Shelf life of reloads

[NCHornet]

I got into reloading bigtime about 12 years ago. Mainly as a hobby and stress relief. Well I quickly accrued about 12,000 rounds in 9mm, 38, 357, 44, and 40 cal. They have been kept in a dry basement, mainly in ammo cans and Midway 50 round plastic boxes. They still shoot just fine and are as accurate as the day I first loaded them. How long can I expect for these to last? I have stopped reloading until I can shoot some of this down. I need to hook up with some shooting sports but don't of any in my area.
Thanks for your help.

 

[nbkky71]

As long as they're stored in the proverbial "cool & dry place" they should easily last 50+ years.

You'd probably get a little more mileage using sealed ammo cans rather than the plastic boxes.

 

[VaFisher]

They should out live you and the rest of us if the are stored in a dry place.

 

[kgpcr]

I have reloads that are well over 30 yrs old and shoot like new. Kept cool and dry the ammo will last longer than we will

 

[Buckythebrewer]

Thats BULLSH**,I don't want my reloads lasting longer than ME!!!
Its just not right.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I'm still shooting some cast bullet 30-30 loads that my great grandfather put together back in the 1950's.

Reloads will last as long as factory ammo if stored and handled correctly.

 

[Jubal]

I store my handloads in military ammo cans I expect they will last as long as any commercial rounds. Some of my handsloads were really getting a little age so I used them up I have nothing left older than 5 years old now. I cowboy action shoot try www.sassnet.com for the governing body for the sport. This is a high volume shooting sport lots of shooting say approximately 50 pistol, 50 rifle 25 shotgun a match not to mention time and rounds spent practicing. Like you I handload for stress relief supprising how quickly you can fill a 30 caliber ammo can with 38's when relieving stress.