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Long term storage of reloaded ammo

Rack Ops
Some time ago, I remember reading something that said that reloaded ammo doesn't have shelf life of factory ammo due to the ammo not having a sealant to protect the powder and primer.

Any truth to this? Any way to correct the problem?
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Comments

15 comments

Date Votes
  • tysonagreen
    Does all factory ammo have some sort of sealant? I wasn't aware it did.
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  • Hunter Mag
    Good question. I have some hand loads and factory loads in the basement where it's very cold(heat rises)so it's probably 45*F or so near the floor. I was wondering if that might effect the ammo also?
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  • CHEVELLE427
    i just used up some 45acp and 44mag rounds i loaded back in 1988, all seemed shoot OK no FTF. i know they were not stored like they should have been over the years
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  • p3skyking
    I have some 11mm Mauser ammo I loaded in the early 80's that still goes bang just fine. When I loaded it, I sealed the primer and bullet with red enamal fingernail polish. I don't expect it to ever go bad as long as it's not exposed to undue heat.
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  • whiteclouder
    Kept cool and dry it will outlast you easily. I have ammo that I reloaded in the late 50's what looks and shoots as good as stuff I loaded last month. Military spec ammo had the primers coated with laquer because of tropical use considerations. If you're in the tropics, coat the primers; can't hurt. A seated bullet will let NO air into the case.

    Clouder..
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  • Rack Ops
    What about rain?

    I'd hate to pack a few hundred rounds out to the range only to see the whole batch ruined because of a shower.
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  • Hunter Mag
    quote:Originally posted by Rack Ops
    What about rain?

    I'd hate to pack a few hundred rounds out to the range only to see the whole batch ruined because of a shower.

    Sometimes ship happens.
    Did you just toss it or did you fire some and find it bad?
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  • whiteclouder
    quote:Originally posted by Rack Ops
    What about rain?

    I'd hate to pack a few hundred rounds out to the range only to see the whole batch ruined because of a shower.


    Not going to affect it. Moisture will penetrate but it takes years of continual exposure to high humidity.

    Dry it off and blaze away. [:D]

    Clouder..
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  • bpost
    I am still shooting some AP stuff I loaded in 1981. It is fine and dandy.
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  • Rack Ops
    quote:Originally posted by Hunter Mag

    Sometimes ship happens.
    Did you just toss it or did you fire some and find it bad?


    That was just a hypothetical situation.
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  • tysonagreen
    I put a loaded magazine through the wash on accident. I was curious what the effect would be so I marked it and set it aside. Next time I went to the range a shot it. It was only 6 rounds but every one went bang.
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  • daveald
    I think the obvious answer here is easy. look at how much WW1 & WW2 ammo is still aroun and WW2 is over for62 years nobody asks if its good when they put it in clips, as long as there is no obvious rusting your going to shoot it. Iv'e fired 38 black powder reloads that had to be 50-60 years. Ammo dosen't have a selant applied to it
    . it is sealed by compressing the brass into the lead.
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  • Hunter Mag
    Yea now that I think about it one of the guys at the range has some 50 cal ammo from 1945 that's still good.[:p]
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  • Warbirds
    quote:Rack Ops
    Moderator



    USA
    5235 Posts
    Posted - 01/15/2008 : 8:40:47 PM

    quote:
    Originally posted by Hunter Mag


    Sometimes ship happens.
    Did you just toss it or did you fire some and find it bad?



    That was just a hypothetical situation.


    That translates into you were just being difficult![:D]
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  • 46270
    I have some ammo that I have packed for long term storage.
    I used my food sealer to seal up ammo, works great
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