Quoted: Howdy all, What would you think is the lifespan of shotgun ammunition (OO buckshot, U.S. commercial manufacturers) if it is kept in a vehicle (AKA hell- high heat, humidity)? What do police agencies do?  Do they cycle the ammunition every 6 months?  A year? Thanks, Cheese

I have seen it last for years, but we always re-issued every six months so that the guys would have fresh ammo IN the guns. Extreme heat along with heavy spring pressure from an extended magazine can cause shells to soften and then bend at the base...seen it more than a few times. IMO, these conditions are at least as detrimental to the gun itself as the ammo (rust!)...especially if kept in the trunk.

Something else to consider under such conditions...shotshell "brass" these days is actually mild steel that has been brass coated. If it gets scratched (and it will) high humidity can lead to rust on your shells and if it is bad, they may not chamber. The only times I have seen this sort of thing were when detectives...who kept their guns in the trunks for many years before they had racks, and a few "deadheads" who just did not give a shit about their gear... would show up at the range with ammo that was often several years old. (OHHhhhh...you mean I was supposed to LOAD that ammo you gave me the last three times I was here?)