What is the shelf life of ammunition?
- Thread starter heavyshooter
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heavyshooter
Member
I am noticing a consistent point here. A bullet will last a lifetime if stored properly, but it will lose about 25-50 fps every 50 years or so.
heavy
heavy
Ammo life
Like many others I have shot ammo that was older than me and it always fired. The only stuff I ever has problems with was some 12 ga. shells that were stored in my parents pool shed the chemicals ate up and rusted the brass and would not cycle in a semi auto but shot fine in a pump, a few swelled up and almost had to be hammered out but an old junker 85 dollar shot gun eh, no big loss.
Like many others I have shot ammo that was older than me and it always fired. The only stuff I ever has problems with was some 12 ga. shells that were stored in my parents pool shed the chemicals ate up and rusted the brass and would not cycle in a semi auto but shot fine in a pump, a few swelled up and almost had to be hammered out but an old junker 85 dollar shot gun eh, no big loss.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Winchester WinClean ammo will begin to have failure to fire issues after about three-five years. Most of it will still touch off, but you'll get one or two per hundred or so that will not ignite.
MIL-DOT
member
I've asked this question here myself, once about shotgun ammo, then about 22's, both of which I'd heard had less of a shelflife than larger, sealed, centerfire rounds. I came away reassured.
Recently, I found a couple .22 rounds in our washing machine,( more than once,actually, need to check my pockets !! ) so I fed them into a rifle, and they all fired without incident.
Recently, I found a couple .22 rounds in our washing machine,( more than once,actually, need to check my pockets !! ) so I fed them into a rifle, and they all fired without incident.
heavyshooter
Member
What kind of desiccant do you use?
I store my ammo in a recycled military 50 cal. container. It seals so well that my wife is unable to open it. I am, however, curious as to what desiccant I can place inside to avoid any moisture. You guys have any suggestions?
Heavy
I store my ammo in a recycled military 50 cal. container. It seals so well that my wife is unable to open it. I am, however, curious as to what desiccant I can place inside to avoid any moisture. You guys have any suggestions?
Heavy
Big Daddy Grim
Member
I'm shooting ammo my granfather bought so its safe to say ammo will make the 50yr mark
SamTuckerMTNMAN
Member
alert
I second, or third, or..... so on
what has been said about the long term storage life....I have fired grandpa's ammo that was from the 50's and 60' and 70' some of it, worked fine.
HOWEVER,
be alert to the affect of temperature changes. I had a load of .22 cal (rimfire seems to be a little bit more susceptible) that went from 1 in 30-40 failure to 1 in 15 and within 5 years of being wrapped, unsealed, in sandwich bags, in a box in the barn, exposed to cold extreme and heat. . . . 1 in 4 failure to fire!!!
Not good, even in, no especially in SHTF scenario. Only decent for solo hunting squirrel and da**ed frustrating then.
Good Question.
I'd say invest in a vacuum sealer.
Seal small quanitities so as to not break a seal on a hundred rounds when you only need 20-50 at that time.
Pack sealed bags into decent box such as Plano molded or even better gasket sealed milsurp cans.
Keep protected as possible, check once in awhile, some of the vacuum seals will rupture.
take care,
s
I second, or third, or..... so on
what has been said about the long term storage life....I have fired grandpa's ammo that was from the 50's and 60' and 70' some of it, worked fine.
HOWEVER,
be alert to the affect of temperature changes. I had a load of .22 cal (rimfire seems to be a little bit more susceptible) that went from 1 in 30-40 failure to 1 in 15 and within 5 years of being wrapped, unsealed, in sandwich bags, in a box in the barn, exposed to cold extreme and heat. . . . 1 in 4 failure to fire!!!
Not good, even in, no especially in SHTF scenario. Only decent for solo hunting squirrel and da**ed frustrating then.
Good Question.
I'd say invest in a vacuum sealer.
Seal small quanitities so as to not break a seal on a hundred rounds when you only need 20-50 at that time.
Pack sealed bags into decent box such as Plano molded or even better gasket sealed milsurp cans.
Keep protected as possible, check once in awhile, some of the vacuum seals will rupture.
take care,
s
jaholder1971
Member
It'll last as long as the shelf, I suppose
Blacksmoke
Member
A couple of years ago I remodled the cellar under and old cabin on our place and found one box each of both Winchester .44-40 and Colt .38 Long. They are old. Since I do not own either caliber I have been wondering how that ammo will fire.
RockyMtnTactical
Member
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Indefinite, if stored properly.
Average Joe
Member
Forever and a day.
RioShooter
Member
I thought I was the only one who did that.
Hk91-762mm
Member
The Military had a good idea --Sealed Ammo cans-I pop the top on a can when I want to use it and woosh the air sucks in or out!
A funn bit of info -I read where a powder co. has some smokless powder thats over 100 years old stored in a jug filled with water -Yep water ocassionally they take some out and test it --Always works as it did 100 years ago -
I have lots of ammo that dates back to WWI and Im sure its just as good today as then-In fact as a kid I shot up bunches of gramps old 32rf that was so old the bullets were frosted in white corrosion Darn they would be collectable today !
A funn bit of info -I read where a powder co. has some smokless powder thats over 100 years old stored in a jug filled with water -Yep water ocassionally they take some out and test it --Always works as it did 100 years ago -
I have lots of ammo that dates back to WWI and Im sure its just as good today as then-In fact as a kid I shot up bunches of gramps old 32rf that was so old the bullets were frosted in white corrosion Darn they would be collectable today !
heavyshooter
Member
CSI Miami
This question came as the result of a conversation I had with a friend after watching CSI Miami (a virtual well of firearms information). There was an episode about old ammunition that was being sold illegally. During the investigation, Detective Calleigh Duquesne dropped a WWII era 9mm on the floor and it discharged. The discharge was the result of age induced volatility. Who are we to question CSI Miami?!?! Maybe the ammunition was not properly stored.
COMMENTS!!!
This question came as the result of a conversation I had with a friend after watching CSI Miami (a virtual well of firearms information
). There was an episode about old ammunition that was being sold illegally. During the investigation, Detective Calleigh Duquesne dropped a WWII era 9mm on the floor and it discharged. The discharge was the result of age induced volatility. Who are we to question CSI Miami?!?! Maybe the ammunition was not properly stored.COMMENTS!!!
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heavyshooter
Member
CSI MIAMI and Old Ammunition
Actually, I think I am going to start a new thread on this one. I want to hear what everyone thinks about it.
Actually, I think I am going to start a new thread on this one. I want to hear what everyone thinks about it.
RoxboroRedneck
Member
I shot .45 that was still in the 20round box from WWII. Cleaned the thing really good afterward of course. Had a few jams but what can you expect from old ammo
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