Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

[Broadsword]

Hey guys. I figure this is the best place to ask about this. I just came into a 20rd box of Lake City Match M118 ammo. It is in like new condition and unopened. Date is 1968. Any collector value here?
Thanks,
Broadsword

 

[frankythefly]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

Is it labeled match? 173grn? I would guess between 20-30 bucks. My friend found a whole case of the older 168grn stuff and bought it for 5 dollars a box.

 

[Broadsword]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: frankythefly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is it labeled match? 173grn? I would guess between 20-30 bucks. My friend found a whole case of the older 168grn stuff and bought it for 5 dollars a box. </div></div>

Yes. 173 grain match is what it says.
Broadsword

 

[majvret]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

I am sure you could get a buyer. It would be great for a Vietnam Sniper rifle owner or collector. Sounds like the same ammo used in the model 70's, rem's and even the late used 1903a4s and m1c/d's saw service using this ammo I was told by snipers who were there. Some used regular ball if the could not get hold of the match ammo. I sure would not shoot or open the box.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am sure you could get a buyer. It would be great for a Vietnam Sniper rifle owner or collector. Sounds like the same ammo used in the model 70's, rem's and even the late used 1903a4s and m1c/d's saw service using this ammo.</div></div>

You're talking about the M-72 which was '06. M-118 is 308. It came in White Box until the machining to make it started going south so the army came out with M852 with 168 SMKs for matches.

The M118 wss then put in Brown boxes and called Special Ball (for sniper use). It was going south further so the Army started makeing M118LR with uses the 175 Grn SMKs.

We were still getting M118 when the M852 started showing up, never knew which one you'd get. The 173s in the M118 didn't work that good in the 6 Grove commerical match barrels but worked great in the 4 groove military match barrels. The M118 worked better in the 4 groove barrels then the M852 stuff did.

As I said we got both but didn't know what we would get so I had to issue two guns (M14) to my rifle team members, the 4 groove for the M118 and the 6 groove for the M852.

I couldn't begain to tell you the value, I never bought any, I still have a bit from my Guard days. I think there is too much around for it to be of a collector value.

Before we got the M852 we made Mex Match, pulling the 173s and replacing them with 168 SMKs. I still have a couple thousand of those pulled bullets I load up for off hand practice. They shoot better then I do off hand no matter what gun I use.

 

[frankythefly]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

What was the knurl for at the base of cases of the M852?

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What was the knurl for at the base of cases of the M852?</div></div>

To make it easly distingushable from M118.

It doesn't hurt it for reloading purposes, I've reloaded thousands of rounds using that brass.

 

[Broadsword]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

Thank you for the education. I guess I'll hang on to it for now. Any idea if a couple hundred rounds of .45acp made in 1939 at the Frankfort Arsenal has any collector value? I found them years ago in an old out building on some abandoned mining property in the mountains of Colorado. Funny thin about this find is that they were loose in a open top wooden box made out of a repurposed dynamite crate.
Broadsword

 

[MAT4-82]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

M852 was produced because the 168 Sierra was so far superior to the M1 bullet as demonstrated by Mex Match.Remember this ammunition was produced specifically for "competition". There was nothing defective or worn out about the machinery at FA or LC or the M118 they produced.

At the time the difference between "open tip match" projectiles and "hollow point" had not been adjudicated so the belief was that the HPBTM 168 made M852 illegal in warfare. That is why the channuler was put at the base of the cartridge for easy ID. That being the case M118 Match became M118 Special Ball for use in sniper rifles.
I do agree that the accuracy of SB was never up to the the white box 118.
As soon as the legal issue was rectified LC developed 118LR with an appropriate open tip match bullet. It was not that the ammo was "going south" there was just advancement in bullet design.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There was nothing defective or worn out about the machinery at FA or LC or the M118 they produced. </div></div>

I started shooting the M118 in '77 with some '60s stuff, and continued well after the brown box came out.

There was a deffinent down turn in the quality even in our 4 groove barrels.

 

[MAT4-82]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value

Our period of use is identical. There were always some lots that were better than others. The best I ever had was lot 60-7
there were a few standout 60- lots and a few 120__ lots that I had access to but it all shot acceptably while it was in the white box. Once M852 came out I noticed it was not quite as good and when it was re-typed as special ball it was pretty bad from a comp perspective.

 

[MAT4-82]

Re: Vintage Lake City Match ammo value






<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Broadsword</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thank you for the education. I guess I'll hang on to it for now. Any idea if a couple hundred rounds of .45acp made in 1939 at the Frankfort Arsenal has any collector value? I found them years ago in an old out building on some abandoned mining property in the mountains of Colorado. Funny thin about this find is that they were loose in a open top wooden box made out of a repurposed dynamite crate.
Broadsword </div></div>

I apologize for hijacking your thread. The .45 acp might have some value but without the boxes much less. Try searching for some cartridge collectors sites. Those folks would know.