far too large. You most likely have a 20 or 30 mm shell. I'd keep it as a souvenir, they are interesting pieces to have (especially unfired/inert). The rest of the ammo is worth very little money and is most likely still shootable. As for disposal, just bring them to your nearest police station or gun store and they'll tell you what to do.

 

[Hermit]

Re: Need someone who knows about guns and ammo

Why do you need guns when there are knives and meat cleavers to CHOP CHOP CHOP people with?

I was going to say something about the spiders, but I use the same stuff as jwc.

 

[Man]

Re: Need someone who knows about guns and ammo

OR you can use a cat to get rid of them.

 

[Dr Doom]

Re: Need someone who knows about guns and ammo

cats are always good. but does it have a light down there? if so it be best to turn it off due to the fact it attracts spiders. the pic is definetly an anti-aircraft ammo piece, ad should not e didposed. as i heard before, they are very nice souvenirs. the rest isn't worth much so i would dispose of them. again the police or a local gun store will know what to do.