Old Ammo

I have a few boxes of old 9mm ammo. American Eagle and Winchester Silvertips. They are about 18 years old. I have been w/o a pistol 'til about 3 years ago and have not shot this old ammo. I have a Walther P99 titanium coated and am wondering if it's safe to use this old ammo.

Just read the thread about the titanium coating not being as good as Walther hoped it would be.

I don't believe it would be safe for you to shoot.

If you send it to me, I'll properly dispose of it for you.:smt023

I wouldn't rely on it for self defense. But for the range - yea, U'll be fine...

Thanks.

Just thought about all of the old army surplus ammo out there which is even older.

I read a story not long ago in which a guy stole an old 1911 from an old guy and then robbed a store with it. After he robbed the store he decided he didn’t want any witnesses so he tried to shot the clerk. It did not fire so like an idiot he looked down the barrel of the gun which at that time went off shooting him in the head killing him dead. Turned out to be old ammo too that had a hang fire. So caution should be taken.

18 years is not old!

I once found a string of .50 BMG that had been lying on a sand dune for 30
years. Those rounds that were not damaged too much to be chambered
did fire in 1978.

I still have 2 rounds left out of the dozen or so that I found. The head stamp
is "SL 42' and I bet they will fire!

Ammunition will last a LOT longer than you think!

Mositure is the big killer of ammo. The reason alot of that old army still fires as they were sealed. You see what looks like a dye around the primer and where the bullet meats the case. I say shoot them.

If the rounds have been stored in a dry location (inside an A/C'd home vs. your garage or car trunk) and there is no damage to the case or bullets, they should be fine. I have ammo I got in the 1970's that works as well as anything I buy today and have milsup rounds from the 50's that still go bang every time I load them. That being said, if you really want to be "safe", use the old ammo for practice and buy new stuff for carry.

I cleaned out my ammo shelves a couple of years back by shooting up all my old 1960's and newer shotgun and rifle ammo. It all worked as good as the new stuff. :smt1099

Thanks for all the responses. I will shoot the old ammo.