The gun, clip and box of bullets was stored in a plastic grocery bag for the last 25 years and hasn't been shot. The clip was loaded but NOT IN the gun. Those bullets turned green so I removed them. Is it safe to reload with the bullets from the box (they look like new bullets) and is it safe to target shoot with the gun.????
It hasn't been cleaned or used in about 26 years.
2007-06-24 10:11:37 · 8 answers · asked by CleoCATra 4 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
BE VERY CAREFUL!
Put the cartridges back into the box and sell the box to an ammo collector. Nitrate based powders may become unstable with age and you might screw up the gun and end up with a bullet jammed in the barrel. Buy new cartridges. Make sure they are exactly the kind listed on the gun barrel. Just because a cartridge will fit does not mean it is safe so make sure you get what is listed on the barrel.
If there is no gun manual with the gun, you can often download them from the gun makers website. You may want to do that rather than assuming you know how to properly work the gun.
Take the gun apart and clean it. Make sure there is no rust or pitting in the firing chamber or barrel. If it looks OK and has no rust, oil it with a good gun oil, making sure you get all the moving parts. Make absolutely sure the firing pin is not rusted or jammed and that all the safeties work. Do not go dry firing the gun. Get an empty shell casing of the proper caliber and put that into the chamber and fire against that. What you are looking for is a new dent in the primer from the firing pin, letting you know the hammer and firing pin are working correctly. The safest thing to do would be take the gun to a gunsmith and let him check it out.
The spring in the magazine (it is not a clip) is probably no good. It has been under tension the whole time and probably will not feed the cartridges into the gun properly. The inside of the magazine may be gummed up from the corrosion of the copper shell casings. If you can take apart the magazine and clean it well, do so. Load it with your new ammo and go fire the gun. If you have a problem with jamming, specially towards the end of the magazine load, you need a new magazine as the spring is weak.
I would advise you get some help with this as ignorance is one of the biggest causes of gun accidents. Be safe.
2007-06-25 20:31:03 · answer #1 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Inspect the gun first of all, get a gun cleaning kit and do a good cleaning job and inspect it again. The magazine spring may be weak after sitting all this time loaded and, if you experience jams this could be the cause and not the old ammo. In any case I'd buy some new ammo anyway.
I don't know what pistol you have but you could get an extra magazine (or 2) at a local gun show. Problems with jams, check with a local Gunsmith, he may need to replace the mag spring.
2007-06-25 04:50:00 · answer #2 · answered by gretsch16pc 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you wipe the cartridges down with a soft clean cloth to remove as much corrosion as possible, they will work. My dad left a bunch of 22 lr in a leather hoslter once, the rounds looked terrible, but they cleaned up prettty well. I shot them and they worked fine like any other 22 lr bulk packed ammo.
As far as the gun and magazine go, a good cleaning and a quick look at it wouldn't hurt. Use a bore light or a small flashlight to check the bore to make sure there are no obstructions. Possibly lightly oil moving parts to prevent excessive wear.
2007-06-25 10:41:34 · answer #3 · answered by Matt M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure. If time had an effect on the bullets, all they will do is become less likely to fire, or perhaps fire at less velocity IE power.
I would clean the gun before shooting it and oil it too.
However, the magazine spring is probably junk after being loaded for so long. Enjoy!
2007-06-24 12:22:25 · answer #4 · answered by browning_1911 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely, but i would take it to someone who knows something about guns, such as a gunsmith or even a gun store that buys and sells used firearms. They can help you. Most likely you just need to field strip it and clean it all up and oil it, but it is best not to take chances especially since it looks like moisture got to it judging by the corroded bullets. Rusted parts can break and do really nasty things.
2007-06-24 10:22:35 · answer #5 · answered by Johan 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, take it apart and do a good inspection looking for any kind of damage such as rust in the barrel or damage that may have been caused by moisture over those years etc. etc. Give it a little cleaning as well.
But if it looks to be in good condition, I can't see you having any problems. If it's a .25 it's almost certainly just a simply blowback pistol and you aren't going to have any kind of catostrophic failure like you would one a pistol using a larger high pressure type of ammo.
Go for it.
2007-06-24 12:20:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try the action (slide if it's an automatic, or the cylinder if it's a revolver although I've never heard of a .25 revolver). If it works smoothly, then it's probably OK to fire. However, I would first disassemble, clean and lubricate it. Then it's time to "let the lead slingin' begin!"
2016-05-19 12:33:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely, but make sure theres nothing in the barrel first before you shoot it*...
2007-06-24 12:37:10 · answer #8 · answered by dca2003311@yahoo.com 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋