Old ammo. Would you expect degraded performance from 25 year old box?

wahoowad

wahoowad

Member
I got a fantastic deal on a case of Winchester 223 53 grain hollowpoints 25 years ago. Never shot them up because back then I also had plenty of super cheap military surplus ammo to burn up out of my AR. Now I have a nice Savage Model 16 that loves a 53 grain bullet so have started to shoot them along with the Hornady Vmax it likes.

When does factory ammo start to show degradation in performance?
 
If it's not stored underwater probably about the time they are spreading your ashes. The shelf life of ammunition stored in reasonable conditions is incredible.

Two years ago I shot a batch of 44 Mag I'd had since about 1980. Still shot like a laser and busted fist sized rocks at 200 yards just like the old days.

I have a ton of 9MM and 556 I got in the 80's and it still shoots well. I have some 45 hardball from the 70's that kicks tail and some 30-06 in the clips from the 50's that will carry the mail in a Garand as well as I can hold.

Greg
 
It depends on the powder and how well it was stored. If it's cardboard boxes and 90 degree temp swings it's going to be different than if it was stable in an airtight can.

My FIL shot some a while back that was old and poorly stored. Scared the poop out if him, we pulled the bullets and reloaded.

If in doubt, err on the side of caution. A round is either a controlled rapid combustion or a tiny pipe bomb. I can reload ammo, I can't grow a new eye.
 
I have boxes of 45 acp that grandpa Bob gave me he bought in 1937. They chrono slightly faster than the reman box I bought at Sportsmens two months ago.
 
We were issued a bunch of LC 1967 M2 ball in the late 90's which performed beautifully in the club's M1's as late as 2000 and probably beyond. Have no doubt it would still shoot well today.

Having said that, had one lot of 1962 LC M72 Match which didn't shoot worth a darn. Not sure why, but discovered that probably 60% or so of the bullets had "welded" to the cases. We guessed due to electrolysis?? Ran them all through a seating die to push bullets in a couple of thousandths of an inch (just enough to break the weld); you could hear a loud crack on those that had bonded. Accuracy after that was what you would expect from match ammo.

Like everything else, never say never or always, but I'd expect properly stored ammo of that age to be just fine.

Regards,
hm
 
I have primers that were stored in an unheated garage since the late 70's. To be honest just forgot I had put them there. Loaded about 20 just for giggles and everyone of them performed perfectly. I think they were about 500 total. Went ahead and loaded them with no problem.This was around 2010.

Now the powder, Not sure about that. I recently bought a can of H-Vel still factory sealed in the small square can. I started loading in the early 70's and I have never bought powder new in this type can before. Guessing 50's or 60's. May open it and give it a try one day. Don't know where I would find data for it.

Safe shooting
Doug
 
Quote: Guessing 50's or 60's. May open it and give it a try one day. Don't know where I would find data for it.

I started loading in 1952; have a Lyman 40 (I believe) loading book I bought at the time and it lists HiVel. Glad to look up loads for you if you wish, drop me a PM. I still have a partial can of Bullseye in square can with $3.45 price tag on it.
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Regards,
hm
 
Ive got a few ammo cans full of 1966? 7.62x51 173 grain Special ball, and 1972 7.62x51 173 grain BTHP. Stuff shot good at 600 yards out of my 308. After i checked a few from both i sealed it back up in the ammo cans and put it up for a rainy day.
 
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