Ammo Shelf Life

[lowkeyfilms]

I recently stumbled upon a box of Federal .357 Magnum that has been stored since 1987. Can this product be safely fired today, in 2011?

If not, what is my proper/safe procedure for disposing of the ammo?

 

[gunman41mag]

I recently stumbled upon a box of Federal .357 Magnum that has been stored since 1987. Can this product be safely fired today, in 2011?

If not, what is my proper/safe procedure for disposing of the ammo?

I'm shooting ammo made in 1943, & no miss fire

 

[lovemywoods]

I recently stumbled upon a box of Federal .357 Magnum that has been stored since 1987. Can this product be safely fired today, in 2011?

Last year I finished shooting several boxes of military issue .45ACP ammo that was made in 1953.

It all shot great and never had a problem.

As long as the brass is free of corrosion and the boxes don't show water damage, you should be fine!

If not, what is my proper/safe procedure for disposing of the ammo?

The best thing to do is send it to me!

 

[thompal]

I'm still going through .45ACP ammo dated 1943. It's pretty stout stuff, and I've never had a misfire. It doesn't seem to completely burn the powder, as there are little powder discs left over, but I don't know if it is because of the age, or if it did that even when new.

I've also got some UMC .22lr from the late 70s/early 80s, and it doesn't seem to have more problems than modern .22lr ammo. In fact, it's about the only ammo a friend's Ruger pistol feeds reliably.

Don't worry about stuff from 87.

 

[calcot7]

Little discs of powder? What length barrel are you shooting it out of?

 

[NIFT]

Agree with the other posters: ammunition has very long shelf life.
As long as ammo is not stored in extreme conditions--water, solvents, extremely high heat and humidity, etc.--it will last many, many decades.

Easy way to find out: shoot it!

 

[cosermann]

Sometimes I think the search engine only works for me.

One example of many:
https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...elf_life_effects_on_ammo_stored_longterm.html

 

[eldirector]

I've been shooting a bunch of .38 reloads from back in the early 80's. No issues.

 

[loony1]

your gtg

 

[rimfire_crazed]

Shoot it! Depending on what the lawyers were up to at the time, it might be hotter than what you're used to.

 

[builder_one]

I'm still using surplus 8mm from '44 & various 50's, 7.62x54r from the 50's, & some other calibers just as old as well without any problems. You shoud be just fine, properly stored ammo will outlast most of us on this board.