Firing Ammo After Being Submerged

[Old Navy]

I have read so many threads on here about humidity and reloading. A lot of folks do not believe the loaded round is moisture proof. Hope you will find this test I did interesting. I loaded three rounds of my favorite 22XC loads. I submerged them in a tray of water and let them soak for seven days. I finally got out to shoot them this morning. Average velocity = 3282, ES = 10.4 and SD = 4.3. The group was not good but I expected that. These were the first three out of a deep cleaned barrel.

 

[MrK.]

I have had some go through the washer and dryer and they all went bang with no issues.

 

[RegionRat]

@MrK. that's a different story. What kind of details can you share about the ammo?

Most ammo can get wet and survive, but not all of it. The pressure and temperature determine the outcome. But, to have survived the washer and then dryer, is impressive and deserves a little more story....

 

[Straightshooter1]

I have read so many threads on here about humidity and reloading. A lot of folks do not believe the loaded round is moisture proof. Hope you will find this test I did interesting. I loaded three rounds of my favorite 22XC loads. I submerged them in a tray of water and let them soak for seven days. I finally got out to shoot them this morning. Average velocity = 3282, ES = 10.4 and SD = 4.3. The group was not good but I expected that. These were the first three out of a deep cleaned barrel.

I do like you're effort, but 3 is a pretty small sample, huh? It's like drawing a conclusion on a load with only a single 3 shot group.

 

[Rsadams]

I've shot pistol ammo that was pushing 75 years old... They all went bang with authority and hit where they should.... On the other hand I shot some shotshells that had been in a damp outbuilding for years and they just puked the shot out of the barrel..... The shotshells are in no way sealed but the pistol ammo had sealed bullets and primers and were stored indoors.... I don't think the sealed bullets and primers make as big of a difference than the storing of ammo in a climate controlled environment.... If I had to take ammo in some harsh damp environment like a jungle in a war I would definitely want them sealed...

 

[rayporter]

i have put primers in a cup of water and shot them. also sprayed them with wd 40 and shot them.
[rifle and shotgun]

 

[KMart]

After Hurricane Harvey came through, and flooded a lot of homes here, a range member brought out about 5-6 boxes of Winchester brand, 270 Win, factory ammo. The ammo had been submerged for several days and was set out in the sunshine to dry. He left them in the range house for anybody that wanted to try them, break them down, etc.

I took a couple of boxes and a few months later I gave them a try. There was at least a 50% failure to fire rate.

 

[qldreloader]

I read the title of the thread and not the first post. Went outside, jumped in the river and then retrieved rifle from car and fired a magazine. No issues firing ammo after I was submerged.

 

[jxb]

Look

I read the title of the thread and not the first post. Went outside, jumped in the river and then retrieved rifle from car and fired a magazine. No issues firing ammo after I was submerged.

Sounds like you're a little wet behind the ears.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Back in the early 80’s a friend was dredging the potomac river and dug up thousands of 50 bmg and 20mm. He gave me several and i opened them up. The powder looked like new powder in both. These had ww2 dates on them. Powder did burn. Never did get the tracer pellets to light.

 

[Crumster]

I read the title of the thread and not the first post. Went outside, jumped in the river and then retrieved rifle from car and fired a magazine. No issues firing ammo after I was submerged.

You admitted to not reading before you tried to discredit the author of the post. I suggest you jump back in the river and remain submerged for the referenced seven-day period in order properly submit a report with your findings.

 

[qldreloader]

You admitted to not reading before you tried to discredit the author of the post. I suggest you jump back in the river and remain submerged for the referenced seven-day period in order properly submit a report with your findings.

If you don't hear back from me I was taken by a crocodile.

 

[NorCalMikie]

"Military ammo" is sealed, primers and bullets. Not checking MV, ES or SD if it gets wet, just if it goes BANG!!
Found a loaded round that I dropped and got left in the wet grass over night. It went fizz but no bang when I pulled the trigger.
Don't think factory loaded ammo is sealed.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

i have put primers in a cup of water and shot them. also sprayed them with wd 40 and shot them.
[rifle and shotgun]

Yip, I am yet to kill a primer. WD 40, water, kroil, Remington gun oil

 

[Crumster]

I spent 24 years behind a desk at a community bank. Both me and the boss carried every day of that time. Every month or so we would stop by the range and make sure everything was in order. The boss had a habit of wiping down his 1911 and the mag with WD40. One sunny afternoon he fired the first round and the slug landed in the dust 10 feet in front of us. He never touched WD40 again except to put it on his fishing lures.
PS I should clarify the "wiping" with spraying liberally.

 

[pilediver]

Basspro had a flooded warehouse space and they brought out the recovered ammo to the Conservation Dept range for us to dispose of, a few boxes of 10mm defense type ammo came home with me.
The tarnished cases and damp boxes let me know which had been submerged, after drying I pulled down a few and the primers still popped and the powder still burnt so I fired some with no apparent ill effect.
I'm still only going to use them as practice rounds though.