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Posted: 12/2/2008 12:05:08 PM EDT
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I just re-read the Ammo Storage FAQ in the Ammo Oracle and I still have a question. Is it a bad idea to store ammo in the magazine(s) for long periods of time? The Storage FAQ recommended ammo cans that are air tight. I can see the benefit of that, but does it hurt to load the mags and put them in the can? Other than taking up a lot of space. Or, if you are not going to pack stripper clips and load up bandoleers, can you just dump the ammo in the ammo can?
Also, what about leaving ammo in the packaging/box you bought it in? Does that cause problems? Thanks. |
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Quoted:
I just re-read the Ammo Storage FAQ in the Ammo Oracle and I still have a question. Is it a bad idea to store ammo in the magazine(s) for long periods of time? No The Storage FAQ recommended ammo cans that are air tight. I can see the benefit of that, but does it hurt to load the mags and put them in the can? No Other than taking up a lot of space. Or, if you are not going to pack stripper clips and load up bandoleers, can you just dump the ammo in the ammo can? Yes Also, what about leaving ammo in the packaging/box you bought it in? Does that cause problems? No Thanks. I store a lot of my XM193 & XM855 on strippers and in bandoleers (+ desiccant) in ammo cans. This is my primary SHTF ammo storage. (grab 'n go if needed) (I do keep a box label packed inside for the LOT #) I also have some stored in the original boxes. This is nice if you ever decide to trade/sell it. (It's still stored in ammo cans in their boxes) I also have some LC XM193 still in the original 500rnd cases it came in. I do not store my ammo loose in cans... it just doesn't seem 'right' to me. Lots of people do this with no problems, though. I do not store my ammo loaded in magazines, in ammo cans (mostly because I don't have hundreds of mags.) A lot of people do this as well, with no ill effects. I do keep some loaded mags in my gunsafe. Hope this helps. |
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I store my ammo both in loaded mags and loose in the ammo cans with desiccant.
The ammo I store in the mags is sealed both at the primer and the case mouth to prevent powder deterioration. The sealant is basically replacing the seal on the can. All of it is stored in a temp controlled room. I wont store unsealed ammo anywhere except a ammo can. |
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Quoted:
I just re-read the Ammo Storage FAQ in the Ammo Oracle and I still have a question. Is it a bad idea to store ammo in the magazine(s) for long periods of time? The Storage FAQ recommended ammo cans that are air tight. I can see the benefit of that, but does it hurt to load the mags and put them in the can? Other than taking up a lot of space. Or, if you are not going to pack stripper clips and load up bandoleers, can you just dump the ammo in the ammo can? Also, what about leaving ammo in the packaging/box you bought it in? Does that cause problems? Thanks. There is no problem storing loaded mags in sealed cans. Many threads have been written about that subject. There is no danger of your mag spring being damaged by storing them loaded. If you leave your ammo in the original packaging for long term storage (years), keep in mind some climates are extremely humid, and paper is known to absorb moisture. If your ammo does not have sealed primers and bullets you do run a higher risk of moisture exposure if the ammo is left in the paper boxes/cases rather than storing the ammo in sealed ammo cans with dessicant. Loose ammo: a few years ago there was Guatemalan ammo available at really great prices (17 cents a round or less!) The ammo was sold in crates and it was packed in sealed plastic battle packs. The crates were trashed immediately because there were reports of termites in the wooden crates. But there was also an issue with the cardboard boxes in the battle packs. Nobody ever knew for sure, but something was causing the brass to tarnish when the brass came in contact with the box. In some instances it was more than just "tarnish" it was actual corrosion, ugly but still shootable. Some said it was the glue used to make the boxes, others said the cardboard was damp when the boxes were sealed in the BP's. Whatever it was, the practice back then was to open the BP, open one 30rd box and check for corrosion/tarnish. If the one checked box was ok, chances were the rest of the BP was ok. I didn't want to take the chance, the ammo I bought was pristine, beautiful M193 Guat...it looked 10 times better than Lake City headstamped Federal XM193 so most of what I bought went into ammo cans loose w/dessicant. I'm talking a LOT of ammo. No regrets about storing loose, except you can sure get a lot of loose 5.56 in a SAW ammo can. I put entire cases..1560rds in one SAW can. A real pain in the back and your hands to move. But the ammo is still pristine. Hope this helps. |
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Yes you can store it loaded in mags. It will not negatively effect the springs, as they only damge/wear out by being compressed and then uncompressed repeatedly. The only thing you might have to worry about is the feed lips on the mags, which over time might bend/misform from having the ammo push against them. This is probably over a long time period though (years maybe?). This can be avoided though by using PMags, as they have a cap, that pushes the ammo down a little bit and takes the pressure off of the feed lips.
A lot of people on here store their ammo loaded in mags, in the ammo cans for just in case times... Personally, I just keep my ammo in a bag in an ammo can. Or it is stored in the boxes it was shipped to me in. This is mostly because I got my AR about 5 months ago now and my ammo stays in my bedroom. So it's not exposed to any adverse conditions. |
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Quoted:
Yes you can store it loaded in mags. It will not negatively effect the springs, as they only damge/wear out by being compressed and then uncompressed repeatedly. The only thing you might have to worry about is the feed lips on the mags, which over time might bend/misform from having the ammo push against them. This is probably over a long time period though (years maybe?). This can be avoided though by using PMags, as they have a cap, that pushes the ammo down a little bit and takes the pressure off of the feed lips. A lot of people on here store their ammo loaded in mags, in the ammo cans for just in case times... Personally, I just keep my ammo in a bag in an ammo can. Or it is stored in the boxes it was shipped to me in. This is mostly because I got my AR about 5 months ago now and my ammo stays in my bedroom. So it's not exposed to any adverse conditions. LMFAO! Your screen name is stud, but no adverse conditions in the bedroom, eh??? 
I store some of mine loose in cans, some in boxes in cans, some in safes in boxes, some in magazines in cans and pelican cases, some in original battlepacks/cases - all in a humidity controlled area for stuff not in cans (not the bedroom, for sure) and the stuff in cans with desiccant. No worries with any of these methods, IMO. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Yes you can store it loaded in mags. It will not negatively effect the springs, as they only damge/wear out by being compressed and then uncompressed repeatedly. The only thing you might have to worry about is the feed lips on the mags, which over time might bend/misform from having the ammo push against them. This is probably over a long time period though (years maybe?). This can be avoided though by using PMags, as they have a cap, that pushes the ammo down a little bit and takes the pressure off of the feed lips. A lot of people on here store their ammo loaded in mags, in the ammo cans for just in case times... Personally, I just keep my ammo in a bag in an ammo can. Or it is stored in the boxes it was shipped to me in. This is mostly because I got my AR about 5 months ago now and my ammo stays in my bedroom. So it's not exposed to any adverse conditions. LMFAO! Your screen name is stud, but no adverse conditions in the bedroom, eh???
hahaha... good point! Sadly, my screen name is a nickname I got from playing football in high school, not in the bedroom 
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