Disposal of Old Shells

[pegleg]

My dad is in the process of down sizing his house and he wants to dispose of some old shells (308, 10 gauge, 20 gauge, etc.) that he no longer has guns for and they are very old. How do you go about getting rid of shells? You just can't throw them in the garbage.... Thanks!

[Gissert]

How old are they? I might be able to take them off your hands.

[pegleg]

I would guess all are over 20 years old and some might be over 30 years old. I don't know for sure but I am just guessing from the last time my dad went hunting because he is 82 years old.

[bigbucks]

If they haven't gotten wet I don't see why they wouldn't be good. If you don't want to give them to someone on here or other friends, advertise them in the paper. I'm not looking to pick any of them up, I don't happen to own any of those calibers.

[FOOT]

I would be a little cautious. When I was about 25 I purchased a Remington 243 from a co-worker who got it after his grandfather's death. The price was right. $100 for a Rem. model 700 ADL w/ a Burris 3x9 scope, sling, canvas & leather case, and approx. 500 rounds of ammo.

I let it set in my closet for a few months before taking it out. 3 friends and I drove up Sandstone to do some plinking.

The first 4 or 5 shells went off with a concern. The next one went click when I pulled the trigger and then fired a split second later. Strange, maybe a gummed up firing pin.

Tried it again and this time there was a definate pause between the trigger pull and the firing. Like a fool I tried it one more time and this time the trigger was pulled and NO bang. Holding the Remington for a minute or two I jacked the bolt back and out came the shell. About the same time it hit the ground it went off. No one was hurt, it just scared the hell out of us. Needless to say we didn't shoot that again.

I was able to find someone in Circle Pines who would take the shells and dispose of them by pulling the lead, burning the gun powder and firing the firing pins in his 243.

He used the lead to melt down for sinkers.

[pegleg]

I would be willing to give them away but to FOOT's point I don't want anybody to get hurt with the shells. The don't have a facility in the Minneapolis area to get rid of shells? I heard at one time the police departments take guns but I never heard about shells.

[big drift]

Please do not throw away old ammo, do not bury it, do not incinerate it or any thing. Turn it in to Law Enforcement. They have the facilities and resources to safely dispose of old ammo. It takes less then one second for a tragedy to happen.

I have interviewed kids who have found old guns and / or ammo, garbage guys who have had rounds cook off or get the caps hit by other garbage and go off. One officer I know had to investigate an alleged drive by when it was found 25 yr old ammo went off in the guys closet.

Most agencies will accept it for public safety reasons if policy does not allow them to accept ask them whom to contact. I do believe Explosive ordinance units of the metro area do mass detonations in controlled areas.

big drift

[tealitup]

I tell you what. I will take the shells from you and no liability will be on you. The ones that I do not want for a collection I will bring to the police station (I have given them a "bad shell" before).

[Hoyter]

Pegleg,

If you're still looking to get rid of it, I will take any 20 gauge and 12 gauge you have. I regulary shoot old ammo of my dad's that's easily as old as what you have described. Provided it is stored properly (as you have described) I believe it is fine. I would not think of holding you responsible for my decisions. I live/work in your area and could pick it up anytime.

[Gissert]

Yep, and I'll gladly take the 10 ga stuff off your hands.

[pegleg]

Thanks for all the info... I think I will try the Eden Prairie police department first to see if they will take it. If they don't want it I will take some of you up on your offers.

[Wayne Sieber]

PegLeg - I am next door in Chanhassen and I too would gladly take the 10 gauge shells if you still have them.

[mr wizard]

I had the chance to pick up these shells when I purchased pegleg's dad's guns. All are in good shape, still in cases of ten boxes each, but it's all leadshot, no steel, bb and bbb for the 10ga. Can't shoot them at waterfowl or turkeys. Maybe Canada? Pegleg - We are taking the guns out this weekend for some shooting. I ended up keeping all 8 guns myself. Great condition. Might sell the Ithica mag 10's but who knows. You can never have too many guns. Thanks again for hooking me up with your dad.

[pegleg]

Hey Mr. Wizard, glad you are happy with the guns. They haven't been used much especially in the last 10 years or so. He always kept them locked up in his gun cabinet so there shouldn't be rust or anything on them. As far as the shells go, some of these shells are even older than the ones you saw. We cleaned out my dad's gun cabinet and found Herters shells and shell boxes with the old ducks and pheasants color painted on the boxes. Herters hasn't been around for what 25 years at least so these shells are very old. They are all lead shot. I am still leaning towards dropping them off at the Eden Prairie police department. I don't want anybody to get hurt with a misfire shot, etc.

[BLACKJACK]

Even if you get rid of the shells, you should save those old boxes. There are collectors around that are always looking for waterfowl stuff, decoys, boats, etc. Last year I sold an old woodern duckboat that was almost cracked in half for $25. You could make some money on those boxes. They'd probably even take the shells off your hands. Let me know if you need a phone number.

[mr wizard]

Blackjack is right. Those boxes are prized by collectors. Ya know "one man's trash". Not one speck of rust on any of the guns! That's what sold me . I figured I would buy the decoys only but when I saw his guns and how well they were taken care of I got out the check book. Please post if you find a disposal site. I have some boxes of paper shells from the early 1950's I would like to get rid of. Not the boxes tho.

[pegleg]

Wizard, I will let you know if I find a disposal site for the old shells. That will be one of my weekend projects.

Thanks for all the help on this. I might need to keep the old Herters boxes and the one with the colored ducks and pheasants....