# How to dispose of bad ammo.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-bad-ammo/343748>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 9, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-bad-ammo/343748 "2006-02-09T22:07:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-bad-ammo/343748/1 "2006-02-09T22:07:50Z")

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I’ve got several hundred rounds of ammunition that had been in storage and seem to have been damaged by moisture - the primers no longer fire, or fire slowly.

What is a safe and legal way to dispose of this? I assume throwing it in the dumpster is not an acceptable option.

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-bad-ammo/343748/2 "2006-02-09T22:11:57Z")

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Pull the lead, dump the powder, recycle the brass. Or give it to someone at the range who will do it.

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**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-bad-ammo/343748/3 "2006-02-09T22:41:13Z")

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> [@silenus](#):
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> Pull the lead, dump the powder, recycle the brass. Or give it to someone at the range who will do it.

It’s steel case non-reloadable ammo. 🙂

I suppose I could pull the lead and just have fun with the powder…

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-bad-ammo/343748/4 "2006-02-09T22:44:57Z")

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Got any anthills that are bothering you? 😃

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-bad-ammo/343748/5 "2006-02-09T22:59:20Z")

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Check with your local police - I know some of the agencies up here occasionally have amnesty days where people can turn in ammo and weapons and get anything from a thank-you to goodies like movie tickets.

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**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-bad-ammo/343748/6 "2006-02-10T00:20:48Z")

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> [@gotpasswords](#):
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> Check with your local police - I know some of the agencies up here occasionally have amnesty days where people can turn in ammo and weapons and get anything from a thank-you to goodies like movie tickets.

Or a free ride in the back of a police car 😃

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**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dispose-of-bad-ammo/343748/7 "2006-02-10T00:33:51Z")

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> [@cabdude](#):
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> Or a free ride in the back of a police car 😃

Why would you be arrested? Surrendering weapons to police agencies is a perfectly legal way to get rid of them her in CA.