Online ammo purchase - Are these shell OK?

Snidely Whiplash · March 11, 2020, 02:26 PM

This morning I received an order from a reputable online ammo site of 250 rounds (50 boxes / 5 cardboard sleeves) of Remington 3” Magnum slugs.

The Remington shells (brass areas) are discolored and the cardboard case itself was rumpled and looks like it was submerged in water at some point. Everything was dry but I’m not sure how concerned I should be about these shells. I have attached a picture of one of the opened boxes of shells.

Is this normal for this ammunition?

KEYBEAR · March 11, 2020, 04:02 PM

I would be concerned Looks like old stock not well stored .
I have bought a bunch of trap loads on line and all good .
Think i would get in touch with seller

Dufus · March 11, 2020, 05:39 PM

It certainly is not normal. I would ask for a refund.

SHR970 · March 11, 2020, 05:49 PM

Refund or replace....period.

I wouldn't bet my life on those shells. Those boxes were put away wet and left to sit.

Snidely Whiplash · March 11, 2020, 06:14 PM

I really appreciate everyone taking the time to let me know something is wrong. I called customer service (and emailed the same picture) and they are going to have someone higher up call me tomorrow.

Looking at a couple of additional boxes some are better but many are much worse.

KEYBEAR · March 11, 2020, 07:06 PM

I have had just super luck buying shotgun Target loads . About 5/6 years a big box store had a special on cheap trap loads . I bought 10 flats (free shipping) an hour later I bought more . I could not reload for the price and the shells were 1.1/8 OZ . I got a box a day (two flats) from U.P.S. for over two weeks .

stuckinthe60s · March 20, 2020, 04:03 PM

they look very old.

Virginian · March 20, 2020, 04:15 PM

3" slugs are not big movers.

ZEBRARANGER · March 20, 2020, 10:33 PM

Yes, looks like very old stock to me too.

Kreyzhorse · March 21, 2020, 04:51 PM

Old, not well stored stock, but I'd guess they would certainly fire.

That said, they look like old ammo I have stored away in my ammo boxes. Not what I'd expect buying new.

thegatman · March 21, 2020, 05:05 PM

I agree with everyone. Old shells. Might have been wet. Would not depend upon them.

stuckinthe60s · March 21, 2020, 06:49 PM

heck im still shooting old shells like that. they aint bad. heck, i had some that were so corroded, i had to polish them on a polishing wheel and still fired.

Snidely Whiplash · March 24, 2020, 07:53 AM

I bought a case of the shotgun shells (3” Remington magnum slugs) from a reputable online ammunition company / seller. After sending pictures to the selling company they offered to let me shoot several to see if they were OK or just return them for a refund. I opted to return them for a refund - even though, given the run on ammo now, I have no idea when I’ll be able to get them again. Given the condition of the cardboard case / box they were in (not the shipping box) it was pretty obvious they were very wet at some point. I didn’t want to take a chance on a problem with them down the road (it would be a long time until I would go through the whole case) so I didn’t feel comfortable keeping and relying on them if I ever needed them in a crucial situation.

I really appreciate everyone who took the time to help and offer their advice. I had never encountered anything like this and am grateful for the help of those more knowledgeable.

MarkCO · March 24, 2020, 09:02 AM

Old stock not stored well. But there is nothing wrong with them. Moist storage, but not submerged. I have a good number of shells with the same or worse appearance and they run 100%.

Snidely Whiplash · March 24, 2020, 10:05 AM

Since my life could very well depend on the proper function of these I wasn’t willing to take a risk that they would be OK.

MarkCO · March 24, 2020, 11:43 AM

Preponderance of Caution.

I have fired over 1M rounds, about 100K of that factory. All 6 rounds of bad ammo (3 squibs, 2 Duds and one hangfire) have been factory ammo.

March 20, 2020, 04:03 PM	#7
stuckinthe60s Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2017 Location: Va., Ct., Mo.. Posts: 878	they look very old. __________________ Retired Military Aviation Former Member Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot,NRA Shotgun/Pistol Instructor NSSA All American, Skeet/Trap Range Owner

March 20, 2020, 04:15 PM	#8
Virginian Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Williamsburg, Va. Posts: 1,528	3" slugs are not big movers. __________________ What could have happened... did.

March 21, 2020, 04:51 PM	#10
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Old, not well stored stock, but I'd guess they would certainly fire. That said, they look like old ammo I have stored away in my ammo boxes. Not what I'd expect buying new. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

March 21, 2020, 06:49 PM	#12
stuckinthe60s Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2017 Location: Va., Ct., Mo.. Posts: 878	heck im still shooting old shells like that. they aint bad. heck, i had some that were so corroded, i had to polish them on a polishing wheel and still fired. __________________ Retired Military Aviation Former Member Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot,NRA Shotgun/Pistol Instructor NSSA All American, Skeet/Trap Range Owner

March 24, 2020, 09:02 AM	#14
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	Old stock not stored well. But there is nothing wrong with them. Moist storage, but not submerged. I have a good number of shells with the same or worse appearance and they run 100%. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

March 11, 2020, 04:02 PM	#2
KEYBEAR Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,059	I would be concerned Looks like old stock not well stored . I have bought a bunch of trap loads on line and all good . Think i would get in touch with seller

March 11, 2020, 05:39 PM	#3
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	It certainly is not normal. I would ask for a refund.

March 11, 2020, 05:49 PM	#4
SHR970 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 1,427	Refund or replace....period. I wouldn't bet my life on those shells. Those boxes were put away wet and left to sit.

March 11, 2020, 06:14 PM	#5
Snidely Whiplash Member Join Date: January 28, 2020 Posts: 29	I really appreciate everyone taking the time to let me know something is wrong. I called customer service (and emailed the same picture) and they are going to have someone higher up call me tomorrow. Looking at a couple of additional boxes some are better but many are much worse.

March 11, 2020, 07:06 PM	#6
KEYBEAR Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,059	I have had just super luck buying shotgun Target loads . About 5/6 years a big box store had a special on cheap trap loads . I bought 10 flats (free shipping) an hour later I bought more . I could not reload for the price and the shells were 1.1/8 OZ . I got a box a day (two flats) from U.P.S. for over two weeks .

March 20, 2020, 10:33 PM	#9
ZEBRARANGER Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 620	Yes, looks like very old stock to me too.

March 21, 2020, 05:05 PM	#11
thegatman Member Join Date: January 25, 2015 Posts: 61	I agree with everyone. Old shells. Might have been wet. Would not depend upon them.

March 24, 2020, 07:53 AM	#13
Snidely Whiplash Member Join Date: January 28, 2020 Posts: 29	I bought a case of the shotgun shells (3” Remington magnum slugs) from a reputable online ammunition company / seller. After sending pictures to the selling company they offered to let me shoot several to see if they were OK or just return them for a refund. I opted to return them for a refund - even though, given the run on ammo now, I have no idea when I’ll be able to get them again. Given the condition of the cardboard case / box they were in (not the shipping box) it was pretty obvious they were very wet at some point. I didn’t want to take a chance on a problem with them down the road (it would be a long time until I would go through the whole case) so I didn’t feel comfortable keeping and relying on them if I ever needed them in a crucial situation. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to help and offer their advice. I had never encountered anything like this and am grateful for the help of those more knowledgeable.

March 24, 2020, 11:43 AM	#16
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	Preponderance of Caution. I have fired over 1M rounds, about 100K of that factory. All 6 rounds of bad ammo (3 squibs, 2 Duds and one hangfire) have been factory ammo. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us