Wet shotgun shells

[tacmedic]

I was cleaning the basement today and I found several boxes of shotgun shells that had gotten wet somehow, it appears that at least a couple of the boxes were completely immersed in the water since the boxes are mostly destroyed. My question is, are these safe to even attempt to use or should I just have them disposed of? The cases look fine and there is no corrosion that I can find on them. There were also a couple of boxes of rifle cartridges that got wet, would these be safe to try as well?

[Sourdough]

They are safe, I assume the shotgun shells are plastic. Paper swells and will not fit in the chamber. About 48 years ago when plastic shells were invented or marketed. Hunters were sceptically, so Remington had a deal, soak your shells in water for weeks, months, whatever......if you have one malfunction we will give you a whole box (25)..... So old stupid (Young stupid at that point) put 10 of the new at that time MARK 5, or they may have been the MARK X, 12 gauge in a quart jar of water for 30 days. My young shoulder was black and blue as all 10 lit'off.

Use them, But as with any cartridge that does not fire......Never open the chamber for 30 seconds.....and the leave the cartridge lay in the dirt for another 30 seconds.

The rifle ammo, if factory loaded should be fine, if hand loads there may be an issue....The rule is anytime a cartridge does not fire, leave it in the chamber for 30 seconds. There is what is called a hang'fire.

Look at it this way when hunting in Alaska.......it rains sideways 98% of the time. Your gun is soaked, your ammo is soaked. Glad I am retired from that.........:p

[Ole WV Coot]

Shouldn't have any trouble with the brass and if the shotgun shells aren't swelled or falling apart they should be ok. I wouldn't bet my life on them tho.

[GVan]

I use to duck hunt, and those plastic shell casings were always wet. I can find no true falt is hopeak's statements. I can't think of any trouble that I've had, atleast since the 60's, with any factory shells.

[Rick]

I had some old .32 ammo that I decided to use at the range. As Hopeak said, I had some that just went click because moisture had gotten either to the primer (I assume) or the powder. I waited 30 seconds for the bang that didn't happen and sat the bad ammo in the next firing booth pointed down range just in case (although I'm sure the case would have launched as well). They were then disposed of at the range.

I've had plastic shells get wet before. Not soaked but just wet. I actually had one that swelled but the rest were okay. Just follow his advice if one doesn't fire.

EDIT: I thought I would point out that lead shot can oxidize and stick together if moisture got to it. You might be shooting slugs instead of shot.:D