Something amazing involving rimfire ammunition

[Dolomite_supafly]

So my wife and I decided to do a little metal detecting. We were in an area that probably hasn't had a lot of people shooting in it for a very long time. During out adventures I got a blip about something small about 6" down. As she dug she found an unfired 22 that was at least 4" in the soil. It was pretty well packed soil so the round had been buried for quite some time. It was on the side of a hill that I frequented as a kid, some 35 years ago. Not saying the round was 35 years old but it was under 4+ inches of soil so it wasn't placed there yesterday.

 

Here is the picture as found:

 

I was able to determine it was a Federal. I have no clue why the tip was like that though. The lead did have white corrosion.

 

So the next thing that pops into my head is I wonder if it will fire? I grab my Taurus PT22 because I could care less if the bore gets scratched. I chamber it, which was hard becuse of the dirt and corrosion, and I pull the trigger.

BANG!!!

 

Although it didn't extract it did in fact go off which I do find this pretty amazing.

 

Dolomite

 

[GlockSpock]

Do you think center-fire ammunition would have just as good of a chance of firing? I would imagine that, unless sealed, the way the primer sits in the brass could allow for moisture to seep in over the years?

 

:x: Why don't we have an accuracy report?

[Troutburger]

That is amazing!

[Jonnin]

Pretty cool! I would have cleaned it up first, but that is very neat. 

 

It just depends.  There are stories of WWII centerfire that has been found buried that still worked.

[Garufa]

You should send your testimonial to Federal with a pitch for an ad campaign.  Maybe they'll send you some free stuff. 

[Dolomite_supafly]

LOL, yeah maybe with all the "preppers" as of late.

 

Dolomite

[maroonandwhite]

You could have sold that round for at least five bucks in the walmart parking lot. :rofl:

[GlockSpock]

This reminds me of something. When I was a kid, I used to run around our property and the woods behind our property. I remember finding a "pit" of what was essentially gold (garbage). Some clothes hangers (metal), maybe a few tin cans, and a few bullets. I seem to remember that it was probably a .22lr. All of it was buried probably a few inches under the ground. In all honesty I thought it was a monumental find. It was probably someone's makeshift shooting hole a few decades ago.

Edited February 7, 2013 by CZ9MM