Author: illiana
Subject: Old surplus ammo: Safe to use? or scrap it?
Posted: April 30 2023 at 1:59pm
Thanks for all the feedback folks! Im not really setup for reloading atm anyhow, so they'll likely jus sit stored away for the next little while. I'll decide what to do with them later. Thanks for your clarification on the primers too!
Most of the cases stamped Radway look terrible, and wouldnt shock me to see them have case ruptures near the rim or middle of the case. Ive been told the corrosion in superficial, but my experience in material sciences tell me not to trust that opinion. Unfortunately, the canadian Dominion rounds also look generally not well maintained.
Doco:
I was much younger when I shot my uncle's 303, but I remember case neck splits on almost every one of the rounds he shot... As well as some click-bangs... (unfortunately, he didnt show very good range discipline and wait a full 60 seconds for safety![Ermm]( "Ermm")
) The rounds were probably from the same grab-bag pile I've sorted through here.
Almost every round stamped GB (+ the G2 tracers) looks only slightly patina'd, and in rather amazing condition for being 80 years old. If worst comes to it, I'll be trying them. But Britrifles has a good point -- while the PPU is available, I'll buy new. I do see it come and go very quickly, so I'll have to stock up on some when/while I can.
Subject: Old surplus ammo: Safe to use? or scrap it?
Posted: April 30 2023 at 1:59pm
Thanks for all the feedback folks! Im not really setup for reloading atm anyhow, so they'll likely jus sit stored away for the next little while. I'll decide what to do with them later. Thanks for your clarification on the primers too!
Most of the cases stamped Radway look terrible, and wouldnt shock me to see them have case ruptures near the rim or middle of the case. Ive been told the corrosion in superficial, but my experience in material sciences tell me not to trust that opinion. Unfortunately, the canadian Dominion rounds also look generally not well maintained.
Doco:
I was much younger when I shot my uncle's 303, but I remember case neck splits on almost every one of the rounds he shot... As well as some click-bangs... (unfortunately, he didnt show very good range discipline and wait a full 60 seconds for safety
) The rounds were probably from the same grab-bag pile I've sorted through here. Almost every round stamped GB (+ the G2 tracers) looks only slightly patina'd, and in rather amazing condition for being 80 years old. If worst comes to it, I'll be trying them. But Britrifles has a good point -- while the PPU is available, I'll buy new. I do see it come and go very quickly, so I'll have to stock up on some when/while I can.