Part of enjoying shooting sports of any kind is buying ammunition for the firearms you are using. Often people purchase ammo off the shelf, but when you buy your ammo from a small gun shop or a private vendor, it is vital to check it carefully. There are some things to watch for when buying ammunition that will help ensure the ammo you are getting works correctly. 

Check the Date

Every box of ammunition made has a manufacture date on it, and you should check it on each box you purchase. While modern ammunition is not typically a problem, if you are buying something less sought after, you could run across ammo twenty years old that is still in the original box. 

Manufacturers often report a shelf life of modern ammo as ten years, but some ballistic tests have shown that properly stored ammo can last much longer and still be useable if the container it is in is airtight and waterproof. You most likely will not find thirty-year-old ammo in the gun store, but get in the habit of checking the dates to ensure the ammunition is current. 

Ammunition Condition

When you are looking at ammo for your firearms, avoid any boxes that are faded or look water damaged. While most modern ammunition can get damp, any rounds sitting in water may have absorbed enough moisture to hang fire when you try and shoot them. 

Faded boxes often indicate sun exposure, and the heat that comes with that can degrade the gunpowder inside the casing. Because you can't see the powder, there is no way to ensure the ammo will fire properly. In most cases, these rounds are stable but may lack the power they are supposed to have and could result in bullets dropping early or impacting the target with diminished energy. 

Any ammunition box that looks damaged should be opened, and the rounds inside inspected for signs of damage or just avoided altogether. Sometimes the risk is not worth it, and if you are hunting with ammo that fails, you may kiss a once-in-a-lifetime shot, so check the ammo you are buying every time you pick up a box.

Brand Recognition

While buying a name brand does not guarantee the ammunition you are buying will function perfectly, the large brands that have been making ammo for many years often produce a dependable product. Buying the well-known brand may come at a higher price than grabbing some generic rifle ammo off the shelf, but sometimes the cost savings is not worth the reduced performance and dependability.

For more information about ammo, contact your local ammo dealer.

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