Wet Ammo

[damien]

Maybe this has been asked before. I tried the search feature but all I am getting now is an error.

I had some water in the basement. Not that much damage, but some ammo got wet. I had it stacked up in the bottom of a shelf unit. I put it on the bottom because it was heavy enough to unbalance the shelf if it was higher up. The water was up to the top of the bottom boxes (about 1" total). The next few boxes were damp because the water wicked up from box to box but the ammo was not submerged. This is 9mm, .40, .223, .308 (these all brass - USA mfg), and 7.62x39 (russian - steel shell). Some .22 rimfire also. The ammo that was affected was submerged/dampened for maybe a few hours before I moved it out. I moved it to a dry room and just let it dry out there.

Do you think this ammo is still good? All of this is just FMJ plinking ammo (.22 is LRN) so I would not be using it in any of the SHTF guns around the house.

Thank you for your opinion.

 

[Sniper X]

probably

 

[CWL]

Remember all the soldiers that charged outta the ocean in WWII? Their ammo worked.

Your modern commercial ammo should be pretty water resistant for quite a long time. There are military specifications for water resistance of primers and FMJ cartridges.

Just make sure that the ammo has completely dried and wipe the brass to limit corrosion.

 

[Average Joe]

I think it would be fine, shoot it and find out for sure.

 

[jaholder1971]

Recently I had some 7X57 Mauser ammo get wet sitting in a waterproof ammo can that wasn't. Ended up being soaked for about 24 hours before I found it.

Wiped it all off, let dry, shook a few to hear the powder rattle around and shot it a couple months later. All went bang, shot fine groups.

 

[jaholder1971]

Recently I had some 7X57 Mauser ammo get wet sitting in a waterproof ammo can that wasn't. Can was in thetruck bed during a rainstorm, ended up being submerged for about 24 hours before I found it.

Wiped it all off, let dry, shook a few to hear the powder rattle around and shot it a couple months later. All went bang, shot fine groups.

 

[pinstripe]

Stuffs probably too wet to shot. Just send it to me and I will dispose of it for you.

 

[RyanM]

Some of the rimfire might have gone bad, depending on how firmly it's crimped, but the centerfire should still be good.

 

[Kurt S.]

When I was testing out my Keltec P3AT I fired some rounds that were at least 30 years old, had been been stored in non-climate-controled attics and garages in South Florida and various parts of Texas, and had been immersed in salt water a couple of times. No problems.

 

[islandphish]

Recently I had a box of Cor-Bon premium ammo in my pack and some soda got spilled in it. the box got wet and I didn't notice for a day or so. Well, I went out with my $25+ box of ammo and had a dud.

Not pleased. From now on I will heavily lean towards lacquered primers.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

I washed a speedloader full of WWB .38's a couple years ago and I wondered if they would still work. All five went bang and had full velocity, I chroned them just to check. I don't think I would trust my life to them but I'd shoot them up on the range with no worries.