22 years old 0.32 ammo

[perfectionist1]

Sirs,

Will it be safe to use 22 years old KF - 0.32 - S&W LR and S&W SR ammo. They are neat externally.

Please suggest.


Cheers

[timmy]

I would think that you should not have a problem. Storage conditions are the thing that will affect old ammo, with cool and dry being the best, however I have fired quite a bit of old ammo, some going back to the early 40s, mostly with no problems.

The quality of the ammo also plays a role in this. For instance, I have some Turkish 8x57 that has had some duds and often has cracks in the neck region. This would indicate problems with the annealing of the brass cases, faulty manufacture in primers, powder, or both, and improper storage. Because it is known that the particular year and manufacture of this ammo is bad and that other Turkish 8x57 is good, one might rule out storage as the problem.

I have also had problems with cases of 30-06 ammo.

Given that both of these problems are associated with ammo made in the early 1940s, one might say I am expecting too much!

I regularly shoot 7.62 x 54r ammo made from as far back as the 50s and until the 80s with no problems.

Unless the conditions that your ammo was stored in were radically problematic, I would say you shouldn't experience a problem with what you are describing.

[perfectionist1]

thanks Tim.

These ammo belongs to my father bought for his Webley mk iv, were not used and were stored properly inside a cabinet. No cracks can be seen on the casing, some were slightly blackened, I cleaned them with dry scrub pad, no brasso/chemical used. They are shiny new now. Feared it may explode due to its age, thanks for sharing your experience.

Cheers...

[timmy]

Explosion should not be a problem. Having the ammo go "bang!" when you pull the trigger is often the outcome of ammo gone bad.

Make sure that all fluids and compounds are off of the cases and that they are dry.

[dr.jayakumar]

Sirs,

Will it be safe to use 22 years old KF - 0.32 - S&W LR and S&W SR ammo. They are neat externally.

Please suggest.


Cheers

friend,
just shoot the old ones and go for newer catridges.you will always have a bad feeling as long as you have them.
regards
dr.jk

[MoA]

I regularly use ammo manufactured in the 70's. And some even in the 30's. It is not an issue.
Then again none of it is manufactured by KF.. YMMV

[perfectionist1]

Tim thanks, they are fine as you said.


Dr. JK you said it right shoot them, will do soon.

Thanks MoA.

[timmy]

MoA, your experience matches mine completely. Over here, the year of the Turkish 8x57 that I have is notorious for duds and case cracks. I did not know this until too late, after I had bought it. Another notorious bunch of bad ammo is surplus .303 British from POF Pakistan. Since I don't have a .303, that has not been a problem for me, but it did guide my desire to get an RFI 2A. I had wanted a SMLE for the longest time, but the supply of surplus .303 dried up a very long time ago, except for intermittent batches of POF. I considered a .303 rifle as a reloading-only proposition, for my use. However, even though it is relatively expensive, there are supplies of surplus 7.62 x 51 NATO, and 308 can always be used, as well. By the time I had gotten ready to get an SMLE, it had to be an Ishapore. So, I got the RFI.

A bit of a digression here: I met up with my buddy this week; his parents are from India and he is interested in guns. However, he's now doing his residency as a physician and he's busy busy busy. I told him how I wanted an Indian-made rifle and how it was worth buying it to show him that rifle with the Asoka stamped on the butt stock socket and see his face as seeing that Asoka impacted him. He was seeing his heritage: millennia of weapons, metallurgy, history, all rolled up in that rifle in his hands. He said, "That's right!"

I'd say that over 50% of my friends here in the USA are Desi, and I proselytize them shamelessly on behalf of RKBA. My experience is that I occasionally hit flat rejection, but that most are interested and willing to hear more. They are also interested in trying shooting as a sport. My RFI 2A is great for opening a door on this subject. Brothers, based on this, I do believe that there is hope for our cause!

[TC]

Sirs,

Will it be safe to use 22 years old KF - 0.32 - S&W LR and S&W SR ammo. They are neat externally.

Please suggest.


Cheers

Two decades ago KF centre fire ammo (more true with the 22s) used to have better primers if not better powder compared to what we get now. Usually it is the primer that has shorter shelf life. If you plan to shoot them I would say go ahead. But if they are all from the same batch then I would suggest not to try firing all of them if the first three or four gives you trouble of any kind. Its no fun sharing down a barrel that has an old bullet lodged tightly in it. Just an advice.

Cheers
TC