However, storing your ammunition properly will extend the life of your cartridges and prevent scenarios that require your ammunition disposal. They work with local police agencies and ammunition recycling companies to pick up these old ammunition rounds. Some of the .22's boxes were 50+ years old (the local stores they were price tagged closed in the late 60's). Most local waste management facilities don't accept ammunition. If they dont collect it there, make sure you check their collection events. Throwing ammunition in the trash is dangerous and illegal. It's much better to inadvertently dispose of good ammo than to try and shoot bad ammo. Contact your local authorities to inquire about ammunition, explosives, or fireworks: wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. We have compiled the five most effective ways to get rid of your ammunition. If your old ammo has shown any of these signs, then you need to safely dispose of it. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. It makes great fertilizer. 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. The process to dispose of brass shells starts by knowing the parts of the material: The projectile Packaging Black powder The groundwork Copious associations - comprising of the military, gun stores, and ammunition manufacturers - face the issue of how to handle undesirable or expired ammunition. CA (831) 454-2430 or (831) 454-3951. When you safely dispose of ammo the right way, you will get the satisfaction of knowing you have acted responsibly as a firearms user. Bullet "Setback" down in the case. I do not own a 12 gauge. If you have old, compromised, or otherwise unusable ammo you need to get rid of, it's best to stick to the previously mentioned methods of safe ammo disposal. For a location near you, visit earth911.com. This is another case where it is a good idea to call ahead before showing up with a bunch of rounds of bad ammo. So what are you supposed to do with unwanted ammunition? Where do you dispose of it legally? Usually, I can re-use the case even if the powder or other parts of the cartridge are compromised. Try posting your ammo on a local buy-sell-trade group. No but he can give it away. Drop off ammo to a hazardous waste facility or event. Since the gun range already knows what to do with dangerous or discarded ammo, you can probably leave yours with them. That might have been acceptable with old-time "black powder," a mixture of charcoal, sulphur and potassium nitrate, but smokeless powders contain a laundry list of solvents, unsavory chemicals and compounds that should not go into the environment. I reside in California. When it comes to hand loaded rounds, you can usually tell when something is off. Disassemble And Reuse Depending on the state of your purported defective ammunition, some of the components may be recoverable. Check your local gun stores. I buy a lot of old cartridges and I recycle the components that I can. The lead found in many bullets should not be stuck in the ground where it can leach into the local water supply. Brian formerly managed the Earth911 Recycling Search and shared green living tips and tricks on Earth911s Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter accounts. Call (833) GIV-GUNS to speak to our firearms specialists about donating or selling your unwanted firearms. The water or oil may not make it into the cartridge, or the gunpowder could dry out, making the cartridge dangerous once again if thrown into the trash. How To Concealed Carry For The Most States. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The oil will get in and destroy the powder . NO Explosives or ammunition (includes marine flares) Non-empty aerosols. If your household relies on well water, you may inadvertently contaminate your drinking water. 2. Another option that we recommend when you are looking to safely dispose of old ammo is to get ahold of your local shooting range. 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. Make sure to call the local number for the police station to ask if they're accepting ammunition. If these items are used, stored, or disposed of improperly, you, your pets, or the environment can be injured. NO Compressed . {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/17\/Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/17\/Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"