I'm sure many other members are in the same boat, but when is the ammo stored in a garage or interior room too old to shoot? My garage is nice and dry, very little moisture, no signs of strange stuff on boxes or cartridge cases.

Thanks!

Depends on storage conditions, but 25 years shouldn’t be a problem.

Plenty of WWII and older ammo out there that mostly still goes bang.

I think the oldest I've fired was some 45 acp that was dated 1918 and was probably over 80 years old when I shot it. It looked good and shot OK. Naturally it depends on how the ammo is stored. If it looks good with no corrosion or signs of weathering it should be alright. I wouldn't use it in a carry gun or defensive weapon though.

quote:

Originally posted by snoris:
My garage is nice and dry, very little moisture, no signs of strange stuff on boxes or cartridge cases.

Given those conditions, I'd say your ammo will be good longer than you'll be alive, even if live to over 100.

I still have some 1940's vintage old blue paper Peters 12 gauge shotgun shells, that I occasionally use for squirrel.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ace31,

I would examine it closely after 50 years or so. If no signs of swelling, corrosion, or other water damage, I think you’re good to go.

Someone gave me some 45acp ball ammo (200 rounds) of ww1..Orginal issue..Orginal packaging....Lot #35 dated 1917....Had been stored in a attic for well over 70 years..... All rounds fired.. but gave the current manufacture 1911 a thorough washing/ cleaning and oil down due to the use of corrosive powder................................ drill sgt..

This past weekend I shot some old S&W .38 nyclads.The dark ones from 1980s.

Shot great. Made some big holes through some aluminum frying pans.

A very, very, long time!!!!!

I've shot plenty of (properly stored) 70-100+ year old military surplus ammunition with no issues.

A mere few decades of being stored in your home is nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:
...gave the current manufacture 1911 a thorough washing/ cleaning and oil down due to the use of corrosive powder................................ drill sgt..

The problem actually was corrosive primers, but the concept is correct, clean thoroughly immediately after firing. I think ammo even as late as WWII had corrosive primers.

Modern ammunition, stored in a reasonably clean, dry, and cool environment will be good indefinitely.

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:
...gave the current manufacture 1911 a thorough washing/ cleaning and oil down due to the use of corrosive powder................................ drill sgt..

The problem actually was corrosive primers, but the concept is correct, clean thoroughly immediately after firing. I think ammo even as late as WWII had corrosive primers.

I don’t presently have a .45, but when I did I enjoyed shooting military ball ammo. In my years of shooting .45 military ball ammo, I would say anything loaded in 1955 or later has a non corrosive primer. I ran through a box of WRA 55 stamped military .45 ball ammo years ago and it was just as reliable (100%), powerful and consistent as the modern Federal American Eagle .45 fmj I was also shooting that day. I did not use any special solvents on my 1911 after shooting the WRA 55 ammo and my bore never suffered any pitting.

If I still had a .45 or if I purchase another, I would have no problem trusting properly stored 1960’s loaded military ball ammo in my magazines.

Cool and dry and you can store for decades. I was told temperature extremes and water/humidity can degrade either the powder or primer (or both...I forget).

N0!!! More than a year old is too old. It needs to be given to me for disposal!

The only ammo i have seen mentioned to have a shelf life was FN 5-7 ammo. Forget the exact wording but something in the primers has a short shelf life and after so many years won’t ignite the powder.

I store all my ammo in sealed military ammo cans stored in my climate controlled gun safe with multiple goldenrods inside the safe.

Have recently been shooting some Federal 30-30 shells i bought in the 80’s with no issues.

Years ago when i lived in West Texas and dove and quail hunted a lot i bought my shotgun shells by the case every year. I moved to my current location and stopped hunting as much and ended up with about a half case of shells left over and after about 10 years started shooting them up and some had low energy. Would still push the pellets out the bbl but not very far.

It could potentially last 200 years.



Realistically, if not stored in extreme conditions, ammo lasts for decades.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

I have fired ammo as old as the 90’s -1890’s ! That fired just fine. Ammo, as long as it is not exposed to EXTREME moisture Or temperatures will last forever practically speaking