Freshing up my ammunition stockpile

BrovoEchoSierra said:
Ammo will last a lot longer than we think.
I am shooting military surplus 8 mm and 7.62 Russian ammo from the 60's.
Once i a while you have a cracked neck, but it all shoots.

My Dad just passed a couple months ago, and there is ammo down there that he loaded in the 70's. When we get the time and courage to through his things, it will be divided up, and will eventually get shot.
I have not doubts that it will most all go bang.
The only thing that I worry about is the shot gun ammo. He gave brother and I some boxes of 12 gauge ammo a few years ago, and it was pretty hot. I know it was loaded correctly, and Dad was a load by the book sort of a guy. I think the moisture has dried out of the powder, changing the burn rate. May have to scrap that stuff, but its only 15 or 20 boxes of shot shells.
Click to expand...

If you scrap it out, be sure to punch out the unfired primers and save them and the shot.
 
Last edited:
In my experience old ammo that has been stored under normal house conditions and visually is not corroded of compromised is fine to shoot.
I have a lot of ammo that is a few decades old that shoots just fine, not problems at all.
I have some Norma 7x61 Sharpe&Hart that my Father bought in the early 1960's that still shoots very well, averaging still 1.5" 5 shot groups at 100yds.
My son has the rifle now and still has 3 or 4 boxes of that ammunition.
Just my opinion to add to the fray. 😁
 
Happy things are going well for you and the new job.

A suggestion: each pay period buy a couple boxes or whatever is comfortable for a year. When you go to the range, buy the ammo you plan on using that day; any remaining, add to your inventory.

A lot of places will have 'Black Friday' sales coming up on ammo too.

Hope this helps.
 
@GMhost Magnum,
As said above, your 2 and 3 year old ammo is not old at all. I have shot 45 Auto ammo from a loaded magazine which has been loaded since WWII. Both the ammo and magazines worked flawlessly.

As for rifle ammo, I have shot 30-06 ammo that was loaded sometime between WWI and WWII and it was perfect.

If you're still concerned store your ammo in a military type ammo can. That will aid in keep it "fresh" for a very long time since if the seal is good the can is airtight.

Relax, be happy and safe shooting Sir...
 
riverrat38 said:
Probably just as effective now as back then, also.
I have fired it from my M60-10. My accurate follow up times would suck! Maybe something to be said for loading the magnum round in the last hole.

73,
Rick
Click to expand...

Anything close to a center torso hit with those won't need a follow up shot.
 
Don't count my ammo. When some gets empty it gets run through the Dillon and it's ready to go again. i have sealed cased ammo that I bought from the CMP over a decade ago. Bet it'll all still go bang 40 years from now.
I have shells and cartridges in my collection that go back before WWII. I don't think you'd to stand in front of it when the hammer drops.
Kept dry and away from extreme heat ammo will be good 100 years from now. Brings a chuckle to read posters changing out "stale" ammo for fresh.
 
Ghost Magnum said:
I decided to get back in the game. I inspected everything single cartridge in my stock pile. More than 200 5.56 and over a hundred 357 magnum. My 5.56 is over 2 years old and some of my 357 magnums are nearly 3. My battery for my surestrike practice laser died long ago. Nearly all my ammunition looks good. Very few 357 magnums have blemishes. None of the 5.56 have any. None of my ammunition looks dangerous. I ordered my first fresh boxes of 357 magnums self defense ammunition. Soon I'm going to freshen up my stash of 5.56. I ordered new batteries for my practice lasers. I'm going to start practicing my draw and stances like I used to. Soon I'm going to blow off all my old ammunition in practice.

I also ordered myself a new duffel bag to replace my old one that got damaged in my accident (blood, oil, grease and rips). I keep a spare uniform, socks, clothing and food. I keep that bag near me at all times just in case I get called in work in short notice. I got called in a lot so I just grab that bag on my way out the door and change into my uniform at work. I kept band aids and allergy medicine in my old bag too. But this time I'm keeping a full med kit in my new bag. I'm going to be better prepared for the future.
Click to expand...
My stock pile that I have worked on the last couple years is a few thousand. You can get what I consider the best defensive 357 Mag and 38+P right from Remington since they now have it in stock.They have the semi jacketed hollow point rounds in stock for both calibers. Last time I checked a box of a hundred Remington UMC 357 Mag 125 grain SJHP was selling for $112 a box. It is an old school round that modern ammo just can't quite hang with in my opinion. You can get it online from places like Gunbroker or Ammseek for $75 a box.

Remington has the HTP versions in stock for both calibers though their HTP (High Terminal Performance) ammo is more expensive than their UMC stuff and the only real difference is the HTP has nickle plated casing as opposed to brass. I just got two hundred rounds of the HTP 38+P online from a GB seller for 54 cents a round. The Remington ammo reviews on YouTube are great and I swear by the stuff. Great for self defense and for the range. Extremely accurate and effective. There is no need to pay $2.00 or more a round for self defense 357 Mag and 38+P. And I do have boxes of Buffalo Bore, Underwood and Hornandy self defense ammo that looking back I overpaid for. But I keep everything loaded with Remington ammo. And that has nothing to do with price. I just trust it more when it comes to keeping my family and myself safe from harm.

You can always find great deals online for 556 and 223, but the cheapest that I have seen it around it at a brick and mortar retail store is Sportsman's Warehouse. Usually $13.99 for a 20 round box of Winchester 55 grain FMJ and also for Winchester 62 grain Green Tip. I never see prices that cheap at any LGS or other chain stores. Always in stock too.
 
Last edited:
SS336 said:
In my experience old ammo that has been stored under normal house conditions and visually is not corroded of compromised is fine to shoot.
I have a lot of ammo that is a few decades old that shoots just fine, not problems at all.
I have some Norma 7x61 Sharpe&Hart that my Father bought in the early 1960's that still shoots very well, averaging still 1.5" 5 shot groups at 100yds.
My son has the rifle now and still has 3 or 4 boxes of that ammunition.
Just my opinion to add to the fray. 😁
Click to expand...
I just blew through around 30 rounds of Smith & Wesson brand 357 Mag at the range last week and it was from the 80's. It shot just fine. I still have around 20 rounds left in the box.
 
SWFan27 said:
I could blow through those few hundred rounds in one day at the range. :D
Click to expand...

lol, you and half the members here on the forum. I for one like to shoot.

Went to an inside range today for the first time. (1st time for that range) I brought only 2 handguns, a S&W M22A (22lr) and a Colt Detective Special. I shot 300 rounds of 22lr and 150 rounds of .38 Special. I would have shot more but I didn't want to pay for another hour for the bay. I'm slightly frugal. (read cheap) My grown son had a great time too! :D
 
With freshening the supply up, the cost for SD buckshot is still pretty high. Preference for low recoil 12ga. 00-8 pellet. Most of what was finding is 9 pellet with $1.+ per round. Grabbed a case of Nobel 00-9 pellet price was good with free shipping. Run some in the 870 next week.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9652.jpg
    IMG_9652.jpg
    73.6 KB · Views: 8
  • IMG_9653.jpg
    IMG_9653.jpg
    77.7 KB · Views: 4
It's always fresh if it hasn't been improperly stored, i.e., under a tree in the back yard for twenty years. "Fresh" doesn't require ritualistic procedures like primer sealant, vacuum sealing, dessicant packets, etc. Original packaging on a closet shelf in your home is fine for all ammo and works at least as well as any other method.
 
SS336 said:
In my experience old ammo that has been stored under normal house conditions and visually is not corroded of compromised is fine to shoot.
I have a lot of ammo that is a few decades old that shoots just fine, not problems at all.
I have some Norma 7x61 Sharpe&Hart that my Father bought in the early 1960's that still shoots very well, averaging still 1.5" 5 shot groups at 100yds.
My son has the rifle now and still has 3 or 4 boxes of that ammunition.
Just my opinion to add to the fray. 😁
Click to expand...

That's some scarce ammo! It's been years since Norma imported loaded ammo, but I think brass is still available in limited quantities. Still my favorite elk cartidge, but the much later introduction of the 7mm Remington just about killed the 7x61.
 
You worry too much about your ammunition.
Age doesn't matter. It will work just fine 50 years or longer from when it was made unless subjected to very long periods of over 125 degree temperatures over many years
Tarnished brass doesn't matter. Ammo getting wet for short periods of time doesn't matter if they are factory loads ( sealed).
Even reloads are surprisingly resistant to moisture. I don't know how many times I have left a few rounds of .22 LR in my pants pocket that subsequently went through a heavy wash cycle.
I always take them out in the yard to test the results. And rimfire ammo is probably the least water resistant ammunition of all.
Have NEVER had a misfire or weak shot.
Even when I found them before going into the dryer and they were wet to the touch.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Chrisj357
Double Action with .357 Magnum
2 3 4
Replies
60
Views
4K
SWFan27
S
H
My First Three S&W Revolvers
Replies
8
Views
597
lgeorge1
L
Dino44
New 686-7 Mountain Gun
Replies
14
Views
973
The Norseman
The Norseman
Golddollar
My Model 41s are getting a new brother
Replies
9
Views
1K
Minshooter
M
J
Ended up Adding an Optic to my M&P22 Compacts
Replies
1
Views
357
redbanks
R

Latest posts

Back
Top