Shelf life of shotgun shells

[Pistolite]

Do shotgun shells have similar longevity to brass munitions when stored in favorable conditions? I am talking about constant moderate temperatures and humidity in the range of 30-60% and storage in the original packaging, not in special sealed canisters.

I have read of WW2 brass ammunition remaining viable to this day - over seven decades later.

[Rex in OTZ]

The last time I hunted with my uncles I was viseting from outta state I dident pack a shot gun due to traveling conditions I was lent a old Winchester model 25 12ga shot gun my uncle had from when he was in high school in the mid 1950's still in the guncabinet with 1960's era shotshells still in the mag! :cool:, we decided to go hunting on the family farm for phesants as they dident have any other 2.3/4" shells since it was over 18 miles to town I was to use the ones left in the gun they were old winchester paper hulls with rolled paper lip! it took a hour to get the shotgun ready it was dirty and so gummed up the slide wouldent open!
I bagged a phesant that day with his old gun the barrel dented from a car door closeing on it back in the 1960's it shot just fine the dent barely noticeable. those old shot shells worked just fine makeing a clean kill on a nice rooster at 15 yards in heavy weed cover.

[DK PHILLIPS]

and as long as no moister, or corrosion visible they all fired. only had two not fire, one not chamber in a single shot Iver Johnson. and for the record hawthorns kicked the hardest like a magnum.:eek:<>< dk

[d-square]

I don't ever remember my late father in my lifetime ever buying shotgun shells, especialy slugs. He had plenty given to him by my grandfather. He never bought a shotgun either. My grandfather gave him one in the 1950's early 60's a 20 gauge bolt action and a double barrel side by side 16 gauge. And when my Grandfather stopped hunting he got his Remington 16 gauge 870 and shells. Dad only hunted Deer and never shot them much. He liked .22's for shooting when he did shoot. And when he past away I inherited all those old paper and early plastic slugs with "Kleenbore priming" stamped on them. I always thought he was "nuts" going out every season with the same old shells deer hunting. And Dad used to get Deer just about every year with 1 or sometimes 2 shots. He claimed he never had a miss-fire. I inherited the guns and the shells. I took a few out to shoot up and just like Dad had no-problems. These shells are all of 40 years old. Even though they all went off for Dad and also me when target shooting, I won't rely on them for hunting. At some point there has to be just a click and that's when you here stories of the one that got away.

[mr44]

cool and dry FOREVER

[Will Durant]

The only thing bad that I have ever heard of was "paper swelling"on the older(not plastic) that had not been stored in a cool.dry space.Properly stored they should last at least 30 years.Will

[DK PHILLIPS]

had 250 rounds of 1913 all shot. hot and accurate, three or four misfires and couldn't shoot even with multiple hits to the primmer. i believe USMC?
shot in my Wilson colt gold cup series 70.:cool: if clean, dry, not stored wood boxes were tannic acids attack brass or in heat or temp changes, will last for a very very long time. and no intros smell <><dk

[Pistolite]

Thanks for all the replies fellows. Pretty much what I expected but I wanted to be sure. The plastic shells we have today, properly stored, should be good for 50 years easily.

I won't be shooting much as I do not hunt but I would like to lay in a good supply. Prices will continue upward, especially if the government decides to put a punitive tax on ammunition (more than a remote possibility). A gun is pretty worthless without ammo.

[Bingo]

Store them in .50cal cans. One can fit 185rds in 5rd boxes in the can.

[tedley2]

I just traded for about 65 rds of Federal 12 ga. of various types, mostly regular game bird loads. These are plastic, about 25-30 years old, and I expect, from what I've seen of old Paper shells, these may last me a good while. I have them in a GI ammo can.

[jjk308]

50 years plus is the usual number for non-corrosive primed ammunition. Corrosive seems to last 75 years plus if stored in decent conditions. The only shotgun shell problem used to be with the now obsolete paper hulls that would swell from moisture.