Any downside to storing ammo loose in ammo cans?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Any downside to storing ammo loose in ammo cans?

Posted: 4/10/2016 3:30:42 PM EDT

I recently bought some bulk priced .40 HST from Mass Ammo. It arrived in 2 .30 cal cans with 250 rounds per can. The ammo was placed inside 50 round trays (but no boxes) inside the cans. As currently packed, numerous rounds have come loose.

I'm thinking of repackaged the ammo in ziplock, 50 rounds to a bag.

Any potential downside to this? Is moisture a possible problem? I can throw desiccant packs in each can and/or each bag.

Ammunition will be stored in a climate controlled basement. Up until now all factory ammunition has been stored in this basement inside factory boxes stacked inside non airtight plastic bins.

Posted: 4/10/2016 3:47:05 PM EDT

[#1]

I have some ammo that's 3 or 4 years old loose in ammo cans with a desi pack. Haven't had a problem and I end up checking up on it because I haven't labeled my ammo cans and have to open them up to see what ammo is in what can.

Posted: 4/10/2016 4:03:11 PM EDT

[#2]

Moisture's no more a problem with loose ammo than it would be with 50rd boxes. If you live in a high humidity area, keep it sealed and feel free to throw in some desi-packs.

Only possible issue with loose pack is the brass won't be as pretty and might wear away things like primer sealant from rubbing against each other, if you move it around a lot. For sitting on a shelf, not an issue, but I wouldn't recommend it for a stash you keep in the car, for instance.

Posted: 4/10/2016 5:16:09 PM EDT

[#3]

I have stored ammo in G.I. ammo cans for the last 30 years.
It will be fine. Mine is sure fire as new ammo.

Posted: 4/10/2016 6:53:45 PM EDT

[#4]

Good to go

Posted: 4/10/2016 8:24:59 PM EDT

[#5]

It is my preferred storage method. Deal with the freaking boxes just once and be done with it.

Posted: 4/10/2016 8:43:52 PM EDT

[#6]

GTG but there are stories of throwing ammo while reloading into a ammo can and setting a round off

Posted: 4/11/2016 10:54:45 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
I recently bought some bulk priced .40 HST from Mass Ammo. It arrived in 2 .30 cal cans with 250 rounds per can. The ammo was placed inside 50 round trays (but no boxes) inside the cans. As currently packed, numerous rounds have come loose.

I'm thinking of repackaged the ammo in ziplock, 50 rounds to a bag.

Any potential downside to this? Is moisture a possible problem? I can throw desiccant packs in each can and/or each bag.

Ammunition will be stored in a climate controlled basement. Up until now all factory ammunition has been stored in this basement inside factory boxes stacked inside non airtight plastic bins.

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Personally I'd be very weary of using any factory ammo that doesn't come in their original factory boxes. No boxes means no Lot numbers. If you have some bad ammo there's absolutely no way of knowing if the rest of the ammo came from the same Lot. At that point all ammo would be suspect.

Posted: 4/12/2016 11:50:22 AM EDT

[#8]

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Quoted:

Personally I'd be very weary of using any factory ammo that doesn't come in their original factory boxes. No boxes means no Lot numbers. If you have some bad ammo there's absolutely no way of knowing if the rest of the ammo came from the same Lot. At that point all ammo would be suspect.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
I recently bought some bulk priced .40 HST from Mass Ammo. It arrived in 2 .30 cal cans with 250 rounds per can. The ammo was placed inside 50 round trays (but no boxes) inside the cans. As currently packed, numerous rounds have come loose.

I'm thinking of repackaged the ammo in ziplock, 50 rounds to a bag.

Any potential downside to this? Is moisture a possible problem? I can throw desiccant packs in each can and/or each bag.

Ammunition will be stored in a climate controlled basement. Up until now all factory ammunition has been stored in this basement inside factory boxes stacked inside non airtight plastic bins.

Personally I'd be very weary of using any factory ammo that doesn't come in their original factory boxes. No boxes means no Lot numbers. If you have some bad ammo there's absolutely no way of knowing if the rest of the ammo came from the same Lot. At that point all ammo would be suspect.

And that is the only reason I don't store ammo in this way. Now if I had a couple thousand rounds of one caliber, same manufacturer, all with the same lot... then I don't see anything wrong with that. I'd just cut the lot number off a box and clear tape it to the inside of the lid in case there was a problem. I'd throw a couple packs of desiccant and lock it away!

Posted: 4/15/2016 8:31:24 AM EDT

[#9]

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Quoted:
GTG but there are stories of throwing ammo while reloading into a ammo can and setting a round off

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Never heard this . On factory loaded ammo I will tear off the end flaps with the lot numbers and throw them in the can in case of a recall.

Posted: 4/15/2016 9:36:13 AM EDT

[#10]

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Quoted:

Personally I'd be very weary of using any factory ammo that doesn't come in their original factory boxes. No boxes means no Lot numbers. If you have some bad ammo there's absolutely no way of knowing if the rest of the ammo came from the same Lot. At that point all ammo would be suspect.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
I recently bought some bulk priced .40 HST from Mass Ammo. It arrived in 2 .30 cal cans with 250 rounds per can. The ammo was placed inside 50 round trays (but no boxes) inside the cans. As currently packed, numerous rounds have come loose.

I'm thinking of repackaged the ammo in ziplock, 50 rounds to a bag.

Any potential downside to this? Is moisture a possible problem? I can throw desiccant packs in each can and/or each bag.

Ammunition will be stored in a climate controlled basement. Up until now all factory ammunition has been stored in this basement inside factory boxes stacked inside non airtight plastic bins.

Personally I'd be very weary of using any factory ammo that doesn't come in their original factory boxes. No boxes means no Lot numbers. If you have some bad ammo there's absolutely no way of knowing if the rest of the ammo came from the same Lot. At that point all ammo would be suspect.

I agree on tracking lot numbers. This ammo was sold in bulk as overstock. I'm slightly surprised there was no lot # information, but considering the deal I received Fed HST for just a few cents more per round than Win White Box plinking ammo, I'm not going to complain.

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to repack this weekend, which will condense the ammo down into one .30 cal can, giving me a spare can for something else.

Posted: 4/18/2016 6:33:04 AM EDT

[#11]

I keep all my rifle and handgun ammo in ammo cans, with a pack of desi just to be on the safe side. A lot of my ammo is reloads, so I don't have to worry about the lot info. But I also keep factory stuff in cans because it helps better organize and takes up much less space.

Posted: 4/18/2016 7:33:13 PM EDT

[#12]

An easy fix to the factory ammo lot issue is to just have a separate zip-lock bag for each lot. Since I reload all my ammo, this is a non issue for me.

Posted: 4/18/2016 7:45:57 PM EDT

[#13]

Use .223 cans.
A .50 can of unboxed .45 ACP gets painfully heavy.

Posted: 4/18/2016 9:37:40 PM EDT

[#14]

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Quoted:
Use .223 cans.
A .50 can of unboxed .45 ACP gets painfully heavy.

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I have some .50 can's each filled with 2k of unboxed 147gr 9mm.

They don't leave the garage though, they get slowly moved to .30 cal cans for the range.

Posted: 4/20/2016 4:21:32 AM EDT

[#15]

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Quoted:

I have some .50 can's each filled with 2k of unboxed 147gr 9mm.

They don't leave the garage though, they get slowly moved to .30 cal cans for the range.

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Quoted:
Use .223 cans.
A .50 can of unboxed .45 ACP gets painfully heavy.

I have some .50 can's each filled with 2k of unboxed 147gr 9mm.

They don't leave the garage though, they get slowly moved to .30 cal cans for the range.

That's similar to what I do. I keep the factory ammo boxed, and use the loose ammo from my .223 cans until empty. Then refill the can from the factory boxes as needed.