Is My Ammo Ruined?

[fadetoblack73]

I ordered some items from Natchez shooting supplies. Along with my order, I picked up a few boxes of shotgun & handgun ammo. I then went on a business trip out of town for a few days. When I returned home my order was in my "open air" garage. By using the tracking number, I found out that it had been delivered the very day that I left. The 2 days that I was gone, my area saw a few thunderstorms and 95-100 degree heat. The box was protected from direct sunlight and direct rain. But the ambient humidity would have been extremely high.

Is my ammo ruined? I would hate to be hunting next year and need that shotgun ammo for it only to go "fizzzz-pop". Or worse yet, need that handgun ammo for S.D. and it to go "click". It would defeat the purpose for me to go out and test it. Obviously, if I did that, I wouldn't have it when I needed it either way.

I would appreciate any info and opinions.

Thank you.

 

[starkadder]

I would't be concerned, modern ammo is very moisture resistant, unless it sat in a puddle for a while you should not have any issues.

This is this! It's not something else, it's this

Don't pull it if you don't plan to use it, and don't use it if you don't plan to kill!

ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR MEN AND WOMEN OVER THERE.

 

[rcmodel]

How do you think it got from the factory in new england to Natchez in Chattanooga, TN?

And from Natchez to you?

Semi-truck trailers are not heat or humidity controlled.

And they get a whole lot hotter & humider then your garage did in those two days I betcha!

rc

 

[wally]

I've shot reloads that have sit in my garage for 20+ years and they worked just fine. Factory ammo is better packaged and sealed. 95-100 degrees would be cool in my garage this time of year!

--wally.

 

[jcwit]

If the storage of your order during your absence would be a problem our military would have major problems with ammo stored in 140 degree heat in the battle arena.

Have no fear, your order is fine.

 

[ny32182]

Once I dropped a loaded magazine of factory Gold Dots in a puddle of rain water, where it remained for probably 5 seconds before I located it. All the ammo shot fine at my next range trip.

I wounldn't use ammo for SD or hunting that I knew had been submerged in water for a short period of time, but only as an extreme precaution, really... I didn't expect problems. Heat and humidity are real-world field conditions that you and your ammo will be exposed to every day while carrying, at least around here. Your ammo can and should stand up to it just fine.

 

[Kindrox]

Your ammo is fine. I would not store my ammo in that condition for 20 years, but a lot of other people have and all the ammo went bang. 2 days, unless submerged, is nothing. It spent a lot longer than that between being made and your house. A lot of that time it was outside of climate contolled environments.

 

[PinoyInFL]

I think your ammo would be fine. I wouldn't worry unless they're soaked in water.

 

[danbrew]

Unfortunately, it is ruined. Send it to me and I'll safely dispose of it.

 

[feedthehogs]

Next time someone questions ammo in heat and rain, ask a vet about south east asia during monsoon season and the current set of GI's over in the sand box heat.

Ammo is a lot more reliable than most people in the rain and heat.

 

[damien]

I had a bunch of ammo get wet, very wet, last year around this time because I stupidly stored it too low in the basement and had some significant water come in. It shoots fine, at least the ceneterfire stuff does. The 22s I haven't tried yet, those got a white powder on the bullets as they are not jacketed and I don't know if I want to shoot that or not.centerfire stuff

In general, the bottom two boxes were submerged, probably for a couple of hours. The rest of it got damn because the water wicked up the stacked boxes. Again, it shoots fine!

 

[wally]

The 22s I haven't tried yet, those got a white powder on the bullets as they are not jacketed and I don't know if I want to shoot that or not

That's lead oxide (what used to be the white pigment in paints) In Houston's climate it forms on exposed lead surfaces pretty much whatever you do after a couple of years. Never given me any issues when I shoot it, just be sure to wash up extra good after handling this ammo. Maybe if you have a hyper accurate match gun you might skip it in it, but in normal guns I've never had any problems from it, and certainly wouldn't be throwing away any ammo because of it.

--wally.

 

[danprkr]

Go shoot it, and report back. ASAP!

 

[FlyinBryan]

like others have said, its still good.

bullets and primers are pressed pretty tightly into the cases, sorta like the freeze plugs in my old 350.

 

[bigfatdave]

Shoot a random selection, if you get any function issues, congratulations! ... you have practice ammo!

Chances are your ammo is fine, but testing some random samples will confirm that and make you feel better.

 

[chris in va]

The only real way it would be ruined is if you soaked them in penetrating oil...

 

[Grey Morel]

for petes sake man...

The time you spent posting would have been better spent SHOOTING some of the ammo.

 

[Acera]

Remember guys we are dealing with a lot of folks new to the shooting sports.

 

[ghoster]

i found a cupple of boxes of .22 beside a fence post that i sit by when shooting ground hogs sometimes.

it had to have been there for at least a year. boxes were just scraps and shells were all discolered.

gathered them up and rubed them a little.

they shot just fine.