Ammunition Disposal

[alby]

I believe it is general knowledge that you need to drop off ammo that you wish to dispose of
with the local police/sheriff's office. In an update to this general belief, I would like to add that
in Loudoun County,VA you can drop off your ammo with the Fire Marshall.

In my particular case, I called the Loudoun County Fire Marshall's office and notified them I had several
rounds of ammo that needed to be disposed of. The Fire Marshall's office had plan to visit my home and
pick up the ammo, but then instructed me to deliver it to my local fire house and that they would pick it
up there at a later date/time. I did give the Fire Marshall my name and phone number, but no inventory
was done nor did I have to sign anything or give me address.. All I pretty much did was knock on the door
at the local fire house, informed them I made arrangements with the Fire Marshall to drop off my ammo
at the fire house, and that was that.

[allingeneral]

Ammunition Disposal?! Sounds counterproductive to me!

[OakRidgeStars]

What was the problem with the ammo?. Was it too old, damaged or just not needed?. I'm really curious about whether certain types of ammo have a shorter shelf life than other types.

[alby]

What was the problem with the ammo?. Was it too old, damaged or just not needed?. I'm really curious about whether certain types of ammo have a shorter shelf life than other types.

The ammo I gave up for disposal was several rounds of Shotgun Slugs, 22 Rounds, and a few 30-06 rounds. All of which
had been sitting in my garage for a few years. Given the humid temperatures in the garage throughout the year, several
of the rounds started to show signs of corrosion. Its also likely the expansion and contraction of the shells in the heat/cold
along with the humid air effecting the gun powder is likely to have rendered some or all of the shells useless.

As such, I figured its better to be safe and just chuck those shells then try using them at the range where at the least
one would be a dud. Or at worst, one explodes because there is a weak spot in the shell caused by corrosion.

[OakRidgeStars]

Good call

[Vahunter]

I had to dispose of some blasting caps that my Dad had around for years before he died. Called the local sheriff's dept and they sent a deputy to pick them up. I gentley handed them to him and what does he do......... throws them in his trunk. They had to have been over 30 years old and unstable as it gets.

[flowmaster]

What was the problem with the ammo?. Was it too old, damaged or just not needed?. I'm really curious about whether certain types of ammo have a shorter shelf life than other types.

corrosive primed ammunition lasts a VERY long time. i've reliably shot 303 british ammo that dated from both world wars. inspect every round carefully if you plan on shooting it.

[Tusker]

I have a PILE of stuff I need to get rid of. damaged, some stuff in a belt-- for AKA machine gun etc. I thought I would just put it out with the trash? That IS some good information for sure. THANKS!!

[alby]

Hahahah... Yeah, don't stick it in the trash.. lol Either the local Police, Sheriff, or Fire Marshall
will tell you the policy on where to take your ammo for disposal.