Shelf life of shotgun shells

[Oldschoolguy]

I have some boxes of Winchester, Remington and Federal Premium turkey shells that have been on my closet shelf for 20+ years. I always buy new shells each season and my leftover "old shell" inventory has grown. I don't want to throw them away, but I don't know whether to risk wounding a tom or having a misfire with them. What do you guys think about using 20 year old shells that have been stored in a climate control home? Any opinions or suggestions would be appreciated.   

[Philippe]

Only one way to find out!

[Snoodsniper]

They're fine if they've been kept cool and dry.

[Bowguy]

They're fine

[wvmntnhick]

They're probably unsafe at their age. I'll give you an address that you can send them to for safe disposal. There's a small fee but I'm sure you and the other guy could work that out. 

All kidding aside, blast away. They'll be just fine.

[stinkpickle]

Stored indoors and not handled a lot, modern (1970's and newer) shotshells should last longer than you.

[Ihuntoldschool]

They should last at least a lifetime but probably more like several lifetimes.  I've shot many that were older than 20 years without a problem.

[Oldschoolguy]

Thanks for the replies guys, I feel better now. I'm 52 years old and our season limit is 3 now instead of 5. So I'm not EVER going to buy any more turkey shells!

[OldSchool]

As long as the bases aren't oxidised to the point of being badly pitted, I've never worried about, or had any problems shooting old shells and I've used some OLD ones. I did have one box that some of the bases had split. Those I'd say away from.

And by the way, 

Bob

[budtripp]

If you're unsure about it and want to unload some of the old federals  I'd like to be the first in line lol.

[Ohio river tom]

My grandpa had some old paper shotgun shells from years back. My uncle used them to rabbit hunt last fall. Never had any misfire.
But..... my wife got some remington nitro shells from walmart around christmas time. About 1 out 5 of them will snap .

[eddie234]

Why keep them?  Buy a few boxes that pattern well with your set up and use them till they are gone.

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[Izzyjoe]

A friend bought some shells at a yard sale, and some of them were paper hulls, and another box was peters from the 50's. Some were corroded but still fired, we used them on squirrels.

[Frylock]

Last year I shot about two cases of forty year old paper hulled skeet loads, not bad shell in the bunch.


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[surehuntsalot]

I have some Federal and Winchester XX  3" and 3-1/2" shells that are over 20-25 years old