Staying on Target with Ammo Disposal

Although it’ll last longer than a popsicle on a summer day in Death Valley or most Hollywood weddings, ammunition doesn’t have an infinite life. There will come a time when stored ammo loses its effectiveness or has been damaged and requires proper disposal.

Before giving your ammunition a 21-gun salute, however, it’s important to determine if it’s really ready to be taken off the firing line.

Most manufacturers list a 10-year expiration date. If it’s not exposed to high heat or excessive moisture, ammo can last several decades. If there’s doubt as to whether the ammo is still good, it’s better not to take a chance and dispose it. There are a number of ways to accomplish this.

One of the best options is to take it to the people whose lives and livelihood rely on effective ammunition – law enforcement. It’s best to contact the agency or go to its website to find out its policies regarding ammo disposal.

Although damaged or old ammunition falls under the general category of trash, it’s not like a used paper towel or empty can of beans that can be bagged and brought to a landfill. Most landfill facilities don’t allow for the disposal of ammo during normal operating days. Some have designated days when ammo can be brought to the faculty for disposal.

Gun stores and indoor shooting ranges could be good places to bring unwanted ammo. Gun stores handle ammo in bulk and might be able to ship it back to the manufacturer for disposal. Similarly, indoor ranges deal with a number of firing issues resulting in unused ammo and likely have disposal measures in place.

Lastly, there’s the reloading option. Gun stores often have customers who reload ammunition. If you want to do your own reloading, it’s important to have the right tools and be able to identify the rounds that can be reloaded.

Now to dispel some myths regarding ammo disposal. Burying treasure is okay if you’re a pirate, but X out the idea of doing the same with ammo. The lead found in many bullets could seep into the local water supply.

As previously noted, ammunition should not be placed in a trash bag for disposal. With the bag being jostled around in the garbage truck or compactor, a cartridge could fire in an uncontrolled and manner.

Soaking a cartridge in oil and water is, well, a bad mixture – like oil and water. The idea is soaking the cartridge in oil and water will ruin the gunpowder and no longer ignite the primer. This is not a full-proof method. The water and oil might not enter the cartridge, or the gunpowder could dry out. Consequently, that supposedly dead round is now live, making this disposal tip all wet.