New Blog: Does Ammo Go Bad with Age?

[Target Sports USA]

Does AMMO Go Bad with Age? - Target Sports USA

Learn how age affects ammunition, the importance of proper storage, and tips for identifying and safely disposing of degraded ammo.

blog.targetsportsusa.com

View attachment 482989

 

[Bodhisattva]

When I was in high school, circa 1986, a classmate's grandfather passed away. He had served his country in the Pacific. In and amongst his things were 2 loaded magazines for his government issued 45.

We never found that 45, but those mags had to have been loaded since the war.

We loaded them into another 45 and they all went bang!

 

[Jdcujo]

I've shot 8mm Mauser ammo from roughly ww2 (if not ww1). Shot 30 carbine mil surp ammo and 30/06 milsurp ammo. The 30/06 and 8mm had been stored in less than optimum conditions and still went bang.

 

[MarkS]

Ten to twenty years ago I shot quite a few 30/06 shells with crimped primers and a red sealant with a 47-48 and 49 head stamp. They all shot fine and hit the target with no problems. I wound up breaking 2 de-capping pins when trying to de-prime them.

 

[Welldoya]

I once shot some old 45 acp that I found in my grandfather’s shed.
About the 3rd shot, I noticed the brass was split.
But I think if stored properly, ammo will last longer than we will.