Old Cartridges?

[David Christensen]

How long do people expect cartridges to keep (in good not-cold, dry
conditions)? I discovered some 3-year-old Gamebore Blue Diamonds at the
back of the cartridge cupboard recently, tried them in practice, liked
them (although the missus had one misfire in her gun), so shot them in
competition and had two mis-fires in 75. Could this just be age? Or a
duff batch. I'm trying to remember why I moved away from Blue Diamonds,
and I have a nagging suspicion it could have been misfires, but I'm not
sure. Surely 3 years isn't enough for them to go "off"?

DC

[Tim Guy]

Post by David Christensen
How long do people expect cartridges to keep (in good not-cold, dry
conditions)?

Hi David..

Nice to see a post.

I've got some 5+ year old 32g that someone gave me a while back when I was
having trouble with the 1187 reloading..

They came from the ammo store of a club so they were'nt ALWAYS kept in the
dry.. Worked a charm.. no issues..

I know of guys that pull old paper cartridges out of widowers garages and
they mostly always fire (all be it the paper has swollen and the ejectors
cant cope) and they most be decades old.

Tim

[Cliff Ray]

Post by Tim Guy

Post by David Christensen
How long do people expect cartridges to keep (in good not-cold, dry
conditions)?

Hi David..
Nice to see a post.
I've got some 5+ year old 32g that someone gave me a while back when I was
having trouble with the 1187 reloading..
They came from the ammo store of a club so they were'nt ALWAYS kept in the
dry.. Worked a charm.. no issues..
I know of guys that pull old paper cartridges out of widowers garages and
they mostly always fire (all be it the paper has swollen and the ejectors
cant cope) and they most be decades old.
Tim

David,

A couple of weeks ago at Lakenheath I finally used 300 miscellaneous
cartridges I was given by someone giving up shooting 5 years ago and I
don't think the cartridges were very new then. Not one caused a problem.

Cliff

[David Christensen]

*Date:* Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:14:17 +0000

Post by Tim Guy

Post by David Christensen
How long do people expect cartridges to keep (in good not-cold,

dry

Post by Tim Guy

Post by David Christensen
conditions)?

Hi David..
Nice to see a post.
I've got some 5+ year old 32g that someone gave me a while back when I was
having trouble with the 1187 reloading..
They came from the ammo store of a club so they were'nt ALWAYS kept in the
dry.. Worked a charm.. no issues..
I know of guys that pull old paper cartridges out of widowers garages and
they mostly always fire (all be it the paper has swollen and the ejectors
cant cope) and they most be decades old.
Tim

David,
A couple of weeks ago at Lakenheath I finally used 300
miscellaneous cartridges I was given by someone giving up shooting
5 years ago and I don't think the cartridges were very new then.
Not one caused a problem.
Cliff

Must have been a duff batch then; 3 misfires in two different guns which
haven't had a misfire on other cartridges. Shame it cost me a county
championship :(

DC
[ok, "shame my inability to not be put off by a misfire cost me a county
championship"]

[Sarah Cooper]

Post by David Christensen

*Date:* Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:14:17 +0000

Post by Tim Guy

Post by David Christensen
How long do people expect cartridges to keep (in good not-cold,

dry

Post by Tim Guy

Post by David Christensen
conditions)?

Hi David..
Nice to see a post.
I've got some 5+ year old 32g that someone gave me a while back when I was
having trouble with the 1187 reloading..
They came from the ammo store of a club so they were'nt ALWAYS kept in the
dry.. Worked a charm.. no issues..
I know of guys that pull old paper cartridges out of widowers garages and
they mostly always fire (all be it the paper has swollen and the ejectors
cant cope) and they most be decades old.
Tim

David,
A couple of weeks ago at Lakenheath I finally used 300
miscellaneous cartridges I was given by someone giving up shooting
5 years ago and I don't think the cartridges were very new then.
Not one caused a problem.
Cliff

Must have been a duff batch then; 3 misfires in two different guns which
haven't had a misfire on other cartridges. Shame it cost me a county
championship :(
DC
[ok, "shame my inability to not be put off by a misfire cost me a county
championship"]

now relabelled "practice only"
The Wife :-)

[Derek]

Post by David Christensen

*Date:* Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:14:17 +0000

Post by Tim Guy

Post by David Christensen
How long do people expect cartridges to keep (in good not-cold,

dry

Post by Tim Guy

Post by David Christensen
conditions)?

Hi David..
Nice to see a post.
I've got some 5+ year old 32g that someone gave me a while back when I was
having trouble with the 1187 reloading..
They came from the ammo store of a club so they were'nt ALWAYS kept in the
dry.. Worked a charm.. no issues..
I know of guys that pull old paper cartridges out of widowers garages and
they mostly always fire (all be it the paper has swollen and the ejectors
cant cope) and they most be decades old.
Tim

David,
A couple of weeks ago at Lakenheath I finally used 300
miscellaneous cartridges I was given by someone giving up shooting
5 years ago and I don't think the cartridges were very new then.
Not one caused a problem.
Cliff

Must have been a duff batch then; 3 misfires in two different guns which
haven't had a misfire on other cartridges. Shame it cost me a county
championship :(
DC
[ok, "shame my inability to not be put off by a misfire cost me a county
championship"]

Been there ( not county championship) equipment problems are as
bad as inconsistant trappers for dropping scores.Once my mind is distracted
that way I'm at a disadvantage we had a batch of Hawkbest that left a trail
of confetti
as the wadding disintegrated at the muzzle all our scores suffered badly as
a result
( my excuse and I am sticking to it ) though ballistically they were
probably no worse
than normal shells.
Derek