How long should you keep carry ammo?

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Slappy McGee

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I have some Cor Bon carry ammo that's about 10 years old. I've shot target ammo of a similar vintage with no problems whatsoever but am wondering if there is some "shelf life" that should be followed with carry ammo.

Thanks!
 
I haven't the first clue if there is any official/manufaturer's guideline regarding longevity of carry ammo. But I have personally taken to the tradition of buying a new box of carry once a year around my birthday (easy to remember). I'll shoot off all the old stuff and carry the new. Mostly this is because I just can't fight the urge to shoot the fancy stuff once in awhile.
 
I buy a new box of carry ammo for each caliber once a year on my birthday. The old carry ammo then gets used at the range along with one load of the new stuff to insure that it still feeds and shoots the same as the old.
 
I buy a new box of carry ammo for each caliber once a year on my birthday
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good idea, but I tend to keep it for years. It just stays in the mag waiting patiently. I have some "go to" ammo that has been put back for many, many years.

If you are racking it in and out of the chamber a lot, it is a good idea to check it for bullet setback/damage occasionally.
 
I tend to fire mine off every time I go to the range (which sadly isn't too often these days) because frequently the characteristics of my carry ammo are a bit different than my cheapskate practice ammo.

That said, I wouldn't worry about age too much. A lot of old mil-surp loads are 20-30 years old and still work without a hitch. In fact, a friend bought some 8mm Mauser rounds that were reloaded in 1954, and all but one fired.
 
I like the idea of buying new carry ammo on or around your birthday. I think I may start doing just that.
 
Every now and then I expend my carry ammo and get new, but not for any particular reason or in any particular time frame.

If you need a number, I'd say 4 or 5 years maybe. But that said, I don't think "ammo freshness" is much to be concerned about. You could probably carry it for 30 years and it'd work the same as day one.


-T.
 
Do you guys test your ammo in phone books or something to make sure it performs good or do you just take others opinions.
Also how do you chose your carry loads
 
tblt said:
Do you guys test your ammo in phone books or something to make sure it performs good or do you just take others opinions.
Also how do you chose your carry loads
Click to expand...

I choose carry loads via the following stringent procedure, which I adhere to religiously.

1. Find the cheapest premium hollow-points.
2. Buy them.

That's it.


-T.
 
Every 3 to 4 months or so.
I'll buy a box of 20 or 25. Use half or more of it, the rest sits in the safe.
I'll take the ammo in the gun as well as the one left in the box and shoot it all out.
 
I rotate mine out from time to time- no fixed schedule. I can say that I have fired over 100 rounds of .45 that was WWII surplus and it shot fine. I am buring through some '63 vintage 30-06 without a hiccup. I recently shot a box of early 70's Nyclads without any issues. I think that as long as the ammo is of quality manufacture and not exposed to extreme conditions, you are probably fine.
 
I like the idea of shooting some of your premium ammo at practice periodically. If anything just to bolster your confidence. Rotation is a good idea in general too.
However, I would say that the conditions that the ammo is stored in is most important. Cool, dry and stationary should be best.
Moisture is bad.
Extreme temperature fluctuations are bad.
Cold can be bad because it causes condensation which brings moisture.
Hot can be bad because is can cause chemical changes to the powder.
Extended period of movement and/or vibrations like in vehicles or in carry weapons or pockets can break down powders and primers.
So, with all that being said, I would say that ammo that is stored properly is good for 30 years or more. This can be attested to by anyone who shoots military surplus. Well stored, NATO military surplus is some of the most reliable, accurate and high quality ammo availabe in some calibers and many examples are vietnam era production. For me, I will rotate when possible. But I will have complete confidence in any ammo stored in my well controlled environment.
 
I like the idea of shooting some of your premium ammo at practice periodically. If anything just to bolster your confidence. Rotation is a good idea in general too.

Question RE expending hollowpoints -
Is there a good way to test expansion / penetration on the cheap?
I assume ballistics gelatin isn't cheap.
Water jugs? Phonebook / newspaper stacks?
I'm not up for taking something from the butcher shop to the range. I don't think the other people who use the range would be thrilled either, for that matter.
 
I have always wondered myself at how many times I could chamber a particular individual round before it was what could be considered "unsafe". Half a dozen times?...a dozen?...two dozen?
 
However, I would say that the conditions that the ammo is stored in is most important. Cool, dry and stationary should be best.
Moisture is bad.
Click to expand...

Exactly. If you carry a weapon in the hot, muggy south I'd say switching it out every year or so is about right. In an acrid environment like the SW USA, many years. Though you should be testing your carry ammo more often than say, 5 years.

Ammo for a strictly house gun probably keeps longer. My 686+ has the same 158 grain LSWCHPs loaded in it from 2 years ago.

But it also depends on how greasy/oil you keep your gun. If you are in the habit of giving it an oil bath, I'd say no more than a month tops.
 
I have always wondered myself at how many times I could chamber a particular individual round before it was what could be considered "unsafe". Half a dozen times?...a dozen?...two dozen?
Click to expand...

I consider that one myself. No big deal on revolvers, but autos, rifles and shot guns with extractors two things are considerations for me. damage to the rim and potentially upsetting the bullet alignment in the cartridge case.
 
Creature said:
I have always wondered myself at how many times I could chamber a particular individual round before it was what could be considered "unsafe". Half a dozen times?...a dozen?...two dozen?
Click to expand...

In my experience, well over 100, likely more, with premium ammo. The real issue you need to look out for is bullet set-back. I have personally chambered a round (Federal Hydrashok) well over 100 times over the course of 10 years and the only thing that happened was that over time the hollow-point was a tad less "open". When I finally did fire the round, it was into a wet phonebook and it fired and expanded fine.

***

To those "Average Joe's" who would seek to "test" hollow-points in wet phonebooks, ballistic gel, Jell-o, or whatever, remember... it proves absolutely nothing for your purposes. It's just fun. Nothing more.

So when you buy defense ammo, buy the cheapest premium hollow-point ammo you can find. Of course, make sure your gun will eat it reliably, but beyond that, buy whatever costs less.

Then, use the money you saved to learn how to place a shot, eh? ;)


-T.
 
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