Do shotgun shells get old to the point you cant use them?

Question

if so how many years till that happens

Answer 1

Yes I have had that happen to me to many times at the wrong time!*

Answer 2

Keep your ammo at a moderate room temperature and keep them dry and they will last decades. I have fired shotgun shells from the 50's and 60's with no problems. There were no misfires and the shot patterns were just fine for pheasant hunting. The same can be said for pistol and rifle cartridges. Look at all the military surplus stuff on the market from 40+ years ago.

Answer 3

I do not keep any ammo for more than 3 months, I go down to the range and shot it off. thus any ammo I do have is always new.

Answer 4

Usually after about 2 years, the shells will shot, they just won't be accurate, they will sling the bullet in all different places.  

Answer 5

okay yeah they will go bad eventually, unless they're stored inside and climate controlled. They sure won't go bad after two years, and they don't sling 'bullets' haha. Everything will degrade and go bad after a LONG time. I shot a box of waxed cardboard shells at pheasants last year from the 60's. They shot just as well as any cheaper shell you will find today, probably better.  

Answer 6

iv shot ammo from the 1960s 70s and 80s...if its been kept dry and looks good have no fear in shooting it...

Answer 7

This summer a friend of mice gave me 2 boxes of Remington Sureshot 12 gauge ammo made in the early 70's..... I used it doing some varmint shooting and it worked perfectly.... 35 Year old shotgun shells stored indoor in a dry place last at least that long.....

Answer 8

yes if they get wet it may occour sooner than later, if you have doubts throw them away

Answer 9

it depends on how they are stored. Low temps and dry conditions mean they can last many many years. For example, My grandfather reloaded cases of shotgun shells, both the older paper ones, and the newer plastic ones. When he passed away back in the early 70's, I inhereted all the shotgun shells. I am still shooting them to this day. All were stored in original boxes, inside wooden cases, screwed shut and seal with a water repellent finish. I have never had a single bad shell yet. not bad for over 35-40 year old shells.

shoot safe

Answer 10

Yes, all shells/bullets do.

No one knows for sure- it depends on the quality of the shell when it is made. The manufacturer should have an idea.

Most will still shoot years later...but they are not "dependable" for someone who needs them. For this reason all law enforcement and military organizations periodically purge their ammo.

I have some ammo that is no doubt 25-30 years old. I'll dump it some day.

Answer 11

No not really, unless they are exposed to excessive water or moisture for an extended period of time.*

Answer 12

Yes, shotgun shells do go bad.  Even quicker than brass casing ammo.  How long?  Depends on storage and exposure to extreme temperature and/or humidity.  Ammo does have a long storage life, but once exposed to inclement weather their viability can deteriorate rapidly.

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