maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

For those who like to roll their own.

Moderators: carlson1, Charles L. Cotton

Post Reply

Topic author
powerboatr
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 3
Posts: 2273
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:53 pm
Location: North East Texas

maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#1

Post by powerboatr »

as the title hints
I am having a time trying to figure out shelf life of built up ammunition
i have almost 1k rounds of 380 sitting in blue plastic flip top ammo boxes
i built them 29 jan 2016. original run as 2k. I dont shoot the 380 that much (other horses in the pen get used more) so its taking a while to run through them.
they are loaded mid range on the accurate #2 .

they have always been stored inside and never above 78F with average indoor humidity and in the dark
they do get stirred ( bounced around in the cases) along with all the other built rounds once a month when i pull all the containers out and dust the shelf and look for abnormalities in the cases. I am anal about the area being clean.

anyone have a rough guide as to how long built up ammunition should be stable?
my gut says go to range and run em, but with primers still off the planet pricey, i am hesitant to go use them up

thanks in advance
Proud to have served for over 22 Years in the U.S. Navy Certificated FAA A&P technician since 1996
User avatar

oljames3
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 5350
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 1:21 pm
Location: Elgin, Texas
Contact:

Re: maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#2

Post by oljames3 »

Your ammo will probably outlive you and still be good. Then your life will sell if for what your told her you paid for it!
O. Lee James, III Captain, US Army (Retired 2012), Honorable Order of St. Barbara
2/19FA, 1st Cavalry Division 73-78; 56FA BDE (Pershing) 78-81
NRA, NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Instructor, Rangemaster Certified, GOA, TSRA, NAR L1

Topic author
powerboatr
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 3
Posts: 2273
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:53 pm
Location: North East Texas

Re: maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#3

Post by powerboatr »

oljames3 wrote: Tue Jul 06, 2021 4:05 pm Your ammo will probably outlive you and still be good. Then your life will sell if for what your told her you paid for it!
omg she will go broke at those bargains :biggrinjester:
Proud to have served for over 22 Years in the U.S. Navy Certificated FAA A&P technician since 1996
User avatar

puma guy
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 7632
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:23 pm
Location: Near San Jacinto

Re: maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#4

Post by puma guy »

oljames3 wrote: Tue Jul 06, 2021 4:05 pm Your ammo will probably outlive you and still be good. Then your life will sell if for what your told her you paid for it!
:thumbs2:
KAHR PM40/Hoffner IWB and S&W Mod 60/ Galco IWB
NRA Endowment Member, TSRA Life Member,100 Club Life Member,TFC Member
My Faith, My Gun and My Constitution: I cling to all three!

crazy2medic
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 2453
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2015 9:59 am

Re: maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#5

Post by crazy2medic »

I have shot 30.06 ammo I loaded while I was in high school, I'm 60yo now, Ammo will keep for forever as long as you keep it dry and don't subject it to temp extremes
Government, like fire is a dangerous servant and a fearful master
If you ain't paranoid you ain't paying attention
Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here- John Parker
User avatar

1wise1
Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:19 pm

Re: maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#6

Post by 1wise1 »

I "found" 50 or so I reloaded back when Donnie still owned Bayou Bullets, (yep, coated with Alligator snot) in an old box at the back of my safe.. 9mm - cci primers - bullseye powder. 50 trigger pulls, 50 "bangs" and the Glock whimpered "more more" all the way back to the house ... then regret set in for "using from my stash". What times we live in.
Certified Glock Armorer
Combine ignorance, arrogance and low altitude, and the result is guaranteed to be spectacular.

Weg
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 574
Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2008 1:06 pm

Re: maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#7

Post by Weg »

I'm still shooting .357 and .38's that I loaded in 92', and , they have been stored in a shed with no AC , never a misfire or any issue. They have been kept in airtight ammo cans though.
User avatar

Diesel42
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 364
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:08 am
Location: Fort Worth

Re: maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#8

Post by Diesel42 »

I still have reloads for 270 and 300 Weatherby that I loaded in the 70's. They work just fine. I did have issue with a box of 270 I loaded during a major thunderstorm in the 80's while living in south Louisiana. 3 hang fires out of 20. I sand bagged the the gun and fired all of the rounds to recover the brass. Little money and lots of fun back then. :lol:
Nick Stone
Have Truck, Will Travel
NRA Life Member

flechero
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 3486
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:04 pm
Location: Central Texas

Re: maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#9

Post by flechero »

If properly stored in the house, your kids should have no trouble.

A long life consideration going forward is to actually seal them:
single pack:
https://www.scheels.com/p/markron-custo ... 27751.html

4 pack:
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ ... olor-pack)

Topic author
powerboatr
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 3
Posts: 2273
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:53 pm
Location: North East Texas

Re: maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#10

Post by powerboatr »

flechero wrote: Sun Sep 26, 2021 7:56 am If properly stored in the house, your kids should have no trouble.

A long life consideration going forward is to actually seal them:
single pack:
https://www.scheels.com/p/markron-custo ... 27751.html

4 pack:
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ ... olor-pack)
looks like fingernail polish
i mark my brass with a wide black sharpie that covers the entire headstamp.
maybe i can get my wife to vac seal them :biggrinjester:
Proud to have served for over 22 Years in the U.S. Navy Certificated FAA A&P technician since 1996

flechero
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 3486
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:04 pm
Location: Central Texas

Re: maybe an old topic, anyway to geussestimate life of reloaded ammo

#11

Post by flechero »

powerboatr wrote: Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:54 pm
flechero wrote: Sun Sep 26, 2021 7:56 am If properly stored in the house, your kids should have no trouble.

A long life consideration going forward is to actually seal them:
single pack:
https://www.scheels.com/p/markron-custo ... 27751.html

4 pack:
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ ... olor-pack)
looks like fingernail polish
i mark my brass with a wide black sharpie that covers the entire headstamp.
maybe i can get my wife to vac seal them :biggrinjester:
It does look like it but definitely different. I have some for hunting and ranch carry ammo, just in case, but my normal ammo gets shot way too fast to worry about sealing it! :fire
:fire
Post Reply

Return to “Reloading Forum”