# Best Way to dispose of old bullets?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-bullets/308953>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 19, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-bullets/308953 "2005-06-19T21:50:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-bullets/308953/1 "2005-06-19T21:50:18Z")

</div>

During my spring cleaning I found about 2 pounds of old bullets in a closet. They are at least 6-15 years old (yeah, I need to get out and start shooting again). Some have turned green, some look OK. But I’d rather get rid of them and buy new than stand on the ranger with a misfire.

What’s the best way to get rid of them? I don’t want to just put them in the garbage because we have a transfer station and I don’t want the guy on the bulldozer to scrape over them and set them off.

Thanks,

whistlepig

(Bullets = 22 rimfires, 7.62 SKS rounds and some 30-06 rounds.)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-bullets/308953/2 "2005-06-19T21:59:56Z")

</div>

Shoot 'em. I’ve shot WWII surplus 7.92mm with nary a misfire. Clean off the green ones first, though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-bullets/308953/3 "2005-06-20T02:51:05Z")

</div>

> [@whistlepig](#):
>
> During my spring cleaning I found about 2 pounds of old bullets in a closet. They are at least 6-15 years old (yeah, I need to get out and start shooting again). Some have turned green, some look OK.  
> (Bullets = 22 rimfires, 7.62 SKS rounds and some 30-06 rounds.)

As long as they have been kept dry and oil free they should be good as gold.

Clean off the green (wire brush) and have a good time at the target range.

I have shot some that were 60 years old!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-bullets/308953/4 "2005-06-20T05:02:25Z")

</div>

If you still want to get rid of them, I’m sure a police station would take them. You should call first, though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-bullets/308953/5 "2005-06-20T13:56:34Z")

</div>

I have turned in old bullets to the police station - they were happy to take them. No real explanation needed either - I said I found them in the place I moved in to and didn’t know what else to do with them.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aangelica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Aangelica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aangelica)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-bullets/308953/6 "2005-06-20T13:57:45Z")

</div>

Police stations and bomb squad (should your municipality have one) will be happy to take them off your hands (if you don’t want to shine 'em up and shoot 'em). Do call for an appointment first though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-bullets/308953/7 "2005-06-20T14:00:41Z")

</div>

My grandfather has a Radom and we fired over 100 ww2 rounds with no prob.

Shoot 'em