moxie
Member
Robins? I was there '82-'83 on the SAC side.
Powder storage.
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Potatohead
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ive noticed that. I had wondered why every can I get seems almost like it's been tampered with, or could be tampered with pretty easily. Didnt know if it was lazy factory workers or what.
Pointshoot
Member
Well, this is an excellent thread on an important topic - though a little disconcerting. Its good to hear from those with a military and a scientific background regarding this. I had read the Castboolits thread linked to earlier. There seems to be a wide range of opinions on this topic and Ive heard others say that ammo & components have a very long shelf life as long as they are stored properly in 'cool & dry' conditions. (I've read where guys have said that as long as the ammo is dry and isn't allowed to get above 120 F for extended periods your're o.k.) I have some milsurp ammo that I bought over the last 10yrs or so. A little bit of Aussie and Port .308 and some German DAG. I also have some Soviet bloc ammo - Russian & Czech 7.62x54R and a little Yugo 7.62x39. When I bought the stuff it wasn't so much for a 'Mad Max World' as it was to be able to shoot for cheap. Prices have gone way up since I bought it, so it filled its purpose, I guess. Sadly, I don't have much of it left and some of it just about can't be found today, such as the Aussie.
I always thought that as long as the outside of the rounds looked good, everything is fine. I also thought that if I wanted to get real anal about it, I could always pull the bullets on a few rounds to check the condition of the powder and inside of the case. At worst I'd have to throw the ammo away (and the money it cost). At least I wouldn't endanger my firearms or myself. But from reading the CastBoolits thread, it looks like bad ammo might not leave me alone, if I leave it alone. It could actually break down & self combust ! Not good.
So how does this apply to the NATO spec 308 (7.62x51) & Soviet bloc surplus that I mentioned ? Are the guidelines different for boxer & berdan primed ammo ? What are the best precautions to take - inspect the outside, inspect some on the inside, shoot it all up, salvage it ? The ammo wasn't much of a savings if it self combusts and burns down the building its stored in!
If the air temperature where it was stored got between 90-95 degrees F for a few days during the summer (but usually was at far lower temperatures during the rest of the year) how bad is that for the ammo ?
I always thought that as long as the outside of the rounds looked good, everything is fine. I also thought that if I wanted to get real anal about it, I could always pull the bullets on a few rounds to check the condition of the powder and inside of the case. At worst I'd have to throw the ammo away (and the money it cost). At least I wouldn't endanger my firearms or myself. But from reading the CastBoolits thread, it looks like bad ammo might not leave me alone, if I leave it alone. It could actually break down & self combust ! Not good.
So how does this apply to the NATO spec 308 (7.62x51) & Soviet bloc surplus that I mentioned ? Are the guidelines different for boxer & berdan primed ammo ? What are the best precautions to take - inspect the outside, inspect some on the inside, shoot it all up, salvage it ? The ammo wasn't much of a savings if it self combusts and burns down the building its stored in!
If the air temperature where it was stored got between 90-95 degrees F for a few days during the summer (but usually was at far lower temperatures during the rest of the year) how bad is that for the ammo ?
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moxie
Member
You should be good to go. Occasional exposure to temps in the 90s is nothing.
I'm aware of no difference in storage requirements for Berdan vs. Boxer.
Absolutely visual check each round to make sure it looks good. It wouldn't hurt to break down a few rounds just to satisfy yourself nothing is awry.
Now go shoot it!
I'm aware of no difference in storage requirements for Berdan vs. Boxer.
Absolutely visual check each round to make sure it looks good. It wouldn't hurt to break down a few rounds just to satisfy yourself nothing is awry.
Now go shoot it!
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