When would you rotate out ammo?

[Granite3]

Up until 2001, most of the Artillery ammo we shot in the 155's was made in the 50's.

I still shoot 22lr from 1965 that my dad had from being the Shooting Coach at Decatur High back before that. Most of the years it was stored in the laundry room of an unconditioned house.

So, no, I do not worry about age of my ammo as long as it did not get wet.

 

[Dingo]

How do you keep ammo? Mine keeps disappearing down barrels.

 

[Gunanddoglover]

I don't worry about the age of my ammo. I keep it in 50 cal cans with rechargeable desiccant packs in a closet in my house. Some of my ammo is 20 + years old and I never had a problem with it. As long as it stays dry and the brass doesn't get green and fuzzy everything should be good.

 

[36fatfriends]

When OP says "defensive" ammo, is he referring to daily carry rounds, or properly stored bulk ammo? I think it's an important distinction to make.

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

today I fired off two rounds of 38 special that I've been carrying for at least 10 years --carrying either on my person or in the speedloader that stays in the glove box of my vehicle.

This ammo was two different loads, manufactured 40 years ago, and 25 years ago. The oldest ammo was a Winchester FBI load --158 grain all lead semi-wadcutter +P.

The newer round was a Cor-Bon 125 grain plus P jacketed hollow point loaded hot. I bought some of those rounds in the middle 1990s. I still have a few left in the box, but this one had been out in my gun or in my speedloader for many years.

Both of these rounds fired just fine. I can't comment on the accuracy because I was shooting one handed rapidfire double action only, at a steel plate 10 yards away, and I missed it several times. But when these rounds came up for their turn to fire, they fired loud and powerful.

 

[Tazz]

I've got some milsurp .30 Carbine tracer ammo dated 1943 that my Dad bought in the 60's, still fires just fine. 75 years old, I'd say it's held up pretty well.

 

[bulletpaluza]

I have some 303britt ammo dated 1907 that looks like it sat at the bottom of the ocean and it still fires reliably. So no I dont rotate out smmo.

 

[cjnowell72]

Have shot 9 mags that were loaded for 8 years sitting in a duffle bag out of my AR with zero problems. Standard GI mags

 

[Hayata]

My dad stored his surplus carbine ammo in a car port for 40 years. Hot, cold, humid, dry for 40 seasons. Always shot just fine.

My old 30:06 surplus rounds I'll shake just to make sure the powder is still loose.

 

[RiverBend]

Dry storage, low humidity, rotate every 3-6 generations, or, NEVER.