Shelf life of ammo?

[Pele]

I have 50 Rds of personal protection ammo.
Hopefully I will never have to use it.

How long can I keep it around before I should consider it unreliable?

I know people are shooting military surplus from decades ago...
Then again, I've been told one year... MAX

Whom should I trust? What can I do to prolong my ammo (and magazine) storage?


Currently, I keep the ammo and gun in an electronic safe when I'm at home. I rotate between magazines approximately monthly.

It's not a sealed airtight safe, so it may as well be out on the shelf though...

When I go to the range, I unload the magazine and fire my FMJ ammo. Then I put the hollow point back when I leave.

I inspect the ammo where the bullet is crimped into the casing. I'll scrap any messed up ones (So far none.)

I'd really hate to have any FTF problems, especially when confronted with an intruder.

[Red Hat]

As long as you keep it cool and dry it will last for many years. I'm shooting some WWII ammo without any problems. Now carry ammo is different. Temperature change, moisture and gun oil can cause problems with carry ammo. For that reason I won't carry it for more than 6 months at the most. I try to fire off my carry ammo after about 3 months of carry. This allows for fresh carry ammo and to maintain proficiency using my carry ammo.

[maybejim]

The biggest worry would be oil seeping into the cases (left in from cleaning). Some ammo is pretty well sealed but it is a threat. Most people suggest you routinely shoot up your carry ammo and replace it.

[AZSATT]

Temperature change, moisture and gun oil can cause problems with carry ammo. For that reason I won't carry it for more than 6 months at the most. I try to fire off my carry ammo after about 3 months of carry. This allows for fresh carry ammo and to maintain proficiency using my carry ammo.

This is some great advice. Even IF the actual life of your carry ammo may be longer, carry ammo is not training ammo. If, by some twist of circumstances, oil and temperature variables conspire to compromise your training ammo, you may get the additional training of clearing a stoppage/malfunction - and no worries. It's all good.

But if that same twist of circumstances were to occur to the ammo you carry for self-defense purposes, a really bad day then has the potential to end horribly worse. We "good guys" already start most gun fights in second place. It's only through superior training and thorough preparation we don't end a gun fight in second place.

I'm all for burning up carry ammo - for just that reason - periodically as well. Whether it's once a quarter, or twice a year, it's far better safe than otherwise. IMO.

[BearTaylor]

A fellow shot some 30+year old ammo in our concealed carry class shooting test. His third round of .38 Special blew apart in his old S&W revolver, peppering him with debris on his face and hands. Although the handgun checked out okay by a site gunsmith, an inspection of the ammo revealed there were some "green" cartridges in the box. The student bought some fresh ammo, completed the test and left those degraded rounds with the gunshop owner. When that cartridge blew there was enough to fire to make my black powder revolvers jealous.

I think the safety glasses the fellow wore prevented some potential eye damage.