Shooting old ammo

[340six]

I have what was my stash of factory ammo so I had a good amount of factory stuff. And always shot the relloads I made and if I ran short used some.
I guess I am a little goofy since my reloads have never failed but wanted factory ammo to have and stock pile incase
I have what would cost $1600-$2000 depending on where it is bought.
It was all wet but cleanedl up nice and have plenty and hate to not shoot it.
Any downside advise other than do not rapid fire it incase one does not go bang

[tchostler]

Shoot it. I'm a little goofy too, send me some and I'll help you shoot it.....
tc

[Kokopelli]

hahahahahahaha.. classic.. I'm shooting all my old stuff too... cheers.. Ron

[Hank D.]

Hi all.
To shoot old ammo, you have to use an old gun!!!
Semper Fi all. Hank D.

[silvercorvette]

I remember reading about someone finding some WWll ammo and shooting it. At the time the ammo was over 50 years old and it was fine

[chifus]

Originally Posted by 340six

It was all wet but cleanedl up nice and have plenty and hate to not shoot it.
Any downside advise other than do not rapid fire it incase one does not go bang

I usually put it out in the sun about 30 mins (at noon) before i fire it, that takes care of any moisture it might have.

[84BravoJ8]

WWI ammo still shoots if kept properly!

[Vincent Vega]

Heck, I can't imagine how old the imported surplus ammo was that I've shot through the years. Not to mention the less than ideal storage conditions they were probably in. I've never had any problems with old ammo.

[340six]

Well mine was sitting in water for 6-7 days inside a wooden crate. But has long since dried.
I am really doing the gun thing again after many years for my oldest son I feal I owe him what my dad did for me

[84BravoJ8]

If the ammo sat in water for days without any protection, the primers could have been damaged, depends on the ammo type. You could get a no fire.

I would fire to find out. Please let us know.

If it is bad you can pull the bullets and then reload them with the same brass replacing the primers and powder.

If you do not reload I will take the 45 acp and 10mm if you want!

[nebmike]

Originally Posted by silvercorvette

I remember reading about someone finding some WWll ammo and shooting it. At the time the ammo was over 50 years old and it was fine

I've 'still' got WWII and Korea era military .45acp ammo in the original boxes (some steel cased) and it still works perfectly.

I dont think I'd have any issues using factory ammo that has been stored in a climate controlled environment. I'd be less likely to stake my life on it if its been frozen and heated for years out in the old shed.

[den888]

Shot old ammo from 1984-1985 a few months ago and no issues at all. These were stored in GI ammo cans in my garage (dry, cool environment).

[medalguy]

Hey Den, ammo from 1984 isn't "old" ammo. It's practically new. I have in my stash a good bit of .30-06 that's corrosive and loaded in the 40's, also some .303 that is WWII loads, and all of it goes "boom" when I pull the trigger.

Now, not ALL old ammo is good. A lot of NEW ammo loaded in various foreign countries isn't worth the effort of loading it into my guns because it wasn't very good when it came off the assembly line, let alone how it will work after 30 years. I read somewhere that you shouldn't use any ammo from a country where you wouldn't drink the water and I subscribe to that theory.

[340six]

I shot some paper shot gun shells that my grand paw gave me with a 12 dubble side by side Ithica{sp?}

[84BravoJ8]

Originally Posted by medalguy

Hey Den, ammo from 1984 isn't "old" ammo. It's practically new. I have in my stash a good bit of .30-06 that's corrosive and loaded in the 40's, also some .303 that is WWII loads, and all of it goes "boom" when I pull the trigger.

Now, not ALL old ammo is good. A lot of NEW ammo loaded in various foreign countries isn't worth the effort of loading it into my guns because it wasn't very good when it came off the assembly line, let alone how it will work after 30 years. I read somewhere that you shouldn't use any ammo from a country where you wouldn't drink the water and I subscribe to that theory.

I was thinking the same thing.......When I think of older ammo I am thinking of the 1940's!.......

[Che]

For US and NATO the MilSpec shelf life of ammunition is 80 years if packaged properly. I got 1917 headstamps with lead 230 grain bullets and 1942 with FMJ 230 grain bullets and they are 'good to go'.

Of course I was in a gun shop the other day and an old man came in and asked why his ammo was corroded in the cylinder? He oiled the cartridges annually and wanted to know if it was due to humidity. He got the S&W revolver shortly after 9/11 and now it is just junk.

[340six]

Originally Posted by Che

For US and NATO the MilSpec shelf life of ammunition is 80 years if packaged properly. I got 1917 headstamps with lead 230 grain bullets and 1942 with FMJ 230 grain bullets and they are 'good to go'.

Of course I was in a gun shop the other day and an old man came in and asked why his ammo was corroded in the cylinder? He oiled the cartridges annually and wanted to know if it was due to humidity. He got the S&W revolver shortly after 9/11 and now it is just junk.

That I would like to see. How could that happen just from oil?