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View Full Version : How Old Is Too Old?



alismith
10-30-2012, 11:27 AM
I'm looking at some 8mm Iranian ammo. It was made in the 1950's. Is this still functional, and if so, how much longer is its shelf-life?

I don't want to buy a bunch of ammo that's going to go "phhht" instead of "bang."

When looking at surplus ammo is there a general rule of thumb to follow about its age?

Thanks for any info.

Diesel
10-30-2012, 11:39 AM
I've fired civil war vintage ammo; rule of thumb, iffin it don blow de gun up...it be ok! Look for sweating on the inside of the can it's stored in...not a good thing with smokeless ammo.

Diesel 88888888

:coffee:

Helen Keller
10-30-2012, 01:27 PM
50's is fine. long as it was stored properly



I've shot 30-40 Krag from 1895

imanaknut
10-30-2012, 01:40 PM
As the others have said, as long as it was properly stored, no problem. I have been shooting 1952 Spanish 9x19 and have not had any problems. I do treat is as corrosive just to be safe.

El Laton Caliente
10-30-2012, 03:11 PM
It is almost sure to be corrosive at that age especially if foreign and/or military so treat it as such.

Corrosive ammo primers can get hotter with age and much of it was manufactored for machine guns. I would limit the older battle rifle ammo to bolt rifles unless I knew specifically what the ammo put out for pressure.

old Grump
10-30-2012, 06:44 PM
Just shot the last of my 1950 vintage M2 ammo last summer. All good except for 3 rounds with corrosion around the base that I did not shoot. It had been stored in unheated garages and storage shed for the last 40 years and I just now got around to shooting it. If this ammo is dry and looks good then put it in and shoot the dickens out of it as long as the price is right.

Bluntforce
10-30-2012, 07:44 PM
Shot some 1943 .45acp steel case a couple of years ago. Powerful, perfectly functional even though no great care was taken in its storage.

Diesel
10-30-2012, 07:55 PM
Back in the 1960's we used to get WW-I 6.5 Italian Tierney for about $17 for a can of 2k to shoot in rechambered Jap Type 99 machine guns...up to 20% failed but it was cheap shooting, smokey too.

Diesel 88888888

:coffee:

O.S.O.K.
10-30-2012, 08:03 PM
As said, it's much more the storage conditions than the age. 50's isn't bad.

upnover
01-13-2013, 09:21 PM
i have some mid 50's and early 60's 7.62x51 us military and most of it is no good, ironically the match is still good from the same era, i have no idea how it was stored

Big Daddy
01-18-2013, 05:32 PM
Try to find in sealed cans.