Shell deformation?

[Guvnor]

I use a mossberg 500 for home defense. Ive been storing it with 5 shells in the tube, and the chamber empty. But ill occasionally hear the topic of "shell deformation" being discussed...in which the plastic shotshells can allegedly start to bulge or deform as a result of being under the constant pressure of the magazine spring for long periods.

Is this just a myth, or is there some truth to it? Has anyone actually experianced this first hand?

Is rotating ammo every few months a good idea?

Thanks!

 

[[Pb]]

I have never experienced this with tube-fed shotguns such as yours. It is only really an issue with box-fed guns like the saiga-12, where the spring crushes the shells sideways instead of lengthwise.


Don't worry about it. It isn't a bad idea to shoot your HD ammo every few months though, just to make sure it hasn't been damaged during loading/unloading. It's not really necessary but I do it for peace of mind.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Drop by sometimes and I'll show you a 20 gauge shell that split lengthwise along the wad column while in the magazine of an acquaintance's pumpgun for years. It jammed the gun when he tried to chamber it- fortunately it wasn't a critical situation. It's not the only such incident I'm familiar with.

It assuredly can happen and it's certainly NOT just an old wives' tale. It's more usual in LE riot guns that ride around muzzle up in locking racks in patrol cars with blown-out suspensions on rough streets, but if you ignore your shotgun long enough, Murphy might visit you too. See the story at http://www.wyff4.com/news/22345399/detail.html , I'd say there was at least a chance a bulged shell might have been the culprit here. Of course, it could have been a nervous homeowner short-stroking a pumpgun, or a too-long ignored semiauto with gunky oil, too- I don't know.

Rotating ammo in any defensive firearm every few months is a MUST, not just a good idea. You need to be shooting your HD gun regularly, not using it for a dust magnet.

Train and practice, remember???

Stay safe,

lpl

 

[[Pb]]

How long did it take for the shell to get split in a tube magazine?


I think I've gone a couple months at least and they looked new. But that tube only held three, so not a lot of tension.

 

[Fred Fuller]

More than a year in the case of the split shell, I don't know for sure how long. It's very unlikely to happen to a typical HD gun in only a matter of weeks.

As I said, it isn't an everyday thing, but it can happen. It ought to be a good motivation to get the ol' smokepole out and shoot it empty every few months at least, and reload it with fresh ammo. Skills get rusty, too...

lpl

 

[RandKL]

I've had the same five Winchester buckshot shells in my reach gun for going on twenty years. Loaded them in about 94. The upper rims around the crimps have, in fact, bulged a bit but they all still chamber just fine. I have no doubt they'll go bang on cue. No doubt they'll go through that Mossberg just fine.

I'd say change them out at least once a year at most if it bothers you. It doesn't me.

rich

 

[[Pb]]

Eek.. ammo is supposed to be expendable, not collectible. I would not trust my life with 20 year old ammo, but I think my life is worth 6 bucks every few months

 

[bullturkey]

I had Winchester low recoil buck stacked 8 deep in a 590 I used to own. After about 2 months they bulged at the base (low brass shells) enough that they concerned me if they would chamber all the way. I always check my ammo now on a regular basis, better that than an oh s*** when you need it.