Ammunition longevity

[eswrite]

I've kept two clips loaded in my handgun safe for over 10 years, and since they are for home defense, I'm wondering whether I should replace with new bullets. The safe is fairly sealed, and in a dry environment. Thoughts?

[P5Ret]

I've never seen a "use by" date on ammo. I've seen plenty of surplus ammo from WWII and earlier function just fine. If you want to upgrade to some better bullet design that is available now that's a reason to change, because it's old isn't.

I don't think I've ever left a mag loaded untouched for a year let alone 10. I and most people I know tend to cycle through mags and ammo. I may not shoot the defensive ammo in the mag but I do run the mags.

[Mr. Beretta]

Used them at your next range trip.

Then clean & reload them.

Are they factory mags?

[eswrite]

I've never seen a "use by" date on ammo. I've seen plenty of surplus ammo from WWII and earlier function just fine. If you want to upgrade to some better bullet design that is available now that's a reason to change, because it's old isn't.

I don't think I've ever left a mag loaded untouched for a year let alone 10. I and most people I know tend to cycle through mags and ammo. I may not shoot the defensive ammo in the mag but I do run the mags.

Thanks. I did cycle the mags, swapping the ammo into my spare mags. All mags working fine, as a recent range outing showed. Only issue is with ammo, which can't be shot at range (only full metal jacket allowed) .

[Dr Pete]

Sitting that long I wouldn't worry about the ammo. (I have used stuff from 30+ years old and stills goes bang)

I would worry about your gun sitting so long, rack the slide and doesn't cycle a round?

Lubrication after 10 years is questionable.

[eswrite]

Sitting that long I wouldn't worry about the ammo. (I have used stuff from 30+ years old and stills goes bang)

I would worry about your gun sitting so long, rack the slide and doesn't cycle a round?

Lubrication after 10 years is questionable.

Took it out, lubed it, went to range, and it shot like a champ. Cleaned, lubed, and back in safe.

[downdiver2]

Used them at your next range trip.

Then clean & reload them.

Are they factory mags?

I dont have ammo that exceeds 15 years. But, what I do is, I use the ammo that is loaded (JHP) and then I switch to range ammo (FMJ). When I get home I clean and reload JHP for defense and repeat the cycle.

[onelonehorseman]

Generally, as long as the ammo was made after the WW1 corrosive stuff, and has been properly stored, it will probably work just fine.

I certainly would have no issue using ammo for HD that has been sitting for 10 years.

That said, you should be practicing some with the same type of ammo that you use for HD. Therefore, there should be no reason it will sit unused that long.

[theLBC]

no real opinion on use by date...but i run the rounds in my HD mags after normal practice with range ammo.
this accomplishes at least 2 things.
- keeps me in practice with my preferred HD ammo
- keeps that ammo in a rotation so it is never really old.

[P5Ret]

Thanks. I did cycle the mags, swapping the ammo into my spare mags. All mags working fine, as a recent range outing showed. Only issue is with ammo, which can't be shot at range (only full metal jacket allowed) .

I'd find a new range ASAP. How do you know how the ammo functions in your gun, if you can't shoot it? Yeah good quality ammo should function just fine in any modern handgun, but there are time's when one brand of ammo cycles better in some guns than other ammo.

[Jimi Jah]

I shot some WW2 .45's that were still in excellent shape. The only ammo I had issues with was some Remington .22LR's that began leaching white stuff. I live at the beach so corrosion is common here.

[r8dr rider]

[Dark Hunt]

Maybe he uses a 6.5 Bergman M96 for home defense, it uses a clip like a Garand.

(No, a Mauser P08 uses stripper clips to load an internal magazine not an actual clip)

[smle-man]

I've kept two clips loaded in my handgun safe for over 10 years, and since they are for home defense, I'm wondering whether I should replace with new bullets. The safe is fairly sealed, and in a dry environment. Thoughts?

Modern ammunition stored properly will be shootable a long time but as long as you have access to fresh ammunition, rotate out your ready load at least yearly. Shoot off your ready ammunition and replace it with fresh.

[baggss]

I've kept two clips loaded in my handgun safe for over 10 years, and since they are for home defense, I'm wondering whether I should replace with new bullets. The safe is fairly sealed, and in a dry environment. Thoughts?

10 years? Wow!

I cycle/shoot my EDC SD ammo every 4 to 6 months and replace.