[Shrinkmd]

Anyone pick up any ammo cans recently? I ordered from Wideners, and they smelled funky when I opened them. There is a piece of tape over the top, sometimes says "inert ammo residue" and there appears to be some sand in the bottom.

Questions:

1) Is the sand from the "sandbox"? Any worries about depleted uranium or other radioactive contamination (anyone ever run a geiger counter over these...although I assume if there was a problem UPS would probably pick it up, no?)

2) Is the smell a paint or other volatile organic compound which could ruin primers stored within? I have aired mine out, just left the top open for a day or so, smell seems gone.

Just curious...

[.cheese.]

I don't know what the smell is, but every ammo can I've ever bought had it.

I usually douse mine in isopropyl alcohol and let it all dry. That gets rid of it. Also, if you just let it sit open it goes away. I'm super anal about those kinds of things though. I like my cans clean and germ free. Can't have you ammo getting sick right?

As for the sand, some boxes have them and I have no idea where it comes from. A bunch of cans had red clay-like sand, so I don't think that's from the sandbox. I've had a box or two that had a spent casing, and at least one that had an empty box of ammo (it was neat to see how the military gets their ammo - it comes in these totally plain brown boxes - but then again most of you probably knew that already, I'm just easy to please).

Radioactivity though? Unless we have radioactive .50 cal or .30 cal bullets, I don't think you need to worry about that?

Wouldn't worry about it doc (I'm assuming your a doctor based on your nick)

[justin 561]

Maybe the smell is Cordite, have heard British ammo cans have this smell.

Radioactive, I doubt it. If that were the case I'm sure .50 cal military users would get sick. Sand could be from storage, maybe the loaded and unloaded the rounds outside on a windy day?

[parisite]

Sand???? Iraq and Afghanistan are full of it.

[velobard]

I bought a couple at a gun show and didn't notice until I got home that they were labeled for tracers. Should I be worried about corrosive residue? They have tape on them I've seen before warning of ammo residue.

[justin 561]

I belive it's only corrosive when you fire them.

[icebones]

mold maybe?

i had a few cans that had colleced moisture and smell petty bad too.

wash em out with strong soap and water, and let them air out. if you ever do keep ammo in em, put in a few bags of dessicant.

[justin 561]

Click below for more info about it. (corrosive ammo)
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=370838&highlight=corrosive+ammo

[velobard]

Thanks Justin, that helps put my mind at ease.

BTW, I recently picked up some 9mm tracer rounds from an acquaintance. I have no idea what I'll use them for, but I have to admit I've toyed with the idea of loading one somewhere in the mag of my ccw gun. Just an evil thought, seems like if the BG survived, he'd have some nasty residue left to deal with in his body.

[justin 561]

Haha, You gotta check and see how legal it is to shoot tracers at someone. I'm sure someone on here knows about it, try a search, or make a post in Legal. Tracers are fun to shoot at night at a tank of propane. (make sure you're pretty far away)

[ZeSpectre]

I generally hose 'em down good with a 4-to-1 mix of simple green and water, give 'em a scrub and then rinse well with a hose and leave them open and in the sun for a day or two. After that if I'm going to keep them closed I either put a few desiccant packets in them or a used dryer sheet.

I've had a couple with some terrible mold in them (especially around the gasket) but so far I've been able to clean them all.

[velobard]

It's not something I plan on actually doing. I'll blame the idea on the evil little demon on my shoulder. :evil:

[jrfoxx]

No idea on the smell. could be chemicals from the paint, or some kind of rustproofing, mold or whatever.I dont think the smell means anything in particular, andif it bothers you, just wash with one of the methods mentioned, and it should help a lot.As for any cans being radioactive, as stated, I'll say no also.But, if you are really concerned, I can check the few I have and let you know.:D

Yes, I have a Geiger counter. No, there is no reason for me to have one, other than I think it's neat. Yes it works, I've tested it on a chunk of uranium ore. Yes, I'm a freak. hope that covered everything.:p:D

[XDKingslayer]

I love that smell...Why get rid of it?

[MAKster]

I am sure any ammo can you buy at a gun show has been in some surplus warehouse for 10 years, so it's highly unlikely any sand is from Iraq.

[MaterDei]

Maybe it's some sort of blister or blood agent.

[50 Shooter]

Isn't the smell from ether or whatever gas they use when they seal up the cans?

[RonSC]

Join Date: 03-30-08
Posts: 44 Thanks Justin, that helps put my mind at ease.

BTW, I recently picked up some 9mm tracer rounds from an acquaintance. I have no idea what I'll use them for, but I have to admit I've toyed with the idea of loading one somewhere in the mag of my ccw gun. Just an evil thought, seems like if the BG survived, he'd have some nasty residue left to deal with in his body.

Just a heads-up!!!
Be VERY careful what you "feed " that CCW! Any time you
encounter "tracer" in 9mm it could very well be purpose-built "Sub-gun Ammo" and VERY risky (read DANGEROUS!!) in hand guns due to the higher pressures generated. A close friend attempted (unknowingly) to fire similar Israeli tracer in a Beretta 92 (destroying the gun) resulting in permanent nerve damage in his hand/wrist. PLEASE be carefull with this stuff!

Ron

[benEzra]

The rubber in the lid seal can have a strong smell, as can the paint itself. I always clean mine well with isopropanol and let them air out a day or two before using them.

[brickeyee]

The rubber in the lid seal can have a strong smell, as can the paint itself.

Out gassing form the seal.
If closed soon after painting solvents.

A little hot soapy water seemed to do the trick on all the ones I have.

[DMK]

Is the sand from the "sandbox"? I have a hard time believing that the govt. would pay to ship empty ammo cans back from overseas. Most likely, they'd sell any surplus boxes for scrap in theater. (Remember pictures of entire vehicles and aircraft dumped in the oceans at the end of WWII, Korea and Vietnam operations?)

Any sand in those cans is most likely from US locations.

[rodregier]

DMK has a point. The residual value of empty ammo cans is probably too low to make it worth transporting them between continents.

[packnrat]

is there anything in the "sand box" that is coming home?


maybe load up the mty ammo cans with said for the return trip on the slow boat?


:uhoh:


.

[.cheese.]

DMK has a point. The residual value of empty ammo cans is probably too low to make it worth transporting them between continents.

I was thinking the same too.

[ar10]

I picked up one from a gun show once. Sure smelled like someone took a dump in it after I got it home. Lesson: Always smell can before buying.

[magnumman44]

Speaking of stinking ammo, shoot some Eley 22lr..it has a distinct odor.

[beretta92d]

i have 4 ammo cans and they all had the smell.pretty sure it's the paint cause the storage trailers we used at walmart had similar paint and same smell..very distinct smell indeed.