flop-shank
US Veteran
I'm currently burning up some old Hercules Unique that dates back to the early seventies. I loaded it up in .380 form last year and it goes bang every time.
Just How Old is Good?
- Thread starter ColColt
- Start date
"Old" ammo
I had a small lot of .303 Mk IV ( I think) dated 1912. 2 rounds went into my collection, nobody was interested in buying any of the rest, so I took it to the range. All went bang except 2 (out of about 60) and was as accurate as my HXP 75 Greek surplus Mk VII.
As the others have said, if it's been stored cool and dry, just shoot it and enjoy it!
Larry
I had a small lot of .303 Mk IV ( I think) dated 1912. 2 rounds went into my collection, nobody was interested in buying any of the rest, so I took it to the range. All went bang except 2 (out of about 60) and was as accurate as my HXP 75 Greek surplus Mk VII.
As the others have said, if it's been stored cool and dry, just shoot it and enjoy it!
Larry
Peter J.
Member
10 years ago I got in on a deal for some original crates of 1942 dated 30-06 that the CMP was selling at the matches at Camp Perry. So far I have shot several hundred rounds of it, and average about 2% complete duds. Kind of surprised by that, but have no idea how it was stored for 60 years. Pistol ammo that was made in the 1990's and properly stored should still work 70 years from now.
nicky4968
Member
I have a handful of Winchester .30-40 Krag with round primers. I don't know how old. I touched one off about 10 years ago, "just to see". It would have done in any zombie in range.
I have one .30-40 Krag round marked "UMC" and ".30 Gov't". It has a lot of exposed lead (at least as big as the end of my little finger). I have no idea how old that is, but I wouldn't want to be in front of it.
Also, I had one case in Trinidad, Colorado, where the victim was shot with a Model 73 Winchester in .38-40. It had been hanging on the wall for more than half a century, and everyone always assumed it wasn't loaded. It was.
I have one .30-40 Krag round marked "UMC" and ".30 Gov't". It has a lot of exposed lead (at least as big as the end of my little finger). I have no idea how old that is, but I wouldn't want to be in front of it.
Also, I had one case in Trinidad, Colorado, where the victim was shot with a Model 73 Winchester in .38-40. It had been hanging on the wall for more than half a century, and everyone always assumed it wasn't loaded. It was.
Chuck Jones
Member
Modern centerfire ammunition has a very, very, long lifetime, much longer than the people who ran the machines that loaded it.
Sealed in a cartridge, modern smokeless powers do not really deteriorate, so as long as the cases are in tact, not bulged, water damaged, oil soaked, or corroded I'd say odds are it'll go bang.
It's my understanding that when stored properly, (cool and dry) modern ammunation's useful life will likely out last your great grandkid's grandkids!
/c
Sealed in a cartridge, modern smokeless powers do not really deteriorate, so as long as the cases are in tact, not bulged, water damaged, oil soaked, or corroded I'd say odds are it'll go bang.
It's my understanding that when stored properly, (cool and dry) modern ammunation's useful life will likely out last your great grandkid's grandkids!
/c
OFT II
US Veteran
I'm still working on a case of 7mm Mauser loaded by FN in 1935.
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