Ammo Age

Aug 2011
240
0
South Puget Sound
I've read that no matter how old ammo is, so long as it stays dry, it's still good. Is this accurate? Also, if brass tips become tarnished, is this only superficial and nothign to worry about or does that indicate a bad round?

Thanks!

Not sure if you can see the difference... but its the one on the right. Should I get some brass polish? Just kidding.

0811111553.jpg
 
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Jan 2009
870
0
Lynnwood, WA
I've shot lots of old ammo in various calibers and gauges.

none of that ammo has been "mission critical", because sometimes it doesn't go off.
 
Aug 2011
240
0
South Puget Sound
Not sure I'd want a misfire if I end up in a shootout...I want to be assured when I pull that trigger, it's going to fire as I may not have that 2nd chance. On the range, it's one thing but in a fire fight, not good. These aren't range rounds, it's my hollow-points I have clipped & ready for an emergency. So, if there's a reason to be concerned about that round, be good to know. :)
 
Jan 2009
360
0
Seattle
I've always been told keep it nice n dry and it should be good to go, I have about 10,000 rounds give or take stored up and I keep them in big 50 cal sized watertight plastic containers were 2 or 3, 2 inch by 2 inch silica gel packets in them and haven't had any issues, the steel cased wolf isn't rusting so that's how I would go about storing it imo. Back on topic I've shot an array of ammo from the 40's on up and had pretty good luck with it, the only issue I had was with some of the Yugo 8mm from the 50's they were a tad iffy, but with that being said I had Egyptian 8mm Mauser from the 40's that fired every time..
 
May 2011
288
0
NW Quadrant WA State
If you've kept the ammo dry, and it hasn't been subject to extreme heat such as being left in a car during the middle of summer in Arizona, then I wouldn't worry about it.

As for the tarnish having any effect on accuracy? On a handgun round? Not at handgun combat distances. The only concern is whether it will feed and extract when fired.

I don't obsess over ammo age. About the only consideration I give it as to age is to shoot the oldest I have first. I carry GDHP's every day but shoot most practice ammo using a Montana Gold JHP in the same weight. As a regular practice I shoot the GDHP's at least twice per year, about 100 at a time, then just replace with new.

For those that bought their SD ammo 20 years ago and haven't shot it up yet, I would worry more about my "skills" than ammo age.
 
Jan 2009
151
0
Richland, WA
I've been told that ammo goes bad after 6 months. I can't confirm it but you can't be too careful. I suggest everyone send me their ammo that is older than 6 months just to be on the safe side. I will gladly properly dispose of it for you.
 
Aug 2011
240
0
South Puget Sound
I've been told that ammo goes bad after 6 months. I can't confirm it but you can't be too careful. I suggest everyone send me their ammo that is older than 6 months just to be on the safe side. I will gladly properly dispose of it for you.


:top: :hmmmm2: Sure, buddy, I'll get it right to ya. What's your address? You paying shipping cost? :nana:
 
Jan 2009
360
0
Seattle
As for the tarnish having any effect on accuracy? On a handgun round? Not at handgun combat distances. The only concern is whether it will feed and extract when fired.

If you're worried you can grease your rounds, People are known to do that they say it makes them feed better and fly better..
 
May 2011
288
0
NW Quadrant WA State
If you're worried you can grease your rounds, People are known to do that they say it makes them feed better and fly better..

Right! Just like those old .22LR rounds we used to carry around in our jacket pockets. Of course that waxy grease NEVER picked up any dirt or pocket crap, did it?:grin:

I was amazed that we were able to actually shoot some of those rounds, looking back.
 
Jan 2013
72
0
Corvallis OR
I got a bunch of old 30-06 ammo from my step father. Much of it handloads and almost all dirty and tarnished. I was told by those wiser than me that corrosion between the bullet and case could create pressure problems. I was told to put the round in a press with a seating die and seat the bullet a fuzz deeper to break it loose. I was told that I would hear a pop when the bullet moved and that proved to be true. This may be BS, but it made sense to me and I was more comfortable shooting the stuff. Pistol ammo, I wouldnt be so concerned about. Ken
 
Oct 2012
9
0
Renton
I have used 1945 Turkish 8mm ammo. Every one of them went boom. I wouldn't worry too much about the age. I would be more worried about quality.
 
Jan 2009
1,318
1
Kirkland, WA
Interesting question -- and opinions in reply. I find that ammo in my carry gets tarnished simply because of taking it out when I'm at the range. It gets handled over and over again.

The solution? Shoot off a mag of it every once in a while. :)

But I've never heard of ammo going bad just by sitting idle. A buddy of mine never fires what he carries, always removes it and fires range stuff. Well, the other day we got the opportunity to shoot together. He unloads and I grabbed a random round. The bullet was LOOSE in the case! It would just spin around with no resistance at all.

To me, that would probably be "bad" ammo. In his case, he was just a cheap ass -- never wanting to fire his defensive rounds because they were more expensive than range rounds. But he'll never go through a box of the stuff in his lifetime (unless he starts getting into some regularly occurring gun battles, soon...)
 
Jan 2009
360
0
Seattle
Silica and ziplocks is a good idea, I hadn't thought of that.

+1 It's a good idea, I don't keep mine in ziplocks I keep them in the water tight ammo cans with a few packs of silica gel, haven't had any issues yet.

I've bought Wolf ammo in the past and I've run across a few steel cased rounds that had a little bit of surface rust right out of the box, although it literally wiped right off, and the rounds were fine.
 

mjn

Jan 2009
394
1
Tri-Cities, Wa
I wouldn't worry about it personally.. I recently shot some .41 mag rounds that my dad reloaded for me back in '82...

They still went bang.
 
Mar 2013
33
0
Rottenchester WA
D.O.D. retired ammo for surplus at 30 years old.
When they retired the 1970 30-06 ammo, I bought 10k cases (16 cent each), and bullets (pulled)(6 cents each).
Used new powder (IMR4895) and primers (CCI 34).
I have enough M2 ball to last another 30 years. To bad I wont last that long. My grand kids will have to shoot it up.

The trick to ammo storage is to store the componants, not the make round. With the powder not in the cases it & the primers can last over 100 years.

Just dont tell DHS, they only have 20 years worth of bullets.
 
May 2013
182
0
Oregon
As long as it has been stored indoors and has no case corrosion and
the primers have not been subjected to any penetrant oil, it should be fine.
Just remember that some old ammo was corrosive primed,
but I have shot ammo that was 80+ years old that still performed.
Lots of Old old 45-70, 30-40 kraig,
30-30, 44-40, 45 colt, 8mm Lebel, and never had an issue with any of it.
What was in your pics looked brand new.
 
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