Spam Can Ammo Warning

JTH20 · Apr 17, 2018

Just wanted to put out a PSA about supposedly sealed spam cans of Mosin ammo.

I bought a can that appeared completely sealed from the outside, but I found some rust on the inside. The rounds did not look too bad, so I tried shooting a couple. Both rounds fired, but the bolt got so stuck I had to beat it with a board to open it. The case had significant cracks, and the steel was very brittle. I sold the rest as components to a fellow MDS member, and from what he's sent me, the cases were full of rust (I'll let him post pictures if he wants). Rounds were dated 1946 btw.

Just doing this as a PSA, stay safe everyone!

Some pictures:

iH8DemLibz · Apr 17, 2018

Do you have the case?

Can you provide some pitchers?

Thanks.

John from MD · Apr 17, 2018

Take a picture of the writing on the can so others can check their stash. In my experience, this is pretty rare with the actual Russian ammo. However, I have seen it more than once with Romanian and British .303.

yellowsled · Apr 17, 2018

uncommon

Dan_G · Apr 17, 2018

That looks like 30s-40s Mosin ammo. I have some and it is loaded much hotter than the 70s silver tip. Bolt sometimes sticks with it too.

JTH20 · Apr 17, 2018

iH8DemLibz said:
Do you have the case?

Can you provide some pitchers?

Thanks.

Here's the can. It's 1946 dated ammo.

rickyp · Apr 17, 2018

https://youtu.be/drM4FPslxtw

https://youtu.be/fRLvFbjPyRY

I was the one that bought the ammo, JTH20 was very straight forward with what he was selling and I know it was for bullets only. But when I started to pull them I was very surprised to find rust inside the case, that very well could be the cause of the over pressure when the first few where fired.

c&rdaze · Apr 17, 2018

I was the one that sold it to JTH20. I had no idea that the case wasn't sealed properly. I've sent JTHG20 a PM about this. I'll make it good.

rickyp · Apr 17, 2018

c&rdaze said:
I was the one that sold it to JTH20. I had no idea that the case wasn't sealed properly. I've sent JTHG20 a PM about this. I'll make it good.

if you have any more please check it, if you need I will be happy to pull some random cases from what you have and see how the powder is. my reloading setup is somewhat mobile so I can go to you as long as it isnt too far from Laplata area

This goes for anyone else if you have questionable ammo I will be happy to pull samples of it and see what you have. I can do most center-fire ammo including 50 BMG. I will not say any ammo is safe that will be up to you, but in cases like this I most certainly will say not to shoot it. If you have questionable ammo you do not want I will take it and dissemble it and dispose of it properly if you are not able to.

JTH20 · Apr 17, 2018

c&rdaze said:
I was the one that sold it to JTH20. I had no idea that the case wasn't sealed properly. I've sent JTHG20 a PM about this. I'll make it good.

Responded to your PM, i got the can from someone else. I don't want to call him out since it was an honest mistake.

rickyp · Apr 17, 2018

https://youtu.be/PchE07iSjQI

video of the inside of 3 of the cases showing how much rust is on the inside of the cases.

SKIP · Apr 17, 2018

rickyp said:
https://youtu.be/PchE07iSjQI

video of the inside of 3 of the cases showing how much rust is on the inside of the cases.

That looks like the insides of my arteries.

John from MD · Apr 17, 2018

That case looks like it is Bulgarian but it has been some years since I collected combloc stuff. Bulgarian ammo was known to use zinc/ lead cans and they did not last like the Russian sealed cans.

lkenefic · Apr 17, 2018

eeeek! where else has that endoscope been!! ;-)

TargetGrade · Apr 17, 2018

Wow, outside of pulling the bullets.... it's all junk. Bottom of pond, bay or ocean is a fitting storage place. :sad20:

rickyp · Apr 17, 2018

lkenefic said:
eeeek! where else has that endoscope been!! ;-)

i have used it to track down clogged drain tubes on a friends car been down the bore of lots of guns and behind dresser draws to see what is blocking them from closing

it is a great tool to use for guns

rickyp · Apr 17, 2018

TargetGrade said:
Wow, outside of pulling the bullets.... it's all junk. Bottom of pond, bay or ocean is a fitting storage place.

I am going to try and burn off this powder, I normal use it for plant food but I dont want to try it with this.

ken792 · Apr 17, 2018

I think yours is especially bad.

I've opened numerous cans of 1946-1948 Soviet ammo to resell the stripper clips. Many were not perfectly sealed and the clips usually have spot rust here and there. The cartridges themselves were usually shiny with a few blemishes. The insides on the ones I pulled were definitely fine. The cases also aren't that great, and plenty had split necks when fired. The accuracy was also trash. I would dump a few hundred rounds on the table at the range and tell people to burn it off.

rickyp · Apr 17, 2018

ken792 said:
I think yours is especially bad.

I've opened numerous cans of 1946-1948 Soviet ammo to resell the stripper clips. Many were not perfectly sealed and the clips usually have spot rust here and there. The cartridges themselves were usually shiny with a few blemishes. The insides on the ones I pulled were definitely fine. The cases also aren't that great, and plenty had split necks when fired. The accuracy was also trash. I would dump a few hundred rounds on the table at the range and tell people to burn it off.

not this stuff it is to dangerous to shoot. the case it self is compromised and no telling what the rust will do to the pressure and burning rate of the powder.

JTH20 · Apr 17, 2018

ken792 said:
I think yours is especially bad.

I've opened numerous cans of 1946-1948 Soviet ammo to resell the stripper clips. Many were not perfectly sealed and the clips usually have spot rust here and there. The cartridges themselves were usually shiny with a few blemishes. The insides on the ones I pulled were definitely fine. The cases also aren't that great, and plenty had split necks when fired. The accuracy was also trash. I would dump a few hundred rounds on the table at the range and tell people to burn it off.

Many of the clips were a rusty mess. I'm thinking about taking a wire brush to the worst ones and then parkerizing them.

I think this can may have actually been lost in a boating accident.

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