Shells in Shotgun

[B2Tall]

My mossy 500 is always loaded in my home. I only shoot it maybe once a year but every now and then I'll unload it, give it a once-over, oil it, run some snap-caps through it, and then reload it with the real stuff (low-recoil 00 and slug). Anyone who's that worried about it can just replace the spring every few years.

I'll also blow-off my SD ammo every few years and get new stuff even though it can supposedly last for a couple of decades. As a matter of fact, a couple of years ago I was in a small local gun shop buying some 12ga ammo for a trip to the range. They also had a couple of old boxes that they'd dug out of the back room and offered to sell to me for $2/box. The boxes were faded and beat up....if they'd told me it was 20+ yrs old I'd have believed them (nobody knew how long the ammo had been there). Took them to the range and shot them all off w/o a hitch.

[Iam2Taz]

I have fired 15 - 20 year old shotgun shells. A number of times. A few years ago (NO LAUGHING) shotgun shells were paper based wax coated affairs. Those "might" not have lasted that long. It would depend a lot of the moisture content of the storage area. Now, with the sealed plastic rounds, I can't imagine a problem. I still take my guns out and shoot enough to go through my ammo.

I also, use #6 game loads. Inside my house that would just about do it. It might not do the job on the first round, but I won't kill my neighbors with a miss either. That 00 buckshot, will go right through the walls of my house into the neighbors house. Now, if you don't like your neighbors? Well, that's up to you!

[84B20]

I reload my shot shells and have a couple of cases that I loaded some time around 1985 I recently bought a new trap launcher and decided to try them out. I had no issues whatsoever and keep in mind they were home loaded and factory ammo would even be less worrisome. They all fired perfectly. On a side note, it sounds like you haven't had much experience with the gun and if you plan on using it for home defense I would strongly advise you to get some formal training. You are fooling yourself if you think you'll be able to wake up in the middle of the night and successfully defend yourself or your family

[JohnLM]

I got a lot of GREAT input on this subject and I really appreciate it all. Thanks and I will be getting more training with my weapon.

[S&W645]

50 year old ammo still works. Ask the military. I wonder how many tons of 5" shells the Navy has that are that old. Still goes boom when tested at Crane. Gulf War saw ammo used that came from WW II.

[Rocketgeezer]

12 on my side and a 20 for wifey, both loaded with #4 buck, just her and I in the house and outside is brick, a 12 gauge slug may get though, but I doubt it, and if it did, it wouldn't have much snot left,

[fudo]

I shoot SD ammo every year. I keep my SD shotguns loaded with Winchester PDX1. I live in a brick house and have no children at home.

[Deserteagle]

Having been a leo, one of my "pre-flight" duties prior to going on patrol was to cycle all the rounds out of the shotgun, inspect the weapon for any obvious defects, and re-load the weapon. This gave me the piece of mind that the mechanism for reloading is operational, and that the shotgun is ready for use when needed, NOT after a trip to the gunsmith. The most important part of that job was to return home for dinner after your shift.

Not quite sure what your point is and how it relates to my post. There is nothing wrong with checking your weapons, and I never said there was. I simply stated that of the police officers I have talked to and rode with, that is how they keep the shotgun and they do not check it before "flight". If you do, great.

[ARV]

Unless your house is damp and the ammo is coroding, its most likely just fine. Ive got a batch of 303 british from 1939. It still goes bang. I have my D shotgun fully loaded. Its just a Maverick 88 (basically a mossy 500) but its definatly drop safe. The spring in the bolt that bears on the firing pin is massive. But I also dont have kids and its locked up when Im not here.