Ammo spam can expiration date

[akv3g4n]

Apologize if this has been asked before but I couldn't find anything with a quick search.

I am pretty heavily invested in the 5.45 cartridge and picked up a few spam cans of Russian surplus ammo. It is being stored in a cool dry location and still sealed in the can. The cases are lacquer coated. The production dates are 77-82.

So how long can I expect these rounds to keep being sealed in the spam can?

Thanks for the help.

 

[TurtlePhish]

That stuff will last forever.

Don't worry about it expiring. It'll be well beyond this lifetime.

 

[bainter1212]

As long as those spam cans are airtight, you're good for a thousand years.

 

[GI_Jared]

They last forever. We use to find a lot of them when searching villages in Afghanistan. The cans would be all rusty, but the ammo inside was still perfect.

 

[tahunua001]

I bought 4 cans of 45ACP sealed in spam cans dated 1943. I cracked open one of those bad boys and aside from being really dirty and corrosive, it ran flawlessly.

however it ages pretty quickly after you break the seal. about a year after opening it I started seeing light strikes, now about 2 years later over half of them have to be run through the gun 3 or 4 times before they go off.

the 70s 54R stuff I cracked open a year ago is still going strong though. you'll be good for many many years.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I have some 7.62 x 54R Russian manufacture that was canned in 1953. I have shot about a quarter of it without problems.

 

[fdashes]

The light strikes causing the ammo to not fire had nothing to do with the ammo. Your gun not the ammo needs attention.

 

[Avenger29]

I'd say you should be good for another 20-30 years at least.

 

[Bill4282]

Is the spam used as a lubricant or preservative?

 

[baz]

Is the spam used as a lubricant or preservative?

I just spit on the keyboard! Without a smilie or anything, it comes across like a serious question.

Myself, I think spam would be more of a preservative. And it tastes better than cosmoline.

 

[foghornl]

Myself, I think spam would be more of a preservative. And it tastes better than cosmoline

As long as the ants don't get into the cans.......

Seriously, if the cans stay sealed (no rust holes, etc) that stuff will probably outlast your grandkids.

 

[VegasAR15]

I just bought a couple of 7.62x54r cans from the 40's. The outside looked like crap so I opened one up to transfer it into an ammo can. The stripper clips and the ammo all looked great, like it just ran off the production line.

 

[akv3g4n]

I guess I was worried more about the powder breaking down in the cartridges. I'm sure that the casings and bullets will stay good past my lifetime...

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I guess I was worried more about the powder breaking down in the cartridges. I'm sure that the casings and bullets will stay good past my lifetime...

So will the powder.

 

[tahunua001]

The light strikes causing the ammo to not fire had nothing to do with the ammo. Your gun not the ammo needs attention.

this theory has been tested, nothing wrong with the gun. and like I said the first 200 rounds rand flawlessly and the reliability factor went down as the ammo got older. I have the same issues with this no matter what gun I run it though and all of them do fine as soon as I switch over to known quality ammo.
perhaps some people don't post stating 'facts' until after they've given it 'due attention'?

 

[adelbridge]

I have run 30 year old hunting ammo that sat on a shelf in a cardboard box and it hit to the same POI as factory fresh stuff. IF it didnt group and it was all over the place you know it is degrading but if it groups it is still fresh. I have seen WWII 7.62X54R shoot just fine.

 

[HoosierQ]

I guess I was worried more about the powder breaking down in the cartridges. I'm sure that the casings and bullets will stay good past my lifetime...

Heat is the only enemy of a sealed spam can I believe. I would also say moisture but the sealed part eliminates that. Even then, the can would have had to be really hot for a long time for any powder to deteriorate. Not sure how hot for how long. Iraq hot? Iraq in the shade hot? Iraq in the sun hot? Not really sure.

 

[22250Rem]

As long as it's stored reasonably it should last several lifetimes. Those spam cans are the greatest for long term storage. Back in 1991 or '92 I bought a couple spam cans of 7x57 Mauser from Century Arms International. Made by Kynoch in England & dated 1937. Each can held 1000 rounds. Opened the first one back then and the stuff looked like it was made yesterday. Never opened the second one until Dec. 2011 and it too looked brand new. Have never had a dud or any other problem with any of it, (at least not yet). It's accurate and just out of curiosity I chronographed some of it about 10 years ago and the velocities were very consistent. Over the last few years before the panic hit I picked up a couple of spam cans of 7.62x39 just for "safekeeping" along with a couple cans of Tula 9mm. Plan on keeping them unopened unless I really need 'em. If I never need 'em my son will inherit some ammo that should still be good as new.

 

[Bill4282]

Serious question: are the cans vacuum sealed or just crimped shut?

 

[TurtlePhish]

Serious question: are the cans vacuum sealed or just crimped shut?

There's a noticeable hiss when the can is first punctured, so I think they're vacuum sealed.

 

[joeschmoe]

Naw. They are all ruined. Dangerous even. You should send them to me for proper disposal. I'll even pay shipping.

 

[stubbicatt]

A contributor suggested that the ammo inside will become unreliable in about 2 years after opening the can.

I think if it exhibits slowfires, etc., this was a problem before you opened the can, and here's why I think this.

I've been buying and shooting this ammo for many years. I bought two cases of Czech silvertip waaay back when it was about 7 cents a round. I opened a case which has taken approximately 10 years to shoot up. Never had an issue with that ammo, it is headstamped 1963. So, the ammo lasted approximately 10 years after the can was opened. No duds whatsoever.

--It is the ammo with the black colored primers.

 

[beatledog7]

A crusty old shooter once told me, "Ammo is no good anymore when it a) is corroded so badly it won't chamber or b) gets fired.

"Make sure you do (b) before it gets to (a)," he added.