Old Test Load Found - Pull or Shoot?

[Muddyboots]

OK, found a test load with 300WM IMR 4831 with 180AB that somehow was hidden behind another caliber in storage. It was loaded 8/14/14 so it is 5 years old. What do you think the velocities, ES, SD would be like just sitting around? It is stored in cool dry environment. Think the values will be close to new loads? Pull and reload?
Thoughts?

 

[Rick Richard]

Shoot and gather the data for the heck of it.

 

[Muddyboots]

Was thinking I will load up a couple of rounds to compare against couple of the loads to just check consistency.

 

[26Reload]

Yes...compare...wouldnt it be cool to know you loads last longer than the rifle.....

 

[YZ-80]

If you swap optics the way I do, I'd just keep them to get you on paper. I think 5 years, if stored properly, is not an issue. Maybe we need to come up with "Shoot by" dates for our hand loads!

 

[LoneTraveler]

When I was serving in the army 1962-65, We shot a lot of ammo that was manufactured in 1943-45. Stuff all went bang and kicked hard. There was no chronographs available to check velocity. I would shoot through a chronograph just to see if it is holding a low velocity span.
Check the necks on the cases too. If the neck tension was high it may have hardened the necks from sitting under tension. The necks may split on firing. I would anneal the brass just to extend the life of the cases.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I have some 7RM loads that are about 4.5 years old. They shoot exactly like my newer loads.

 

[LVJ76]

Shoot them and gather data. It's happened to me before and no issues at all, they grouped just as good

 

[cr30378]

I had a few go through the washer and dryer. I wrote on them with a marker washed loads. 35 whelen with h322 and barnes 180ttsx.Put them in a shell holder for a year then shot them at 100 yards. Appearently they didnt get wet. Shot just like the rest.

 

[bob4]

If nothing else you've always have a few fouling rounds.