.303 Ammo

[Tony Smith]

Depends entirely on how it's been stored in the intervening years and the initial quality. There is some ex-Mil Pakistani .303 from the 60's getting around that is real suspect in reliability and yet I have some NZ CAC stuff from 1918 that's top notch. The general appearance of the ammunition is a guide of how it's been stored. If it hasn't tarnished or doesn't have spots of corrosion, mil-spec ammo is usually good for many years. If it's still in it's original packaging like cardboard, that too can give an indication of storage conditions. Anything that has any metal deterioration I wouldn't be game to try in a firearm, but of course some of this stuff is quite collectable in it's own right. If you do choose to keep old live ammo for collectible purposes, keep it in an area of stable temps and low moisture, out of direct sunlight