{"id":2108,"date":"2021-03-01T18:56:36","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T18:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/militaryexcess.com\/?p=2108"},"modified":"2021-03-03T16:13:12","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T16:13:12","slug":"is-old-surplus-ammo-safe-to-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/militaryexcess.com\/is-old-surplus-ammo-safe-to-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Old Surplus Ammo Safe To Use?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You may have bought surplus ammo that is approaching its 10-year mark or has already passed it. In that case, you’re possibly wondering if you can still use the ammo now that it’s passed its manufacture guarantee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Old surplus ammo is safe to use as long as it has been kept in ideal storage conditions. Proper storage allows surplus ammo to maintain its accuracy and prevent corrosion. Surplus ammo that shows any signs of degradation due to exposure should not be used.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s go into more detail about when old surplus ammo is safe and when it is not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Old Surplus Ammo Is Good<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s fairly simple: if the surplus ammo stock looks good and doesn’t have discoloration, unpleasant smells, or corrosion<\/strong>, then you don’t need to worry about firing cartridges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who buy surplus ammo for the long haul can rest assured that even after the ammo’s decade guarantee has passed, the cartridges still have a ton of life in them, so their accuracy and safety aren’t likely to decrease due to age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fact saves buyers from having to concern themselves with using up rounds before they “go bad” or shelling out more money to purchase newer bulk rounds when they don’t really need to. You can continue to go through your surplus ammo as fast or slow as you like. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While old, your surplus ammo will probably last longer than you do and a good while after that–as long as it’s stored well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Old Ammo Stays Good<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Old ammo stays good thanks to modern weapon manufacturing techniques. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ammo manufactured over 50 years ago was made with more unstable smokeless powder, which has higher chances of corrosion. Because of this, expiration dates were largely adhered to. That’s not to say that extremely old ammo is bad to fire, though. Even ammo from the 1940s is usable if it’s clean with no signs of rust or corrosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But nowadays, the modern smokeless powder<\/strong> used in cartridges is very stable, so it has a much longer shelf life. If you’re confident that your old surplus ammo has been stored in a cool, dry place and hasn’t been constantly jostled, then go ahead and try it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, it’s key to secure your old ammo in a place that doesn’t experience extreme temperatures<\/strong> or temperature fluctuations.<\/strong> Neither should the ammo be left in a humid environment<\/strong> or direct sunlight. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temperature and moisture are the two biggest enemies of ammo longevity, so as long as you have a place and a container to keep your surplus protected, expect to have a perfect supply on hand through the coming years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ammo cans and containers are great for protecting rounds from humidity and some level of heat. Clean Ammo Cans<\/a> has a good selection of storage options for rounds. They can even set up a bulk order to help you save even more money if you’ve bought ammo in bulk as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But despite old ammo’s potential to last, well, forever, if you carry ammunition in a weapon that you frequently have on you<\/strong>, such as a concealed carry, you’ll want to change out<\/strong> the ammo you keep on you yearly. This prevents any chances of accidentally using a damaged or deactivated round due to movement and exposure to elements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Old Surplus Ammo Isn’t Good<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are a few signs to watch out for as you decide whether or not your old ammo has gone bad. It may smell, look rusted or greasy, or (the biggest sign) be corroded. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does corrosion look like? Its color can vary, but it typically shows up as a white, light blue and green, or dark blue and green tarnish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corrosion isn’t an absolute death for the ammo<\/strong>, because it can <\/em>be cleaned off the bullet using a dry rag, or it can still be fired in a gun (but you risk the chance of the round not firing right or not at all due to the corrosion misshaping the brass). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it is fired, though, the<\/strong> gun needs to be properly and thoroughly cleaned to get rid of the corrosive salts deposited into the barrel. <\/strong>Water-based solvents or water can remove the corrosive salts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But for those who don’t want to bother cleaning the corroded cartridges or a gun after each use, it may be best to safely dispose of old surplus ammo at locations that take unused rounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, let’s talk about smells. Ammo in general has a smell to it, so you’ll need to distinguish between a regular smell and a bad smell. The bad smell is a sign that the powder in the cartridge has degraded. <\/strong>The description of the unpleasant smell from a bad batch of ammo varies, but some say it smells like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n