I was given a case of 20 gauge shells that were in a house that flooded. The shells were not underwater, but the hot humid air caused them to rust. They were 10-15 years old before the flood and have been sitting in there rusted state for another 5. I would say 25% of the brass has a rusted surface, mostly on the side and very little on the bottom by the primer. Polishing up with some 0000 steel wool cleans them up well but some have lost metal at the lip. I cut one of the worst ones open and the pellets poured out easily. The powder burned and the primer popped when struck. I think these shells are usable. Any experience here to say otherwise?
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Rusty ammo
- Thread starter kreiderm
- Start date
oneounceload
Moderator
brass doesn't rust - what brand and type do you have?
My dad gave me a bunch of old tarnished .22lr and 12 gauge shells. Haven't shot any of the 12 gauges yet but for the most part the .22 shells are doing great. I get a dud every now and then but hey they were free!
Some of the one's that are severely tarnished I just throw away. But if I took the time to clean them up I wouldn't be afraid to try them.
Some of the one's that are severely tarnished I just throw away. But if I took the time to clean them up I wouldn't be afraid to try them.
Bill DeShivs
New member
Shotshells have had brass plated steel case heads for decades.
Disassemble a few of the worst ones. If the case heads are intact inside, the outside rust pits are not deep, and the powder looks OK-try shooting a couple.
If you happen to have an H&R single shot, use it. They are very strong guns.
Disassemble a few of the worst ones. If the case heads are intact inside, the outside rust pits are not deep, and the powder looks OK-try shooting a couple.
If you happen to have an H&R single shot, use it. They are very strong guns.
the rifleer
New member
I can just about garentee you that if someone gave me some shells i would try to shoot them as long as they were the right gauge, properly loaded, and fit in my gun.
oneounceload
Moderator
Shotshells have had brass plated steel case heads for decades.
SOME do, not all. There are still ones with all brass heads.
I would try them in a single shot or O/U - if something separates, it will be easier to remove
My shell storage area flooded some years ago and several cases (the old 20 box cases - not 10 box flats) of shot shells were on the wet floor for a short time. Factory packaging is pretty tenacious. Of the cases that got wet, we set aside the boxes on the top level that were still dry and then removed all the shells from the bottom level to dry them and their boxes. They were a mixture of Double-As and Federal Papers. Even though the outer boxes were sodden, none of the paper hulls had swollen. I typically shoot the new shells in tournaments and use reloads for practice. I relegated the bottom level shells to practice and had no misfires. The top level shells we used in matches.
If those corroded shells were mine, I'd shoot them for practice. What ever you do, not throw them out: Cut the hulls open and salvage the shot and wads. And, you can use the powder for fertilizer.
If those corroded shells were mine, I'd shoot them for practice. What ever you do, not throw them out: Cut the hulls open and salvage the shot and wads. And, you can use the powder for fertilizer.
I suggest you try each and every one to see if they will chamber before going to range or wherever to shoot.
The conditions you described may have caused the shells to swell. It they did, you can't necessarily tell it with the naked eye.
Other than that, they should not be any danger in their use.
The conditions you described may have caused the shells to swell. It they did, you can't necessarily tell it with the naked eye.
Other than that, they should not be any danger in their use.
Charles Ellis
New member
I just got about 15 boxes of mixed gage shells from a friend who was cleaning up.Many were corroded but I only had 1 box that I discarded.I don't know how old these are but they predate plastic wads and hulls.So far(3-4 boxes shot)I've only had 2 misfires.Use the ones you got for practice,I don't think you will hurt anything.