self defense ammo age?
- Thread starter bigphill
- Start date
Hog Hunter
New member
My daddy has some shells he reloaded at least 13 years ago he still keeps in his S&W highway patrolman .357. He also still has a box and a half of the same rounds.
I asked him one day why dont he shoot them up and load some more. Told me he hasnt loaded a box of shells to this day that shoot like them do. He shot three at about 40 yards to show me one day. Ever one was touchin. His factory rounds were maybe inside a solo cup. I didnt ask anymore questions.
I have had the same shells in my G17 for about a year now. I have shot maybe three out of the clip here and there. ( hog twice, and think I shot a gar at the river)
I asked him one day why dont he shoot them up and load some more. Told me he hasnt loaded a box of shells to this day that shoot like them do. He shot three at about 40 yards to show me one day. Ever one was touchin. His factory rounds were maybe inside a solo cup. I didnt ask anymore questions.
I have had the same shells in my G17 for about a year now. I have shot maybe three out of the clip here and there. ( hog twice, and think I shot a gar at the river)
I just shot some of my carry ammo, 9 months been carrying it. I only shot 6 rounds, 2 from each magazine, because I was told not to load magazine to max. Anyways, fired fine. I would say in the past 9 months/270 days +/- 5 or so. I say about 85 days I carried. Including hot days.
self defense handgun rounds....
This subject pops up on the firearm/tactics forums a lot.
I'd suggest changes to carry/defense rounds every 3/4 months. It's not a standard but to me it's practical.
Dust, pocket lint, grit, moisture, etc can cause - effects. I only use factory new, factory made ammunition. No reloads or handloaded rounds.
If you store handgun rounds in a cool dry place & inspect them often you should be alright.
This subject pops up on the firearm/tactics forums a lot.
I'd suggest changes to carry/defense rounds every 3/4 months. It's not a standard but to me it's practical.
Dust, pocket lint, grit, moisture, etc can cause - effects. I only use factory new, factory made ammunition. No reloads or handloaded rounds.
If you store handgun rounds in a cool dry place & inspect them often you should be alright.
I have a bunch of .45 ball ammo that's packed in 20 round cardboard boxes marked "20 Cartridges, Pistol Ball, Caliber .45 M1911, Ammunition Lot W.C.C. 1032, Western Cartridge Company".
The headstamps are FA32, meaning this stuff was manufactured in 1932.
It was given to me by a retired Army Major in the early 1970s. He'd stored it in his attic. In Tucson. Most of the time I've owned it, it's been stored in garages or attics in AZ, SD and FL. Temps ranged from -30 to +120 or more.
Now to my point. In 2008, I ran 5 rounds through one of my 1927 Argentine Colts and chronographed the results. I got an average of 842 fps and a Standard Deviation of 12!
Somehow I don't think leaving your ammo in their mags for a few months or years is going to be a problem!!
The headstamps are FA32, meaning this stuff was manufactured in 1932.
It was given to me by a retired Army Major in the early 1970s. He'd stored it in his attic. In Tucson. Most of the time I've owned it, it's been stored in garages or attics in AZ, SD and FL. Temps ranged from -30 to +120 or more.
Now to my point. In 2008, I ran 5 rounds through one of my 1927 Argentine Colts and chronographed the results. I got an average of 842 fps and a Standard Deviation of 12!
Somehow I don't think leaving your ammo in their mags for a few months or years is going to be a problem!!
All my magazines stay full loaded all the time, with the exception being when I empty them downrange via the gun. The ammo is always stored in a temperature and humidity controlled environment and some of it has been in storage for three, maybe four years although I try to rotate the oldest stuff first, it doesn't always happen.
My carry gun ammo gets replaced, at the very least, once a month but more times than not, twice a month as it gets a lot of range use. My BUG, which spends most of it's life in a fanny pack holster, probably gets utilized every 12 to 14 months. The ammo stays in it. Never had a problem
Keep your gun clean, oil and water out of your ammo, garbage out of your magazines and all should perform as designed at anytime.
My carry gun ammo gets replaced, at the very least, once a month but more times than not, twice a month as it gets a lot of range use. My BUG, which spends most of it's life in a fanny pack holster, probably gets utilized every 12 to 14 months. The ammo stays in it. Never had a problem
Keep your gun clean, oil and water out of your ammo, garbage out of your magazines and all should perform as designed at anytime.
WolfMacabre
New member
I agree, while it's nice that ammo can last a long time, if you fail to be able to shoot your gun when the time comes it won't matter how good your ammunition still is.
I try to go to the range every other months, sometimes 3, so my ammo gets changed to new stuff before I leave the range.
I don't keep a mag loaded for my carry weapon because my most often carried guns are revolvers. Typically, I'll buy some fresh carry ammo once every 2-3 years, though sometimes more often if I decide to begin carrying a different type of ammo. I do not use bargain-priced ammo for carry and all my carry ammo is stored inside my home, so I'm not really all that worried about it deteriorating. FWIW, I've shot premium JHP ammo that was purchased 10-15 years earlier and never had a hiccup, so it's not really something I worry too much about.
As far as practicing with what I carry, I am able to either use inexpensive factory ammo or handloads that mimics the POI and recoil characteristics of my carry ammo closely enough that there is no perceptible difference in my shooting between the two.
As far as practicing with what I carry, I am able to either use inexpensive factory ammo or handloads that mimics the POI and recoil characteristics of my carry ammo closely enough that there is no perceptible difference in my shooting between the two.
lasvegastransplant
New member
A LONG TIME
I have wondered the same thing.
From all the reading I did, it's a toss up between alternating clips every other month or.....(what I think) you can leave then loaded for your grandkids to shoot. The spring wears from compressing it over and over(loading and unloading). I'm sure some spring tension will be lost after years but not anything to worry about. That was with quality mags(whatever that meant) I read.
I have a 22 rifle that gets shot once or twice a month. I always leave a clip loaded in a drawer(never know). I forgot about the loaded one for like 4+ months and slapped it in with not even an issue. That was with a Savage 64 mag. with 9 loaded.
I say leave it loaded .
I have wondered the same thing.
From all the reading I did, it's a toss up between alternating clips every other month or.....(what I think) you can leave then loaded for your grandkids to shoot. The spring wears from compressing it over and over(loading and unloading). I'm sure some spring tension will be lost after years but not anything to worry about. That was with quality mags(whatever that meant) I read.
I have a 22 rifle that gets shot once or twice a month. I always leave a clip loaded in a drawer(never know). I forgot about the loaded one for like 4+ months and slapped it in with not even an issue. That was with a Savage 64 mag. with 9 loaded.
I say leave it loaded .
lasvegastransplant
New member
I kind of misread your question.
2 months then we(wife and I) change out our CCW ammo. I shoot the old ones sometimes but tend to keep them in another container... Since they cost a lot more than target ammo I keep most just separated. I admit SOMETIMES it could be 4/5 months before we change out ammo.....
I(for some reason) thought you asked now long to keep a mag loaded...
2 months then we(wife and I) change out our CCW ammo. I shoot the old ones sometimes but tend to keep them in another container... Since they cost a lot more than target ammo I keep most just separated. I admit SOMETIMES it could be 4/5 months before we change out ammo.....
I(for some reason) thought you asked now long to keep a mag loaded...
zombieslayer
New member
My CZ52 sees nightstand/truck/utility duty and its loaded with some decades-old surplus. But my carry guns get new ammo every few months as it gets shot at the range.
That is a valid question. I notice so little difference between my practice ammo and my carry ammo in my EDC that I am comfortable going to the range once a month, shooting cheap stuff and saving my expensive carry ammo. I make a point of shooting some center fire after shooting .22, though, so that I leave the range remembering what recoil feels like.
I read a story a while back about someone having a 1911 given to them, that had been brought home from WWII that still had a loaded magazine with it, also from WWII. Been put up with the gun all that time. The fellow who was given the old 1911 decided to see if it would shoot with the old ammo. All 7 rounds fired without a hitch, after being loaded in a GI magazine for 60+ years. That is reliable.
I think changing out your carry ammo at short intervals got started from cops hosing off their guns with WD40 years ago. I keep an eye on my ammo. I have shot up my carry ammo and replaced it at times when I was in Law Enforcement. I bought most of my carry ammunition out of my own pocket. At about $1.50 a shot, I am not real big into wasting it. I have never ever had a round of my carry ammo fail to fire no matter how long I have had it, or carried it.
My thought on the matter. Keep a close eye on your equipment. If you get your gun wet, think you may have gotten oil or solvents, etc on your ammo. Shoot it up, and replace it. If you keep your gun year round in your vehicle, again shoot it up now and again. Ammo living in your vehicle for long periods of time is hard on it.
If your gun and ammo stay clean and dry, it will last for years. The key is staying on top of the condition of your equipment. The ammo in the wifes 686 is probably over 10 years old. The 6 rounds in the gun have probably been in it for 5 years off and on. I take the carry ammo out every now and again when the 686 goes to the range. I clean the gun, and put the carry ammo back in it again after looking it over. You can take it to the bank, It will fire all 6 times when needed.
I think changing out your carry ammo at short intervals got started from cops hosing off their guns with WD40 years ago. I keep an eye on my ammo. I have shot up my carry ammo and replaced it at times when I was in Law Enforcement. I bought most of my carry ammunition out of my own pocket. At about $1.50 a shot, I am not real big into wasting it. I have never ever had a round of my carry ammo fail to fire no matter how long I have had it, or carried it.
My thought on the matter. Keep a close eye on your equipment. If you get your gun wet, think you may have gotten oil or solvents, etc on your ammo. Shoot it up, and replace it. If you keep your gun year round in your vehicle, again shoot it up now and again. Ammo living in your vehicle for long periods of time is hard on it.
If your gun and ammo stay clean and dry, it will last for years. The key is staying on top of the condition of your equipment. The ammo in the wifes 686 is probably over 10 years old. The 6 rounds in the gun have probably been in it for 5 years off and on. I take the carry ammo out every now and again when the 686 goes to the range. I clean the gun, and put the carry ammo back in it again after looking it over. You can take it to the bank, It will fire all 6 times when needed.
FrankenMauser
New member
I have some 2000 production .380 Auto Winchester SXTs that were still in an SD gun, until about a month ago. Once a year, I'd shoot about 5 rounds to "rotate stock", and test for a performance change. They're still doing fine. The only reason they aren't in that .380 any more, is because I switched to Hornady Critical Defense.
What's left of those SXTs are taking part in a long term submersion test (6" of water for 35 days, so far). Out of all the ammunition being tested (reloads and factory), only the SXTs are still 100% dry, and ready to roll. ...And the SXTs are the only cartridges that were abused for 10+ years. The rest came straight out of their boxes. (The Hornady Critical Defense isn't being tested.)
What's left of those SXTs are taking part in a long term submersion test (6" of water for 35 days, so far). Out of all the ammunition being tested (reloads and factory), only the SXTs are still 100% dry, and ready to roll. ...And the SXTs are the only cartridges that were abused for 10+ years. The rest came straight out of their boxes. (The Hornady Critical Defense isn't being tested.)