Awww jeez! Not this !@#$% again!

[Glock 'em down]

I'm sure this discussion has been kicked around a lot but then again...maybe not.

The question is.

Exactly when is ammo compromised? Meaning, when does it "expire" like a gallon of milk? I've heard some folks talk about shooting their carry ammo every six months. My agency makes us shoot our carry stuff up at annual requals. So. When is it time to replace ammo?

On a related note, is the ammo's life span decreased if carried in your vehicle as oppossed to being safe and sound, all snugly in your safe or sock drawer? I carry at least 20 rounds of each caliber I own in the center console of my truck. Currently, in the truck is a 50 round box of Winchester White Box 130gr MC .38 Special, a 50 round box of Winchester .40S&W 180gr SXTs, a 15 round box of Winchester 12 gauge 00 Buck, a 20 round box of Winchester 150gr PP 30-30s and a 20 round box of Speer .38 Special 135gr Short Barrel Gold Dot +Ps.

Are these rounds gonna go bad by being out in my truck?

I just recently shot some .38 Special ammo that my dad gave me. That stuff had to be from the 70s and it shot just fine. Of course, it was kept in his nightstand. Would it have mis-fired or squibbed if it had been out in the car for the last 30 years?

Personally, I think the whole ammo going bad thing is a big load of crap but uh...what say you?

Your thoughts please.

 

[ldp4570]

http://www.okshooters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58838&highlight=ammunition+storage

This should answer all your questions. If not give me a yell!!

 

[Fyrtwuck]

I have shot ammo that was dated in the 40's with no problems. The oldest I have right now is some 45 ACP ball ammo dated 1981. I would not be afraid to shoot it.

 

[ssgrock3]

I have shot .50 ammo from 1948 without failure. Oldest small arms I have shot was 50's. Well kept ammo will probably last longer than I can keep up with it. I hope so, cause my 7 yr old will probably be shooting my reloads after I am gone. lol

 

[ChrisC]

when it turns green get rid of it

 

[ldp4570]

when it turns green get rid of it

Nope, a little mineral spirits and a bronze brush, scrub lightly, if it all comes off shoot away. The ones where it doesn't get rid of.

 

[ssgrock3]

tumble green ammo. If it just green shoot it, or tumble. If it corroded, pull the bullet and get ride of the rest.

 

[ChrisC]

when i was in college my work study job was with the campus police department. The chief was looking at his weapon for some reason and had dropped the magazine (non-drop free glock) and kicked out the chambered round... the crap was corroded... he couldn't recall how long it had been since he fired the gun....

we get new duty ammo once a year, i normally box up what i had carried and give it to an officer at a small department.

that being said....

why the 11 o'clock wall shaking everyday? how old is that stuff being blown up?

 

[aeropb]

ldp to the rescue!

 

[ldp4570]

when i was in college my work study job was with the campus police department. The chief was looking at his weapon for some reason and had dropped the magazine (non-drop free glock) and kicked out the chambered round... the crap was corroded... he couldn't recall how long it had been since he fired the gun....

we get new duty ammo once a year, i normally box up what i had carried and give it to an officer at a small department.

that being said....

why the 11 o'clock wall shaking everyday? how old is that stuff being blown up?

Most of what they are destroying out there are the bomblets from old arty shells and airforce bombs. Their license is limited to only 250lbs max per shot. Its not like where we were in Iraq. License none, largest blow was 375 tons, most were between 250 to 350. Some of the explosives they destroy are good still, they are of such a sensitive nature that its more dangerous to attempt to reuse than destroy, and some is stuff we no longer have weapon systems for, 152mm maingun rounds for the Sheridan tank , and 165mm engineering charge, 57mm recoiless rifle rounds, 4.2" mortar shells, 90mm recoiless rifle, and some of the 106mm recoiless that doesn't meet specs to be sent to Alaska and other sites where its used for avalance control. Plus the weather has lots to do with how much overpressure you feel from the shots. When its overcast the shockwave takes the least path of resistance i.e. along the ground, when its sunny with a mild breeze, you hear, but don't feel as much.