Shelf Life of .22 Rimfire Ammunition: Test of 65+ Year Old Ammo

AmmoLand ^ | 15 Sept, 2021 | Dean Weingarten

[Wilhelm Tell]

Yes, beware of corrosion! Probably most people interested enough to browse this know that older ammo had primers that can corrode your gun if you fire the ammo. If you are new to guns, that old surplus ammo has corrosion risks to your gun. You must thoroughly clean your gun after firing corrosive ammo. If you set it in your closet and clean it a week later when you get around to it, you might get an unpleasant surprise. I shot hundreds of rounds of such ammo in my old rifle without a problem but I cleaned it promptly after I was done.

[mad_as_he$$]

I have a few boxes of 7mmX57mm Mauser from WW1. Works just fine, if you don’t mind scrubbing the corrosive primer out every time you shoot it.

The local Mormon pantry will “can” 22 for you in metal cans.

[OKSooner]

Yes, if in doubt clean everything with soap and water. Generously.

[right way right]

I found old ammunition from the 70s in the FIL s basement.
2 500 rd boxs looked great. It was all duds.

No lucky find for me.
No climate control in that concrete finished hoarder basement.

I would not buy old ammo unless I was sure-of how it was stored.

[baclava]

Use Windex, with ammonia, very hot water, spray with CLP.

I use lots of Yugo heavy ball, corrosive in my Mosin-nagant, no prob, just clean after use.

[marktwain]

I found old ammunition from the 70s in the FIL s basement. 2 500 rd boxs looked great. It was all duds.

Extremely unusual.

[right way right]

All I know is no fire.
I even tried different guns and took samples from each box.

[ptsal]

B

[marktwain]

2 500 rd boxs looked great. It was all duds.

How many rounds did you attempt to fire?

What was the brand of ammunition?

What type of firearm did you try it in?

What state was it stored in?

This is a very unusual case, so I would like to know more about it.

[right way right]

Washington state
Federal
Tried in colt .22 revolver also tried some of it but not all in a 10/22 ruger
took a couple rounds out of every box.
Not a single one fired.
I’m thinking dampness but there was no corrosion.
I think it’s odd too.

[right way right]

Maybe by state you meant the box.
It was in the factory 500 rd box
No other cover.

[marktwain]

Did you try rotating to rounds to see if they fired with a second strike?

What happened to the ammunition.

I would love to obtain a couple of boxes to dissect and test.

[ltc8k6]

88 year old .22 bullets from SEARS?! - Will it still go bang?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASg7r8ahuio

[wardaddy]

I’ve shot old Peters .32 smith and Wesson and .22 long rifle which dated 1920s

Fired every time

[wgmalabama]

I have 20+ year old .22LR ammo. No special storage other than still in the mega box (550 I think). I notice about 1:25 will make a different sound (less powerful) when fired. Still cycles the 10/22. Still hits a 25 yard target but it noticeable.

[right way right]

I threw it out or I would send it all.
Don’t think I ever turned any of them to restrike.
I thought about taking a ball ping hammer to them..I decided against that.

[marktwain]

Too bad.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

I can tell you how that was handled at the military firing ranges many moons ago. There was a trough of soapy water there at the range. Once you were done you pulled the bolt out of your '03 - or whatever - pushed the cleaning rod with a brush on the end out through the end of the barrel. You put the end of the barrel down in the trough and pulled the cleaning rod up but not out of the barrel, wait a few seconds, then push out. Do it several times. The somewhat sealing action of the brush would pull the cleaning water up into the barrel with every stroke to give it a good soaking. You then gave it regular maintenance with the cleaner and oil. Did the same with the belt feds (Brownings), pull it down, leave the barrel extension on and dunk the barrel the same way - clean all the internal parts and scrub the inside of the receiver. Advent of non-corrosive primers sure cut down on the cleaning work.

 

 

[Oatka]

Back in the ‘50s I bought some 56/52 Spencer rimfire ammo from Bannermans and shot them out of a Joslyn breechloading carbine. About half were duds, but the others fired off, giving a comfortable recoil. Was amazed that almost 100 year old rimfires of iffy manufacture fired at all.

A year later I acquired a 45 Turkish Peabody Martini and scrounged up a few 480 gr lead, 85 gr black powder rounds. Installed a tang sight and started shooting. The first round DETONATED and rocked me back on my heels (squatting position). I felt blood run down the right side of my face and found that the tang sight had cut a “V” under my eye from the recoil. I didn’t shoot any more, figuring that time had deteriorated the powder charge into FFFFG, turning that ammo into bombs.

[marktwain]

Interesting report. Those rounds would be worth a pretty penny today.