Second hand ammo

Classic12 · October 27, 2020, 03:25 PM

Beware : Picture heavy and not for the faint of heart in these tough times for American shooters.

Full disclosure : I live in Switzerland

I never meant to be an ammo hoarder but it starts to feel a bit like it. In the last few years I started shooting more, and whereas 22 lr, 9mm, and 223 has always been readily available and reasonably priced in bulk (1000 rds), some other bigger calibers (38/357, 44, 45, 10mm etc.) have seen an increase in prices, sometimes with a reduction of offer and little choice of brands.

I started checking ads from private sellers unloading ammo they didn’t need or want anymore (and I still do).

But then I placed some wtb ads and realised there’s a good number of people who gave up shooting, or sold a weapon but still had the ammo, who had an ageing or deceased parent and didn’t know what to do with the ammo.

As a rule of thumb I offer to pay 20 to 30% below the lowest price I can get from the LGS for fresh bulk ammo. I am sometimes taking a chance, don’t know how old the ammo is or how it’s been stored and have no recourse.

And it has been quite successful.

One young gentleman had a huge trove of ammo : his father’s buddy is a retired LGS in a somewhat remote region of the country. So he made a deal with the kid : he sells the ammo and they share the money plus he could keep stuff he liked for his ammo collection for free. Apparently there was over 1200 lbs of stuff. Lots of quality US and European stuff.

Now the kid lives 70 miles away from me and has no car. So he ended up coming down from his mountain on weekends by train (1 1/2 hrs one way) combining a delivery of abt 1000 rounds in his bag pack and grocery bag with a visit to his buddies in town.

That’s the bounty :

Classic12 · October 27, 2020, 03:26 PM

This one is old (‘56) repacked Swiss GP11 tracers

I ended up with 8300 rounds of all kinds for abt $ 2500.- spread over several months during the first Covid wave. I had to make a spreadsheet to keep up.

And from other sellers :

1920 rds of 7.5 mm parabellum (.30 Luger)

Some more of the same ammo in a military cantine

Classic12 · October 27, 2020, 03:27 PM

A 1200 rds can of Hirtenberger sub machine gun 9 mm

Surplus GP11 from an LGS

WWII .45 (empty can and one box only, he has a full unopened can too but pricey)

Various from a 90 yrs old gentleman

Old stuff from an LGS

Classic12 · October 27, 2020, 03:28 PM

Other private sellers

Well nearly all of it will be shot in the coming years so it’s not really hoarding is it ?

And I still buy new stuff from LGS, always happy to support them. Just bought 1000 rds of Geco .357 for $ 450

tango1niner · October 27, 2020, 03:42 PM

Nice haul ! Just be on the lookout for corrosive priming...

FITASC · October 27, 2020, 05:39 PM

Very sweet!

**Aguila Blanca** · October 27, 2020, 07:30 PM

As the saying goes, "It's a good start."

Seriously -- well played, Sir. Congratulations.

Chipperman · October 27, 2020, 08:00 PM

That GP 11 is getting harder to find and more pricy here. I'm jealous.

Pathfinder45 · October 28, 2020, 12:13 AM

Looks like Christmas candy to me, especially the Silvertips!

Classic12 · November 12, 2020, 09:32 AM

Bought an additional old military wooden box and did some sorting out of the ammo, especially the loose boxes. I also have several unopened cases of various calibers (.32 ACP, .30 Luger, .357 Mag, .223 Rem, .308 Win etc..) so I’m well stocked. But sadly most ranges are closed due to COVID

winkytink · November 13, 2020, 10:24 AM

Vary nice collection, I'd be envious if I had the room for something like that. I recognize most of it (more or less), but what are the brown things in picture 12 that look sort of like cigar tubes? I thought at first that they must be some sort of shotgun shell, but some of them clearly have flat sides.

105kw · November 13, 2020, 11:27 AM

Wow! I'm impressed.
The .357 Metal Piercing ammo brings back a lot of memories.
A LGS ( Carl Wheelers) in about 1990 had a lot of it and was selling it cheap.
We shot it up for the brass.
Nice collection have fun shooting it.

ghbucky · November 13, 2020, 12:50 PM

What are these?

Mk VII · November 13, 2020, 02:05 PM

Schmitt-Rubin chargers, I think.

The Hirtenburger 9mm was supplied to Britain. The flash holes are a little on the small side and suck your decapping pins out, but once they are drilled out the cases reload alright..

KCRaider21 · November 13, 2020, 07:02 PM

Really nice.

Prof Young · November 13, 2020, 10:10 PM

Well, I was prepared to share a picture of my ammo closet and say "Oh yeah, look at this?" But your closet is FAR more impressive. Bravo.

Life is good.
Prof Young

Classic12 · November 14, 2020, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkytink

Vary nice collection, I'd be envious if I had the room for something like that. I recognize most of it (more or less), but what are the brown things in picture 12 that look sort of like cigar tubes? I thought at first that they must be some sort of shotgun shell, but some of them clearly have flat sides.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghbucky

What are these?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mk VII

Schmitt-Rubin chargers, I think.

The Hirtenburger 9mm was supplied to Britain. The flash holes are a little on the small side and suck your decapping pins out, but once they are drilled out the cases reload alright..

Correct, 6 round clips of GP11 (box of 60 rds) for the straight pull rifles, K11/K31

T. O'Heir · November 14, 2020, 02:05 PM

1,024px × 1,024px is too big.
The only part that may matter is if any of that is reloads. Never, I say again, never shoot somebody else's reloaded ammo.
Hirtenburger is/was a NATO supplier.

Classic12 · January 16, 2021, 10:09 AM

UPDATE

The young gentleman who sold me all the vintage ammo last year contacted me (see 1st post). He found more where the first batch came from.

This time he had a buddy drive him so he brought the whole thing in one lot.

There’s 1900 .30M1 Hirtenberg and Magtech

2380 .223 (Remington and 4 boxes Hirtenberg)

Some .38, .45, .458, 600 rds of Swiss 9mm

9 bricks of .22 plus 16 loose boxes

And two nice empty cans, one being a french 12.7

10580 rounds in total including 5200 .22lr

Cost was $ 1700.-

It’s nice to have guns, it’s even nicer to have guns & ammo!

rc · January 16, 2021, 02:04 PM

There is probably enough there for someone to buy some ammo from your estate? The mission you have is to enjoy as much as possible yourself.

Chipperman · January 16, 2021, 02:13 PM

Wow
Big outlay of money but a great price overall

FITASC · January 16, 2021, 04:38 PM

Classic 12 - how has this Covid affected shooting in Switzerland and Europe in general? Are clubs still open? Are those shooting estates for boar, partridge and pheasant still booking clients?

DMK · January 16, 2021, 07:37 PM

Classic12, I'm drooling over all that beautiful .30 Luger.

Does that have a military designation (Like GP-11, GP-90, etc)? From the package it looks like it might be PP-03. (GP is Rifle Cartridge, so PP is Pistol Cartridge?)

To you happen to have the Model 06 to shoot it in?

upstate81 · January 17, 2021, 12:12 PM

Im still drooling. Im seeing ads from gun shops in my area looking to buy ammunition it’s gotten so bad. The only ammo on shelves around here are turkey and waterfowl loads. Its worse now than after sandy hook and the safe act went into effect.

Classic12 · January 17, 2021, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FITASC

Classic 12 - how has this Covid affected shooting in Switzerland and Europe in general? Are clubs still open? Are those shooting estates for boar, partridge and pheasant still booking clients?

Ranges are closed due to COVID at the moment

Not sure about estates, or that even exists here

October 27, 2020, 03:25 PM	#1
Classic12 Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2020 Posts: 696	Second hand ammo Beware : Picture heavy and not for the faint of heart in these tough times for American shooters. Full disclosure : I live in Switzerland I never meant to be an ammo hoarder but it starts to feel a bit like it. In the last few years I started shooting more, and whereas 22 lr, 9mm, and 223 has always been readily available and reasonably priced in bulk (1000 rds), some other bigger calibers (38/357, 44, 45, 10mm etc.) have seen an increase in prices, sometimes with a reduction of offer and little choice of brands. I started checking ads from private sellers unloading ammo they didn’t need or want anymore (and I still do). But then I placed some wtb ads and realised there’s a good number of people who gave up shooting, or sold a weapon but still had the ammo, who had an ageing or deceased parent and didn’t know what to do with the ammo. As a rule of thumb I offer to pay 20 to 30% below the lowest price I can get from the LGS for fresh bulk ammo. I am sometimes taking a chance, don’t know how old the ammo is or how it’s been stored and have no recourse. And it has been quite successful. One young gentleman had a huge trove of ammo : his father’s buddy is a retired LGS in a somewhat remote region of the country. So he made a deal with the kid : he sells the ammo and they share the money plus he could keep stuff he liked for his ammo collection for free. Apparently there was over 1200 lbs of stuff. Lots of quality US and European stuff. Now the kid lives 70 miles away from me and has no car. So he ended up coming down from his mountain on weekends by train (1 1/2 hrs one way) combining a delivery of abt 1000 rounds in his bag pack and grocery bag with a visit to his buddies in town. That’s the bounty :

October 27, 2020, 05:39 PM	#6
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,440	Very sweet! __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

October 27, 2020, 07:30 PM	#7
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,457	As the saying goes, "It's a good start." Seriously -- well played, Sir. Congratulations. __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

October 28, 2020, 12:13 AM	#9
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	Looks like Christmas candy to me, especially the Silvertips! Last edited by Pathfinder45; October 28, 2020 at 12:13 AM. Reason: spelling

November 13, 2020, 10:10 PM	#16
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,403	Wow. Well, I was prepared to share a picture of my ammo closet and say "Oh yeah, look at this?" But your closet is FAR more impressive. Bravo. Life is good. Prof Young

October 27, 2020, 03:26 PM	#2
Classic12 Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2020 Posts: 696	This one is old (‘56) repacked Swiss GP11 tracers I ended up with 8300 rounds of all kinds for abt $ 2500.- spread over several months during the first Covid wave. I had to make a spreadsheet to keep up. And from other sellers : 1920 rds of 7.5 mm parabellum (.30 Luger) Some more of the same ammo in a military cantine

October 27, 2020, 03:27 PM	#3
Classic12 Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2020 Posts: 696	A 1200 rds can of Hirtenberger sub machine gun 9 mm Surplus GP11 from an LGS WWII .45 (empty can and one box only, he has a full unopened can too but pricey) Various from a 90 yrs old gentleman Old stuff from an LGS

October 27, 2020, 03:28 PM	#4
Classic12 Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2020 Posts: 696	Other private sellers Well nearly all of it will be shot in the coming years so it’s not really hoarding is it ? And I still buy new stuff from LGS, always happy to support them. Just bought 1000 rds of Geco .357 for $ 450

October 27, 2020, 03:42 PM	#5
tango1niner Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: NY Posts: 317	Nice haul ! Just be on the lookout for corrosive priming...

October 27, 2020, 08:00 PM	#8
Chipperman Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2000 Location: Live Free or Die, Baby! Posts: 1,550	That GP 11 is getting harder to find and more pricy here. I'm jealous.

November 12, 2020, 09:32 AM	#10
Classic12 Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2020 Posts: 696	Bought an additional old military wooden box and did some sorting out of the ammo, especially the loose boxes. I also have several unopened cases of various calibers (.32 ACP, .30 Luger, .357 Mag, .223 Rem, .308 Win etc..) so I’m well stocked. But sadly most ranges are closed due to COVID

November 13, 2020, 10:24 AM	#11
winkytink Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2010 Posts: 104	Vary nice collection, I'd be envious if I had the room for something like that. I recognize most of it (more or less), but what are the brown things in picture 12 that look sort of like cigar tubes? I thought at first that they must be some sort of shotgun shell, but some of them clearly have flat sides.

November 13, 2020, 11:27 AM	#12
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 413	Wow! I'm impressed. The .357 Metal Piercing ammo brings back a lot of memories. A LGS ( Carl Wheelers) in about 1990 had a lot of it and was selling it cheap. We shot it up for the brass. Nice collection have fun shooting it.

November 13, 2020, 02:05 PM	#14
Mk VII Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: England Posts: 455	Schmitt-Rubin chargers, I think. The Hirtenburger 9mm was supplied to Britain. The flash holes are a little on the small side and suck your decapping pins out, but once they are drilled out the cases reload alright..

November 13, 2020, 07:02 PM	#15
KCRaider21 Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Posts: 78	Really nice.

November 14, 2020, 02:05 PM	#18
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	1,024px × 1,024px is too big. The only part that may matter is if any of that is reloads. Never, I say again, never shoot somebody else's reloaded ammo. Hirtenburger is/was a NATO supplier. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 16, 2021, 10:09 AM	#19
Classic12 Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2020 Posts: 696	UPDATE The young gentleman who sold me all the vintage ammo last year contacted me (see 1st post). He found more where the first batch came from. This time he had a buddy drive him so he brought the whole thing in one lot. There’s 1900 .30M1 Hirtenberg and Magtech 2380 .223 (Remington and 4 boxes Hirtenberg) Some .38, .45, .458, 600 rds of Swiss 9mm 9 bricks of .22 plus 16 loose boxes And two nice empty cans, one being a french 12.7 10580 rounds in total including 5200 .22lr Cost was $ 1700.- It’s nice to have guns, it’s even nicer to have guns & ammo!

January 16, 2021, 02:04 PM	#20
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,759	There is probably enough there for someone to buy some ammo from your estate? The mission you have is to enjoy as much as possible yourself.

January 16, 2021, 02:13 PM	#21
Chipperman Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2000 Location: Live Free or Die, Baby! Posts: 1,550	Wow Big outlay of money but a great price overall

January 16, 2021, 04:38 PM	#22
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,440	Classic 12 - how has this Covid affected shooting in Switzerland and Europe in general? Are clubs still open? Are those shooting estates for boar, partridge and pheasant still booking clients? __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

January 16, 2021, 07:37 PM	#23
DMK Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2001 Location: Over the hills and far, far away Posts: 3,206	Classic12, I'm drooling over all that beautiful .30 Luger. Does that have a military designation (Like GP-11, GP-90, etc)? From the package it looks like it might be PP-03. (GP is Rifle Cartridge, so PP is Pistol Cartridge?) To you happen to have the Model 06 to shoot it in? __________________ - Homeland Security begins at home: Support your Second Amendment - www.gunowners.org - www.saf.org - act.nraila.org - www.grnc.org Last edited by DMK; January 16, 2021 at 07:44 PM.

January 17, 2021, 12:12 PM	#24
upstate81 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2011 Location: NY Posts: 801	Im still drooling. Im seeing ads from gun shops in my area looking to buy ammunition it’s gotten so bad. The only ammo on shelves around here are turkey and waterfowl loads. Its worse now than after sandy hook and the safe act went into effect.

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