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Posted: 12/6/2014 4:05:42 PM EDT
| I can't find a thread about storing ammo. I would appreciate it if someone could post a hot link. Thanks. |
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I use multiple different types of storage. For long term storage, I use metal GI cans. For short term storage, I use plastic 8 lb kegs that powder comes in. I also have an old Stack On gun cabinet that I have a bunch of ammo in, most of that is in card board boxes. Lastly, I have a couple crates of 7.62x54r.
Hopes that helps. |
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Quoted:
Store it indoors and away from extreme temperature fluctuations and it will outlast you, even that stuff that was made way before you were born. Thanks. I should have been more specific. The wife said I have to get my bulk ammo (among other things) out of the guest bedroom and I was going to put it in my shop but it's not temperature controlled. The shop rarely gets below 30 degrees and rarely gets above 80 degrees. |
| I am extremely interested in this thread. I recently had to move to a smaller apartment and had to get a storage unit for some of my stuff. Most of my ammo is there in .50 sealed metal containers with Silica desiccant packs. The problem is the storage unit isn't climate controlled. Central NC gets temperatures from low 30s-100s. What kind of temperature fluctuations should I been concerned about? What says the hive mind? |
| You could always buy a large cooler and place the ammo cans inside the cooler. That would decrease the temperature swings. Personally I store alot of my cans in tool lock boxes. When my boxes are full they are pretty heavy and unable to be moved. I also keep silica crystals in my ammo cans to absorb moisture. |
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Quoted:
I am extremely interested in this thread. I recently had to move to a smaller apartment and had to get a storage unit for some of my stuff. Most of my ammo is there in .50 sealed metal containers with Silica desiccant packs. The problem is the storage unit isn't climate controlled. Central NC gets temperatures from low 30s-100s. What kind of temperature fluctuations should I been concerned about? What says the hive mind? My old man had no issue with ammo in Korea during the early 50's. Most if not all .mils store their ammo in unheated warehouses. |
| GI ammo cans, ammo cans stored in a jobsite tool box. Don't worry about temps. In Afg ammo is stored in unheated shipping containers, single digits in the winter, triple digits in the summer. Kind of like my garage in NC. Never noticed any performance issues in either place. Have also seen "field ASPs" (a term for ammo stacked outside on wood pallets at the range) for days, covered in snow. Same thing. Pretty sure GIs in places like Bastogne and the Chosin reservoir got their ammo pretty cold too. |
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short answer;
USGI surplus ammo cans (.50s are probably the most practical) with a good seal (check for this). I purchased all mine years ago for ~$3.00 each. Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $10 each if I were buying them today. Add ammo and experiment with the most efficient way to orientate the ammo to stuff as much as possible into the can. After that, I like to let it sit with the lid open, overnight, in a climate controlled area to allow any moisture I added through handling to escape. I then throw in enough silica-gel desiccant packs to fill any remaining space. These are available online (do a Google search) and are cheap when purchased in bulk. The last bunch I purchased were from ULINE. Close and latch the lid and label the outside with information regarding the contents. This is important. It is amazing how quickly you will forget what is where when looking at more than a couple cans. Resist the urge to open the can until you actually intend to load or shoot the ammo. FWIW- Those extreme low humidity days in January are when I like to load up cans or inspect loaded cans. I also like to keep all ammo in original packaging in order to keep track of load information, LOT#s and round count. I have been doing it like this for years and years and never had a problem. Last year, I cracked a can I packed in 1988 and the contents were as good as the day I closed the lid. |
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Quoted:
GI ammo cans, ammo cans stored in a jobsite tool box. Don't worry about temps. In Afg ammo is stored in unheated shipping containers, single digits in the winter, triple digits in the summer. Kind of like my garage in NC. Never noticed any performance issues in either place. Have also seen "field ASPs" (a term for ammo stacked outside on wood pallets at the range) for days, covered in snow. Same thing. Pretty sure GIs in places like Bastogne and the Chosin reservoir got their ammo pretty cold too. WWII was 6 yrs and Korea 3. My ammo that I'm referring to is my SHTF ammo. Hell, I might live another 25 or 30 yrs waiting for this propped up system to fail. 
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Quoted:
short answer; USGI surplus ammo cans (.50s are probably the most practical) with a good seal (check for this). I purchased all mine years ago for ~$3.00 each. Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $10 each if I were buying them today. Add ammo and experiment with the most efficient way to orientate the ammo to stuff as much as possible into the can. After that, I like to let it sit with the lid open, overnight, in a climate controlled area to allow any moisture I added through handling to escape. I then throw in enough silica-gel desiccant packs to fill any remaining space. These are available online (do a Google search) and are cheap when purchased in bulk. The last bunch I purchased were from ULINE. Close and latch the lid and label the outside with information regarding the contents. This is important. It is amazing how quickly you will forget what is where when looking at more than a couple cans. Resist the urge to open the can until you actually intend to load or shoot the ammo. FWIW- Those extreme low humidity days in January are when I like to load up cans or inspect loaded cans. I also like to keep all ammo in original packaging in order to keep track of load information, LOT#s and round count. I have been doing it like this for years and years and never had a problem. Last year, I cracked a can I packed in 1988 and the contents were as good as the day I closed the lid. Thanks for the reply. |
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Quoted:
WWII was 6 yrs and Korea 3. My ammo that I'm referring to is my SHTF ammo. Hell, I might live another 25 or 30 yrs waiting for this propped up system to fail. Quoted:
Quoted:
GI ammo cans, ammo cans stored in a jobsite tool box. Don't worry about temps. In Afg ammo is stored in unheated shipping containers, single digits in the winter, triple digits in the summer. Kind of like my garage in NC. Never noticed any performance issues in either place. Have also seen "field ASPs" (a term for ammo stacked outside on wood pallets at the range) for days, covered in snow. Same thing. Pretty sure GIs in places like Bastogne and the Chosin reservoir got their ammo pretty cold too. WWII was 6 yrs and Korea 3. My ammo that I'm referring to is my SHTF ammo. Hell, I might live another 25 or 30 yrs waiting for this propped up system to fail. That's true, but its been going on here (Afg) for 13 years. Some of our ammo (50 cal and 40mm) was made in the 60's and 70's. Who knows whats been going on and where that stuff has been stored for the last 40-50 years. The worst thing is moisture. This will attack/corrode the ammo. Also, I ALWAYS keep rimfire ammo in cookie tins- it seems to be much more succeptible to moisture than anything else. |
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Quoted:
That's true, but its been going on here (Afg) for 13 years. Some of our ammo (50 cal and 40mm) was made in the 60's and 70's. Who knows whats been going on and where that stuff has been stored for the last 40-50 years. The worst thing is moisture. This will attack/corrode the ammo. Also, I ALWAYS keep rimfire ammo in cookie tins- it seems to be much more succeptible to moisture than anything else. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
GI ammo cans, ammo cans stored in a jobsite tool box. Don't worry about temps. In Afg ammo is stored in unheated shipping containers, single digits in the winter, triple digits in the summer. Kind of like my garage in NC. Never noticed any performance issues in either place. Have also seen "field ASPs" (a term for ammo stacked outside on wood pallets at the range) for days, covered in snow. Same thing. Pretty sure GIs in places like Bastogne and the Chosin reservoir got their ammo pretty cold too. WWII was 6 yrs and Korea 3. My ammo that I'm referring to is my SHTF ammo. Hell, I might live another 25 or 30 yrs waiting for this propped up system to fail. That's true, but its been going on here (Afg) for 13 years. Some of our ammo (50 cal and 40mm) was made in the 60's and 70's. Who knows whats been going on and where that stuff has been stored for the last 40-50 years. The worst thing is moisture. This will attack/corrode the ammo. Also, I ALWAYS keep rimfire ammo in cookie tins- it seems to be much more succeptible to moisture than anything else. Brass doesn't mix well with Tin, over time. |
| I always say metal mil-type ammo cans are your best bang for the buck, they're structurally strong enough to stack as deep as you want, they have a good seal, and they're more fire resistant than the plastic ammo cans. But whatever you use, keep it dry. I stick a silica pack in every ammo can of mine and keep a paper bag half full of rice in my storage cabinet. |
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USGI ammo cans, assorted ( they can get real heavy ) throw a few desiccant packets in each can, along with date of purchase. Label the outside as to contents with date.
One other concern is the quality of the cardboard package... cheap ( Wolf.. etc ) cardboard can corrode your ammo from the acid content in it. In that case I store it loose with one box with the lot #. If you are storing steel cased ammo , then I throw some VCI packs in also. KEEP it off the floor, on a pallet or such... that will help minimize the temp swings and contact moisture. Remember, ammo produced today... is not the same as WWII ammo... Ball powder is very common whereas extruded powder was used in WWII , different primer compounds, brass is slightly different.... etc A little extra care is worth it. |
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