Does Shotgun Ammo Age Well?? 

Probably depends more on storage conditions than age, i have shot shells 15-20 years old that seemed to work just fine, the shot wasnt oxidized though.

Double base powders tend to clog together as time passes by . There is no effect in performance by that. I have chronographed , patterned and used a lot of cartridges loaded 10 or 15 years ago. If they are stored propperly with no moisture or high heat there is no difference in performance. I have never used cartridges over 20-25 years old and there could be some difference there due to deterioration of powders , primers etc.

Smokeless powder is very stable if stored "in a cool and dry place", like my basement. I have shotshells and rifle cartridges that I loaded thirty years ago. (Yes, my wife asks me that question as well.) At the range, they perform flawlessly. Shotshell muzzle velocity and patterns are identical to what I found 30 years ago. Same for the rifle cartridges. They group just like they did when first loaded. Powder purchased thirty years ago and used to load ammo today works as if new. It's moisture that degrades powder. Large temperature swings are bad as well. I have taken .303 British ammo from WWII to the range and it works just fine. So does 9mm handgun ammo from WWII, although it was loaded to higher pressures than the usual stuff today. When I purchased an Ithaca Model 37 pump shotgun from my uncle, it came with a generous supply of late 1940's and early 1950's paper case 12 gauge shells. No problem in shooting them. That's shells aged seventy years and more, working just fine. Obviously, if the cartridge looks bad, corroded or degraded, don't fire it. If it looks like it was made last week, go ahead. The key to long term storage is the conditions. "Cool and dry" is the way to go.

This past Saturday i went squirrel hunting with some old papers shells from the 40s. They worked great and i was well pleased. I have shot lots of guns for many years and as long as it is stored properly it is fine. If you go far enough back it would be primers you would have to worry more about then powder assuming ammo was stored where there was no moisture problems. Primers have improved vastly. Consider all the old rifle ammo that is surplus that is for sale. It always seems to work fine.

Try a comparison with 50's era paper cartridges. If they aren't leaking nitro and don't have water marks they should work well.

I have been using Eley shotgun and rimfire ammunition from the 1970s and have noticed no difference from new stuff

i have some Eley Grand Prix which are over 40 years old. They work as new.

Nice vid simple and to the point. If i ever have any old ones i usually shoot them as spares at a clay ground that allows 5s n 6s. But normally my game cartridges don't tend to last longer than a year.

It would be interesting to compare them over a chronograph. Ball powders are prone to clumping- Winchester had some issues with this in early lots of .458 Win Mag ammunition.

I once tried some smokeless cartridges made in 1901 ! They had a vague sour smell of deteriorated powder. All failed to fire. Primers failed in most; powder in the others. I have shot trap with shells that were 10 years old or more without problems. I sure wouldn't try 40+ yard shots at game with them.

There's quite a few things we don't know about this so any info is helpful. I have no doubt recipes change and the manufacturers don't say. Chrono testing would be key but retained energy is also a very useful measure. The important message is storage - bit like wine. If your cartridges are not in ideal conditions then use them - or store them better !!.

I found some Swedish paper cartridges that was at least 40 years old. They worked all of them. Didn't hunt with them, and I don't know how good they were, but still impressive.

I found some 50-60 year old shotgun cartridges stored in my basement, they look brand new, (no corrosion on the outside) but I have not opened them to check the state of the lead shot. I would like to use them, and I want to know if there are any risks involved with shooting very old ammunition? Thanks!

What kind of storage conditions were your old cartridges stored under? Light, temperatures and humidity can really affect things.

The test here is useless because different loads. Most loads loose power over the long run, the star crimp loose its tightness, the plastic get brittle. But I have also once got shotshells which stand in a shop for 30years, the warm dry shop condition dried the powder, the was no loss of power but pattern was bad. The old compression formed cases kept quit long the performance, but that plastic is a way better quality then multible part shells (Italian AA was legendary for that, they worked up to 15 years, at 25 they decreased power as well). A plastic wad that seals the powder helps as well for long time storing. (but at a certain time any plastic becomes brittle). But even 30year old paper case ammo, works quit good, when stored properly. Shotshells which are stocked in bad conditions age badly. When you not use the box soon, vacuum seal it and 10years are no problem. (Paper cases shells and or fiber wad cartridges ). But how old was the cartridges really, they was bought 4years ago, they could be already much older. Some of the shotshells I not use that often stay for easy 5 or even 15year. I have 25year old ammo. (shot shells, rifle cartridges go well over the 50year mark)

Use a Chrono.

The heavyer the load the slower the powder must burns,if u take a very fast burning powder with a like a heavy load like 36grams ure pressures get to high at the chamber area,plus burning it in the open air isnt a good test cause one brand of powder is diffent then other. If u reload ureself u shut always be aware what u do in terms of powder,if u mix up for example a fast burning powder with a slow burning powder u might have a nasty experiance cause u need normaly more slow burning powder then fast burning powder to create a more slowly pressure buildup in the barrel,where u need a bit of fast burning powder to give that light load some speed.

Do you think that the fiber wad and no shot cup makes a difference?

the UK is humid AF, store ammo well its the only option.

not a good idea to set gun powder alite yes i know nitro powder just burns like it did what if some one who does not know about powder does the same with black powder

Your work bench is in front of the fire door!

chronograph?....