While cleaning out my wife's parent's house, we found a box of .38 special ammo, at least 25 years old. Since the way they were stored is questionable, I'm thinking don't use them but how is the best way to dispose of them?
Old Ammo
- Thread starter russp1
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Send them to me for free, safe disposal. 
... or, shoot it up at the range. 25 years is nothing in ammo life.
... or, shoot it up at the range. 25 years is nothing in ammo life.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I've shot .45 Auto ammo that was made post WWI and also shot .45 Auto ammo that was in WWII. Who knows how it was stored over the past 65 to 90 years and all, that's right every one of those rounds went bang in my 1911. I shot several boxes of each.
What I'm getting at is, shoot the stuff as practice ammo and if it doesn't go band no big deal. (but I'm guessing every single one will fire)
What I'm getting at is, shoot the stuff as practice ammo and if it doesn't go band no big deal. (but I'm guessing every single one will fire)
Maddog 521
Member
I don't consider ammo manufactured in 1985 as "old". Shoot it and have fun.
OP
Well, I guess I'll look at what the load is and just decide on whether they go through our new Air Weights or our 1920s M&P 4". Thanks!
Just as an FYI... when you do have any suspect ammo to get rid of most/many PD's will take it off your hands as a public service.
gregintenn
Member
So will many forum members here.
bennettfam
Member
If you're worried about reliability just avoid loading your home defence or carry gun with it. Should not be a safety problem for target or plinking though. Like everybody else has said, shoot it up.
That's the truth around here. My wife brought me home ammo many times when she worked for the local SO. People would just bring it in and say they didn't know what else to do with it, she told 'em she knew just what to do with it.
Centenniel
Member
Shoot that ammo.
cgt4570
Member
We need a sticky at the top about this subject! I shoot 50-100 year old plus ammo without concern! I've got cases of WW2 vintage and it shoots great.
OP
Got to look at all the ammo that was at the house. All the bullets that were still in the boxes looked good except for a few with some white pitting around the rim. There were a handful of bullets in plastic pill bottles that had a lot of green corrosion and pitting, I'll probably pass on those. The boxes are of Remington Kleanbores marked "38 Special-Police Service-158 Grain Lead Bullet".
Ben Cartwright SASS
US Veteran
a little off topic but not much, a buddy gave me a bunch of 30.06, about 40 cartridges most dated 1918 and 1908, it has alot of corrosion on the sides, he tried pulling the bullets but some of the brass pulled apart. He tumbled the live rounds but the corrosion is deep.
What would happen if I shot it in a 1917 Enfield? My guess is that there could/would be a separation and it would be a pain to get out of the chamber.
What would happen if I shot it in a 1917 Enfield? My guess is that there could/would be a separation and it would be a pain to get out of the chamber.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I would take a pick to the cases and see if they are really eaten through. If not fire them because your 1917 wants that ammo. lol Seriously, I wouldn't fire a case that was compromised although I have several friends that would. If you push a pick into the corroded spots than the case holds they are shoot-able (but not reloadable lol)
w10085
Member
Be Careful
While I frequently shoot 1940's vintage Turkish 8mm ammo, I would not shoot anything that has corrosion that won't clean off. I had some 1917 30-06 ammo that had powder decomposing and corroding the cases from the inside. Pits in high pressure ammo like rifle ammo could fail. Lower pressure pistol ammo can probably be in worse shape and be safe. If one sounds weak, be sure to check to make sure you don't have a bullet stuck in the barrel. Overall, ammo has a great shelf life and US made stuff should be good for a lifetime.
While I frequently shoot 1940's vintage Turkish 8mm ammo, I would not shoot anything that has corrosion that won't clean off. I had some 1917 30-06 ammo that had powder decomposing and corroding the cases from the inside. Pits in high pressure ammo like rifle ammo could fail. Lower pressure pistol ammo can probably be in worse shape and be safe. If one sounds weak, be sure to check to make sure you don't have a bullet stuck in the barrel. Overall, ammo has a great shelf life and US made stuff should be good for a lifetime.
OP
Fired it all off in our 1920s S&W 4" and except for being a little smokier than new ammo and having more kick than what we normally shoot at the range, it was all good.
A few years ago a friend gave me a quart Mason jar mostly full of 32-20 ammo that he had found cleaning out his dads garage. The brass looked dark, but had no signs of corrosion, so I decided to fire some in my Marlin. Much to my surprise they were black powder.
Most of the case necks split and I'm sure they were balloon head, so I didn't bother saving the brass. Shot it up and as I recall probably had 1% failure, which I attributed to bad primers. Was anyone making BP 32 WCF in the 20th Century?
Most of the case necks split and I'm sure they were balloon head, so I didn't bother saving the brass. Shot it up and as I recall probably had 1% failure, which I attributed to bad primers. Was anyone making BP 32 WCF in the 20th Century?
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