How Could Anyone Be So Stupid?

[Patrick Chadwick]

The rounds must be assumed to be live, as the failure to ignite could simply be caused by a firing pin that was a trifle short or slowed down by crud, or a chamber with excessive headspace, so that the case was pushed forwards rather than struck firmly. It is therefore gravely irresponsible (and may even be a criminal offence, depending on where you live) to discard such ammo. In another rifle, with a slightly harder strike, or a firing pin that is a gnat's whicker longer, those rounds might fire.

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[oldfoneguy]

The rounds must be assumed to be live, as the failure to ignite could simply be caused by a firing pin that was a trifle short or slowed down by crud, or a chamber with excessive headspace, so that the case was pushed forwards rather than struck firmly. It is therefore gravely irresponsible (and may even be a criminal offence, depending on where you live) to discard such ammo. In another rifle, with a slightly harder strike, or a firing pin that is a gnat's whicker longer, those rounds might fire.

Patrick these rounds were found in the dud bucket. For the language barrier translation that would be the bucket for rounds that failed to fire. These were not in the trash or in the spent round buckets. Once spent rounds make it into the brass bucket they become property of the range officers which they in turn sell to a smelter to reclaim the brass. Failed to fire rounds make it to their very own bucket and become the property of who ever has the guts to take them home to break them down for reloading. Part of the range officers duties are to make sure no unfired rounds make it to the smelter which could be very nasty I'm sure.

Rest assured no local ordinances were violated in this instance. As for the firing pin strikes they were solid and deep. These particular rounds had been poorly stored over the last 99 or so years, exhibited extreme effects of humidity and had very little chance of firing which was my initial point. Why would anyone be so stupid as to try to fire antique rounds in this condition. - Bill