jwayne
member
Reged: 04/10/2007
Posts: 13
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well,like every other avid shooter in the uk, my heart is pounding and i am literally counting the hours until sep1 when i'll be out there ready for the ducks and geese.
i pondered over this question as i cleand by gear ready for the coming weeks.i have cartriges which i haven't used but the brass have started to rust, i've cleaned them all as so they wont jam, i wonder how long can some one use their cartriges without them becoming out of date.
i.e should i buy a fresh batch each year regardless of condition.
i store all my cartrges at room temp, or usually in my pocket while shooting.
do you think they should carry a sell by date, or more importantly use by date.
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 ROBERT6500
member
Reged: 21/09/2007
Posts: 143
Loc: SOMERSET
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Its very common to use old cartridges, as long as they are kept dry and cool they will last for years. There are lots of stories in the shooting press about people putting the old gun away for 15/20 years and then getting it all out again to find it all works perfectly.
I myself think they should have a use by date of about 10 years, but it does depend on how well they have been looked after really.
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enfieldspares
member
Reged: 06/09/2008
Posts: 1
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Modern cartridges loaded in Europe have steel bases that have been given a brass wash. That they are rusted indicates that these are steel based cartridges.
I presume that as you mention using these on wildfowl that they are loaded with other than lead shot? If Bismuth or Tungsten Matrix I don't see a problem. Other than that the bases might be so rusted that they come apart on firing!
But if these cartridges are loaded with steel shot and have rusted inside as well you'll be firing a steel slug through your gun. With predictable results to it.
If in doubt....don't!
The only other argument - from the time of paper cases really - is that case (and powder) dry out. Making the former weaker and the latter stronger. But you'd pretty much have to have kept them in a warm dry room for many, many years for that ever to be an issue.
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