Shooting old ammo

[N7XW]

Any issue in shooting factory ammo that's 5 years old or so?  Its been kept dry in the original boxes.  Just don't want to waste it but then again don't want to shoot it if there is any chance whatsoever of it causing an issue in a new rifle.  Ammo doesn't usually last more than a couple weeks for me, thus the question.

Thanks.

[carlyoungs]

Ammo kept dry will last a long time.  5 years will be plenty fine. Shoot away.

[Ridgeratt]

I'm going to guess some of the members are younger than this.

https://www.ammogarand.com/m1ganamapanm.html

Still have numerous boxes of match 06. Never had a misfire. 

[Alpine Mojo]

I've shot .303 British surplus WW1 ammo that fed deliciously through a bolt action.

Just keep your powder dry and your head down.  You'll be fine.

[N7XW]

  thanks guys

[biggfish]

If kept dry in good climate controlled environment reloads are  good years later. With primer sealer and a factory crimp die it will last just as long as factory ammo. I recently used up my 10 year old stock of 9mm reloads.

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[Bill W]

I don't consider ammo old until it's about 40 years out.  If it's kept dry and in a temperate location there's no problems.   Today I will be shooting some old shotgun reloads that were assembled in the late 80's right before steel became mandatory for waterfowl.  They should be somewhere around 30 years old.

[Calvin Rayborn]

If slick willy and the libs had gotten their way back in the 90's, you'd be in trouble! 

[CP]

Some older ammo used primers that will leave a residue of corrosive salts behind.  Not really an issue if you clean the gun immediately after shooting.  Other than that the only issues with old ammo would be it fails to fire or squib fires or perhaps it's swollen up such that it won't chamber.

[Curly]

5 yrs isn't old.

[PolarBear]

I have a couple cases of .38 wadcutters from when I shot competitively 30 years ago that still look and shoot fine.  Just keep them in a good dry spot and they will last.  Just check for corrosion or discoloration of the primers.

[CP]

5 yrs isn't old.

 

I have food in my fridge that is older than that.

[bobcat]

I've shot ammo that's 30 years old, 40, maybe even 50 years. No problem.

[boneaddict]

 

[PolarBear]

I think I still have some 50 or 60 year old 30-30 rounds.