Where to find 30cal rimfire ammo for Sharps pistol
I recently acquired a .30 cal 4-barrel Sharps pistol. Doesn't have much collector value, as the barrel bores have a fair ammount of rust and pitting. Still can see the rifle grooves quite easily though. Am pretty sure it is still safe to shoot. Problem is where do I find the old time .30 cal ammo with the slower burning (and lower chamber pressure) gun powder in them? Many thanks, Roland
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"IF" your Sharps is chambered for the 30 Short Rimfire, your SOL. It's been off the market for over 80 years. The only stuff available is individual specimens from dealers who specialize in antique ammo.
I had a Marlin revolver years ago chambered for one of the 30 Caliber rimfires. Even back then when I found out what the ammo was selling for, I didn't bother getting any.
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Roland, unfortunately for your hopes, rufe x-ringed it. The individual rounds typically sell in the $10 range - when you can find them! Hasn't been produced for the best part of a century . . . the BP cartridges age (for shooting) better than the old smokeless loadings, and the RF better than CF, but it's a crap shoot as to whether they will go bang. I know one of the dealers who lists items regularly on this site has some and if the price doesn't deter you, I'll ask him to list them.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain)0 -
Thanks for the update, gentlemen. I was expecting to pay about 50 cents a pop. $10 a pop would take 'the fun' right out of it.[:D] I'll just go buy a brick of .22 rimfires and use my Winchester 9422 instead. The replies were much appreciated. Later, Roland 0 -
I know this is an old thread, but I have a related question for any looking at this. I am fairly new at collecting guns. I was lucky (or unlucky depending on who you ask) to acquire two old firearms that both take .32 RF cartridges.
A couple of months ago, I paid a pretty penny for a coffee can "filled with a bunch of older rimfire cartridges." I was buying it for my Remington model 4 rifle (a favorite of mine), which takes .32 RF short or long. As I like shooting it, I have been buying Navy Arms or Canuck boxes of modern ammo when I can find it (they are running ~$100 to $150 a box).
I was told via email "all cartridges were rimfires that were the same size and bag on top in the can was marked as .32 caliber." When I received the can at my home, I was at a little disappointed to find that while the bag did contain variety of .32 short rimfire cartridges (old and modern), the bottom contained a single, neat .41 short RF cartridge (which I going to keep because it is cool [:D]) and a full antique box of UMC 30 RF short cartridges (which of course didn't fit my gun).
I cannot find a box of these things anywhere on Gun broker or anywhere else- to gauge its worth- but I know that the few singles I found were $12-$17 a piece (don't know if they were rare varieties though). An older gun dealer at a local gun show told me that to a collector of antique pistols or rifles, the box was probably worth trading for a quality firearm.
My question to any on this site: Is it worth selling on GunBroker, should I try to offer it somewhere for trade, ...or am I just having delusions about the value of this box?0 -
Try starting this as a new thread with a title like "questions regarding box of 30 RF ammo" ...will get the other more subject knowledgable experts to reply, and topics are locked after the p responses. Tha said, value must be impressive as long as condition warrants...box condition...projectile condition etc. A full box would appeal to collectors of several items/areas. The riverboat gambler set, the pepperbox/multibarrel little gun people...have to think there would be great interest. Sell it here...do more research on auction prices achieved, determine the least you'll take and start it there no reserve...market rules. Good luck! 0 -
The big problem is shipping the ammo due to costs. Old ammo with even with proper storage conditions becomes hit or miss as far as firing, without a strike its worth more as a collector specimen. At larger gun shows there are often dealers in old ammo that might make you a good offer but I wouldn't expect big money like $15 per round. 0 -
I can try to repost this as a new topic. Thanks for the assistance. 0
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