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September 12, 2006, 09:24 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: February 28, 2006
Location: Southwestern Michigan
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Effective life of reloads?
I am aware that ammunition will still fire for a long time but my question is "How long after handloading your ammuntion would YOU feel comfortable shooting them without a significant loss of performance?" I know that there are many variables but I'm just putting this out there for some opinions. Thanks guys.
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September 12, 2006, 09:59 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: June 10, 2004
Location: Tioga co. PA
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Life of Reloads
The functional phrase here is proper storage. Properly stored they will last a life time. Put your reloads in a mil surp ammo can with a little dessicant and put the can in a cool dry place your grandkids could use it. radical changes in heat or moisture will eventually degrade it.
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September 14, 2006, 09:02 PM | #3 |
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In "general" they will last for as long as you keep them. I had a can of Bullesye powder someone gave me in 1960 or so, I dragged it from NY to AZ and back to NY. I finally was just going to fertilize my flowers with it but deceided to try some. It worked fine and had no special care or treatment. It was subjected to damp NY cellars to 115 degree AZ garages.
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September 14, 2006, 09:09 PM | #4 |
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September 14, 2006, 09:23 PM | #5 |
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I spoke to an engineer at winchester/olin one time on this very subject and he said modern smokeless powders will last over 100 years before they begin to exhibit signs of deterioration. That being said, i moost worry about the lubes used on cast bullets (mostly what i shoot) affecting the powder.
SW |
September 15, 2006, 07:30 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: January 30, 2005
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I'm shooting reloads that I loaded in the 80s. They shoot as well as the day they were loaded. The funny thing is that I have occasional misfires from some factory 22 rimfire ammo that was stored with these reloads. Go figure.....
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September 15, 2006, 07:40 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: December 20, 2005
Location: Rural-not for long- Virginia
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Still shooting 30-06 that I reloaded as a kid with the old "pound in the case with a wood mallet" Lee loader in 1966.
I pull out 5 or 10 every couple of years and fire them off for grins and just to see how it goes. So far-so good.No misfires yet. 40 years and counting |
September 16, 2006, 06:26 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: January 24, 2006
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You may want to vacum pack any that you will be storing for a extra long time frame.
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September 16, 2006, 07:40 PM | #9 |
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Location: Tennessee by way of AL.
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I recently found a box of 45 acp I loaded in 62 or 3
They were lead and all 50 fired-go figure
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September 18, 2006, 02:41 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: October 15, 2004
Location: Fowlerville, MI
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We are still shooting WWII/Korea vintage delinked ammo from CMP.
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September 18, 2006, 05:51 PM | #11 |
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If you talk to Winchester concerning their personal defense ammo, the advise you to shoot it up in a year and buy more. If you talk to them about components they make, those last a lifetime. Could it be that sales concerns are uppermost in their minds? naaaaaaaaaah
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September 18, 2006, 07:38 PM | #12 |
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In '98, I fired off a bunch of ammo Dad & I loaded in '48. All went BANG and centered nicely on the target.
Pops
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