How long are they good for?

[Dryrod]

[unsure][font "Poor Richard"][#005000][size 3]Back when hector was a pup [60's & 70's] I use to shoot competively. 22, 38/357 and 45. Well haven't done any shooting since but still have all my ammo left.[/size][/#005000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#005000][size 3]Probably around a 1000 rounds collectively. They have been stored in military metal ammo cases and in a cool dry area. Anyone know the life span of ammuntion such as I described? All of the center fire cartriges are reloads.[/size][/#005000][/font]
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[BEARCLAW]

Interesting question Dryrod,
I did a little checking and here's what I found:

"There is increased risk of a misfire with older shells,
so you don't want to depend on them, and you should be
mentally prepared to wait for 60 seconds minimum before
ejecting the shells if they don't fire, keeping the barrel
pointed safely, as you should do with any misfire. Hang
fires do happen and people get hurt that way."

Also found this:
"If the ammo is good to begin with, it will last a long time. I am
still using Winchester Mark II match ammo, loaded in 1959, and Mark III
loaded in 1972, which has been stored all these years in military steel
ammo cans. The stuff is still as accurate as it ever was. The
lubricant in Eley Tenex dries out after about 20 years, but if you
re-lube it with a little lithium grease and wipe off the excess with a
patch it will be as good as ever. Some of the cheap ammos may develop
rim spits as the brass is not annealed after the cases are drawn, so
you have to be careful. They often leave high velocity ammo hard
through the rim section for greater strength, and this can give
problems. However I have shot some Montgomery Ward high velocity which
was made by Federal in 1976, which is still as good as ever."

[#4040ff]I don't have any personal experience with older ammo however I have heard that the powder can become increasingly volitale with age. Sounds like its probably ok to use, of course I wouldn't use it in any situation where a misfire would cause problems.[]
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[Dryrod]

[cool][font "Poor Richard"][#005000][size 4]Hey there BEARCLAW thanks for the feed back. The only gun I keep loaded these days is my Gold Cup 45 just incase someone decides that my household property also belongs to them. I will be the judge as who gets to share my goodies.[/size][/#005000][/font]

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[BEARCLAW]

Gotta love that judge picture[sly]. lol[laugh]
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[davetclown]

to give you an idea of the life of shell,

back in the early 70's I was privied to an escivation being conducted for 300 pounds of black powder.

a document was found from a captian of a military station stating that they were under seage and they needed to dispose of the powder so the enemy could not use it against our side.

the place was fort macinac
the time was a hundred years prior to the us revlution.

it may have been found when the fort was captured it may have been found and used any time there after, but sence there was no documentation stating that it was retreived the entire grounds both inside and out side the fort had to be escavated.

the powder is always dangerous when dry...

I have often wondered if they found the powder, but havent a clue of who to ask, I am sure the people running the place now wouldnt have a clue to what I was talking about....
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