Hypnogator
Member
I've still got quite a few rounds of .30 Carbine military ammo headstamped '52. They shoot just fine. 
Oldest Ammo You'd Carry?
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bassjam
Member
I was given a box of .357 mag silvertips from the early 90's. I shot half the box, and now keep 12 rounds in speed loaders in the living room (the gun is kept loaded with .38sp). I know the rounds spent their entire lives in a gun safe prior to me owning them, I have no qualms about them working.
bangbang01
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It would depend on the type of gun. I don't think I would carry anything more than a few years old in any of my autos. Why take the chance of having to possibly clear a round under stress? In a revolver, I would have no problem loading ammo that was 20 years old if it looked clean and was stored correctly. We shot some old paper shotgun shells we found that were from the 1950's at my moms place, and every round went bang. I probably wouldn't have shot them out of anything but my single shot, but they worked just fine.
I dropped out of shooting for 30 years. When I resumed, I began using up reloads I had made before stopping. I also made new reloads with left over powder, primers and bullets. Everything had been stored in a cool, dry basement. All off it shot just fine. Early in World War Two, I believe our troops used ammunition left over from World War One.
ChanceMcCall
Member
I am still regularly shooting WWII military surplus .45 and 30-06. not a single problem. My .308 is '60s military surplus. Works every time.
I am also still shooting .22 from the 50s-60s, along with paper shotgun shells from the same era.
I am also still shooting .22 from the 50s-60s, along with paper shotgun shells from the same era.
matrem
Member
Shoot a few 12, 20, .22, and 7 mag loads from the seventies once in a while. Just about out of that old stuff, but it has proven to still go bang. That being said, everything I count on, I've loaded or purchased in the last 10 years. An awful lot to be said about the advances in low velocity handgun defense bullets in the last 10 years.too.
scaatylobo
Member
Hey all!
As I went through my crate of old revolver ammo, I came across an old box of Winchester Silver Tip 145 grain .357 magnums that looks like 1980s-early 1990s manufacture. Opened them, and they were still really shiny and looked really swell.
So I got to thinking, what is the oldest ammo YOU would still carry in your gun for defensive purposes? Basically, how old would it have to be before you'd throw it out and not trust it? Would you carry 1980s ammo or even earlier?
Thoughts?
In the past I found a loaded 1911 from 1918.
It fired the full magazine !!!.
Guess that would be my answer ! .
In the case of handguns, I carry ammunition that I loaded in 1992. I also carry factory ammunition that I bought at Magic Mart (which means it had to have been purchased sometimes in the 1970's).
I still have several hundred rounds of 223/5.56 that were loaded between 1980 and 1983. Small amounts of this ammunition are regularly shot and those cases I successfully retrieve are inspected with an otoscope to see if the brass shows any signs of damage from powder degradation. So far there has been none and I anticipate this ammunition will all be expended before its 40th birthday, starting in 2020.
I do not anticipate living into my 90's, so any newly loaded ammunition should not be around long enough to suffer any serious degradation in storage. Any loaded rounds that survive me will be a problem for my heirs and I expect they will solve that problem by giving the ammunition away.
Oldschool shooter
Member
For what it's worth, I have several boxes of Winchester 22LR, the old blue and yellow box, from early 50's. Have never had one fail to go off.
coloradokevin
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Hey all!
As I went through my crate of old revolver ammo, I came across an old box of Winchester Silver Tip 145 grain .357 magnums that looks like 1980s-early 1990s manufacture. Opened them, and they were still really shiny and looked really swell.
So I got to thinking, what is the oldest ammo YOU would still carry in your gun for defensive purposes? Basically, how old would it have to be before you'd throw it out and not trust it? Would you carry 1980s ammo or even earlier?
Thoughts?
Professionally my ammo is cycled out by my agency. They used to change our ammo out annually, but decided to save money by moving to a three year cycle with the duty ammunition. In the CCW guns that my wife and I carry the ammo is probably cycled about once every five years or so. In reality, ammunition can last a LOT longer than that. For example, I'm still shooting some surplus ammo for my 8mm Mauser that was loaded in 1935, and I've never had even a single cartridge of this ammo fail to ignite and fire as intended.
With that said, bullet technology has improved since the 1980's, and it isn't all that expensive to buy a single box of good defensive grade ammunition to keep in your carry gun. If I were in your shoes, I'd just buy some new stuff.
Steel Horse Rider
Member
I have shot ammo dating back to the late 1940's without any of the problems the experts have predicted. I would shoot 10 random rounds from the box and if they fired fine I wouldn't be concerned at all. I have fired 20+ year old handloads (mine) without a problem also. I think people tend to overthink most things; they take one anomaly and stretch it into an everyday event. The world of "what if" will only lead you into paralysis by analysis.....
I'm not using my yugo surplus 8 mm loaded in the 50s for defensive purposes.
I did shoot some Korean War 45 ball ammo (steel cased no less) through my Colt Commander lightweight when I first got it. The ammo was surprisingly hot. I broke the original bake lite/colt wood grip doing so. It all went bang.
Properly stored ammo can last a good long while. But shooting up old stock to replace with new is probably best when it comes to defensive ammo.
I did shoot some Korean War 45 ball ammo (steel cased no less) through my Colt Commander lightweight when I first got it. The ammo was surprisingly hot. I broke the original bake lite/colt wood grip doing so. It all went bang.
Properly stored ammo can last a good long while. But shooting up old stock to replace with new is probably best when it comes to defensive ammo.
Sauer Grapes
Member
I buy fresh every couple years.
To your question, no I'm not carrying 10-20 year old ammo. Carry ammo gets exposed to cold rainy weather, and hot humid damp weather. I just don't see a need to carry old ammo.
Like most here, I have 30 year old ammo, but I'm not defending my life with it.
To your question, no I'm not carrying 10-20 year old ammo. Carry ammo gets exposed to cold rainy weather, and hot humid damp weather. I just don't see a need to carry old ammo.
Like most here, I have 30 year old ammo, but I'm not defending my life with it.
Phaedrus/69
Member
I probably wouldn't carry ammo older than I am (my date of manufacture was in 1969).
This just happened a couple days ago, and this thread reminded me of it. First off, I got this ammo from my dad, it's some he "found while cleaning up some stuff". He had a .38, but he gave it to his brother at least 20 years ago, and I've no idea how he had this stuff stored. Knowing him it was probably on a shelf in one of his unheated, semi open to the elements out buildings. The cases had dulled a bit, but the ammo was clean, so I decided to give it a go.
Anyway, the first two were FTW, big booms. The third one went pfft. I was pretty sure that "pfft" wasn't a good thing, so went to all stop, unloaded, then started looking. And found this semi amusing situation here....
View attachment 772802
It was so close to making it that I just inserted a short piece of nylon rod behind it and pushed it out with my thumbs. It was still a fun day at the range, but I put the rest of that box in the "bad ammo" bucket.
Anyway, the first two were FTW, big booms. The third one went pfft. I was pretty sure that "pfft" wasn't a good thing, so went to all stop, unloaded, then started looking. And found this semi amusing situation here....
View attachment 772802
It was so close to making it that I just inserted a short piece of nylon rod behind it and pushed it out with my thumbs. It was still a fun day at the range, but I put the rest of that box in the "bad ammo" bucket.
When I was younger and dumber...
My godfather gave me some 45-70 to hunt deer with that was made some time around the turn of the century. It was in an old tattered paper box and was blackpowder.
I'm not sure who was more suprised us or the buck when I touched one off.
Had no idea where the buck went since I couldn't see through the smoke. Found him about 30 minutes later.
My godfather gave me some 45-70 to hunt deer with that was made some time around the turn of the century. It was in an old tattered paper box and was blackpowder.
I'm not sure who was more suprised us or the buck when I touched one off.
Had no idea where the buck went since I couldn't see through the smoke. Found him about 30 minutes later.
TeaCoffee.Guy
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I just wanted to say that I read about an experiment that was done to establish how much ammunition deteriorates over a period of time.
A thousand specially made rounds of target ammo was made on a certain day.
Ten rounds of the ammo were test fired on that day and ten rounds were test fired every year on that same day to measure the results.
After 40 years the target ammo was still shooting as accurately and reliably as the day it was made.
A thousand specially made rounds of target ammo was made on a certain day.
Ten rounds of the ammo were test fired on that day and ten rounds were test fired every year on that same day to measure the results.
After 40 years the target ammo was still shooting as accurately and reliably as the day it was made.
Garandimal
member
For "defensive" ammo - am more technology than age driven.
Regularly shoot old de-linked M2 ball from the '60's and '70's, and from spam cans older than that. Modern ammo has a great shelf life.
Bullet technology has been pretty active over the years, however.
Generally carry HST, Ranger-T, PDX1 (Q4369), or XTP - and, save the XTP, those are relatively modern designs.
As for the OP? The .357 Mag. has the energy to make even adequate bullets exceptional, and the 145 gr. Silver tip would fall into that category.
Shoot a few, and then carry the rest w/ confidence.
GR
Regularly shoot old de-linked M2 ball from the '60's and '70's, and from spam cans older than that. Modern ammo has a great shelf life.
Bullet technology has been pretty active over the years, however.
Generally carry HST, Ranger-T, PDX1 (Q4369), or XTP - and, save the XTP, those are relatively modern designs.
As for the OP? The .357 Mag. has the energy to make even adequate bullets exceptional, and the 145 gr. Silver tip would fall into that category.
Shoot a few, and then carry the rest w/ confidence.
GR
my oldest carry ammo is only 3-4 years old
BUT......
last year i had to throw away 2 boxes of 357 mag UMC ammo from the late 90's. I was looking at them and noticed the case necks on some developed a single hair line crack from the top of the case going down till it was just flush with the the depth of the seated bullet. not sure why that happened , never seen anything like it before.
BUT......
last year i had to throw away 2 boxes of 357 mag UMC ammo from the late 90's. I was looking at them and noticed the case necks on some developed a single hair line crack from the top of the case going down till it was just flush with the the depth of the seated bullet. not sure why that happened , never seen anything like it before.
Garandimal
member
50 years is not too old if stored properly. I have original Winchester Black Talon from the early 90s, Federal Hydra-Shock and Corbon +P from later 90s and early 00s. I also have old Chinese milsurp 7.62x39 from the 70s and 80s. I've never had a round fail at the range due to age.
It's always been inside, climate controlled.
If the ammo has been in your weapon for extended periods, especially if you've cycled it through a lot in an auto, and/or carried outside in various temperatures and conditions then you'll want to rotate it out every once in a while. Some will recommend twice a year rotation and others once every three years. It varies.
I go by my old police department guidelines... once every two years for carry ammo. Different departments have different ideas. Some of the reason for ammo rotation is due to legal liability. The ammo is technically fine for much longer, but if you ever have to use the ammo in the line of duty or for personal self-defense everything will be questioned and second-guessed.
When you do decided to take old ammo to the range for practice be sure to replace it beforehand so your supply is uninterrupted.
Bottom line: If it's never left the box and the comfort of your living environment it could be good for decades. If it's in a sealed tin then 100 years is not too long. If it keeps you up at night, replace the ammo.
It's always been inside, climate controlled.
If the ammo has been in your weapon for extended periods, especially if you've cycled it through a lot in an auto, and/or carried outside in various temperatures and conditions then you'll want to rotate it out every once in a while. Some will recommend twice a year rotation and others once every three years. It varies.
I go by my old police department guidelines... once every two years for carry ammo. Different departments have different ideas. Some of the reason for ammo rotation is due to legal liability. The ammo is technically fine for much longer, but if you ever have to use the ammo in the line of duty or for personal self-defense everything will be questioned and second-guessed.
When you do decided to take old ammo to the range for practice be sure to replace it beforehand so your supply is uninterrupted.
Bottom line: If it's never left the box and the comfort of your living environment it could be good for decades. If it's in a sealed tin then 100 years is not too long. If it keeps you up at night, replace the ammo.
This is a picture I recently uploaded.I loaded these cases with new IMR 4895, but they were loaded a while ago. Kept in an environmentally controlled location.
You know, I have experienced enough problems of this sort, I don't and won't trust my life to old ammunition. You are welcome to do whatever you want.
This is a good one. A WW2 veteran shot one round of his surplus WW2 ammunition, in the 1980's, and it blew up his Garand. Follow the link and read about it.
You know, I have experienced enough problems of this sort, I don't and won't trust my life to old ammunition. You are welcome to do whatever you want.
This is a good one. A WW2 veteran shot one round of his surplus WW2 ammunition, in the 1980's, and it blew up his Garand. Follow the link and read about it.
BSA1
member
Slamfire,
Very good pictures and excellent proof of why storing ammunition for long term is not wise.
Storing ammunition climate control indoor setting does not stop chemical reactions. Careful storage may slow the chemical degradation down but will not stop it. That is why I have decided to shoot up my 20+ year old Clinton era ammunition stash.
With the prices of ammunition it makes little sense to use decades old ammunition for self-defense.
Very good pictures and excellent proof of why storing ammunition for long term is not wise.
Storing ammunition climate control indoor setting does not stop chemical reactions. Careful storage may slow the chemical degradation down but will not stop it. That is why I have decided to shoot up my 20+ year old Clinton era ammunition stash.
With the prices of ammunition it makes little sense to use decades old ammunition for self-defense.
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