What’s the oldest ammo you’ve ever shot??

SilentStalkr

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  • Oct 8, 2012
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    Just curious. Any issues? I’ve shot stuff over 50 years old. Still went bang but I got to say that I was a wee bit worried about it making it out of the barrel. Would you trust ammo that old? Has anyone done any studies on aging powder and velocity/energy dropoffs? Usually the concern ain’t whether or not it shoots but whether it has enough umph to go down the pipe and out.
     
    I haven’t shot anything very old but as long as the ammo was stored in a reputable location, the powder inside should be fine and still ignite well. As far as velocity drop offs over age, I don’t know. What I do know is I wouldn’t use extremely old ammo for self defense or precision shooting.
     
    I have fired thousands of rounds of WW2 surplus ammo, all 30-06, in several rifles. Not one single issue. I still have several hundred rounds of ammo designated for the M1. I have also fired thousands of round of .45ACP WW2 surplus ammo without one single hitch. Ammo, even if not stored ideally, will last for many decades. This is also true of components. Primers and powder will last decades stored in their original packaging inside a cardboard box in the attic or a closet for decades without noticeable degradation.
    That said, do try to store your stuff as near perfect conditions as possible.
    One method that I use (I learned from others) is to use a simple, cheap styrofoam cooler. Store your powder in one and then tape the seam where the lid meets the bottom to seal as much air as possible. Then store that cooler in a closet that does not share an exterior wall (it is 100% interior of your home). Your HVAC system will not warm/cool that area very fast...the closet is quite temperature stable. By taping that seam, you have made it also quite humidity stable. Rapid swings in temperature definitely degrades powder. Similar with humidity except powder wants to absorb moisture. Just leave it in it's sealed factory container inside those styrofoam coolers.
    If this method works for components, your relatively sealed ammo will be at least as well stored.
    If you are looking for more reliable storage of ammo, use the battle packs or make your own by using a vacuum sealer. First purge the to be vacuumed bag with argon (or other inert) then vac/seal. That shit will be good for centuries is my guess.
     
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    Really old stuff won't be loaded to modern pressures, however if something has been rattling around in a vehicle for years there is potential for the grain size of the powder has been reduced from vibration and tumbling exposing more surface area and increasing the effective powder burn rate which could potentially lead to overpressure.
     
    Really old stuff won't be loaded to modern pressures, however if something has been rattling around in a vehicle for years there is potential for the grain size of the powder has been reduced from vibration and tumbling exposing more surface area and increasing the effective powder burn rate which could potentially lead to overpressure.


    100%

    That’s why you hear stories of a “truck gun” that has been banging around under the seat for a long time blowing up.

    The rifle was fine it’s the powder that got banged up and the burn rate went through the roof.

    That said back in the 90’s when I was only shooting surplus ww1 was no problem at all.
     
    Got some old 8mm that always goes bang. Looks like nickel bullets with a strange crimp.

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    I shot some WW1 303 British which did fine. Pulled a couple bullets and the "powder" wasn't powder. It was what looked like straight sticks of dry spaghetti cut to the proper length to fit below the seated bullet.