Will ammo go bad? Thats another one I hear some. I hope not. I have thousands of rounds stored for a couple of my rifles that I have loaded over time. Kinda saving up in case the gun grabbers win someday and make it illegal to buy ammo or all hell breaks loose, god forbid, and Im actually going to have to fight for the lives of my family. Im not overly paranoid, but thought it was a good idea. I keep loading a little more each time and seal the primers and around the edge of the bullet, label it, put it in sealed plastic boxes and store it in a dry, dark place. Is that ammo going to go bad? I hope not. I guess probably it wont all go bad, if any, and will be better than the alternative.
On the rifle de-cocking thing, that was another sin I was guilty of until pointed out to me. I always unloaded my rifles and put the safety on and put them up. I was told this was a huge sin. I was supposed to unload and pull the trigger to de-cock. I never had a problem either way.
As far as the pistol mags go, I do swap em out now. But, I dont waste my high dollar ammo I carry daily. I usually save it and shoot some cheapy ammo every couple of months to stay sharp. Or sharper. Once in a great while I will shoot the good stuff and buy a new box. But thats normally because I have seen some type of new self defense ammo I want, not because I think the ammo is bad.
This is kinda like the lots of powder thread. I still think working up a new load each time you buy a pound of powder out of a different lot is overkill. I asked a very well respected and knowlegable gun man about it and he said in public that as long as the powder is not army surplus and is a big name brand and your not running on the ragged edge of pressure disaster anyway, there is no need to worry about it. Since I fit none of the descriptions above, I think I will continue what has worked for me forever and be happy.
Sorry for the winded post but some of these wives tales get to me.
Oh, and dont believe what Adam Helmer had to say about not being an authority on this subject. Listen to him. Very few are less knowlegable, from what I have seen of him. He knows his poo.
Andy