Old Ammo

AGE · 05-25-2005, 11:38 PM

I know some of you guys besides me have been around awhile. Do any of you have experience with old ammo? I opened a GI can of 20 year old 30-06 reloads today. It really was stinky. Any ideas about the condition of this stuff and if it is safe to fire?

G.W. Gill · 05-26-2005, 12:47 AM

AGE, My Wife says I am stinky , our baby is stinky and most of my hobbies are stinky. I would venture to say it's pretty good. What headstamp? Ect? How ya doin ? ...

policeluger · 05-26-2005, 08:59 AM

"reloads" throws me off, but a can of mil ammo will have a strong, at least to me it is strong if I stick my nose in it, "acid" smell.....it means all is OK...as for being safe to fire, one would need see the anno and perhaps break a round ot two down to see the condition of the powder.....hope this helps

AGE · 05-26-2005, 10:03 AM

Guys, this ammo is old military brass loaded with surplus 4831 powder. I bought a 50# drum (for about $25) of powder back in the late '60s when I was shooting lots of high power matches with my Springfield and Garand. Used up or gave away all but 2# which I sealed up in metal pistol powder cans, carefully labeled. About 2 years ago this stuff went bad in the cans (really rusty and stinkeeeeyyyy) and ate through the cans. Now the old loaded ammo (about 200 rounds) smells the same--pheeeewwww. Should I pull the bullets and discard or ??? I also have a sealed SPAM can of WWII ammo in Garand clips. Your opinions will be welcome.

Edward Tinker · 05-26-2005, 10:27 AM

If nervous, then you'll probably never trust it.... At least that is how I am

I don't mind shooting old ammo, have some 1945 45 ACP I bought a year or two ago, don't mind shooting it at all..

Ed

policeluger · 05-26-2005, 11:09 AM

Your right toss the smelly stuff, but the spam can should be fine, I have several spam can's WW2 era and from time to time I open one and shoot it it up...still good ammo.....but as always with older ammo precede with caution.

John Sabato · 05-26-2005, 11:34 AM

Just make sure you clean your weapons with army bore cleaner or equivilent after shooting that old ammo... because the priming is likely to be corrosive...

Hugh · 05-28-2005, 12:28 AM

AGE,
Have you tried any of that SPAM ammo on crackers?

Edward Tinker · 05-28-2005, 12:41 AM

Fried Spam and eggs, yummy, nothing better Hugh!

AGE · 05-28-2005, 06:42 PM

No but I'll send you a few rounds. You can put some of the powder in your coffee or cigarettes if you roll your own. I'm sure it will light you up.

On the more serious side, I opened the GI can with the reloads outside for awhile and let the air clear. I pulled a bullet (only one) with 2 pairs of pliers (my RL equipment is still packed up somewhere in all those heavy boxes) and dumped out the powder in my hand. It seemed pretty good with no evidence of rust or excessive fumes. I guess I'll try out the reloaded ammo--maybe the fumes were from the GI can being sealed for 15 years.

05-25-2005, 11:38 PM	#1
AGE User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 597 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Old Ammo I know some of you guys besides me have been around awhile. Do any of you have experience with old ammo? I opened a GI can of 20 year old 30-06 reloads today. It really was stinky. Any ideas about the condition of this stuff and if it is safe to fire? __________________ Al Eggers (AGE) NRA Life Member

05-26-2005, 10:03 AM	#4
AGE User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 597 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Guys, this ammo is old military brass loaded with surplus 4831 powder. I bought a 50# drum (for about $25) of powder back in the late '60s when I was shooting lots of high power matches with my Springfield and Garand. Used up or gave away all but 2# which I sealed up in metal pistol powder cans, carefully labeled. About 2 years ago this stuff went bad in the cans (really rusty and stinkeeeeyyyy) and ate through the cans. Now the old loaded ammo (about 200 rounds) smells the same--pheeeewwww. Should I pull the bullets and discard or ??? I also have a sealed SPAM can of WWII ammo in Garand clips. Your opinions will be welcome. __________________ Al Eggers (AGE) NRA Life Member

05-26-2005, 11:34 AM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Just make sure you clean your weapons with army bore cleaner or equivilent after shooting that old ammo... because the priming is likely to be corrosive... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

05-28-2005, 12:28 AM	#8
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	AGE, Have you tried any of that SPAM ammo on crackers? __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

05-28-2005, 12:41 AM	#9
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	Fried Spam and eggs, yummy, nothing better Hugh! __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

05-26-2005, 12:47 AM	#2
G.W. Gill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeastern USA Posts: 369 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	AGE, My Wife says I am stinky , our baby is stinky and most of my hobbies are stinky. I would venture to say it's pretty good. What headstamp? Ect? How ya doin ? ...

05-26-2005, 08:59 AM	#3
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	"reloads" throws me off, but a can of mil ammo will have a strong, at least to me it is strong if I stick my nose in it, "acid" smell.....it means all is OK...as for being safe to fire, one would need see the anno and perhaps break a round ot two down to see the condition of the powder.....hope this helps

05-26-2005, 10:27 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	If nervous, then you'll probably never trust it.... At least that is how I am I don't mind shooting old ammo, have some 1945 45 ACP I bought a year or two ago, don't mind shooting it at all.. Ed

05-26-2005, 11:09 AM	#6
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	Your right toss the smelly stuff, but the spam can should be fine, I have several spam can's WW2 era and from time to time I open one and shoot it it up...still good ammo.....but as always with older ammo precede with caution.

05-28-2005, 06:42 PM	#10
AGE User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 597 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	No but I'll send you a few rounds. You can put some of the powder in your coffee or cigarettes if you roll your own. I'm sure it will light you up. On the more serious side, I opened the GI can with the reloads outside for awhile and let the air clear. I pulled a bullet (only one) with 2 pairs of pliers (my RL equipment is still packed up somewhere in all those heavy boxes) and dumped out the powder in my hand. It seemed pretty good with no evidence of rust or excessive fumes. I guess I'll try out the reloaded ammo--maybe the fumes were from the GI can being sealed for 15 years. __________________ Al Eggers (AGE) NRA Life Member

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