Spots on 9-Year-Old Ammo - Kept Dry But Was In Outside Storage Shed.

[thegazelle]

I recently had an opportunity to buy some ammo that the previous owner stored in a outdoor locked shed, and in which inside the shed were various new thick wooden cabinets that protected the ammo. Ammo was not exposed to any sunlight, but the shed is not heated or cooled either. In looking at the date of the ammo, it was from 2012, and it was factory American-made factory .223 ammo from a well known brand. I plan to try the ammo out later this week. The factory sealed ammo cardboard box seems to be in excellent condition. No signs of moisture or warping, etc. I opened the box to have a look at the ammo and all the rounds had some spots on it. I am not sure whether it is just some tarnish from the inevitable hot/cold fluctuations being in a shed for nine years, but just wanted to get your feedback on this whether you have seen this before and whether it is safe to shoot, before I try shooting it. Hopefully it's just surface tarnish / aesthetics.

 

[Deathrawt]

Is it just discolored or are there actual pits in the brass?
If it’s just discolored it should be fine to shoot
Your pics look like some of it may be pitted?
If the pitting is bad I prob wouldn’t shoot it
I have some ammo stored in an unheated garage I think I better go check it, didn’t think temp fluctuations would affect it

 

[thegazelle]

I don't see any pitting per se or anything that looks like it is beyond surface discolouration or surface tarnish. I just inspected a few rounds by hand.

Here are some more photos I just took of the lot. I bought a few boxes, and was going to buy some more but just wanted to get some thoughts first...

 

[damojo]

It just looks like brass tarnish. Shoot it

 

[yomomma]

Send it to me for fit and function test

 

[Potashminer]

A couple things - there is some stuff on Internet and some users experience that heat is a bad thing for gunpowder. I read old hands in Africa wanted "fresh" ammo - not something that was stored in a hot shed for years. No clue what that stuff has experienced, but "heat" above room temp is bad, cool is desirable and not so sure about freezing cold - I suspect the condensation as it thaws is an issue?? Would think that bullet is pretty much "sealed" by neck tension - not much air/moisture to be able to get in or out from inside - but obvious something has been working on outside.

Lee Precision makes a spinner unit - put it in a drill - latches onto the case - is parts of their case trim system - easy to spin and give a buff with 4/0 steel wool, or wipe with rag damped with solvent of your choice - maybe those marks just buff off, maybe shows some deeper corrosion. "Clean" is normally what you really want - that might not be the same as "shiny" - clean means nothing stuck on case that gets transferred to the chamber when firing. Tarnish does not transfer - corrosion does.

 

[thegazelle]

There is no doubt there is an elemental factor here, as I have ammo from 2009 stored at home in my cabinet and it doesn't look like that whatsoever.

The weird thing is, in the shed it was a in a modern thick wooden cabinet that is all latched and locked. The inside of the cabinet looks like a modern kitchen cabinet. No discoloration, no stains, no signs of elemental wear. And the box looks just like something you'd get off the store shelf. But you are right - the extreme temp changes and possible condensation of the heat / cold cycle would have contributed. I will go ahead and shoot it Wednesday and see how it goes. Would be nice afterwards to work on the brass - once it's all shot, I guess it can't be in any worse shape - may soak it in vinegar to see if it does anything - brass would be nice to keep if it can be fixed for potential reloading opportunities if and when I am tired of paying retail price and can get my butt in gear to get the equipment (likely many years from now when my youngest becomes and adult and moves out - he doesn't know I own firearms and it will stay that way...).

 

[Potashminer]

Somehow, I have many thousands of that Fed 3 dot and 5 dot brass here - I have been loading it for my Grandson to use in a Savage PC10 - it needs the primer pockets swaged to reload it, I think - I do not think any has ever come back for second or third loadings, yet - seems that I am swaging every time I load for him. I do have a stainless steel pin wet tumbler - run batches through that - seems just fine. For basic "clean", with fired brass, just warm water, Dawn dish soap and some Lemi-shine in a bucket - dump the fired brass in there and swish it around - comes out "clean", I think - does not get carbon out from inside like the tumbler will, but likely "for the eyes only" - I doubt it makes an iota of difference for firing it the next time.

 

[just having some fun]

What head stamp is that brass ??

Cost ??? ...... 10c a round or less ?

Paper has a Acid in it (unless you buy acid free paper)

moisture + paper + brass = Tarnish/ pitting

I would put 5 or so of the worst rounds in a tumbler (Dry media) and tumble for 3-4 hours

of those pull a couple of bullets and look at the powder / smell it, Does it smell and look normal ? and At the end of your inspection

Pour your powder you pulled into a pile of power on a pc of toilet paper light it and stand back

then you have checked everything but firing a round down range

 

[SustainingGopher]

There is a gun shop in my area that is in a re-purposed barn, has a clay floor and everything, I think it’s heated by space heaters in the winter…it definitely has the old world feel to it (possibly apocalyptic) anyways alot of the ammo they sell comes looking like that if it’s been sitting on the shelf for awhile. Maybe not quite as bad but close. Not the prettiest stuff by any means but it all works perfectly. As stated you could throw it in a tumbler to see if it cleans up but if it was me I’d probably just shoot it.

 

[thegazelle]

There is a gun shop in my area that is in a re-purposed barn, has a clay floor and everything, I think it’s heated by space heaters in the winter…it definitely has the old world feel to it (possibly apocalyptic) anyways alot of the ammo they sell comes looking like that if it’s been sitting on the shelf for awhile. Maybe not quite as bad but close. Not the prettiest stuff by any means but it all works perfectly.

Great thank you. Was going to hit the range to test this tomorrow but Director stuck a late afternoon work meeting in my calendar....arrgh...

That being said...they do have more of this ammo for sale. If it shoots fine, it wouldn't concern me much how it looks like at first. But if I buy a bunch of it and store it in my house in a temperature and humidity controlled environment, would the brass tarnish and deterioration continue? Obviously I wouldn't buy it to keep for another nine years, and would shoot it before the other .223 rounds that I have. I know I will have to shoot it first before determining whether to buy more...these are Federal American Eagle brand so it's not like some no name brand from a third world country.

It is true before the advent of air conditioning - this may have been a common problem. I just have never seen it with ammo that I purchased new before. Definitely makes a case for the advantages of keeping the ammo dry but also cool.

 

[Potashminer]

A good idea, to try the stuff before buying more of it. Most of those spots look like a tarnish - not certain why is just spots, and not entire case, but it is what it is. Some of the necks / shoulders look darker? Might be more than tarnish? No doubt to me they will go "bang" - issue would be if crap gets transferred to your chamber walls and scratches it when extracting or chambering the next round. So satisfy yourself that it is "clean" - does not really need to be "shiny". Just no loose stuff on it...

 

[SustainingGopher]

It might continue if you left it in the box. Hard to tell from the pic but the box seems kind of ratty, and it would hold moisture as well. Give the cartridges a wipe with a dry cloth and throw them in an ammo can or something with a desiccant pack and you should be okay.

 

[thegazelle]

It might continue if you left it in the box. Hard to tell from the pic but the box seems kind of ratty, and it would hold moisture as well. Give the cartridges a wipe with a dry cloth and throw them in an ammo can or something with a desiccant pack and you should be okay.

The box is in good condition - and it was the American Eagle ones that don't flip open but are sealed shut. I just unsealed it to have a look at the ammo. I did inspect the box to see if there was any signs of wear / moisture, etc. There wasn't, but I also concede that my highly untrained scientific eyes can hardly make such a conclusive claim.

 

[Buck1950]

I wouldn't worry about the 'New" stock from the dealer. If the price is good, stack deep. I've found for 'practice' (and fair accuracy) in my Ruger American Std, the BassPro/Cabelas Herters .223 is good and only $80/150 rnds (at local BP- NOT listed on-line??).

 

[thegazelle]

A good idea, to try the stuff before buying more of it. Most of those spots look like a tarnish - not certain why is just spots, and not entire case, but it is what it is. Some of the necks / shoulders look darker? Might be more than tarnish? No doubt to me they will go "bang" - issue would be if crap gets transferred to your chamber walls and scratches it when extracting or chambering the next round. So satisfy yourself that it is "clean" - does not really need to be "shiny". Just no loose stuff on it...

This is a very good point about about the chamber walls. I guess there's no way to try to clean the casings before firing them - like wiping any kind of cleaning solution on the brass itself - not submerging it obviously. I have run my hand up and down the casing and all around - there does not appear to be any noticeable deformations, pitting, or surface unevenness.

Even if it does go bang, I'd be interested in any feedback on how to clean the casings afterwards - that would be partly a curiosity thing - if it is just surface level tarnish that can be removed, I for sure will buy the rest of the stock of the .223 from the retailer.

 

[Suther]

I bought a box of 270win from Walmart a few years ago that looked like this. Not quite as bad as the OPs but the same general thing. Had no issues shooting it.

 

[thegazelle]

I wouldn't worry about the 'New" stock from the dealer. If the price is good, stack deep. I've found for 'practice' (and fair accuracy) in my Ruger American Std, the BassPro/Cabelas Herters .223 is good and only $80/150 rnds (at local BP- NOT listed on-line??).

That is an amazing deal! I will have to swing by my local Bass Pro then to see if they carry it. Around these parts at most LGS $80 gets you 100 rounds. Thanks for the tip.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Many years ago I knew an old fella who liked to keep 'some' ammo on hand. His preferred storage place was inside army issue ammo cans. As long as the cans didn't rust through, there was no air exchange. Cans stored on a concrete floor were rusted through from contact with the corrosives in concrete. Cans stored on wooden shelves were fine. Cans stored anywhere near earth were trash. For the most part only those on wooden shelves had .303 and 7.62 came out looking like the day it went in. But to complicate the storage equation ... anything stored where the atmosphere reached the brass or bullet jackets there was deterioration. Most of that was the paper rotting and sticking to the cartridges. At a certain point, the corrosion was too severe to clean off and the well-laid plans were only good for salvaging bullets.

 

[Potashminer]

This is a very good point about about the chamber walls. I guess there's no way to try to clean the casings before firing them - like wiping any kind of cleaning solution on the brass itself - not submerging it obviously. I have run my hand up and down the casing and all around - there does not appear to be any noticeable deformations, pitting, or surface unevenness.

Even if it does go bang, I'd be interested in any feedback on how to clean the casings afterwards - that would be partly a curiosity thing - if it is just surface level tarnish that can be removed, I for sure will buy the rest of the stock of the .223 from the retailer.

How to clean afterwards? Nothing but good stuff to say about the wet stainless steel pin tumbler for doing that. I just did a batch of 22-250 casings that looked much worse than those. I use a long punch from an old Lee Loader and pop out the fired primers - do not have a de-priming die small enough for .22 necks. A squirt of Dawn dish soap, about 1/2 teaspoon of Lemi-shine - cool (not cold or hot) water - dumped in about 100 cases and let it go for 2 1/2 hours. Done up just fine - ready to proceed. In your case, likely will have to deal with crimped in primer pockets - swage or whatever. But only needs that done the first time it is processed.

You might experience challenges with inside of necks getting "too clean" - I have an old small "Bonanza" brand tool - called a "case graphiter" - that coated mica dust on nylon brushes - leaves a bit of dusting of that within the case neck. Forster Products sold the refills - "motor mica refill" - part no. 018291 Some people will use case lube inside necks - I do not like to do that, but seems to work out fine.

First 20 years or so that I reloaded, I did not own a tumbler of any variety - brass only got "cleaned", but not often to "shiny". I have since owned and used walnut shell vibrator, an ultra-sonic cleaner and now this tumbler. First two are gone. I used to fuss to clean primer pockets, but do not any more - but I remove fired primers before tumbling - good enough!!