Older projectiles

[Bradmartin78]

Is there a point where older Sierra, Hornady or Speer projectiles become outdated or undesirable? A friend is on the verge of buying a large lot of reloading supplies and is starting to have cold feet.

 

[bigwheel]

Can’t see why they wouldn’t be just fine. Course I ain’t no exspurt lol

 

[Bradmartin78]

Can’t see why they wouldn’t be just fine. Course I ain’t no exspurt lol

That’s what I told him, but we’re talking more than a few thousand in a few different calibers. He’s getting cold feet is all.

 

[Sam7sf]

Is there a point where older Sierra, Hornady or Speer projectiles become outdated or undesirable? A friend is on the verge of buying a large lot of reloading supplies and is starting to have cold feet.

Why? The material that makes up those bullets will outlast us all and be thrown in a tumbler if they need to be cleaned up. Worse that can happen is they aren’t gonna be as accurate as new production. I ordered surplus bullets before. No problems.

 

[Moonpie]

Bullets do not go bad.
Brass can go bad if very very old.
Powder can go bad if very very old. Pour some in a cup or bowl. If it has a reddish cast/color to it do not use it.
Primers do not go bad unless exposed to water or oil. If they are very very old do not use them.
If the primers are post 1960 they should be okay to use.

 

[bigwheel]

That’s what I told him, but we’re talking more than a few thousand in a few different calibers. He’s getting cold feet is all.

Maybe a heck of a deal. Reloading bored the heck out of me but know some Injuneer folks really enjoy it when they ain’t busy driving trains etc.

 

[Rusty Gun]

I have reloading stuff from 1975 that I loaded and it worked fine. If gun powder goes bad it has a very acidic smell. Very noticeable when you open the container. Gun powder should not smell like sweat soaked gym socks stored a plastic bag in a hot car mixed with burning plastic.

 

[BRD@66]

When I think of old ammo....

 

[Bradmartin78]

Thanks for the help. He’s moving forward with it.

 

[bigwheel]

A drunk cowboy pal insisted we shoot his great grandpas real deal old yellow boy carbine one dark. .38-40 using ammo that looked older than the gun. Worked just fine. Blowed a big old limb off a mesquite in his back yard. Glad nobody called the cops. We was in the city limits.

 

[Sam7sf]

We was in the city limits.

 

[Dawico]

If he is going to do something with the bullets then go for it.

I have bought and passed on good deals. It all depended on if I really was going to use the product.

But no, they don't go bad.