how to dispose of old ammunition in california

I decided to limit the old ammo to use in one of my revolvers, because I suspected there would be failures to fire. If cartridges show any signs of rust or corrosion (especially around the primer), regardless of the date of manufacture, they are not safe to shoot. Gun store personnel are well-versed in handling ammunition and many of them will accept bad ammunition for safe disposal. Larger quantities or pickup truck-sized loads of household hazardous waste must be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility at the Ada County Landfill. Kinetic pullers are generally safe, but trying to separate bullets with other tools can be dangerous. If you plan to dispose of ammunition this way, ensure the facility is open and accepts ammunition. With this said, some of the other warning signs that old ammo has degraded include: So we have established that there are some signs that show that old ammo has become unfit for use. But, if this sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend you check out my article on reloading because youre a prime candidate for making your own ammunition. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Check here for information. Need to get rid of it but not sure where it goes? Or, locate a free drop-off location at www.byebyemattress.com. Some people will even claim the powder can be used in fertilizer. They'll likely want to make a record of the transaction to ensure a suitable paper trail showing you properly disposed of the ammunition. Bought a coat from the Salvation Army. Most private gun clubs have boxes of obsolete ammo that they keep just for folks to poke through and shoot up. More ideas make less waste! The quickest and easiest way to get rid of the firearm or ammunition is simply to call the non-emergency police dispatch number (703-691-2131) and request an officer respond to your home. Some of the .22's boxes were 50+ years old (the local stores they were price tagged closed in the late 60's). Local gun ranges will accept unwanted ammunition, and even sometimes accepts dud rounds so as to dispose of them safely and effectively. We've got several options for disposing your cartridges, whether they're corroded, a dud, or just no longer useful to you. There are also some other key signs that you need to watch out for if you want to avoid dangerous issues with old ammo. 3. Road flares may be disposed of as hazardous waste. I do not own a 12 gauge. #9. The SJSU Center for Development of Recycling works in association with the counties of Santa Clara and San Mateo - Terms of Use. Four 20 GA shot shells in the pocket went through the wash. i have a 20ga bt with a rifled slug barrel, so i wont use them anyway. (such as promotion codes and cart reminders) from AMD at the number provided, Never throw ammo in the garbage or bury it, even if you've soaked it in water or oil. Corrosion is an indication that moisture has contaminated the round. For a list of items, check here. Can You Shoot A New Gun Straight Out Of The Box. Those I set aside for their collected value. If they do, we have a few safe and legal options for ditching those rounds you just dont want to risk shooting. We send you a box If you are selling or donating, we include a shipping label and instructions on how to pack your unwanted firearm. CA (831) 454-2430 or (831) 454-3951. Firearms Disposal | San Diego County Sheriff Alternatively, burying ammo could impact the local wildlife by poisoning drinking water or seeping into the soil and absorbed by local plant life. Most of the time, as long as it was stored correctly, it is actually safe to use old ammo. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Once taken apart, the cartridge is no longer dangerous. Some of your ammo may be worth alot of money to collectors. Last Updated: January 14, 2023 Military Munitions Rule (F46/645-F30) Flashcards | Quizlet Prepare With The Winter Survival Guide, Prepper Projects To Perfect Your Prepping, Join The Best Online Survival Communities For Prepping Support, The Best Survival eBooks To Prepare For The Next Crisis, There is corrosion on the brass or the ammos primers, It is difficult to load the ammo into the chamber of your firearm, https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/lodge/how-to-dispose-of-ammunition/, https://www.defensivecarry.com/threads/green-corrosion-on-casings.203848/, https://earth911.com/eco-tech/recycle-ammunition/, https://www.nrablog.com/articles/2016/3/how-do-you-get-rid-of-bad-ammunition/. Burying ammo can lead to problems in the water and soil. OC Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers, California Department of Toxic Substance Control (CDTSC). Cracked Casing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAvLAsyTVC0. ammunition is stored in a dry place that is safe from wild temperature extremes, The Best Self Defense Ammo Ballistic Testing. As a firearms facility, gun stores handle a lot of ammunition. Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program - City of Palo Alto, CA Another thing that you should never do is to throw your old ammo away in a regular trash can. Recycle whatever you can and use it in the future. Perhaps youve got unusable ammo laying around that you want to dispose of or recycle. Visit RecycleBC.ca/Hazardous to learn more and access the online depot Additionally, some cartridges are beyond salvation and you should be able to identify the difference. Using corroded and degraded ammo is simply not a smart move and could end up leading to dangerous problems. However, if you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable around ammunition, I do not recommend this method. We educate and inform consumers, businesses and communities to inspire thought and facilitate earth-positive consumer decisions. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Disposal Days | City of Surrey The gunpowder inside the bullet is safe to bury. Household Hazardous Waste | City of Boise Check here for propane tanks accepted at OC Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers. 5 Tips to Recycle Hazardous Material Right Additionally, these facilities process different types of hazardous materials. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Although fire will not propel the bullet at dangerous velocities, small components including the primer and shards of the case may be expelled. Your email address will not be published. For details, check here. It is usually going to work just fine. You can use the Earth911 Recycling Locator to find a collection point, or check your city/county website. If your household relies on well water, you may inadvertently contaminate your drinking water. This can make it more susceptible to backfiring if you try to use it. In my area, the trash is incinerated, and I have been getting complaints about the primers popping when they load the trash into the incinerator. * Please note that some external links provide information that is not managed nor updated by OC Waste & Recycling. Bring Ammo To The Range For Disposal They may have a way of shipping ammo back to the manufacturer for disposal or access to a service that disposes ammo. You should never just pitch old ammo in the trash can. In addition, your locality may have laws forbidding such practices. If you are unsure whether it is safe to transport the item you wish to dispose of, contact MAST at 619-236-6815 to speak with an explosives expert. Several crates broke open - exposing the munitions. Jeese. some people here have no clue as to the facts.The reloads are the only thing that are illegal and unsafe to sell. If you dont mind traveling to another city, check the counties around you to see if theyre hosting a hazardous waste collection event soon. First, you need to answer the question of whether the ammunition is bad or needs to be disposed of to begin with. How do I (legally obviously) sell excess ammo in California? Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. 20 years is nothing for ammo, unless its covered in corrosion! Contact your local authorities to inquire about ammunition, explosives, or fireworks: Leave the weapon in a safe location and direct the officer to it. If you reside within the City of San Diego, your local fire station will accept personal use amounts of unaltered ammunition (no larger than 50 caliber), reloading supplies, and fireworks for disposal. Make sure to call the local number for the police station to ask if they're accepting ammunition. The Fresno County Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility is located at: Google Map to HHW Facility. What you really need to keep an eye out for if you are planning to use old ammo that you have come into is green corrosion. This is a huge safety issue that could lead to someone ending up getting seriously injured or worse. Loaded ammo only deteriorates when exposed to moisture. This is called a bullet setback. While relatively rare, these imperfections can be seriously dangerous. Another common piece of advice recommends soaking old ammunition in water or motor oil for several days before tossing it in the trash. This is not safe. Rinse used shell casings and bring them to a metal recycler. The California Ammunition Vendor/Firearms Dealer will submit your firearm eligibility check to the Department. by Mike V. | Firearm Care and Maintenance, Reloading. In any case, whether youre a regular shooter or just like to keep a firearm around the house odds are good some day youre going to need to know how to dispose of ammunition. Most shooting ranges will have containers for bad rounds of ammunition. I inherited 2 cases of 12 gage and 2 small shelf boxes of same- Winchester . Proper discarding of old, damaged, or dangerous rounds is just one more way for us to be good representatives of the shooting sports. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. How to safely dispose of bad ammo? | New York Firearms Forum Other trash can act as a firing pin in the event a trash compactor or other device is used. Police warn gun owners not to bring their firearms or ammunition directly to a police facility.