How long does ammunition last on the shelf?

Ammunition isn’t a perishable good – if stored correctly, it can last almost indefinitely. Whether it was stored correctly or not is another matter. Ammunition isn’t like the still-edible 5000-year-old honey found in Egyptian tombs; ready to eat and spread on toast.

Is 25 year old ammunition still good?

Generally, yes. If factory centerfire cartridges are stored in a dry, cool place with low humidity, preferably in an airtight container, they can have an amazingly long shelf life. Many ballistics experts who have shot tens of thousands of rounds over the years report shooting 20- to 50-year-old ammo with no problems.

Why are rifle bullets out of stock?

But now, several unique factors are driving the increase in demand. The first, are the COVID-19 lockdowns. People started buying more guns, and when people buy more guns they also buy more ammo. Demand is also driven by the same psychological factors that caused the toilet paper shortage: hoarding.

What is the shelf life of primed ammunition?

Quora User, Gun owner, engaged in state/national gun policies and politics, instructor/FFL03. Berdan primed ammunition stored in a cool, dry place and sealed from the elements has a shelf life of a century. Boxer primed ammunition stored under similar conditions has a shelf life of 50 years.

Does ammo ever go bad?

If properly stored, ammunition could be viable for…well, we don’t really know. Pretty much the only way ammunition will go bad is if it gets wet, or is exposed to enough humidity, that moisture enters the primer.

What is the best way to store ammo?

The best practice for storing ammunition is to store it in essentially a dedicated safe, with your guns in a separate safe and ideally stored unloaded except for those guns you keep for personal defense. Said safe should be strong, secure, and should also be fire-proof.

How do I know when my ammunition primers are no good anymore?

“How do I know when my ammunition primers are no good anymore?” A big sign – a bad sign – is when you see either a violet or scarlet colored gas coming from the canister. The primers have corroded to the point where the nitrogen-based compounds are exposed to the air and have begun to degrade. That means they’re no good.