From gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us Mon Oct 24 00:23:05 EDT 1994 Article: 2871 of misc.survivalism Newsgroups: misc.survivalism Path: bigblue.oit.unc.edu!concert!gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary From: gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject: Re: Ammo Storage Message-ID: <1994Oct19.145528.13229@ke4zv.atl.ga.us> Reply-To: gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Organization: Destructive Testing Systems References: <381gn1$h7f@news.utdallas.edu> Date: Wed, 19 Oct 1994 14:55:28 GMT Lines: 45 In article <381gn1$h7f@news.utdallas.edu> hamilton@utdallas.edu () writes: >I bought a bunch of ammo a year ago, how long is factory ammo good >for? How should it be stored to preserve it for the longest time? I stumbled across several boxes of Great War (WWI) .45ACP ammo at a country store. It still shoots fine after 76 years. Several boxes of .30 Luger from 1936 also fired fine. And I haven't ever found any pre-WWII .30-06 that didn't work. OTOH, I have some 1952 .45ACP non- corrosive ammo that misfires with great regularity. That was the period when non-corrosive ammo was just beginning to be introduced into military service. My experience, and that of most experts such as General Hatcher, is that corrosive primed ammo has a nearly indefinite shelf life if kept reasonably cool. My experience with non-corrosive ammo is that it's generally good for at least 20 years, but that 40 year old ammo is suspect. Whether that's because they hadn't gotten their non-corrosive act together back then, or whether it's because non-corrosive priming simply doesn't hold up to long storage is still an open question. The military storage criteria are rather simple, 25 degrees C and 40% relative humidity (non-condensing) is what they recomend for ammo storage bunkers. Heat is the enemy of ammo. For every 10 degrees C increase in temperature, the reaction rate doubles. So keeping the ammo cool slows the chemical reactions that break down powder. The military suggests ammo be stacked in an open arrangement to promote good air circulation. Very low humidity is discouraged because of the danger of static electricity, and because it tends to promote evaporation of the solvents remaining in the powder and primers. That can make primers overly sensitive, and cause powder burn rates to increase dramatically. Double base powders, like Unique and Bullseye, are hydrophobic and can tolerate long term immersion in water without harm. Single based collodial stick powders like the Dupont IMR series, can have their binders dissolve in hot water. That will alter their burn rate dramatically when they dry. Chlorate and lead based priming compounds are also soluble in hot water, so should not be immersed. Basically, if it's comfortable for you, it'll be comfortable for ammo. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | |