What is the shelf life of 20 and 12 gauge shotgun shells stored in a gun safe?
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I need to know.
What is the shelf life of 20 and 12 gauge shotgun shells stored in a gun safe?
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. – Maya Angelou
The'll out live most of us......As long as they didn't get wet.....Originally Posted by LadyonaMission
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar.....
2019 Tri-Glide.......
Shouldn't have any issues with them. They last a loooong time stored properly.
"I don't need a map. I still have a road in front of me!"
Thanks.
Thanks.
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. – Maya Angelou
need to know
just keep your powder dry.last forever. KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY/////
Thanks. I will.
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. – Maya Angelou
Keeping the powder dry is the key. This also includes humidity.
Lola, make sure the gun safe is in a climate controlled environment. If the gun safe is not ventilated, then it's a good idea to open the safe for some climate controlled ventilation from time to time.
I had a can of powder once that was over 35 years old. Zero rust but I question if it was any good so loaded a few rounds. Not one bit of trouble. Still good. No moisture being the key. I didn't realize it was there but was in a box in my attic. So it saw a lot of extreme heat. I figure that alone would kill it but it didn't.
The only reason some people are still alive is it's illegal to shoot them.
American Legion Rider
also protect from excessive heat.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
I hate it when my powder gets wet ....
That's the very reason I thought the powdered over-looked in my attic would have been no good. And here in Texas I can assure you it gets hot in attics. Although that attic did have exhaust fans. I still have been in that attic when they were on and it was damn hot up there. I guess heat isn't as critical as moisture but still I thought extreme swings in temps would have done it in. It was up there in the winter too and we get damn cold in winter too. I never saw it below 10º though but that's still a big swing in temps. Just think water is more important being my experience.
The only reason some people are still alive is it's illegal to shoot them.
American Legion Rider
I have about 500 rounds of 20 gauge reloads in my garage that are about 30 years old. They still go bang.
MikeP
2017 Billet Silver FLRT - Wife's
2022 Vivid Black FXST - Mine
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i have a plug in dehumid rod in gun safe.keeps it dry for guns.here in okla.its gets hotnhumid both.
ammo and powder life span.
Just seconding what has already been said. Heat and moisture kill ammo and stored powder but if stored properly both can outlive most of us.
I have a fair amount of WWII 45 and 30-06 ammo. Every few years I pull a bullet and check.....bad powder SMELLS BAD. Good powder smells rather sweet and most smells a bit like ether. Once it passes the smell test I do the shooting test. Store cool and dry if possible.
Bad powder actually makes good fertilizer so if you do find some just sprinkle it on the lawn; the grass loves those nitrates.
When in doubt throw it out; no return on a chance taken.
Typically I load and shoot about 5000 rounds every year. If I add 22 ammo its more like 8000 rounds. So I go through a lot of powder; both old and new. I use to buy a lot of military pull down powder but that has kind of dried up over the past few years. Too much liability I believe on those doing the pull down and disposal.
JamesP
About a year ago a team of Egyptian Archaeologists discovered a Priestess 4,400-year old tomb near the pyramids outside Cairo.. And what they found inside when they opened it was a case of Ammo that was wrapped in Flax Linen and coved with Natron powder and it was laying there for all that time.. When the ammo was then tested they determined that it was still operable...-
P/S...They also found a Twinkie...And they found that it was also operable.. [AKA Edible]....
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar.....
2019 Tri-Glide.......
I have no problem with the twinky.About a year ago a team of Egyptian Archaeologists discovered a Priestess 4,400-year old tomb near the pyramids outside Cairo.. And what they found inside when they opened it was a case of Ammo that was wrapped in Flax Linen and coved with Natron powder and it was laying there for all that time.. When the ammo was then tested they determined that it was still operable...
P/S...They also found a Twinkie...And they found that it was also operable.. [AKA Edible]....
As for the ammo? hmmm, 3000 years maybe but 4400......that's a stretch.
JamesP
shelll liife
I'm still shooting paper shotgun shells from the 30's occasionally and a a few years ago I acquired about 35 rounds of .45ACP marked with a 1913 headstamp that came out of an old leaky garage.two failed to fire the other 33 went BANG!!! that should tell yu something about todays modern ammo ;-)
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