Older ammo... Just checking

[Merlinspop]

Good evening, all-

Just wanted to make sure I'm right about this older ammo being safe in my GP100...

My wife's uncle gave me a couple boxes of ammo that he says dates back to the 70s. All primers look good. Almost all are (I'm assuming) nickeled brass. The first box is Federal 125gr JHP 357 Magnum High Velocity. The second is a box labeled Olin Western SuperX 158gr lead. They're semi wadcutters. There are also some .38spl ball and mixed .38spl wadcutters (one of which is stamped "Browning" - I didn't even know that Browning made ammo).

I figured I'd bring them with me on my next range session, unless one of you more knowledgeable folks think it unwise.

Thanks,

Bruce

 

[96/44]

As long as the ammo has been stored in a somewhat climate controlled environment it should be no problem. I have shot some surplus military rounds back as old as the 1920's without issue. I also loaded 1000 shotgun shells with some primers from the 60's that were given to me, and they all went bang.

 

[Merlinspop]

Thanks 96/44. I was pretty sure it's gtg, but figured it'd be better to ask than wish I had.

Am I correct to assume the cases are nickeled brass and are reloadable? Once I accumulate 1000 cases I'll invest in a single stage press and start learning to reload.

 

[captainkirk]

Thanks 96/44. I was pretty sure it's gtg, but figured it'd be better to ask than wish I had.

Am I correct to assume the cases are nickeled brass and are reloadable? Once I accumulate 1000 cases I'll invest in a single stage press and start learning to reload.

Your nickel brass should be fine to reload. Sometimes it will start to peel away at the mouths and I've had a few crack, but that was after lots of loadings.

 

[WESHOOT2]

Some ammo is 'collectable', so consider carefully what you'll be shooting.

 

[J Miller]

Merlinspop,

Like the others have said if stored decently they'll shoot just fine.

But the Winchester 158gr Lead SWCs will most likely lead your chamber throats and barrel BADLY. They are soft swaged bullets and bullets like that lead badly at magnum velocities.

Joe

 

[mike722]

Merlinspop,

Like the others have said if stored decently they'll shoot just fine.

But the Winchester 158gr Lead SWCs will most likely lead your chamber throats and barrel BADLY. They are soft swaged bullets and bullets like that lead badly at magnum velocities.

Joe

amen to THAT....

 

[bennettfam]

Gosh Bruce, I hope your '70s ammo is safe. I plan to shoot some .22s from the '60s and some .45 from WWII. Hey WESHOOT2, do you know of any references for old ammo collectible value?

 

[GunsForSale.com]

Hi Bruce,

If you are sure the ammo is factory stuff, then I wouldn't have any issues with shooting it (safety wise).

However, if you think the boxes were simply re-used by someone doing some reloading, I'd be much more cautious. You never know how someone else may have loaded a cartridge, and a double charge (etc) could make for a bad day.

Good luck!

 

[rwnielsen]

Am I correct to assume the cases are nickeled brass and are reloadable? Once I accumulate 1000 cases I'll invest in a single stage press and start learning to reload.

I have some Federal, nickle plated, brass that's been reloaded so many times it's starting to look like brass again. Holds up pretty well in plinking loads

 

[Pal Val]

Just in case, watch out for a shot that sounds or "feels" light. You will want to check for a squib before you fire the next shot.