Old ammunition

[Beatnik]

I recently became interested in CHL and firing my 357 magnum S&W revolver. It's been at least eight years, maybe 10. I found six boxes of ammunition in the garage. Some of them have water marks on the box and corrosion on the brass. I don't want to shoot this ammo but I don't know what to do with it. Can't just throw it in the trash. Any advice?

[SCone]

Local gun range could probably take care of them for you, if not, check with the police dept.

[jbirds1210]

Offer it to someone local that reloads......they might be able to salvage the bullets.

Jason

[phddan]

Offer it to someone local that reloads......they might be able to salvage the bullets.

Jason

Good answer.
Would be able to save the bullets, use the powder for fertilizing the grass, and practice some smooth trigger pulls discharging the primers.
Win, win, and win.

Where abouts in this little state are ya???

Dan

[WildBill]

Alliant recommends that unwanted smokeless powder be disposed by careful burning.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/M ... dr_10.html

[CompVest]

Alliant recommends that unwanted smokeless powder be disposed by careful burning.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/M ... dr_10.html

This is more fun!

[WildBill]

Alliant recommends that unwanted smokeless powder be disposed by careful burning.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/M ... dr_10.html

This is more fun!

I don't want to be a spoilsport, but gunpowder is not fertilizer. If it were, then you could use Scott's Turf Builder and reloading would be a lot cheaper than it is.

Gun powder does release nitrogen that will fertilize plants, but it also contains very toxic chemicals that can harm people, pets and wildlife. These chemicals will also run off during a rain storm and get into the ground water. Pistol powder is probably worse than rifle powder.

I am trying to get some more concrete data to back up my post, but I still don't think that pouring chemicals, like gun powder, on the ground is a good idea.


Actually, if you are very careful, burning the powder can be fun too.

[Beatnik]

Would be able to save the bullets, use the powder for fertilizing the grass, and practice some smooth trigger pulls discharging the primers.
Win, win, and win.

Where abouts in this little state are ya???

Dan

Northern suburb of Fort Worth; North Richland Hills to be exact. ...and thanks for your post. Can you use just a pair of gas pliers to pull the bullets out of the casings?

Beatnik

[longtooth]

You can. 2 pair [abbreviated profanity deleted] pliers may be necessary. Start by trying to "unscrew" them. It will break the crimp. Then rock them just enough to spread the mouth of the case just a little. They will pill out then w/ only the teeth marks on the bullets. I have done it several times before getting rich & being able to buy a puller.

[phddan]

First I heard of any detriments to using it for fertilizer

More fun to burn anyway

And yes, pliers would work, but would ruin the brass. There has got to be a reloader near you that has a inertia puller that would let you borrow it, or do it with you.

Dan

[WarHawk-AVG]

http://www.huntingtons.com/bulletpullers.html

Kinetic bullet puller

Just get the hammer type device, the collet that supports your ammo type

Put in the bullet, give it a sharp whack on a table, dump the powder in a non-metal bowl, put the bullet in a cup.

VIOLA!

You can pop the primers in the pistol w/o damaging anything after that, then either punch the primers then clean the brass in a tumbler to remove the corrosion and re-prime/re-load and roll on...the cost of brass these days is OUTRAGEOUS!