22 Shelf Life

[paperboy]

I know this has been discussed before but I was told to not keep more 22's than you can shoot in 6 months. Not too long ago a friend and I went shooting and he had some old CCI's. He said he bought them about 20 yrs ago and just ran across them in his garage. He had about 400 nrnds. He asked if we should shoot them and I said why not? They ran perfect. Not a misfire. I was impressed.

 

[Flintlock]

I'm still shooting 22mags from 1970-something.

 

[pudly]

Six months is B.S. Just keep your ammo dry and sealed and it will keep for many years.

 

[rimfire_crazed]

I've been shooting stuff that's about 10 years old to clear out the old ammo drawer with no ill effects. Grandpa has about 2000 rounds sitting in the safe that was bought back in the 70's. We plink with it every summer.

 

[ocsdor]

Mine was bought in the '80s and still shoots. All I've done is kept it in the guncase (wooden case with glass face) inside their boxes (which are not wrapped in plastic).

 

[Mr. Habib]

Properly stored, ammo will have a longer shelf life than you do.

 

[thompal]

Properly stored, ammo will have a longer shelf life than you do.

I've got a couple of bricks of UMC that I bought in the late 70's, and some smaller amounts of other brands from the 50's and 60's. I have no problems with any of it. In fact, the UMC does better in a friend's Ruger pistol than more recent stuff does.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

As long as you keep ammo dry, and out of the elements it will last for years. I have a brick of Winchester .22 match pistol ammo, a guy from work gave me. From what I can see it was made in the 60-70's. Have not had a chance to try them, but the the rounds look brand new.

 

[nrar15]

Shot some last week that my dad had must be from the 50's not a problem. As long as it is kept dry it will be around long after your gone.
Bob

 

[CSK22]

I shot some 7mm mauser ammo last month thats been in a cardboard box(and just that) since the 50s.....just sayin..... probly not the smartest but I did it.

 

[kycrawler]

shooting 22lr from the 80's myself

 

[m82mike]

In the 80's I bought a wooden case of Remington 22 shorts. Some of the boxes were green with the red dots on the front and a partial box was all white. Over half of these were lead hollow point bullets. NOT plated.
I dodn't know thier age but they still work great in my wifes model 101
High Standard 22 short pistol.

Keep your ammo in a cool stable Temp. area and it will last a Looong time

Mike

 

[cumminspwrd02]

I was given some .38 spl this summer that was from the late 80's. Shot 100 rounds with no problem. All the ammo was in good shape and was kept in a seal container.

 

[Eddie]

Shelf Life

I am also shooting .22 rounds that were bought in the 1970's. If they are stored in a dry place I think that they laugh indefinately.

 

[Eddie]

Shelf Life

I am also shooting .22 rounds that were bought in the 1970's. If they are stored in a dry place I think that they last indefinately.

 

[seawolfxix]

My dad and I are just now finishing off his .22 ammo from the 80's. The Winchesters have about 1 misfire per 50 rounds, but he thinks they may have gotten a little damp at some point.

 

[indianamoon]

The news on the shelf life is good to know cause I just picked up a couple cases.

 

[kfarmerk]

I have some CCI Mini Mags that are 15+ years old and they are just as accurate as when I bought them.

 

[lovemywoods]

I've shot some .45 military ball that was manufactured in 1952 (making it slightly older than me!). It looks new and shoots just fine. I have a box and a half left. Wish I had more!

 

[clyde]

Proper ammo storage will prolong its life, still shooting rimfire purchased in mid-90's, milsurp made in 1950.