ammo storage
- Thread starter jobbass
- Start date
Here's a 'death by powerpoint' answer:Quoting from the 7th Edition of The ABC's of Reloading, "The shelf life of modern ammunition (both commercial and good handloads) is virtually indefinite if kept under ideal conditions-sealed, cool and dry."
It goes on and on but of note is this quote, "Beyond cool and dry there isn't much to be added regarding shelf storage. For the longest run the best means is a military ammunition can with a rubber gasket, along with a fresh packet of disiccant. The can should be closed on a dry day and opened as infrequently as possible. If ammunition is stored in a can or tightly sealed cardboard container, don't break the seals (letting in pollutants) to have a look. Second floor rooms are perhaps the best for shelf-stored ammunition, avoiding attic heat and basement moisture. Cartridges should be stored away from cleaning products containing ammonia, bleaches, or acids. If it must be stored in a basement, run a dehumidifier and keep it off the floor. It is a good idea to make periodic checks of shelf-stored ammunition in non-sealed boxes-twice a year is fine-to inspectfor case tarnish or a haze of white oxide forming on lead bullets."
I hope it lasts forever, I hoard ammo way faster than I shoot it! 
Although speaking from a thermochemistry point of view, on a long enough time span gunpowder will lose its power. I can't do the math but I'd imagine it'd take a long time. This will happen because any high energy form of matter generally prefers to give off its energy to become a lower energy form of matter, but if it doesn't have the necessary energy to kickstart the reaction (like a primer's spark), it takes a very long time.
A similar example is that over a very very long time diamond will gradually convert to the slightly more stable graphite form. But if a platinum-diamond ring happens to get caught in a housefire (story I once heard), you'll only find the unaffected platinum part afterwards.
Although speaking from a thermochemistry point of view, on a long enough time span gunpowder will lose its power. I can't do the math but I'd imagine it'd take a long time. This will happen because any high energy form of matter generally prefers to give off its energy to become a lower energy form of matter, but if it doesn't have the necessary energy to kickstart the reaction (like a primer's spark), it takes a very long time.
A similar example is that over a very very long time diamond will gradually convert to the slightly more stable graphite form. But if a platinum-diamond ring happens to get caught in a housefire (story I once heard), you'll only find the unaffected platinum part afterwards.
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I remember opening cans of 9mm Ball Ammo on our pistol shoots in the military which was stamped 1955 and it worked awesome in the Browning Hi-Power and Sig's. The ammo looked like it was manufactured yesterday, still nice and shiny.
I've also purchased 7.62mm surplus from a local dealer here for use in my .308, it was dated 1967 and worked awesome aside from being pretty hot as well.
Goes to show you that if its kept in a cool, dark and dry spot, you could easily keep it for decades.
Cheers,
Exercitus
I've also purchased 7.62mm surplus from a local dealer here for use in my .308, it was dated 1967 and worked awesome aside from being pretty hot as well.
Goes to show you that if its kept in a cool, dark and dry spot, you could easily keep it for decades.
Cheers,
Exercitus
Ishootguns
Regular
- Location
- Acton Ontario
I have opened cases of 303 for the Lee Enfield that had a manufacturing date of june 1943. As long as the ammo does not have any signs of corrosion on the case I would think it to be OK.
Dave
Dave
the question that come to my mind:
You go to your gun store and ask for a specific ammunition and the guy gives you a box and while still there you open the box and you see a stamp about the date that has been manufactured 1994.
What do you do?
-you buy it for 2007 price.
-you ask for a fresher box
-you ask for a discount.
-you walk out.
Thanks.
You go to your gun store and ask for a specific ammunition and the guy gives you a box and while still there you open the box and you see a stamp about the date that has been manufactured 1994.
What do you do?
-you buy it for 2007 price.
-you ask for a fresher box
-you ask for a discount.
-you walk out.
Thanks.
Milsurp still exists...
If "freshness" were an issue then milsurp ammo would be highly volatile, would it not? I don't know how old some of it is out there, but I'm willing to bet there's some that's decades+ old that we've used.
If "freshness" were an issue then milsurp ammo would be highly volatile, would it not? I don't know how old some of it is out there, but I'm willing to bet there's some that's decades+ old that we've used.
Ishootguns
Regular
- Location
- Acton Ontario
Ammunition does not loose its freshness. If it is not stored in a dry place you will get corrosion on the casing and the bullet. The bullet would still fire just fine in this condition. It would not do your chamber or bore any favours bescause of the corrosion and possibly rupture the case but it would shoot all the same. If you are looking for the most "recent" ammo get into reloading then you can load up your bullets and then go shoot them.
Dave
Dave
I have 400+ rounds of .455 Eley. I think it was last made about 1938, shoots fine but you have to wash the barrel as it is loaded with cordite. I would like to know if anyone has reloaded it and what powder and load info are they using, The gun I have is a 1915 S&W stamped NP came from a warden in Jasper Nationl Park.
