disposal of bad out of spec rounds

Willie Lowman · November 11, 2016, 09:55 AM

I cleaned my reloading room out last month.

Under the table and behind some things I found a box marked NFG with a lot of bad .223 ammo. This stuff is several years old and its a mix of wrong OAL, improper case resize, bullet / powder combinations that didn't work well...

So even though I wouldn't try to use it, it is still live ammo. I have no interest in pulling the bullets. Most were loaded with cheapo depot FMJ bullets anyhow.

So the question at hand, what to do with these rounds?

nhyrum · November 11, 2016, 10:04 AM

If you know the bullets(or hell, Just weigh them) id pull the bullets, toss all the powder in a jug, and find out how to dispose of that. And either scrap the brass or reuse it

higgite · November 11, 2016, 10:36 AM

Quote:

I have no interest in pulling the bullets.

A few years back, I inherited some old ammo that I had no use for. Local law enforcement was glad to dispose of it for me. You might give them a call.

aarondhgraham · November 11, 2016, 10:37 AM

Wrong forum.

JeepHammer · November 11, 2016, 10:47 AM

Make a hole in the middle of no where, corner of lost & where the heck are we, and bury.
If you are worried about environmental concerns, it's going to be work...
Several different calibers means a lot of time pulling bullets to separate components, even with a collet puller.

I'm NOT recommending this...
I saw Koreans punch holes in the sides of the brass with a pointed rod, soak them in water before throwing them in a smelting pot. No explosions as the smelter heated up and cooked the water off. (Korean 'De-mill' in the '70s)
Hole punched and soaked, they *might* be safe in the trash, I just don't know.

**Unclenick** · November 11, 2016, 11:49 AM

As suggested, if you don't want to bother with pulling them, the local police or fire department will usually dispose of it for you. Call them and ask where to drop them off. Personally, I have enough bullet pullers, I would probably save the drive by pulling the bullets then scattering the powder on the lawn as fertilizer (it works for that). The bullets and brass and primers can then be salvaged if you want to or tossed if you don't.

mikld · November 11, 2016, 11:54 AM

If you don't want to disassemble the ammo, the simplest way to get rid of them is your local PD (or if you see an officer on the street give it to him)...

I have a box labeled "To Deal With Later" where I drop my faux pas and some time when I have nothing to do I'll take a few out and disassemble them. "There's only one way to eat an elephant, that's one bite at a time". I may just pull 10 or so or if I'm bored more, but I don't need to do all the OOPS! ammo at once...

BigJimP · November 11, 2016, 12:47 PM

Go to your local range....clearly label the box full of ammo ...as old junk, out of spec...( and say Free )...and someone will pull bullets, reuse brass or maybe the bullets...

Some ranges will dispose of it for you as well...( or police or Fire in your area )...

rebs · November 11, 2016, 02:12 PM

Our club has a box for suck rounds, you place them in there and someone from the club disposes of them. I don't know where they take them but I know they will be safely disposed of. If you don't belong to a club or have a shooting range in your area then the police is probably your best bet.

g.willikers · November 11, 2016, 04:03 PM

Are there any deep lakes around?

Schnitzjr · November 11, 2016, 08:55 PM

i wouldn't involve the police just because. I mean, why invite the man into your life...

Perhaps the local firing range can take this stuff for you?

mikld · November 12, 2016, 11:57 AM

In my small town, "The Man" is/are respected members of the community. They have no need to pry into the citizens lives nor collect data on us. I know of one who even reloads ...

Reloadron · November 12, 2016, 01:55 PM

Quote:

A few years back, I inherited some old ammo that I had no use for. Local law enforcement was glad to dispose of it for me. You might give them a call.

Followed by I would just throw them in the garbage. Where I am in the Cleveland, Ohio suburbs my city is happy to take toxic waste at the city garage.

Ron

**Unclenick** · November 12, 2016, 04:10 PM

Columbus has a toxic/dangerous materials handling contract with someone, too. Take them your batteries and various chemicals and they do approved disposal of it. It's just that I have to drive from the suburbs into the middle of the city to do that. Probably lose over an hour, not to mention wasting gasoline getting there when I can just go to a firehouse not two minutes and two turns away from my house, or take seven or eight minutes to go to the local police station.

The local police have some shooting competition trophies in their display case. I'm not worried about them in the least. Even have a Columbus police officer down the street who teaches rifle marksmanship as a form of youth ministry. No concern there, either.

Schnitzjr · November 12, 2016, 09:25 PM

My perspective is from living behind enemy lines In a liberal sinkhole. Unfortunately when it comes to guns and ammo you can't count on the man being on your side.

higgite · November 13, 2016, 12:05 AM

I suspect if it's legal, he's on your side. But that's just me.

Chainsaw. · November 13, 2016, 12:29 AM

Ship it to me. Ill take good care of it.

brasscollector · November 13, 2016, 05:41 AM

Quote:

My perspective is from living behind enemy lines In a liberal sinkhole

I live in Dane Co, WI. Doesn't get much more one-sided than it does here. That being said I've haven't run across any officers/deputies who 'have it out' for me. Seems, for the most part, the police officers are quite neutral, at least in their policing. YMMV of course but it's my belief that most Police officers chose his/her profession from a desire to serve and not (usually) a desire to control.

pathdoc · November 13, 2016, 06:28 AM

If it were not actually unsafe, I'd just shoot it off for fun. Otherwise the safest thing to do IMO is bite the bullet (ha ha), pull the projectiles, dump the powder in the garden just before the next rain or snow, and then run the cases through a rifle and fire off the primers.

rebs · November 13, 2016, 08:02 AM

I wouldn't hesitate to take it to a police station.
local Sheriff here is pro 2nd amendment and encourages people to get their hand gun permit. The state police here are also pro 2nd amendment. A close friend of mine in Pa is a retired cop and shooter reloader and hunter. He is also pro 2nd amendment.

Mauser69 · November 13, 2016, 10:40 AM

Safe disposal is our responsibility. Do NOT throw it away like this. Most of the other suggestions are decent, but I cannot understand why you would not just take care of it properly yourself?

Pulling bullets is super simple, ESPECIALLY if you do not want to re-use them. All you need is a single stage press, the right shell holder, and a decent pair of pliers. Just raise the ram with no die in place, then grab the bullet with the pliers above the press and drop the ram.

Dump the powder anywhere outside - nitrogen helps things grow.

Your primed cases can easily be re-used as is, or just decap them or pop them in a gun.

mikld · November 13, 2016, 11:41 AM

I lived in the Los Angeles area for 55 years but never had occasion to advertise my reloading status. I was totally legal and did not fear "The Man". I gave "The Man" no reason to check me out, search me or my home. When I was young and smoking pot, I called the local police "The Man", but now, growing up and being sober 30 years, Police Officers are just guys with jobs that deal with the lower parts of society, and have no business with me.

Besides being a confirmed tinkerer, and cheap, I would just pull the bullets, melt them down, and reuse the brass (or just save it if I didn't reload that caliber).

November 11, 2016, 09:55 AM	#1
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	disposal of bad out of spec rounds I cleaned my reloading room out last month. Under the table and behind some things I found a box marked NFG with a lot of bad .223 ammo. This stuff is several years old and its a mix of wrong OAL, improper case resize, bullet / powder combinations that didn't work well... So even though I wouldn't try to use it, it is still live ammo. I have no interest in pulling the bullets. Most were loaded with cheapo depot FMJ bullets anyhow. So the question at hand, what to do with these rounds? __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens

November 11, 2016, 10:37 AM	#4
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Oops Wrong forum. __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

November 11, 2016, 11:49 AM	#6
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,125	As suggested, if you don't want to bother with pulling them, the local police or fire department will usually dispose of it for you. Call them and ask where to drop them off. Personally, I have enough bullet pullers, I would probably save the drive by pulling the bullets then scattering the powder on the lawn as fertilizer (it works for that). The bullets and brass and primers can then be salvaged if you want to or tossed if you don't. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 12, 2016, 04:10 PM	#14
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,125	Columbus has a toxic/dangerous materials handling contract with someone, too. Take them your batteries and various chemicals and they do approved disposal of it. It's just that I have to drive from the suburbs into the middle of the city to do that. Probably lose over an hour, not to mention wasting gasoline getting there when I can just go to a firehouse not two minutes and two turns away from my house, or take seven or eight minutes to go to the local police station. The local police have some shooting competition trophies in their display case. I'm not worried about them in the least. Even have a Columbus police officer down the street who teaches rifle marksmanship as a form of youth ministry. No concern there, either. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 13, 2016, 10:40 AM	#21
Mauser69 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2014 Location: New Mexico Posts: 204	You made it, YOU should disassemble it Safe disposal is our responsibility. Do NOT throw it away like this. Most of the other suggestions are decent, but I cannot understand why you would not just take care of it properly yourself? Pulling bullets is super simple, ESPECIALLY if you do not want to re-use them. All you need is a single stage press, the right shell holder, and a decent pair of pliers. Just raise the ram with no die in place, then grab the bullet with the pliers above the press and drop the ram. Dump the powder anywhere outside - nitrogen helps things grow. Your primed cases can easily be re-used as is, or just decap them or pop them in a gun.

November 11, 2016, 10:04 AM	#2
nhyrum Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2016 Posts: 592	If you know the bullets(or hell, Just weigh them) id pull the bullets, toss all the powder in a jug, and find out how to dispose of that. And either scrap the brass or reuse it

November 11, 2016, 10:47 AM	#5
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	Make a hole in the middle of no where, corner of lost & where the heck are we, and bury. If you are worried about environmental concerns, it's going to be work... Several different calibers means a lot of time pulling bullets to separate components, even with a collet puller. I'm NOT recommending this... I saw Koreans punch holes in the sides of the brass with a pointed rod, soak them in water before throwing them in a smelting pot. No explosions as the smelter heated up and cooked the water off. (Korean 'De-mill' in the '70s) Hole punched and soaked, they might be safe in the trash, I just don't know.

November 11, 2016, 11:54 AM	#7
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	If you don't want to disassemble the ammo, the simplest way to get rid of them is your local PD (or if you see an officer on the street give it to him)... I have a box labeled "To Deal With Later" where I drop my faux pas and some time when I have nothing to do I'll take a few out and disassemble them. "There's only one way to eat an elephant, that's one bite at a time". I may just pull 10 or so or if I'm bored more, but I don't need to do all the OOPS! ammo at once...

November 11, 2016, 12:47 PM	#8
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Go to your local range....clearly label the box full of ammo ...as old junk, out of spec...( and say Free )...and someone will pull bullets, reuse brass or maybe the bullets... Some ranges will dispose of it for you as well...( or police or Fire in your area )...

November 11, 2016, 02:12 PM	#9
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	Our club has a box for suck rounds, you place them in there and someone from the club disposes of them. I don't know where they take them but I know they will be safely disposed of. If you don't belong to a club or have a shooting range in your area then the police is probably your best bet.

November 11, 2016, 04:03 PM	#10
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Are there any deep lakes around?

November 11, 2016, 08:55 PM	#11
Schnitzjr Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2012 Posts: 108	i wouldn't involve the police just because. I mean, why invite the man into your life... Perhaps the local firing range can take this stuff for you?

November 12, 2016, 11:57 AM	#12
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	In my small town, "The Man" is/are respected members of the community. They have no need to pry into the citizens lives nor collect data on us. I know of one who even reloads ...

November 12, 2016, 09:25 PM	#15
Schnitzjr Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2012 Posts: 108	My perspective is from living behind enemy lines In a liberal sinkhole. Unfortunately when it comes to guns and ammo you can't count on the man being on your side.

November 13, 2016, 12:05 AM	#16
higgite Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2010 Posts: 1,025	I suspect if it's legal, he's on your side. But that's just me.

November 13, 2016, 12:29 AM	#17
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Ship it to me. Ill take good care of it.

November 13, 2016, 06:28 AM	#19
pathdoc Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2013 Posts: 669	If it were not actually unsafe, I'd just shoot it off for fun. Otherwise the safest thing to do IMO is bite the bullet (ha ha), pull the projectiles, dump the powder in the garden just before the next rain or snow, and then run the cases through a rifle and fire off the primers.

November 13, 2016, 08:02 AM	#20
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I wouldn't hesitate to take it to a police station. local Sheriff here is pro 2nd amendment and encourages people to get their hand gun permit. The state police here are also pro 2nd amendment. A close friend of mine in Pa is a retired cop and shooter reloader and hunter. He is also pro 2nd amendment.

November 13, 2016, 11:41 AM	#22
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	I lived in the Los Angeles area for 55 years but never had occasion to advertise my reloading status. I was totally legal and did not fear "The Man". I gave "The Man" no reason to check me out, search me or my home. When I was young and smoking pot, I called the local police "The Man", but now, growing up and being sober 30 years, Police Officers are just guys with jobs that deal with the lower parts of society, and have no business with me. Besides being a confirmed tinkerer, and cheap, I would just pull the bullets, melt them down, and reuse the brass (or just save it if I didn't reload that caliber).