[Dean]

One of the things to be aware of while shooting old ammo is hangfires.

I once shot some old surplus 7.62x25 in my CZ52. Would you believe 2-3 seconds from the time when the hammer hits till the time the bullet exits the barrel? Pretty scary, not to metion a safety hazard.

The problem is over time moisture seeps in and the first casuality are the primers. They either go all the way (and you have a dud) or they "fizzle" (and you have a hangfire).

The fact that you notice rust on the cartridges is a pretty good indication that the stuff has been exposed to some moisture.

So, very important when shooting surplus/old ammo is to wait after you have a dud. Keep the gun pointed down range.

You won't shoot really old ammo anymore after you've had the "hangfire experience".