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#1 (permalink) |
Watcher
Location: Ohio
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Old ammo, throw away? Where?
I've got 50 rounds of S&W .38 +p that's about 30-40 years old. I don't think ammo that old is safe to fire. But, can one just throw shells in the trash? What about the lead? What about the possabilities of undesired explosions? I can't find a damn thing on the NRA's website about this, and the google searches I tried were useless.
Does anyone know what I should do with this stuff? Thanks. |
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#2 (permalink) |
The sky calls to us ...
Super Moderator
Location: CT
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Take it down to the local gun store and ask. They are the best place to ask about this kind of stuff.
If, for some reason, they don't have anything to say on the subject (I see no plausible scenario in which this would happen,) I would put the old ammo facing upward in a 1-lb coffee can, pour in concrete, and when that dries, encase that upside-down in a 3-lb coffee can, then take the whole thing down to the local dump and turn it in as hazardous waste. |
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#4 (permalink) |
Cracking the Whip
Location: Sexymama's arms...
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There's no reason not to fire the old stuff.
The worst thing that could happen is that a round doesn't go off, which in that case, wait a few minutes and recycle the firearm. Heck, people are still shooting mil-spec stuff from WW2. But if you really really don't want to shoot it, throw it in a bucket of water for a few days and then toss it. Or you can do what I did and throw it in a lake somewhere.
__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate! Last edited by Lebell; 04-11-2004 at 12:53 AM.. |
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#6 (permalink) |
Upright
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Ok. Wow. The comments here blow my mind. Yes, it's probably still safe, and possibly worth money. However there is the chance that it is not safe. You can find forums just on ammo, post a picture of the stuff and I'm sure people will give you the scoop on how that ammo ages. Some ammo is NOT safe to fire after a long time. Rounds can become hotter over time and have the potential to blow up your gun/hand. DO NOT poor concrete into a bucket with the stuff. Concrete heats up as it sets and that’s bad. Concrete is not going to stop a bullet if exploded. It might make some nice derbies though. Do not soak it in water and toss it. It would make it safe for a while, but then the ammo would dry out again in a dump somewhere and become a problem again. If you really want to dispose of it, take it to the local gun shop or range. They have the ability to dispose of it properly.
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#7 (permalink) |
"Officer, I was in fear for my life"
Location: Oklahoma City
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The gun shops around here collect old ammo then turn it over to the local police department bomb squad for then to get rid of it.
Hell, if it was me, I'd just pull the bullets (with a kinetic hammer) and reload them. ![]() |
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#8 (permalink) | |
Cracking the Whip
Location: Sexymama's arms...
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Quote:
So far I've found nothing that says rounds get hotter with age. Not to mention, the rounds he is talking about are only 30-40 years old. Care to direct me to some sources?
__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate! |
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#9 (permalink) | |
Addict
Location: In the id
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#11 (permalink) | |
Insane
Location: Flying over your house
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__________________
I can't believe I ate the whole thing! |
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#12 (permalink) | |
"Officer, I was in fear for my life"
Location: Oklahoma City
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Last time I checked, gun powder was not an explosive, but an incendiary made from sulpher, charcoal and saltpeter. No maybe they add a little acitone for stabilizer but where do we get the nitrocellulose from? Again, no head biting please. Off to check the ingredients now. |
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#13 (permalink) |
Psycho
Location: Macon, GA
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I would try to fire it also.
If you wanted a good source on the internet to ask gun/ammo related questions you should try ar15.com or glocktalk.com. Those board members will definetly know what to do.
__________________
Pride is the recognition of the fact that you are your own highest value and, like all of man’s values, it has to be earned. It is not advisable, James, to venture unsolicited opinions. You should spare yourself the embarrassing discovery of their exact value to your listener. Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged |
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#14 (permalink) | |
Addict
Location: In the id
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Moden guns use smokeless powder witch is made mostlly of nitrocellulose. http://dictionary.reference.com/sear...okeless+powder http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=black+powder |
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#15 (permalink) |
Cracking the Whip
Location: Sexymama's arms...
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After doing some more research myself, the consensus view is to turn it into a police or fire station if you REALLY want to get rid of it.
It also seems that most people will fire 30 year old stuff, but some won't fire over 10 yrs old if they don't know how it was stored. The really old stuff is 50 yrs or more and the danger increases with size and with poor storage conditions. Also, while modern cartridges use smokeless gun powder (made from nitrocellulose), the amounts are so small that there is no real danger of spontaneous combustion, but that the burn rates may be off, most probably on the slower side, but not always. Since a cartridge would rupture, the cement should work fine (bullets don't "shoot" when not in a gun). Anyway, back to research.
__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate! |
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#17 (permalink) |
Watcher
Location: Ohio
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Thanks everyone. I think I'll be firing it. The ammo was stored in it's original box, in granpa's closet. The shells show no signs of corrosion or other defect.
Peace out.
__________________
I can sum up the clash of religion in one sentence: "My Invisible Friend is better than your Invisible Friend." |
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#18 (permalink) | |
"Officer, I was in fear for my life"
Location: Oklahoma City
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#20 (permalink) | |
Cracking the Whip
Location: Sexymama's arms...
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NO, it won't. The casing will rupture like a mini grenade. It is the chamber that keeps the brass from rupturing when a cartridge is fired, directing the force and bullet down the barrel. But hey, believe what you want. Or better yet, go post your theory over on AR15.com ![]()
__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate! |
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#21 (permalink) | |
Upright
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#22 (permalink) | |
Upright
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http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/...ouse/ammun.htm I also spent some time thinking about your comment on exploding ammunition. When a round explodes outside of a chamber the casing is still being surrounded on ~70% of its area by the bolt, chamber, and frame. The explosion will rupture the casing where it is not touching something. The path of least resistance. In the case of a bullet in a fire, the two pieces will separate. |
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#23 (permalink) | |
Cracking the Whip
Location: Sexymama's arms...
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Quote:
I don't need to prove anything to you. Nor do I have to give you any credentials. But chances are excellent I know a heck of a lot more about lead poisoning than you do. As well as safety in general. I will say that throwing it in a lake isn't the best idea, but for a few rounds, the lead will be negligable, especially considering the amount of lead fishing weights that are probably already down there. As to the path of least resistance, the speed of the deflagrating powder, combined with the friction of the bullet in the case, the thickness of the brass, etc. will determine exactly what happens. And no, I've never thrown a .22 in a fire; I'm smarter than that. But I think you need to find better ways to express you opinion than by insulting other board members or your time on TFP will be short indeed.
__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate! |
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#25 (permalink) |
Insane
Location: On a gravel road rough enought to knock fillings out of teeth.
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I highly doubt that you are going to get enough heat out of a coffee can full of concrete to cook off a round, even you are using really stupid amounts of accelerant in it.
And I have seen the end result of ammo in a fire (several boxes of 7mm Rem Mag in a house fire). The cases rupture. The bullet is heavier than the case, it ain't going far if it goes anywhere.
__________________
Judge me all you want, but keep the verdict to yourself. |
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#26 (permalink) | |
Cracking the Whip
Location: Sexymama's arms...
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Quote:
__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate! |
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#27 (permalink) |
Upright
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It was petty of me to start name calling. I apologize. I do think you should seriously consider the safety of others when posting advice like that.
I'd be interested to know what rounds "shoot off" and what rounds rupture when heated. I've never thrown any ammo in a fire, although I know people that have. From what I hear, .22s fire off. The lighter of the two pieces, the casing goes flying. |
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Tags |
ammo, throw |
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