walking arsenal
Member
ive been carrying a shotgun in the trunk of my car all summer. I know i should rotate out the shells at some point but does anyone have any experience of aproximatley how long shotshells will last stored in a car trunk?
lifetime of shotshells stored in car trunk
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griz
Member
Probably a long time (years) but because of heat and condensation I would shoot them up at least every year. Of course in real life I would forget and in 2007 they would still fire. (probably)
walking arsenal
Member
one of those old cryslers would do it......maybe.
so i'm guessing then that in the Minnesota climate 6 months would be playing it safe?
so i'm guessing then that in the Minnesota climate 6 months would be playing it safe?
Eightball
Member
That's what I thought. That, or the best lottery tickets ever.
Zach S
Member
Just take your trunk gun to the range once a month, problem solved.
I found a box of S&B 00 buck in the trunk of my Fairmont a month or two ago that I dont remember buying. Its possible that I got it years ago for my 870, which was sold years go, but resided in the trunk of my car for the time I had it. It had to be at least three or four years old, and every round fired. Also keep in mind that this car had a duct tape back glass for about a week or so.
I found a box of S&B 00 buck in the trunk of my Fairmont a month or two ago that I dont remember buying. Its possible that I got it years ago for my 870, which was sold years go, but resided in the trunk of my car for the time I had it. It had to be at least three or four years old, and every round fired. Also keep in mind that this car had a duct tape back glass for about a week or so.
Hardtarget
Member
Several years ago,mid summer, Brother in law and I were standing around talking.
We noticed the birds flying over were starlings...hundreds of them. I pulled my 12 ga o/u to try a shot at the next flight. I loaded with high brass #6 and fired two shots. He stopped me real quick...said he'd never seen shuch a muzzle flash. It was huge!(compared to expectations) We figured the high temp of the day, shells in the trunk, and still very warm were contributing factors. Maybe not, but I didn't want to do damage to the gun, so I stopped. So , back to your thread, I don't know how long they'll last, but, I'm pretty sure heat will affect them. really helps, doesn't it?
Mark.
We noticed the birds flying over were starlings...hundreds of them. I pulled my 12 ga o/u to try a shot at the next flight. I loaded with high brass #6 and fired two shots. He stopped me real quick...said he'd never seen shuch a muzzle flash. It was huge!(compared to expectations) We figured the high temp of the day, shells in the trunk, and still very warm were contributing factors. Maybe not, but I didn't want to do damage to the gun, so I stopped. So , back to your thread, I don't know how long they'll last, but, I'm pretty sure heat will affect them. really helps, doesn't it?
Mark.
ksnecktieman
Member
That is less than perfect storage conditions,,, but,,,, I would like to put a box of any brand of shotgun shells you choose in the trunk of my car, and in five years I will pull them out and give you five bucks for everyone that does not fire, if you will give me one for every one that does fire. ( I think I will make a quick twenty bucks, and that is planning five bucks to purchase the box.)
Do I want to defend my life with ammo that was stored poorly? NO. Do I expect it to work most of the time? YES.
When I was young (that would have been in the mid sixties) I hunted with 16 ga shotgun shellls that had been rolling around in an uncles kitchen tool drawer so long that makers name was rubbed off. The corners of the paper hulls were ragged from abuse. Some of the bases were green from tarnish, some showed water marks from stuff spilled on them. None of them failed to fire, and modern shotshells are designed better, and I expect, manufactured to better quality standards.
If the purpose of this post was to convince your significant other that you needed to use up all ammo on a yearly basis, put me on ignore before you show her this post. YMMV
Do I want to defend my life with ammo that was stored poorly? NO. Do I expect it to work most of the time? YES.
When I was young (that would have been in the mid sixties) I hunted with 16 ga shotgun shellls that had been rolling around in an uncles kitchen tool drawer so long that makers name was rubbed off. The corners of the paper hulls were ragged from abuse. Some of the bases were green from tarnish, some showed water marks from stuff spilled on them. None of them failed to fire, and modern shotshells are designed better, and I expect, manufactured to better quality standards.
If the purpose of this post was to convince your significant other that you needed to use up all ammo on a yearly basis, put me on ignore before you show her this post.
YMMVLucky
Member
AIUI shells and rimfire cartridges are less effected than other cartridges, but you can theoretically damage your gun with ammunition carried in a car. Because of all the vibration, the grains of powder break down into finer powder, and this powder burns much faster, thus higher pressures.
walking arsenal
Member
So does anyone have any suggestions on a good length of time to store these things before the become *gasp* unsafe?
Sleeping Dog
Member
It seems like a big muzzle flash would indicate a weak round, not a powerful one. Some powder is burning outside the barrel, a waste of energy. Maybe the heat made the powder "slower".
Unless the gun was gas-operated, like an M1 or AR, slow powder shouldn't cause any damage.
Starlings? What do you do with downed Starlings? Or are they just flying varmints?
Regards.
charby
Member
One time I scored a bunch (10) boxes of shot shells from the 60's at a gun show for 2 bucks a box. Everyone of them worked.
Currently I hunt with shotshells that are over ten years old, a friend of mine's Father died and her mother gave me all the shot gun shells that he stashed away. I have enough shells to get me through the next 7-8 pheasant seasons easily.
Charby
Currently I hunt with shotshells that are over ten years old, a friend of mine's Father died and her mother gave me all the shot gun shells that he stashed away. I have enough shells to get me through the next 7-8 pheasant seasons easily.
Charby
entropy
Member
I know at least 3 years in Minnesota. I found a box of AA's I threw in the trunk 'just in case' for grouse on the way up to deer hunting one year. When I sold the car, I was cleaning it out and 'found' them again. Shot 'em up at trap the next week, no problems at all. They were under a blanket most of that time, I'm sure that helped.
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