[moewadle]

about shelf life. In 2006 I was seeing ammo start to go up in price sharply. So, I was running around to the retail stores and buying up all the 45 Colt and 9mm ammo I could at about $15-$17 and $7 a box respectively. Now I am sitting on over 1500 rounds of 45 Colt and about half that much of 9mm. So, since I do not shoot up ammo rapidly I am wondering how long this will keep without significant deterioration. Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge with me.

[mudslinger]

I have some ammo that is 30+ years old and still goes bang. Just keep it dry and you will be good. I also have some reloads that are fine too.

[10X]

Keep it in a cool, dry place off of concrete and it will last indefinitely.

I am still shooting WWII ammo.

[M2 Carbine]

I'm shootimg some GI 45ACP that was loaded in 1942.
It has lost the little amount of 25 FPS muzzle velocity.

[jonnyc]

Modern commercial ammo, if stored as suggested above, should be fine for 30-40 years.

[aka108]

Recently shot some 6.5 Swedish that was made in 1924. Great stuff. Also have some 1938 8x57 that shoots great. Properly stowed I wouldn't be surprised if 100 years wouldn't be within the realm of reality.

[Average Joe]

You can pass it on to your grandchildren.

[gggman]

I found some .45 ammo in my frandfathers barn about 15 years ago. It was WWII ammo, and at the time I found it it was 50 years old. It shot fine, and had been exposed to decades of extreme temperature changes. I wouldn't worry about ammo getting too old to shoot. You'll be to old before the ammo is.

[moewadle]

that is true because I am 65 now so if this ammo were to last 20 years that will probably be more than enough. Thanks, all! :)

[loop]

Store it with the bullets down in a cool dry place.

Bullets down keeps powder away from the primer. Makes lube used in loading drain down, away from the primer. Keeps congealing or melting away from primary ignition system.

Long as the primer flames and the powder goes boom the bullet will exit the muzzle.

Lead bullets with wax must be bullets down because heat will melt the wax. It will run downhill. If it gets into the powder - no boom.

Properly stored ammo will be reliable for 40 to 70 years. But, do you want to trust someone who died before you were born?

[The Bushmaster]

If you were born today and bought all that ammunition. Your great, great grandchildren will hand it down to their kids and it will still shoot...