wet ammo questions

[repair]

I have a friend that had some 22 ammo that sat in water during the Martinsville flood, since it was in paper boxes is it any good? if not how do you get rid of it?

 

[haldir]

I would dry it out good and then try it out.

If it isn't any good, then I would throw it away. It just goes into the landfill (at least in my county).

 

[tal35]

I have never had much good luck with ammo that had gotten wet. It takes forever to dry inside if it has and the wet powder can cause excessive pressures.

 

[Wabatuckian]

Did an experiment last winter to see how well a "factory sealed" round was actually sealed.

A .45acp, buried it in the snow under melting conditions for a week, and fired it. Primer popped, powder didn't ignite, and I had to tap the bullet back out of the barrel.

My opinion - bad idea.

Josh <><

 

[Jay]

It's been my experience that "sealed" ammunition is normally done only for the military. I have seen red and green sealant appllied to the case neck and primer pocket. That ammo is truly "sealed". Any other ammo, having been submerged in water, and absent visualization of the sealant, I'd have to be highly suspicious of.

 

[agentl074]

Yes military ammo is sealed ... are "some" commercial ammunition. Look for a red or green seal around the primer. If there is no seal - don't get it wet

 

[BE Mike]

Rimfire ammo should be ok unless it has corroded. I have seen problems with centerfire ammo that was in water, but I expect that the moisture seeped through the primer pocket to the powder. You wouldn't have that problem with a rimfire cartridge.