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Post by baldninja on Dec 12, 2012 13:46:15 GMT -7
Ok, this may seem a silly question....BUT....
Is my assumption correct that ammunition will vitually never go bad(at least in my lifetime) if it is always kept in a climate controlled setting, such as a house with central heat/air that is kept at the same temperature year round, with no noticable humidity? Yes, I realize there's always some moisture in the air, but it is minimal when you keep a steady temp in a house with central heat/air.
In case it matters, I buy only non-corrosive ammunition....and pretty much exclusively the reloadable kind, even though I've no equipment to actually reload any of it.
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Post by mrmike on Dec 12, 2012 15:11:47 GMT -7
My home is very moist and I live 1/4 mile from the ocean and all my ammo is fine. Both the stuff in an ammo can and my regular hunting ammo that's not in a can. That being said, I have come across ammo that has corroded in my life, it can happen. I think any factory ammo (brass not steel) bought today will last quite some time, even longer kept in a dry ammo can. I don't know about steel cased shells, I don't buy them.
Reloadable or non-reloadable has noting to do with the quality of the ammo so much as the type case used. non-Reloadable is Berdan primed, which means it has 3 off center holes in which the primer charge travels to ignite the powder. Reloadable brass (boxer primed) has a single hole, allowing you to punch out the old primer. Actually with some work Berdan primed brass can be reloaded, its just so much a pain in the butt that its not worth it.
I don't take any special steps to store my ammo. It goes in an ammo can and there it sits. Some will say to toss in some moisture absorbers, cant hurt I suppose. When I was in the service all our ammo was stored in cans in their original cardboard box.
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Post by marc on Dec 12, 2012 20:09:06 GMT -7
Sunday I shot 66 rounds of brass cased ammo from 1955 without a single failure of any kind. That's the oldest I currently have. (Yes, I have more so I can prove my claim) This stuff was packed in steel spam cans until I opened this particular (and one other) can two years ago. I have more identical cans from that batch and many newer cans that will stay sealed unless needed.
I have shot a LOT of 40-60 year old ammo of various types and origin. The only opinion that I have developed is that moisture is clearly the enemy over the long haul. It is important to remember that many hygroscopic materials are often more impacted by the actual grains of moisture in the air as opposed the relative humidity.
Go back and look at Will's and cwi's posts about wet testing of ammo...
Marc
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Post by karatediver on Dec 13, 2012 8:32:30 GMT -7
Ammo can go bad if it is bouncing around your pickup for a year or two. The vibration can cause the rolls or flakes to break down into a fine powder which will most likely change the burning characteristics of the powder. Submersion in water for a time may also cause problems. Ammo is more water restistant than water proof. I found this out when I tried shooting some ammo that went through a flood when a water pipe broke.
But if kept in a cool dry place it should last for generations. I have shot reloads my great grandfather reloaded and it performed flawlessly. Old paper cartridges may have issues in damp or humid environments. Also be aware that some older ammo does have corrosive primers so you need to clean your gun after using that ammo. I have WWII era U.S. Military 45 ACP that is still in the original boxes and looks brand new. It was kept in the back of the storage room at a local gun shop for many, many years. I would not hesitate to shoot it and according to the lot numbers it is late war ammo with the non corrosive primers.
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Post by hunter63 on Dec 13, 2012 11:51:13 GMT -7
Shot up a lot of old ammo, WWII and such,....No problems.
The only problem I eveh had was some paper hull 12 ga that are loaded with black powder....went "thunk: when fired.
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Post by baldninja on Dec 14, 2012 0:09:17 GMT -7
Thanks guys, good to see my assumption seems to be correct.
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Post by woodscustom on Dec 14, 2012 6:10:53 GMT -7
You don't "Have" to have ammo stored in a climate controled environment. Although it is better, it is not required. It is required that you keep it dry.
Ammo that you buy is normally stored in warehouses and Konnex Containers.
WC
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Post by mrmike on Dec 14, 2012 6:22:21 GMT -7
What really kills it is finger prints. Fondle your bullets with your greasy paws and they corrode quickly in a damp environment. Like any thing in life... clean dry and serviceable.
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