Use by date on ammo?
- Thread starter Steve H
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TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
As I understand it, and I may be completely wrong, the "BallistiClean" uses a lead free primer compound that has a shorter shelf life than normal primers. That's why the ammo is supposedly "non-toxic".
I have always suspected this is where the urban legend of "the government requiring ammo that goes bad" came from.
I have always suspected this is where the urban legend of "the government requiring ammo that goes bad" came from.
Ske1etor
Member
Primers degrade over time, not sure if that's why they put that on there though.
Mt Shooter
Member
I see it is way over the use by date, perhaps you should send it me for proper disposal.
OP
OP
Steve H
Member
Not mine, just saw the pic on the internet.
rice paddy daddy
Member
In the 1980's I was firing M2 Ball, dated 1918, in my Garand and Model 1917. no problems.
Animal Mother
Member
BINGO.
Lead-free primers have a very short shelf life compared to non-lead free primers. I've shot ammunition loaded back in the 1940s with no issues, but from what I understand, lead free primers can become unreliable after just a few years.
Larry E
Member
I've fired Canadian 9 mm military surplus ammo loaded in the early 1940's in the late 1980's or early '90's, and it all fired just fine. The only problem with old ammunition is that case necks can age harden and can crack/split on firing.
The no lead primers are less stable than either the old corrosive primers or modern non-corrosive lead based primers.
The no lead primers are less stable than either the old corrosive primers or modern non-corrosive lead based primers.
Crusader103
Member
Mid 90's.
Wow, my ammo is lucky to last 2 weeks. I've even got my 3 year old pulling the lever on the reloader to keep up.DoubleTapDrew
Member
Sounds like their lawyers got involved to protect them from legal recourse for a consumer who doesn't shoot it by that date.
FROGO207
Member
MY ammo expires on the day I shoot it. Seriously I have some 45 ACP that the box shows from the 1920's and 3 rounds fired OK for me last year. I did save the rest of the box and the empty casings.
Seriously I have some 45 ACP that the box shows from the 1920's and 3 rounds fired OK for me last year. I did save the rest of the box and the empty casings.Hatterasguy
Member
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Wow that sucks I expect ammo properly stored to last at least 50 years, if not longer. The Russian spam cans full of good old highly corrosive ammo will probably keep for 100+ years!
Caliper_Mi
Member
Hmmm, I was going to say that I just shot some Bulgarian surplus with a 1955 headstanp from my M38, but you've got me beat...
Hypnogator
Member
Err, no -- you may have shot .30-06 rounds dated 1918, but the M2 Ball cartridge was not developed until 1938.
xcgates
Member
Ahh, lead-free "safety" concerns rise up again. I remember trying to deal with that lead-free solder junk. For crying out loud, removing lead from everything causes more headaches than it is worth, IMO.
Sav .250
Member
If the ammo goes"bang", then all is good.
MilitisDeii
Member
I was able to set off primers
of cartridges which were manufactured
in the 1930s and put in a lake long ago.
After some drying up even the powder did burn.
It was amazing, I really did not expect that.
I would assume that well stored ammo can
last literally forever but surely much longer than
a human life span.
of cartridges which were manufactured
in the 1930s and put in a lake long ago.
After some drying up even the powder did burn.
It was amazing, I really did not expect that.
I would assume that well stored ammo can
last literally forever but surely much longer than
a human life span.
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most of what i shoot are reloads that i make. most of it never sits on the shelf for more than a year. if i make something up (like special accuracy loads for hunting), i will seal both the bullet and the primer so no air can get inside of the brass. all of my long term ammo, sets in military surplus ammo cans with good seals on them. 30-06 shells that were made in the 40's are still being shot today that were stored in ammo cans. at my age, if it lasts another 20 years, it will probably last longer than i will.
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