How Do You Get Rid Of Bad Ammunition?

Originally posted by NRA

All firearms enthusiasts eventually come across bullets that just won’t fire or corroded ammunition they don’t want to risk shooting. We doubt you want to start stockpiling bad ammo, so how can you get rid of it?

The internet is flush with recommendations on what to do with bad ammunition, but not all of that advice is environmentally friendly, or legal. Below are five methods we recommend to make sure you part ways with ammunition properly.

Contact Your Local Police

For ammo you don’t want anymore and especially for corroded ammo, call your local police non-emergency number and let them know you want to dispose of it. They’ll send an officer out to pick it up or can share an alternative method if it’s just a couple rounds.

Recycle It

If it’s just dud ammunition that wouldn’t fire, you could always opt to recycle it. Home reloaders have been doing this for ages and this could be your first taste of a fun and money-saving hobby. Get a cheap tool called a kinetic puller and effortlessly disassemble the round, leaving you with a re-usable bullet and cartridge (If you want, you can dump the powder in your garden as fertilizer – we’re not joking) Alternatively, if you don’t want to recycle the round but know a reloader, they might be happy to take the ammunition off your hands.

Hazardous Waste Drop-off

You can’t normally take ammunition to a disposal center, but most do conduct semi-regular hazardous waste drop-offs. Be sure to call and make sure they’re accepting ammunition before you pull up, though.

Bring It To The Range

Don’t worry, we aren’t advocating you go shoot your bad ammunition. Most ranges have a container for dud rounds and arrange collections with local law enforcement or recycling companies. If you ask politely, they may let you leave your bad ammo for the next pick-up.

Call A Gun Store

Like ranges, gun stores handle a lot of ammunition. Call a local shop to see if they accept people’s bad ammo or, if it’s recyclable, know any any reloaders who would want to take it.

Whichever method you go with, properly disposing of ammunition benefits the wellbeing of you, others, the environment, and the reputation of shooters across the country. Local and state laws do vary on proper procedures, so remember to check first if you have any questions.