Will Rogers once said, “Ammunition beats persuasion when you are looking for freedom.”
And it’s clear that ammunition is the key to winning any war.
But in the case of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ammunition storage is a deadly issue.
It’s estimated that Russia has lost over 6,000 tanks during the war in Ukraine.
One reason the Russian tanks are so vulnerable stems from how the tanks store ammunition.
The Soviet-made T-72 tanks have a design flaw that is referred to as the “jack-in-the-box.”
In the Russian tanks, the ammo is placed in a ring around the turret.
If an enemy shot hits any of the ammo rounds it will cause a chain reaction and the entire ammo stockpile will ignite.
The result is that the tank’s hull is blown apart, the tank is destroyed, and the entire tank crew is instantly killed.
A professor at the U.S. Army War College said, “For a Russian crew, if the ammo storage compartment is hit, everyone is dead.”
“All those rounds — around 40 depending on if they’re carrying a full load or not — are all going to cook off, and everyone is going to be dead.”
Russia’s invasion relied on the large-scale deployment of tanks.
And according to British intelligence reports, Ukraine is taking advantage of the tank’s flaw with effective anti-tank missiles.
One of the biggest differences between Russian and U.S. tanks is that American tanks are designed for crew survivability.
The ammunition in U.S. tanks is kept under the floor or in the back of the turret and protected by a heavy hull, unlike the Russian tanks.
In addition, U.S. tanks have built-in safety features to prevent the disaster that Russian tanks experience.
Russian leaders have known about the design flaw in the tanks for decades, but apparently, they don’t seem to care.
For Russian leaders, people are expendable, including their tank crews.
Now, the safety of ammunition is a priority for responsible gun owners as well.
And most gun owners wouldn’t store ammo in a way that makes it vulnerable to explosion.
But ammunition that is not properly stored can degrade and be dangerous to use.
So, whether ammo is old or stored in unsafe conditions, it’s a good idea to inspect ammo before using it.
Considering this, here are a few ways to check your ammo stockpile to make sure it hasn’t gone bad.
Inspect the casing:
Moisture is one of the worst things for ammo.
So, check around the casing to make sure there isn’t any moisture.
In addition, check for signs of corrosion such as reddish or greenish discoloration on the casing.
Also, look for any dents, cracks, or physical damage to the casing.
This could prevent the casing from extracting and lead to malfunctions.
Smell the bullet:
Fresh gunpowder has a distinct smell, like a mix of pepper and coal.
It’s very strong and unpleasant for most people.
But gunpowder that has gone bad smells musty or sour and can expel a reddish mist that smells like ammonia.
Check the primer:
The primer is on the bottom of the shell casing and ignites the gunpowder.
To check the primer, look at the bottom of the casing.
The primer should be flat and even with the bottom of the casing.
If it doesn’t look like it’s seated properly this could be a sign the bullet has gone bad.
A dislodged primer can mean that moisture has gotten inside the bullet and caused the gunpowder to expand.
Using ammo that has gone bad can be dangerous. It can lead to malfunctions that compromise safety.
In addition, the ammo can be unreliable and unpredictable.
To prevent ammo from going bad you want to store it in a cool, dry place.
And even if you believe you’re storing ammunition correctly, if it’s been sitting for a long time, it’s a good idea to inspect it before using it.
