However, if you encounter resistance at your local ammo supplier, you have other options for getting rid of defective ammo. The brass casing is recyclable, so after a round has been fired at the range, this portion can be recycled. Some of your ammo may be worth alot of money to collectors. How to Safely Dispose of Old Ammo | Ammunition Depot Even if the ammo is bad, there could be some serviceable pieces for you to use to reduce waste. Therefore, an in-person return is your best option. Both of these things are prime examples of what not to do to safely dispose of old ammo. You want to make sure that you are acting responsibly when you are dealing with any ammunition whether it is new or old. The quickest and easiest way to get rid of the firearm or ammunition is simply to call the non-emergency police dispatch number (703-691-2131) and request an officer respond to your home. The lead EOD determine the emergency level one response, which means. Additionally, problems with factory ammunition may indicate a larger problem with the entire batch produced. If you recycle bullets yourself, use the gunpowder to fertilize your plants. Ballistics experts have reported that ammo ranging from 20 to 50 years old will fire with no problem as long as it was stored the right way. This will prolong its shelf life even more. #9. An officer will pick up the ammunition or give some suggestions if it's a minimal amount of rounds. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Make sure to call the local number for the police station to ask if they're accepting ammunition. We have a for sell section so you might want to think about using calguns.There are plenty of folks here in California that will enjoy your guns. Bryan Villella is the Lead Firearms Instructor and Owner of Don't Be A Sitting Duck in Kissimmee, Florida. You might also ask about ammo disposal at indoor ranges. Before you shoot any ammo that you know is old and has been stored for a long time, you need to carefully look at each and every round. EverydayCarryConcealed.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Small changes by thousands of individuals will have a lasting, positive impact. Since firearms last more than a lifetime, families often have small and large collections of guns in their home. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. DO NOT FLUSH OR POUR unused medications down the toilet or drain. However, even though its tempting, tossing any ammunition into the trash is incredibly dangerous. Usually, only those in close proximity to the cartridge when it detonates are at risk of injury. Many of the disposal suggestions youll find online are actually dangerous, illegal, or both. For a list of items, check here. It makes great fertilizer. In my area, the trash is incinerated, and I have been getting complaints about the primers popping when they load the trash into the incinerator. Search an A-Z list of recycling options for Orange County residents. 5. Evans Gunsmithing Shooters World. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro. Safe and responsible ammo disposal is a big part of this. In any case, ask them about disposing of ammunition as it is typically done under the auspices of hazardous waste. Usually defects or structural compromises of a cartridge render it unserviceable. Home electronics, cell phones and some digital appliances can go to an OC Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Along with controlled substances. Or maybe you have some old hunting ammo that shows some signs of corrosion. ammunition is stored in a dry place that is safe from wild temperature extremes, The Best Self Defense Ammo Ballistic Testing. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. When all else fails, you can dispose of ammunition by unloading it on a friend. The truth is, no one knows the exact shelf-life for ammunition. It's more important than ever. 1 Call your local police department. Throwing ammunition in the trash is dangerous and illegal. Road flares may be disposed of as hazardous waste. This is something that most gun ranges already do. Find a disposal location so problem items can be processed safely. Hazardous waste centers do not generally accept bad ammo as a regular thing, but many of them do offer occasional drop-off services where they will collect and dispose of the ammo for you in a safe manner. Gun store personnel are well-versed in handling ammunition and many of them will accept bad ammunition for safe disposal. Many gun ranges will take unwanted rounds off your hands. Many police departments collect old or unused ammunition. Ammunition can be placed in a box or specific ammunition can. The idea is to ruin the powder and primer, supposedly rendering the cartridge harmless. If you have recently come into the possession of old ammo, you have probably found yourself asking the question can old ammunition explode. This is another great option for safely and responsibly getting rid of that old ammo that is no longer safe for use. by Mike V. | Firearm Care and Maintenance, Reloading. A supply or quantity of bullets and shells used for ammunition in guns. If the ammunition is unused, its possible to recycle it, but the ability to do so isnt widely available. As gun owners, we want to be sure we act responsibly, especially when it comes to disposing of our unwanted ammunition. 1. Most private gun clubs have boxes of obsolete ammo that they keep just for folks to poke through and shoot up. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Those I set aside for their collected value. Ever inherited an old batch of ammunition from a friend? However, I recommend you only give ammo to someone knowledgeable about ammunition and firearms. Bought a coat from the Salvation Army. Call (833) GIV-GUNS to speak to our firearms specialists about donating or selling your unwanted firearms. (haven't shot any of the guns in that time) Some of it was old surplus when I bought it, some is stuff I reloaded, others are store bought boxes. When it comes to hand loaded rounds, you can usually tell when something is off. Pull the bullets, dump the powder and either burn the cases, drip oil down into them, or feed them into something to shoot like blanks to get rid of the primers. You must be at least . So we have talked about the signs that tell you that old ammo is no longer fit to be used. If it is a small agency, they may not be equipped for ammo disposal. Since I'm planning on selling off all my firearms, I will be left with a fair amount of ammunition in various calibers. As a dealer, I encourage customers to bring in anything that they feel they need to get rid of, not so that I can get a great deal from someone that just doesn't know what they have, but to offer free advice to a customer in need. you consent to receive marketing text messages If the box gets damaged, put them in a container with a secure lid. If cartridges show any signs of rust or corrosion (especially around the primer), regardless of the date of manufacture, they are not safe to shoot. If there's any question about whether or not your ammunition is still good, err on the side of caution.