How Much Life Does a 60 Yr Old Box of Ammo Have Left?

[Classic_Cool]

Looking at getting an old Soviet Tokarev which takes 7.62x25 ammo. Historically there's been millions of surplus rounds lying around out there and you can still get a crate of 2280 rounds for like $350.

If I pick up a crate and sit on it for 30 years, making occasional range visits with the Tokarev, how many of those 1950s era rounds are likely to still work? Assuming I keep them corrosion free?

[Dick284]

I've seen .303 dated pre WW1 that went bang when they were supposed to.

The key is storing it in a stable, environment. Cool and dry is the key, no wild temp or humidity swings.

[Hotwheels81]

Originally Posted by Classic_Cool

Looking at getting an old Soviet Tokarev which takes 7.62x25 ammo. Historically there's been millions of surplus rounds lying around out there and you can still get a crate of 2280 rounds for like $350.

If I pick up a crate and sit on it for 30 years, making occasional range visits with the Tokarev, how many of those 1950s era rounds are likely to still work? Assuming I keep them corrosion free?

Buy atleast 2 crates... When that stuff dries up it won't come back.


Ammo has a very long shelf life... I'd say 150 to 200 years if stored half ass decently.

[catnthehat]

In the 60's I shot some black powder .577 Snider rounds from the 1800's that worked just fine
Cat

[Classic_Cool]

Well this all sounds good. Now I just have to check if my range allows steel cored ammo. The only rule I've seen posted is no bird shot.

[220swifty]

Im pretty sure sportsmens den has a fairly good stock of that particular ammo.

[twofifty]

Plenty enough to kill game.

[seabass23]

I have a crate of Tokarev ammo. I've been through a few hundred rounds, not a single issue. I can't predict how much life it has left but it still works like new!

I don't think you need to worry.

[Classic_Cool]

Originally Posted by seabass23

I have a crate of Tokarev ammo. I've been through a few hundred rounds, not a single issue. I can't predict how much life it has left but it still works like new!

I don't think you need to worry.

Do you have that Czech machine gun ammo, or one of the other countries? I've been considering getting some new Sellier & Bellot ammo to break in the gun "gently". Gotta send away for it though, vs picking up the Czech ammo from a local source.

[dogslayer403]

Originally Posted by Classic_Cool

Do you have that Czech machine gun ammo, or one of the other countries? I've been considering getting some new Sellier & Bellot ammo to break in the gun "gently". Gotta send away for it though, vs picking up the Czech ammo from a local source.

I wouldnt worry about breaking in anything russian gently its built for abuse LOL.

[lyallpeder]

Hornady makes bullets (86gr $15/100) and starline makes brass ($25/100)

Not as cheap as surplus but better than nothing.

[seabass23]

Not sure what country it's from. 8 round stripper clips, white paper boxes of 40 rounds each, in a green wooden ammo box of 2280 rounds. Bought it from MilArm in Edmonton.

I agree with others, there's no point spending big bucks on new S&B ammo to break it in gently. That's like breaking in a new hammer on new nails...which is actually another perfect use for a Tokarev!

Originally Posted by Classic_Cool

Do you have that Czech machine gun ammo, or one of the other countries? I've been considering getting some new Sellier & Bellot ammo to break in the gun "gently". Gotta send away for it though, vs picking up the Czech ammo from a local source.

[Classic_Cool]

Originally Posted by seabass23

Not sure what country it's from. 8 round stripper clips, white paper boxes of 40 rounds each, in a green wooden ammo box of 2280 rounds. Bought it from MilArm in Edmonton.

I agree with others, there's no point spending big bucks on new S&B ammo to break it in gently. That's like breaking in a new hammer on new nails...which is actually another perfect use for a Tokarev!

Pretty sure that's the Czech stuff then. It's considered to be between 15-25% hotter than the other surplus loads. Steel cored, corrosive, banned by some ranges Things Military in Calgary has it too, or atleast their website says they do.

Might pick up a few 40 round boxes this weekend, and when the Tokarev comes in I'll wail on it lol.

[DCse7en]

I bought some surplus tokarev ammo from p and d on the weekend. It was not so great. 11/64 actually fired. There were 3 at least that were delayed. The s and b ammo worked perfectly.

[seabass23]

Originally Posted by DCse7en

I bought some surplus tokarev ammo from p and d on the weekend. It was not so great. 11/64 actually fired. There were 3 at least that were delayed. The s and b ammo worked perfectly.

Either you have bad luck or I have good luck. I've been through several hundred rounds in my Tokarev without a single issue.

I wonder the problem is light primer strikes? I've had that issue with a Norinco NP-22 and some surplus 9mm ammo while the factory 9mm worked perfectly. I put the surplus 9mm in my S&P and it worked without issue.

[DCse7en]

I would have suspected a faulty firearm if the new s and b ammo hadn't performed the way that it did. I examined several of the misfires, and the primers looked like they had been struck adequately. When I asked p and d about it their response was," thats surplus ammo."

[dadof5]

Originally Posted by Classic_Cool

Looking at getting an old Soviet Tokarev which takes 7.62x25 ammo. Historically there's been millions of surplus rounds lying around out there and you can still get a crate of 2280 rounds for like $350.

If I pick up a crate and sit on it for 30 years, making occasional range visits with the Tokarev, how many of those 1950s era rounds are likely to still work? Assuming I keep them corrosion free?

Depends how much you got, and how much you shoot... The shelf life should be good until you fire the last round, assuming proper storage!

[u_cant_rope_the_wind]

a friend of mine in new mexico has a case of sharps ammo that's original from the 1800,s he shot off some last August they all went bang , now he has the rest up for sale at an unreal high price

[colin455]

Originally Posted by Classic_Cool

Do you have that Czech machine gun ammo, or one of the other countries? I've been considering getting some new Sellier & Bellot ammo to break in the gun "gently". Gotta send away for it though, vs picking up the Czech ammo from a local source.

LOL> Break in gently.
In Soviet Russia - we run out of ammo, use empty gun to beat you to death and take your ammunition. Buy German if you want to 'treat gentle'. Bah!
Pass the Voodka!

[bang_on_sk]

My dad was telling me he had a case of .303 that was labeled "Do not shoot in synchronized machine guns after 19xx" (some date between the wars). The cadets went through the whole case with only 2 misfires.

[Classic_Cool]

Lol. Well as an update, I got the Tokarev in the mail about a week ago. Sweet little pistol I have a box of the old Czech ammo, and a few boxes of Sellier and Bellot that I ordered. Gonna take it to the range this week.

After screwing with that spring clip on the side of the gun, and nearly sending the whole thing flying across the room, I don't think I want to be worrying about field stripping it after shooting corrosive ammo. So I'll leave the Czech stuff aside for now.