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Posted: 9/3/2006 8:40:25 PM EDT
| How long will ammo stay good for if you leave it in the factory packages and at room temperature? |
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I have a bunch of WW Q3131 and PMC M193 ammo that I bought back in the early to mid-eighties. Its my just-in-case/SHTF stash. Over time I have bought newer Q3131 and Q3131A to add to the mix. (I use this ammo because I can't see stockpiling the current darling of AR shooters-the expensive 75grain TAP or Black Hills. If I need something more effective than 55grain M193 I'll use my 308s.) As I have been adding the new I have been taking some old stuff out of the mix to sample. This old ammo, stored in a cool, dry place for 20+ years, chronos very similar to the new stuff on velocity and SD and is just as accurate. Its almost like just the variation that you encounter with differing lots. If stored properly, old ammo is just as good as the new. |
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I got a bunch of 8mm from the 30s that is great ammo. Who knows how it was kept? I've shot a bunch of WW2 era 30'06 with fine results also. I've read that berdan primers last longer than Boxer primers. I dunno if it's true. The only negative experience I've ever had was with some 9mm FMJ. I think (it's been awhile) it was commercial ammo marked "Interordinance" in a 100-round blue box. It was brass cased boxer primed stuff. Shooting a CZ75, it had a round go pop but not boom. The round got stuck halfway down the barrel, and that ended it's day's shooting. Got home and knocked it out with a pistol cleaning rod. Good thing I noticed the difference in report and didn't send another one behind it. I think it was probably 60s or 70s era ammo, and it had been stored in a friend's dad's damp basement. If I was planning on long term storage of commerical (not waterproof case or can) I would vacumn-seal it to keep water/moisture out and store at a good, constant temperature. |
| I fired some(around 10 rounds) late 1880's 43 spanish in my argentine rolling block carbine about 10 years ago and it all went boom without any hangfires. these rounds were all loose that I had picked up at various gun shows so were all mixed up. Lots of smoke and surprisingly little recoil for such a large round in such a small gun(around 7lbs in weight). also shot some early 1900's 38-56 in my 1886 winchester rifle, also with no problems. FWIW |
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