How long bullets last

It only took a few months for that to change. With gun sales off the charts and fears of anti-gun legislation, ammunition became harder to find than it has in decades.

This is something our grandparents—at least here in the hills—never let happen to themselves. I once spent a summer pulling, straitening, and sorting nails that came from an old house my grandfather tore down. And my grandmother spent her summers in the garden, and her early fall canning fruits and vegetables. The initial purchase will set you back, but you can break it up over a couple years to soften the blow.

Most manufacturers will tell you ammunition has at least a year shelf life. The truth is that with proper storage, it will last a lot longer than that.

The key to storing ammunition is to keep it away from high humidity in a temperature-controlled location. Humidity can cause corrosion of the brass cases and cooper projectiles—so much so that cartridges may not chamber or extract after being fired.

If you live in an area where the average humidity is above 50 percent, you need to solve this problem by using a dehumidifier or finding another way to absorb moisture. Depending on where you live this means garage storage may not be optimal. Just like with your body, you want to avoid exposing ammunition to extreme heat or cold , and drastic temperature shifts.

The process is slow, but time will factor into your ammunition lifespan, and will contribute to the impact of moisture and heat. The most common timeframe referenced by most ammunition experts and manufacturers is ten years. Keeping your ammunition in a cool, dry place can increase its lifespan, refrigeration not required.

As we discussed above, moisture is one of the biggest problems for ammunition storage. To ensure your ammo stays in good shape for years, make sure it is kept in water-tight boxes that keep moisture out.

Ammo cans are useful, and some people go as far as keeping their ammo in sealable food containers. Obviously, you want to keep your ammo out of the rain, but prolonged exposure to humidity can also lead to the failure of powder.

If you live in an area with high humidity, the use of a dehumidifier. Not only does it have other household benefits, it could also prolong the life of your ammo. Because high heat accelerates the deterioration of ammo, you need to keep it in a cool location. Avoid storing ammunition in the trunk of your car during the hot summer months. The heat could cause premature failure of the ammo. Also, you should avoid keeping the ammo in your garage, as this is not only a safety concern, but uninsulated garages can get extremely hot.

Temperature fluctuations can also damage ammo. Heat in summer and frigid cold in winter can be a good reason to keep ammo inside the home. Of course, this means keeping shells in their boxes. There is a lot to remember about the chemical composition and deterioration of ammo.

If you simply remember to store your cartridges and shells in a safe, cool, and dry area, your rounds should be just fine. This article aims to educate readers on their longevity and the best practices in storing ammunition. Ammo can have a minimum of 10 years and may last indefinitely, but several factors affect its overall shelf life. These include the ammunition storage conditions and the manufacturing practices present.

Quality ammunition that is stored correctly in your gun cabinet may work even after a hundred years. Indeed, you have heard of gun owner stories talking about how flawless it is to fire World War era ammo despite its age.

Our advice is, treat your ammunition like wine. A bad wine will always be bad, but good wine, when stored properly, will still taste delectable no matter how long. The same applies to your ammunition. Modern ammunition is designed to have a considerably longer shelf life. This can be attributed to the propellant used in modern ammunition, a smokeless powder that can last for an indefinite length of time, as opposed to black powder in old bullets.

Proper sealing of bullets against moisture and corrosion observed in modern ammunition also plays a significant role in their better storage potential.

Contrary to popular belief, non-corrosive ammunition has a shorter shelf life than its corrosive counterparts. Speculations are suggesting that newer ammunition with lead-free primer type has an expiration date of 25 years. However, no studies have proven such claims to be valid. Full metal jackets and brass-lined ammunition are both highly resistant to lead degradation. The copper or brass metal cartridges enclosing the soft lead core offer an added layer of protection against humidity.

However, the same cannot be said of their self-defense counterpart, the jacketed hollow points. The concave lead core is exposed and can be susceptible to high humidity and drastic temperature changes. On the other hand, steel case ammunition is more prone to corrosion than its contemporaries like brass, for instance.

The former, although cheaper, is less malleable, thereby creating a more flawed seal against atmospheric fumes, which may pose problems for the entry of moisture and corrosion.

On top of this, firing with steel case rounds may affect your machine guns in the long run as residues can remain along the barrel. Storing ammunition in a designated area will protect your ammo better from degradation than keeping them loaded in your concealed carry firearm.

Regular exposure to the elements, excess lubrication, and the indentations of the feed ramp will undoubtedly affect their integrity. The best practice is to rotate the round in your firearm every once in a while. This is the only way to prevent stagnancy and counteract degradation.

The longevity of ammunition is minimized when they begin to corrode. The chemical reaction occurring between metal and moisture leads to rust that makes ammunition unusable.

This degradation is amplified when the ammo is exposed to extreme heat.