What to do with old .22 ammo?

I may be an idiot, but I'd probably think on a good way to clean them till they fit

 

Could try wiping off some of the lube with gas or brake cleaner, I suppose. Worth a shot.

For disposal, the bullets pop out easily enough with pliers or a vise. Then you can dump the powder in the yard for fertilizer and toss the rest.

 

" Spit and Rub Buddy! "

 

That's going to take an awful long time for a full brick. I'd just take them to one of my local ranges that has a bucket for unfired dud ammo and throw them in there. I have no idea what THEY do with the bucket when it's full. But, there you go. Easy, peezy.

 

I wonder how well they would chamber in a lever action or pump action.22?
Just a thought…

 

That sounds like an excuse to buy a bolt action 22.

You asked gun nuts lol.

 

If you're not in need of them currently but may be in the future (waste not, want not and all that), I wouldn't do a thing with them right now. I'm betting the coating "settled" from heating and cooling. Leave them where they've been another month or 2, let mother nature get them nice and warm again, then wipe them. Or just set them out in the sun for a bit before you shoot them

If it was hot enough to make the wax gooey before, chances are it will be again.

 

I'd throw them in my scrap metal barrel.

 

Local PD will take and dispose of them.

 

I vote for placing them someplace warm, then wiping them off. Great job for the kids or grand kids, then take them to the range to shoot them as their reward. I hate wasting ammo - even thunderduds.

 

I give my kid a few bucks to tear down all my scrap ammo as one of her household chores.

 

If there is deterioration of the wax on the bullets from heat and moisture, the thin brass cases may be compromised also. Have experienced case splitting with old .22 ammo in the past and it is not desirable. Again, most local PDs take old ammo and dispose of it safely.

 

If you reload, throw them in a case cleaner tumbler, 50 at a time.

 

.22 revolver or lever action. It's only wax. Do not throw them away if they go bang.

 

no need to throw them away. Lots of good solutions above, I just couldn't see myself throwing away ammo that still fires.

 

So.. I have a jar with loose rounds I've found at the range, duds, etc etc. What I do, is when the jar is full, I lay the ammunition in a rectangular mold and fill it with resin.

It's not amazing, but it makes for a decent gift to gun nuts.

 

They can be used as improvised pencils too.......

 

I would use a tumbler to clean them. Two options after that, add some Nufinish to the medium, it will help with lubrication. Sometimes when I use mineral spirits the brass seems very stripped and will tarnish some. If I do the Nufinish it's like I waxed them, like a car. Other choice would be to decide how many you are going to take to the range, put them in a plastic or paper bag and give a quick shot of WD-40. I haven't done either of these, just saying these are what I would try.

 

This is going to sound a bit crazy, but leave the brick in the garage, but turn it upside down. See if the coating softens and redistributes itself. Nothing to lose.

 

Yeah I was thinking something like this. Or maybe a lube/solvent that might make the coating retract or whatever you call it, not really much to lose at this point. I wouldn't try too hard or put too much time into $20 worth of ammo, but I would think it was a great excuse to blaze through a brick of ammo if you could make them function.....