How long are handloads going to last?

[Wayne Smith]

Do any of you guys use sealant on primers or where the case mouth meets the bullet?

I have, on two occasions now, had the opportunity (!) to fire 44-40 BP loaded rounds that I had dumped into my vibratory cleaner with ceramic beads and soapy water and vibrated for several hours for one and overnight for the other. Each one fired when given the chance. I no longer think of sealant when loading!

Yes, they were lead boolits (200 gr Big Lube) and crimped with the Lee crimp die.

[Aunegl]

My oldest reloads are over five years old. I haven't seen an expiration date on my ammo, yet.

[keebo52]

I still have and occasionally shoot ammo I loaded in the mid 80s. Shoots just as good as when they were new.

[a.squibload]

Late 70's 44 SWC reloads, defense rounds. I read in a
gun rag about rotating out old rounds so a couple years
ago I shot 'em up. All went bang with a healthy kick.
Gun mags do have pretty pictures though...

[wallenba]

No old hand loads here, but I'm still shooting 22 LR that I bought in 1979.

[MtGun44]

At least 20 yrs probably more if stored well.

Bill

[3006guns]

I found couple of plastic bags with about 200 rounds of .38 special that I reloaded back in 1972, when I first got into the hobby. For a lark I took a handful out to the local range.........

Very good performance (162 gr. Kieth, 2.8 gr. of Bullseye) and then.....click. Uh oh. The remainder fired normally and I pulled the dud apart at home. THE PRIMER HAD FIRED AND THE CASE WAS FULL OF BLACK "SOOT", but the boolit never moved. There were a few grains of powder that looked like normal Bullseye. For the life of me I can't understand how the primer didn't shove that boolit forward as I've had that happen with someone else's reloads. It's possible that oil fouled the powder or primer from years of storage....?? Really weird.

That caused me to institute an new policy: If it's over five years old and you're going to depend on it, shoot it and reload it. In a bad situation, one bad round could really ruin your day.

[GabbyM]

Climate Controlled Powder Storage:

Have ammo I loaded back in the early 1980’s that still gives good numbers. This was always stored inside an air conditioned home. Closets with doors closed. I trust this ammo which I have in a couple of calibers. Like my 270 Winchester rounds with high priced Nosler partition bullets loaded in 1981. I’d take it hunting tomorrow with no qualms.

On the other hand:

Last summer I thought it time to burn up a 50 count box of 44 magnum I’d carried for a couple years in my pickup truck which didn’t have as much as a garage to park in during Illinois summers and winters. Load was lead boolits lubed with Magma hard lube over an 8 grain charge of Unique with WW primers. 49 went bang and one almost squibed but the boolit did clear the barrel. Very noticeable light bang. One of our members here was a ways down the pistol range line in Effingham and he noticed it from that distance.

All things considered I thought 49 of fifty was a very respectable result from ammo that had been subjected to so much summer heat. Inside a car cab out in the sun gets how hot?
Couple of summers worth of that.

On another front:

Back when I did lots of trap shooting in the 1970‘s. Squibs on the line were common place. Almost invariably the shooters with squibs lived in a situation where they did there loading and ammo storage in a farm or backyard shed. No heat or air conditioning. You get the humidity and the heat. On your loaded ammo and the stored powder and primers. Can’t say what’s worst but the squibs were common on any given night. Very few people now days do anything in summer without air conditioning. Storage of powder or loaded rounds is not something I’d recommend. The garage is a very poor place to store powder but some wives seam to insist upon kicking the husbands powder outside. Guys my advise is to kick her to the side and get a real woman, lol. As for loading ammo I can’t say . Have known shooters adding humidity to powder to increase power. Smokeless powder is stored submersed in water to preserve it. Not being a chemist I’ve really no clue. Heat will for sure destroy powder and loaded rounds. I’ve personally had powder stored under dubious conditions over a twenty year period exhibit that strong ammonia smell upon opening the lid. Red rust was also present. No question it was bad. Made a great pyrotechnic flash over fifteen feet high.

I would never trust anyone else’s long term stored ammo. People either lie or actually do not know.

Powder and primers stored inside an air conditioned home. Inside a closet with it’s door closed. Or similar containment which prevents rapid temperature changes. There is really no reason for the powder to deteriorate. Car cabs out in the sun will obviously ruin powder over a short time. Simple solution is to use the carry ammo for your first box of practice ammo.

[1Shirt]

I have shot mil 06, and 30-40 Krag that was pushing if not over 50 years old. Occaisionally a miss fire, and a couple of those went on the second go arouond. I think ( for whatever that is worth) that properly hand loaded and properly stored ammo in something approaching proper temps, should last as long as factory.
1Shirt!

[tim josey]

I had some 45 acp that I last loaded in 1984. Don't even remember what powder I used. I just found them and they shot very well. Good grouping at 25 yards considering my eyes are 28 years older too!

[Char-Gar]

I loaded up A BUNCH of 45 ACPS about 12 years ago. I still have about 200 to fire. They all work just fine.

[csmopar]

I've been shooting some 45 ACP and 8mm reloads that are at least 20 years old, with no problems

[BAGTIC]

I have some .222 Remington that I loaded in 1960. They still work fine. In fact they work better than I do after all those years.

[mpmarty]

I've still got some GI 1943 vintage 45acp that is as good as ever. The tan cardboard boxes of 20 rounds are falling apart though.

[Blammer]

I found a box dated 1995 I loaded, all shot fine.