Most likely yes. Modern propellants use smokeless powder. This can slowly degrade after many years, but stabilizers are added in to help prevent this. It is usually best not to use older than 15-20 years though, but should still work. If we were talking 40 years, that would be different...
Depends on the conditions it was kept in and the condition of the cartridge. If keep dry and clean it can theoretically last indefinitely.
The bullets and the shell casings will last longer than you will. Now todays primers will not have a shelf life as long as a corrosive primer of the past. Gunpowder, keep your powder dry, you shouldn't have any problems. I still have a few hundred rounds of 8 MM Mauser rounds manufactured in 1944 and I have no problems with it. From what I understand, if properly stored and kept dry, at least a hundred years maybe longer. http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213554
Dynamite is nitroglycerine mixed with diatomaecious earth TNT is trinitrotoluene. I believe both can be dangerous if old, but I think TNT is more stable.
As a certified hazmat/explosives shipper, the biggest concern with explosives is getting too dry, friction, and then booooom. Many substances with explosive nature need to be kept in cool dark places. When not, the particles start to break down and coat the lining inside, which becomes very vulnerable to light shocks and bumps. A proper mix has a small degree of moisture, making it less vulnerable to friction explosion.Often a catalys is mixed with the bigger bang that requires a larger charge to go off, the catalyst can break down easier.
I remember reading a gun magazine in the late 1980s in which they got a supply of WWII surplus ammunition. (about 40 years old). The writers said while they had a higher failure rate, most shot just fine. I think they would be good for practice, I don't think I'd use them for self-defense or hunting.
Well have we come up with an answer yet ? I would say any ammunition that is stored in a U.S. military type ammo box should have a long shelf life lasting longer than ones natural life will be. Unless that rubber gasket in the lid were to deteriorate. The primer would be more likely to fail than the powder. I once asked an ammunition expert who worked for CCI why did the U.S. military kept using corrosive primers during WW ll ? He said corrosive primers have an extremely longer shelf life than the primers used today. The military was looking at storing large stockpiles of ammunition for decades sitting in bunkers. Anyone ever bought ammo cans of Russian ammunition ? The Russian ammo cans are just that, cans that are sealed and you need a can opener to open them up. Russian soldiers carry a can opener in combat to open their ammo cans. But when it comes to guns and ammo, nobody is right or wrong, it's mostly ones personal opinions.
And the opinion of the charging bear. It would work, I suppose. They found unopened cans that had been used by the Franklin Expedition and these were among the very first that had ever been made. The food was edible, ( at least according to lab tests because nobody did.)
It depends on how it was stored. If stored well I have seen cartridges offered for sale in reputable magazines (shotgun news) from the WW2 era. The primer is usually what goes bad. Also some cases are lacquered steel others are brass. The best thing is if there is any doubt, discard the stuff. Like if there is a misfire or two, chunk it! One of the most scary things to do is to unjamb a 'hot' weapon.... Even with Obama in office, ammo is still economical IMO. I like to have at least a thousand rounds for each firearm or more. http://www.wikihow.com/Reload-a-Pistol-and-Clear-Malfunctions reva
that's not enough information to say. We don't know what caliber, what manufacturer, or how they were maintained. I've got some ammo that is so old that it was made by the Soviet Union. But that ammo was sealed in an airtight, watertight box that kept the ammunition safe from the elements for decades. My Mosin Nagant, likewise, was covered in a protective smear (I think it's called cosmoline) to keep it from degrading. Here's an image of a Mosin covered in cosmoline.
I love that old mil surplus stuff. The tins of ammo and the grease smear (or what ever you called it is correct I think). I have mostly modern firearms now but plan on getting an SKS to go with my old AK, and a Mauser (I just like the aesthetics over a Mosin). Just like bikes or cars I love the old iron. And the accessories, maybe it takes me back to my childhood when there were wonderlands in every small city called Military Surplus stores. Before nam these places were cheap, where a kid could go in with a small weekly allowance and carry out all sorts of treasures... reva
The Type 56 is being imported now and the cheapest on the market, though, none of the SKS rifles are nearly as cheap as they used to be.
My god that takes me back. Standing in front of a Sunny's window, looking at a twice size cutaway model of a BAR
yeah that is the stuff commonly called cosmoline. some rifles found in sea water after years could still work if slathered in that stuff make sure you get it out of the barrel if you shoot that rifle. and that ammo is most likely corrosive meaning you need to clean the bore and bolt with water. WINDEX works great because it has both water and ammonia that neutralizes the corrosive primer material after cleaning the barrel with hot water or windex, you oil it for obvious reasons
