doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Usable old ammo?

I have managed to get 5 boxes (5 rounds per box) of .577 no 2 (2 13/16")Kynoch ammo for my Rigby double rifle. The ammo appears to be in excellent condition. In fact, only one of the boxes appear to have been opened. Even the opened box has no finger marks, etc. on it. Would it be advisable to shoot this in my quite high condition Rigby? Or should I pull the bullets and reload? Any advice would be appreciated.

The original ammo is most likely worth more than the cost of buying new components and loading it. It's also safer. The most common thing that might happen is a dud or hangfire but do you wish to risk either your rifle or your body parts?

Charls:

It depends on age and storage conditions.

Since it's Kynoch, it will be date coded. From 1926, this was stamped on the back of the box as a number followed by two letters, such as "7 M U" (day, month, year), so aging it precisely is easy. What is the date code? Is the box marked "Imperial Chemical Industries"/"ICI", or "Imperial Metal Industries"/"IMI"? Given the caliber, I assume it will be ICI, rather than IMI. What color is the box? I'll be happy to date it for you.

I agree that original ammo in that caliber would likely be too valuable to shoot, which would also mean you shouldn't pull the bullets and reload the cases. If the ammo is original to the boxes, it will be Berdan primed anyway. You'd be better off buying new Boxer cases and reloading.

both the ammo and the rifle are to valuable to shoot.

Thanks. I needed a laugh this morning.

I have just checked the boxes- it is marked ICI, blue box with red horizontal and vertical strip on the front. On the back- 20 Q M. Front says KYNOCH .577/500 no 2, 2 13/16" and 'metal base copper tubed, 440grs.
Thanks,
Charls

Charls I shoot a Westley in this caliber and the components are readily available. The dies aren't cheap but last a lifetime.

charls,
I have a Greener in 577/500 #2 and I have shot some vintage black powder Kynochs in the gun over a chrono and the shot to shot velocity was poor as was the target group. Much wiser to sell the vintage ammo and buy new components. If you do shoot a few thru the gun, clean soon and well as the primers are most likely corrosive.

Charls,

Kynoch blue & red box = Nitro for Black. The 440 grain metal base copper tubed bullet was also only offered in Nitro for Black loadings in this caliber. Your cartridges contain Cordite or Axite (both smokeless), not black. The priming compound in these is corrosive, and the bores should be swabbed out with hot water or a water based solvent after shooting. Nitro for Black ammunition was specifically intended for use in black powder proof express rifles and was required to produce a peak pressure no higher than that of the normal black powder load. It usually actually produced less.

"20 Q M" is 20 October, 1938.

A few boxes of original factory ammo is really nice to have with a high condition British double rifle, especially in this caliber. The ammunition is valuable and old. I wouldn't shoot it. Components and dies are available to get your rifle shooting.

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.
I have decided to keep the ammo as part of the 'package' It always looks good when there is a couple of original boxes of ammo in the case. I have ordered the components for reloading and should start working up a load in a couple of weeks. Should be plenty of time to still get a Impala before the end of the season!