what is the shelf life of steel case ammo?

[rod5591]

I have a lot of Tull Ammo and Wolf 7.62 x 39 packed in the paper boxes, not sealed in tins or anything--what is the shelf life for ammo like that?

['ol shooter]

The cases are sealed at the primer and bullet case seam. Probably only last 100 years or so.

[Dark Mod]

Dude that stuff will probably last forever...

[Cowboy T]

Just keep it dry and at a reasonable temperature. Should last longer than you do.

[Gavelek]

Why don't you use it I can help

[rod5591]

good to hear that. I practice every few weeks but usually once shoot 60 rounds or so; what I have should last me a few years....

I am hearing more about the damage the bimetal slugs can do to the guns bore. That's a little worrisome....

[Divernhunter]

You will never shoot enough to hurt the barrel.
The ammo will outlive you

[Cowboy T]

Soviet-pattern rifles were meant to shoot bimetal cases. You'll be fine. Hell, Mosins will take a steady diet of 'em without issue, long as you don't go just crazy-overboard.

[stilly]

The life expectancy of those rounds is prolly around 55 years, maybe less, maybe a little longer.

Steel shells seem to corrode faster and if you do not keep dessicant with them to keep that from happening, then they will start to grow things. I suggest that you drop them into an airtight container with some dessicant for the best storage.

I pulled out some ammo from a bin the other day and it was dated 77 and it was kinda coroded with gunk forming around the case mouth. It was .357 ammo too. I wiped it off and it looks much better, but still...

[Spyder]

I've had a bunch of steel cased .223 and x39 that was rusted and wouldn't go in the chamber of my rifles.

I sanded it by hand with some 220 grit, and it all fired perfectly well.

I'm not recommending that, as I have no idea if it makes the cases weak and dangerous or anything else...but it worked for me.

[Socalman]

good to hear that. I practice every few weeks but usually once shoot 60 rounds or so; what I have should last me a few years....

I am hearing more about the damage the bimetal slugs can do to the guns bore. That's a little worrisome....

Your gun was probably designed to shoot the bi-metal bullets. As someone said, you won't shoot enough to worry about it. Consider getting concerned at somewhere around 45 - 60,000 rounds.

[jeffyhog]

what about the ammo in the spam cans? Do they put any type of dessicant in the can, or are they vacuum sealed to keep the moisture out? I would think the sealed cans would keep the ammo good for a long, long time.

[Reelemup]

The cases are sealed at the primer and bullet case seam. Probably only last 100 years or so.

I bought a batch of ammo last year and half of it was rusting from inside out.

[CAL.BAR]

Let you know whenever some goes bad

[bsumoba]

I bought a batch of ammo last year and half of it was rusting from inside out.

you must have got a bad spam can.

my steel cased, which is in ammo boxes, looks good and i expect them to last decades, if not generations.