lmproper Long-Term Storage/Ammo

[lnvictus]

Need input on (improper) long-term ammo storage

(spam cans/assorted milsurp) Stored in outbuilding

-32° to +100° approx 10-15 years on cement slab w

/o dunnage (cardboard shipping container only). Is

this stuff in need of visual inspection or a test-fire?

Volunteers for chrono check N-0-T needed. Thanks

for the unselfish offer to help test the ammo tho! Ü

[jknova]

Test fire. If the cans were sealed, my guess is that it's ok, but the high temperatures might have been a problem.

[American Chestnut]

What about all the ammo kept in vehicles in the summer time when its much hotter inside? I have not heard of that being a problem.

[Diminimous]

My main concern would be corrosion around the primers and bullet to cartridge union. As long as they look clean, you're probably good to go. You might want to get a kinetic bullet puller and see how the powder looks (not clumpy). I just shot up some 40 year old 280 remington that had been stored in a basement. It was a bit slow thru the crono but still pushed around 2500 fps on 160 gr soft points. It may have been loaded light.

[RogueSpear2023]

Should be fine, moisture is the real killer of ammunition.

[drobs]

I'm still shooting .303 Brit that has a 1941 head stamp on it. Imagine it's seen some bad storage over the 71 years it's been on this planet.

[Stillar]

I wouldn't hurt to open up a spam can to test at the gun range. As long as the metal hasn't rusted through I'm sure it is fine. I would get the cans off the cement floor and put it on some blocks of wood to reduce the chances the cans rust.

The only only time I have had ammo fail is when I left some with my cleaning supplies and got some gun oil on the primers.