Ammo storage and shelf life
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I`ve had mine all stored in army issued ammo cans for 40/50yrs, they still go bang. As long as you store them in a cool dry place, there`s no worries. Hell i`ve got ammo older them me (and i`m 71) and it all still shoots fine.
Silica gel packs are fine. You can actually buy silica by the 5 gallon pails too. Do a search, they`re easy to find.
I usually buy mine like this because i store alot of different things. You can put it in the oven, heat it, re-use them.
https://www.amazon.com/Gallon-Orange-Indicating-Desiccant-Replacement/dp/B00BXJ52GO
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1,765 Posts
Good times buddie, good times. Thats why i love this place.
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6 Posts
Cabinet in the garage. No problems, but I live in a fairly dry climate.
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95 Posts
No issues with any of my ammo, but oldest of mine is probably 5 years old.
I store mine in ammo cans with silica pellets. No issues so far, not that that’s remotely a surprise.
Oldest ammo I’ve shot was 1941 303 British. A solid 1 second delay, but that’s cordite.
I store mine in ammo cans with silica pellets. No issues so far, not that that’s remotely a surprise.
Oldest ammo I’ve shot was 1941 303 British. A solid 1 second delay, but that’s cordite.
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704 Posts
More than likely the corrosive priming along with the cordite.
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3,924 Posts
Better watch out , I believe his made certain conditions in his will, regarding revenge!In the afterlife? You’re getting short on time.
As late as the 1980's I was using .303 Brit head stamped as early as 1914! Yes, there were hang fires and the necks used to split on a lot of it! But on the whole with modern components ammo has a long shelf life
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8,656 Posts
Well, I suppose my secret is exposed. "There can be only one". Remind me to tell you about 1819 sometime. LOL.
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8,656 Posts
Sword in hand. LOL.
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60,152 Posts
That's a good one.
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2,065 Posts
I have a few hundred rounds left of military 7.62mm 168gr match ammo from 1968. It still shoots sub MOA. Stored in the original ammo cans in my garage.
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3,924 Posts
Back in the 1970s. I became the proud owner of a Martini Henry 450-577. I know I got it quite cheaply from a Gun store in NSW and it was a mail order job. Included in the deal was 30 rnds of ammo. Now dear readers, believe me when I say that if a deal 'sounds to good to be true' ,it is!!!! Now the rifle looked as if it had been on the bottom of the ocean for about 100 years! If that wasn't bad enough, the ammo came in it's original packaging!!!!!!! Yep brown waxed paper tied up with string!
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Now the case had a steel base and was soldered to the case which in turn was soldered up the side! If this wasn't bad enough the stuff was green with age!
I was about 17 at the time (from memory) My Old Man thought it was hilarious but suggested I should see if it fired!!!!
I test fired it by tying it to an old tyre, tying a long piece of string to the trigger and moving to a very safe distance and pulling it! Well behold it actually fired and didn't blow up! Now if the 60 yr old me could go back in time to the 17 yr old me .......I would kick his arse!
I decided that the rifle was safe to fire and went in search of goats! Some time and about 10+ misfires later, I bagged a goat at about 50 yds! I could not see the goat for smoke but I remember hearing a solid 'thunk' as the projectile hit! The moral of this story? Just cause ammo manufactured in the 1870s-1880s fires......Only an Idiot would try it!
I was about 17 at the time (from memory) My Old Man thought it was hilarious but suggested I should see if it fired!!!!
I test fired it by tying it to an old tyre, tying a long piece of string to the trigger and moving to a very safe distance and pulling it! Well behold it actually fired and didn't blow up! Now if the 60 yr old me could go back in time to the 17 yr old me .......I would kick his arse!
I decided that the rifle was safe to fire and went in search of goats! Some time and about 10+ misfires later, I bagged a goat at about 50 yds! I could not see the goat for smoke but I remember hearing a solid 'thunk' as the projectile hit! The moral of this story? Just cause ammo manufactured in the 1870s-1880s fires......Only an Idiot would try it!
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471 Posts
I'm late to the party,,,,,,,,again. Ask your great grandchildren how they are holding up. You are going beyond what is usually needed. Just keep it in a temperature stable fairly low humidity environment. I use an inside closet. It will last longer than you and probably those grandchildren.
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12,735 Posts
I have some ww2 .45 acp from my grandfather that I wouldn’t hesitate to fire. I haven’t due to sentimental value.
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400 Posts
It sounds to me like you are taking good care of your ammo. I would think as long as they are stored in a cool dry place they should be fine. I have a spam can of Moisin Nagant ammo 7.62x54R that is from the 1940’s and it fires just fine.
(could be wrong about the date, but it is definitely old military surplus)
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