# When does ammo go bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 6, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771 "2009-10-06T03:04:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/1 "2009-10-06T03:04:16Z")
I have “a bunch” of rounds for an A303 that were reloaded by someone around 1979, along with “a bunch” more of factory loaded .22 shells that were purchased in 1980 or 81. Are they still good? If I move them will they blow up? If I load them and fire will the chamber blow up? Should I throw them out? While we are on the subject, I hear there is an ammo shortage, so what’s the deal with selling ammo? Is it legal? If I put it on Craig’s list, will I get a visit from the authorities? Thanks, Janx ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/2 "2009-10-06T04:28:13Z")
> [@Janx](#): > > I have “a bunch” of rounds for an A303 that were reloaded by someone around 1979, along with “a bunch” more of factory loaded .22 shells that were purchased in 1980 or 81. Are they still good? If they were stored under decent conditions, its extremely likely. > [@](#): > > If I move them will they blow up? If I load them and fire will the chamber blow up? No. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/3 "2009-10-06T04:35:33Z")
I’ve got '70s era Warsaw-Pact stuff (9 mm and 7.62) that I am still relying upon (and have shot successfully, in some cases). ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/4 "2009-10-06T14:16:08Z")
If the factory loaded ammo was stored in a reasonably dry area (not underwater), with reasonable temperatures (suitable for humans), it should be fine - I routinely fire 3006 ammo that was manufactured in the 60s. Check to see if the brass is corroded and discard such rounds - there’s a chance the brass could split when fired. I won’t make any statement on the reloads. Selling ammo is completely dependent on the laws of your state. I have no idea if craigslist has any sort of gun/ammo policy - I know ebay won’t allow such a listing. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/5 "2009-10-06T14:29:13Z")
My dad has a bunch of bricks of .22LR rounds laying around from his college days on the rifle team – which would date it back around 1980. In our experience, it works just great in his bolt-action rifles, but causes all sorts of misfeeds on his semi-automatic rifle (but newer ammo worked fine). Our guess was that the old ammo had lost some of its “oomph” (highly technical term, that), and couldn’t cycle the action completely. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/6 "2009-10-06T14:29:43Z")
I regularly fire surplus ammo that dates back to to Korean War era. No problems. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/7 "2009-10-06T15:12:34Z")
Ammo doesn’t really go bad in any reasonable sense if it is stored properly. You can still buy and shoot WWII surplus ammunition and maybe even older. It may be less reliable but there isn’t anything dangerous about it. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/8 "2009-10-06T15:16:39Z")
I’ve shot plenty of ammo from the 50’s. My FIL has ammo even older than that, and I’m sure some of it will come my way someday… I’ll have no problem shooting any of it when that day comes. As said above, stored properly, it lasts nearly forever, though inspection is required prior to loading, to eliminate suspect rounds. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/9 "2009-10-06T15:20:41Z")
I have fired factory and government ammo that was 100 years old or more at times - as much for the giggles as anything else. If it passed visual inspection it usually functioned fine. At the worse would be a misfire or two; especially with some pre-WW II .303British and some .30-40 Krag stuff I shot up. If it misfires, count to ten slow, eject, and go about shooting. \<\\> Personally I will never fire someone else’s reloads; not even relatives I know and trust on a daily basis. I also never give my reloads to anyone else. I have a habit of loading hot now and then for a couple specific weapons and conditions and it just isn’t a good thing to do. With the reloads I would either take them apart (I have the experience to do that) reusing the cases and bullets (but dump the powder) or spray them down good with penetrating oil and tossing them. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/10 "2009-10-06T16:41:51Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > \ … or spray them down good with penetrating oil and tossing them. I was going to ask a supplementary question based on the OP, and I suppose this is probably the answer. So this is the procedure for disposing of old ammo that will never be used, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/11 "2009-10-06T23:55:16Z")
Thanks for the answers all, I would like to know if you should take the bullet out before soaking it down with oil. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/12 "2009-10-07T00:22:08Z")
I’ve also heard of people using WWII ammo and it firing just fine. I think the most important part is the storage conditions. ---
**Author:** ![dynamitedave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@dynamitedave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dynamitedave)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/13 "2009-10-07T00:29:09Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > My dad has a bunch of bricks of .22LR rounds laying around from his college days on the rifle team – which would date it back around 1980. In our experience, it works just great in his bolt-action rifles, but causes all sorts of misfeeds on his semi-automatic rifle (but newer ammo worked fine). Our guess was that the old ammo had lost some of its “oomph” (highly technical term, that), and couldn’t cycle the action completely. If he was target shooting in college, the ammo is most likely subsonic, which struggles to cycle some/most semi-auto rifles. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/14 "2009-10-07T02:17:26Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > I was going to ask a supplementary question based on the OP, and I suppose this is probably the answer. So this is the procedure for disposing of old ammo that will never be used, yes? Check and see of your county or city has a website for hazardous-waste disposal. Mine says to contact the police bomb squad to dispose of ammunition. I’ve shot .45 ACP ammo from WW2 a few years back and it worked fine. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/15 "2009-10-07T03:17:51Z")
Penetrating oil isn’t going to do squat to modern ammunition. [http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot39.htm](http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot39.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@Mister\_Owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Owl)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/16 "2009-10-07T03:23:57Z")
Don’t trust it, you never know what may happen. PM me for my address and I’ll happily dispose of it for you. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-ammo-go-bad/512771/17 "2009-10-08T03:42:30Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > I was going to ask a supplementary question based on the OP, and I suppose this is probably the answer. So this is the procedure for disposing of old ammo that will never be used, yes? As someone pointed out, for modern factory ammo it isn’t that reliable a method. But for anything say pre-70s or home reloads its worked OK for me. I must admit that I have rarely tried to fire a round after so doing, but its what my gunsmith does and I trust him (literally) with my life in a lot of other ways. PS – soak the whole thing down. Not just the primer. The bullet is often the weak “seal”.