[CBinNH]

How to Figure Ammo Age by Lot#?

I have an assortment of Hornady & CCI 17HM2 with various codes. I asked Hornady how to figure it out & got no response. Anyone know the secret? Thanks.

 

[CBinNH]

I have 2 bricks that Hornady is replacing (someday) that had split casings upon firing. The tech I spoke with said they were 9 years old. He recommended shooting .17HM2 before its 5th birthday. They will replace it up to 10 years after manufacture. I have been accumulating a variety of it & would like to be able to date it to shoot the oldest first.

 

[454ho]

I know I have seen a date decoder for Hornady lot codes, just can't remember where. I believe they use a variation of Julian date codes. Silly question, but did you try googling?

If you have Eley or Remington HM2, I can tell you with certainty that lot codes beginning with 4105 or 4305 was manufactured in 2005.

Edit to ad -
Here is an old thread of mine that shows how to decode CCI, Federal and Winchester
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=492397

 

[CBinNH]

Thanks for the link 454ho. Since CCI makes the Hornady HM2, maybe the codes carry over.

 

[454ho]

Post a few of your lot numbers and what you decode them as. I think I still have a couple boxes of Hornady, so I will look at them in and see what they are.

 

[CBinNH]

Lot #'s

OK, I'll start with Hornady:

K27K07 Oct. 27, 2004
K07K14 Oct. 7, 2004
L22K27 Nov. 22, 2004
F12Q12 June 12, 2009

And some CCI:

H19K08 Aug. 19, 2004
J07K08 Sept. 7, 2004
H04K14 Aug. 4, 2004

Looks like I need to shoot up some 9 year old ammo.

 

[Aeroforce]

OK, I'll start with Hornady:

K27K07 Oct. 27, 2004
K07K14 Oct. 7, 2004
L22K27 Nov. 22, 2004
F12Q12 June 12, 2009

And some CCI:

H19K08 Aug. 19, 2004
J07K08 Sept. 7, 2004
H04K14 Aug. 4, 2004

Looks like I need to shoot up some 9 year old ammo.

So far, it appears that the first letter is the month.

Next two numbers are the day.

Next letter is the year.

Not sure about the next two digits, could be the machine???

 

[454ho]

Looked through my HM2 stash.

Only one box of Hornady, lot# K31R13 - Oct 31, 2010

Couple bricks of the old CCI Fast and Furious, lot# J08K10 - Sept 08, 2004

Couple bricks of the newer CCI blue box, lot# E04S03 - May 04, 2012

Also got a case and a half of Eley made in 2005

So yeah, I'd say the Hornady lot dates are decoded the same way as CCI. And like you, I need to start shooting a lot more HM2!

 

[Jeremy B]

Looked through my HM2 stash.

Only one box of Hornady, lot# K31R13 - Oct 31, 2010

Couple bricks of the old CCI Fast and Furious, lot# J08K10 - Sept 08, 2004

Couple bricks of the newer CCI blue box, lot# E04S03 - May 04, 2012

Also got a case and a half of Eley made in 2005

So yeah, I'd say the Hornady lot dates are decoded the same way as CCI. And like you, I need to start shooting a lot more HM2!

I will add my $0.02 worth, no refunds. I got HMR ammo this September with date code H21U10