Question for old reloaders and shooters

polska · February 28, 2010, 08:03 AM

I have been reloading for 30 years and shooting for 40 and have collected a good size box of old ammo.( I'm sure we all have a box on the bench) I'm talking about odd ball stuff like dud rounds that didn't go off or strange rounds of different calibers that I don't even know how I got,old military cartridges with cracks or looses bullets,all types of .22 rounds. In general a collect all of ammo I don't know what to do with.The question is what do you with this old junk?My only answer is, give it to the police. But then they will ask questions on where I got it and so on.I don't need that aggravation.
Any ideas?

Jim243 · February 28, 2010, 08:31 AM

Don't know that I can help, I have Hornady Cam Lock Bullet Puller #050095 all bad ammo or duds or etc. get the bullets pulled and powder dumped, cases decaped. Primers soaked in oil and then disposed of.

If the bullets are in decent shape they can be reused or melted down. Cases reused or turned in for scrap for their brass value. Can be done safely and fast with the proper tools.

Once you get the hang of using the bullet puller you wonder why you ever used an impact hammer at all. I have done 100s of rounds this way, mostly old loads that I no longer want to use and save the components to reload as a different load and then use.

Single stage press, universal decaper, bullet puller. and old powder (empty) 1# powder can.

Just what I do.
Jim

polska · February 28, 2010, 08:40 AM

That would work Jim if it was just one ore two calibers,but I am talking of 40 years of odd ball ammo.Everything from .17 to some kind of elephant caliber(who knows where I got that?)

Peter M. Eick · February 28, 2010, 09:44 AM

I am a consummate picker upper at the range. I recently just cleaned out my pile of oddball stuff by using a kinetic bullet puller. Toss the powder, deactivate the primer (squirt of wd40) and then recycle the brass and bullets. Bullets I cannot use, I just give them to shooters at the range. Brass goes to the recycler.

CPTMurdoc30 · February 28, 2010, 10:06 AM

Go throw it all in the river and forget about it.

Go out on the back forty and build a fire and put it all in there and walk away. let it all go off. Bullets will not go flying far so don't worry about shooting people miles away as the case ruptures before the bullet go flying out with any velocity.

wxl · February 28, 2010, 10:13 AM

Some police depts prefer being called, no questions asked. Makes their lives easier. When I was being transferred to overseas, I had a rental car trunk full of 7.62 Nato, 5.56, 50 cal, etc collected over the years. Last night in a motel with my family, called the PD and a cruiser came by, loaded up and left. They prefer that to it winding up in the wrong hands. Sure wish I had it back (talking about several ammo cans of 7.62 & 5.56)

Dave Bone · February 28, 2010, 10:36 AM

Put it in your next garage / yard sale, for one buck.

polska · February 28, 2010, 10:47 AM

You guys are killing me!

Let's see, I got throw it in a fire,potential injury.Sell it in a yard sale,that got to be a future law suit.Throw it in the river,I'm sure I'll be spotted an the EPA will do an investigation on a hazmat contamination.And give it to the cops,I never trust them.They will ask questions and probably call in homeland security as a ammo cache.Anymore brite ideas out there.LOL!!!

alloy · February 28, 2010, 10:54 AM

I usually pull stuff apart that I find at the range but if it it's of no use to me I leave it at the range for someone who can use it.

10-96 · February 28, 2010, 11:23 AM

Call your area gunsmiths. Most of them around here are habitual picker uppers too. Some might be curious, but either way the monkey would be off your back. I have a box and a large ziploc bag of stuff like that. I don't know what to do with it either, but I do enjoy poking around in it from time to time.

**Mal H** · February 28, 2010, 11:37 AM

A few things you can do with them if you fear the EPA/lawyers/police:

1) Continue to keep them and let your heirs and assigns worry about them.

2) As suggested, pull them apart, but only a few at a time so it isn't quite the daunting chore you envision.

3) Almost every good shooting range I go to has a "dud bucket". Put them in there and let them do whatever they do with duds.

4) Start a cartridge collection. Identify each one and mount it in a glass case. You could then call them "my collection" instead of "my box of old oddball ammo".

uncyboo · February 28, 2010, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Start a cartridge collection. Identify each one and mount it in a glass case. You could then call them "my collection" instead of "my box of old oddball ammo".

This is what I have done. Many vendors at our local gun shows will have a box on their table of stuff like this. They usually have 50 cents per round on the box. I will dig through looking for any I don't have. One day I'll build a nice shadow box and make a display.

I have had very few "duds", but when I do get one that shows a good primer strike it goes in the river...

kraigwy · February 28, 2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

The question is what do you with this old junk?My only answer is, give it to the police. But then they will ask questions on where I got it and so on.I don't need that aggravation.

I think you will find that that isnt the case unless you live in some wierd area.

I was on the bomb squad for the Anchorage Police Dept and we enchouraged such.

If your police or fire dept, has a bomb squad, call them directly, (business line). Explain the same way you did here, that you have a collection of junk rounds from reloading that you dont want to shoot. They wont ask stuppid questions. The same with old power and primers you want to get rid of.

Just box the stuff up, and have it set aside (seperate for your relading area) for when they get there.

They will dispose of it, thats their job, you have already paid them (via taxes) to get rid of the stuff for you.

You'd be supprised of the stuff I picked up over the years, not just from citizens but from the fire dept, Airport security (yes people do try to take gun powder in carry on baggage along with other wierd stuff).

If dealing with the police still bothers you, box it up and take it to the fire station, tell them what it is, and where you got it, and they will either destroyu it themselves or give it to the PDs bomb squad.

Yes I'll confess, I've gotten rid of a lot of powder, a few grains at a time. Same with primers.

The Tourist · February 28, 2010, 12:38 PM

In my area of Wisconsin we have "toxic drives" where the police and fire department pick up potentially hazardous material like old reloading powder, paint thinner and unmarked liquids found in old garages.

Over the year I've found stuff I have accumulated, including faulty ammo. The nice thing is that I live in a smaller bedroom community.

While motor oil is getting more difficult to recycle, things like ammunition are not a problem. I've even stopped to chat with a cop and handed her some faulty ammo. She was very helpful, and mentioned that they keep faulty handloads from range practice and have a safe system for disposal. She was glad to help.

I think there are procedures out there--not advertised--that can aid shooters if they just knew whom to ask.

February 28, 2010, 08:03 AM	#1
polska Member Join Date: February 3, 2010 Posts: 55	Question for old reloaders and shooters I have been reloading for 30 years and shooting for 40 and have collected a good size box of old ammo.( I'm sure we all have a box on the bench) I'm talking about odd ball stuff like dud rounds that didn't go off or strange rounds of different calibers that I don't even know how I got,old military cartridges with cracks or looses bullets,all types of .22 rounds. In general a collect all of ammo I don't know what to do with.The question is what do you with this old junk?My only answer is, give it to the police. But then they will ask questions on where I got it and so on.I don't need that aggravation. Any ideas?

February 28, 2010, 08:31 AM	#2
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Don't know that I can help, I have Hornady Cam Lock Bullet Puller #050095 all bad ammo or duds or etc. get the bullets pulled and powder dumped, cases decaped. Primers soaked in oil and then disposed of. If the bullets are in decent shape they can be reused or melted down. Cases reused or turned in for scrap for their brass value. Can be done safely and fast with the proper tools. Once you get the hang of using the bullet puller you wonder why you ever used an impact hammer at all. I have done 100s of rounds this way, mostly old loads that I no longer want to use and save the components to reload as a different load and then use. Single stage press, universal decaper, bullet puller. and old powder (empty) 1# powder can. Just what I do. Jim Last edited by Jim243; February 28, 2010 at 08:39 AM.

February 28, 2010, 11:23 AM	#10
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,190	Call your area gunsmiths. Most of them around here are habitual picker uppers too. Some might be curious, but either way the monkey would be off your back. I have a box and a large ziploc bag of stuff like that. I don't know what to do with it either, but I do enjoy poking around in it from time to time. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

February 28, 2010, 08:40 AM	#3
polska Member Join Date: February 3, 2010 Posts: 55	That would work Jim if it was just one ore two calibers,but I am talking of 40 years of odd ball ammo.Everything from .17 to some kind of elephant caliber(who knows where I got that?)

February 28, 2010, 09:44 AM	#4
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	I am a consummate picker upper at the range. I recently just cleaned out my pile of oddball stuff by using a kinetic bullet puller. Toss the powder, deactivate the primer (squirt of wd40) and then recycle the brass and bullets. Bullets I cannot use, I just give them to shooters at the range. Brass goes to the recycler.

February 28, 2010, 10:06 AM	#5
CPTMurdoc30 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2008 Location: Stafford VA Posts: 969	Go throw it all in the river and forget about it. Go out on the back forty and build a fire and put it all in there and walk away. let it all go off. Bullets will not go flying far so don't worry about shooting people miles away as the case ruptures before the bullet go flying out with any velocity.

February 28, 2010, 10:13 AM	#6
wxl Member Join Date: November 8, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 81	Some police depts prefer being called, no questions asked. Makes their lives easier. When I was being transferred to overseas, I had a rental car trunk full of 7.62 Nato, 5.56, 50 cal, etc collected over the years. Last night in a motel with my family, called the PD and a cruiser came by, loaded up and left. They prefer that to it winding up in the wrong hands. Sure wish I had it back (talking about several ammo cans of 7.62 & 5.56)

February 28, 2010, 10:36 AM	#7
Dave Bone Member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 33	Put it in your next garage / yard sale, for one buck.

February 28, 2010, 10:47 AM	#8
polska Member Join Date: February 3, 2010 Posts: 55	You guys are killing me! Let's see, I got throw it in a fire,potential injury.Sell it in a yard sale,that got to be a future law suit.Throw it in the river,I'm sure I'll be spotted an the EPA will do an investigation on a hazmat contamination.And give it to the cops,I never trust them.They will ask questions and probably call in homeland security as a ammo cache.Anymore brite ideas out there.LOL!!!

February 28, 2010, 11:37 AM	#11
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 17,066	A few things you can do with them if you fear the EPA/lawyers/police: 1) Continue to keep them and let your heirs and assigns worry about them. 2) As suggested, pull them apart, but only a few at a time so it isn't quite the daunting chore you envision. 3) Almost every good shooting range I go to has a "dud bucket". Put them in there and let them do whatever they do with duds. 4) Start a cartridge collection. Identify each one and mount it in a glass case. You could then call them "my collection" instead of "my box of old oddball ammo".

February 28, 2010, 12:38 PM	#14
The Tourist Junior member Join Date: June 20, 2005 Posts: 2,348	In my area of Wisconsin we have "toxic drives" where the police and fire department pick up potentially hazardous material like old reloading powder, paint thinner and unmarked liquids found in old garages. Over the year I've found stuff I have accumulated, including faulty ammo. The nice thing is that I live in a smaller bedroom community. While motor oil is getting more difficult to recycle, things like ammunition are not a problem. I've even stopped to chat with a cop and handed her some faulty ammo. She was very helpful, and mentioned that they keep faulty handloads from range practice and have a safe system for disposal. She was glad to help. I think there are procedures out there--not advertised--that can aid shooters if they just knew whom to ask.