Do bullets have an expiry date or do they last forever?

Question

Will modern bullets and shotgun shells work essentially forever, like you can store them for a hundred years without damage?

Or will all the chemicals inside start to decay and cause some of them to misfire?

Answer 1

Being made of lead, an inert material, bullets will last practically forever. There may be a bit of surface oxidation, but they bullets will still work just fine.

Now if you are talking about loaded ammunition, i.e. pistol or rifle cartridges, they are subject to deterioration if not properly stored. However, I've also known of cartridges well over 100 years old to fire reliably. It is mainly a matter of how they were stored. If subjected to extremes of heat and cold, and lots of moisture, they are more likely to deteriorate than if kept in a controlled climate with low humidity.

As for old shotgun shells, just make sure the paper hulled variety has not swollen from humidity. If it will fit the chamber is should be alright.

If you want to store ammo long term, get some GI Ammo cans, and some chemical desiccant packets from Cabela, Cheaper-Than-Dirt, or Brigade Quartermaster. Load your ammo can, drop one or two of the desiccant packs in the can and seal it up. It will last for years. Just change the desiccant packs from time to time.

Doc

Answer 2

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Answer 3

In a dark, dry storage container, bullets will last a very, very long time. There are cartridges from the first world war that are still good. On the other end of the spectrum, there are cartridges that haven't been stored so well that aren't safe to fire or won't fire that are only a year old.

Most military rounds, especially of Russian and Eastern Europe production, have waxed primers and wax around the ogive of the bullet to seal it against liquids. These ones will last longer, and be more resistant to heat, humidity, and liquids than non-sealed bullets. Also, having a tighter crimp on the bullet will increase the seal between the cartridge and the bullet, also increasing life.

Answer 4

I bought a M-11 that was made in 1985, amazingly the owner never shot it and it came with a box of shells that were also made in 1985. Every one of those shells were over 20 years old, yet they all fired flawlessly

Answer 5

Mine were made in 1977 and I took them to the range shooting last month, in 2014. They'll still work well for me..

Answer 6

As long as they are stored in a controlled dry moisture free enviornment there is no reason that they won't last indefinately. It would take moisture penetrating into the cartridge to neutralize the powder or primer or the brass cartridge cases.(Modern cartridges, not corrosive Berdan primed cartridges)

Answer 7

They can last indefinitely if they are stored under the proper conditions, like in military ammo cans, and away from heat.I have ammo which I reloaded back in the early 1980's and they still shoot great.

Answer 8

I HAVE NEVR HAD A MISFIRE ANDHAVE FIRED 100 YEAR OLD AMMO.......

Answer 9

They'll degrade over time, but if they're stored properly, that'll be several decades.

Answer 10

Forever.**