[charleslee]

Need some suggestions on where to safely store ammo, inside a townhouse, in case of, God forbid a fire. Safe is full, so that's out. Thanks!

[rcmodel]

Surplus steel GI .30 or .50 cal ammo cans.

In the event of a fire, the lid seal will melt, or the lid will spring open enough to vent gasses.

The steel can will contain all the flying primers and case frags.

That is what they were designed to do, among other things.

rcmodel

[The Bushmaster]

At the neighbor's...But don't tell them it's ammunition or they will probably use it...

[K3]

I'll hang on to it for you.

I may have do do weekly function checks with it though. Your inventory may vary a bit.... :D

[jjohnson]

Yep, ammo cans or similar is good. They don't have to be airtight if it's in your furnace room or something (do NOT get the stuff close to open flame:what:)

I used to put mine in a closet, since the shirts hanging there were two or three feet above the floor. Good ammo will keep for years in a closet that's not humid. You can get a Goldenrod dryer if you worry about humidity.:scrutiny:

If you have ammo that you can fit into a safe, you must either have a walk-in safe or not reload enough :evil:

I keep my excess ammo in a big locker (and I mean "lock"er). If I lived in a condo, I'd probably ask the Super if there's storage space for stuff like lawn chairs.... and put the locked locker there with the excess tonnage of ammo.

[charleslee]

Thank-you to all. Good advice!

[nambu1]

I use GI ammo cans and through in a couple discadant packets. I have ammo I loaded 20 years ago and it works fine and has almost retained the appearance they had when they were put in the boxes.

[inserthumorhere]

I too have been keeping my reloads in surplus ammo cans. Gander Mountain had a good selection for $6 a piece. They looked to be pretty new...still had sand on them. Any suggestions on where to find desiccant packets?

[closetgunnut]

inserthumorhere,

I made some some of my own desiccant packets. They are really easy to make and cost about 25 cents each.

Here is a link to some info: http://www.alpharubicon.com/prepinfo/desiccantpacksgvi.htm

The only bad thing is that you have to go into a CRAFT STORE :what: to get the desiccant. Unless you have your wife or girlfriend get them for you.:)

PM me if you want. I'll try to answer any questions that you have.

Closet

[CU74]

I've seen that link info before - why do folks have to make things so complicated?

Get some 100% silica kitty litter - read the labels, most are merely silica - and some cheap anklet-style nylons.

Pout 1/2 cup kitty litter into a nylon.

Tie knot.

Toss into ammo can.

Go do something fun - like shooting.

[closetgunnut]

I used some Ziplock baggies and old pill bottles myself.

The teabag thing just seemed like a PITA to me.

Closet

[evan price]

I store my reloads in the original ammo cartons with plastic dividers that factory ammo came in- most shooting ranges will let you have them out of the trash if you ask really nicely.

Then those get stored in USGI ammo cans.

[rcmodel]

Any suggestions on where to find desiccant packets?You don't need them.

New GI ammo in GI ammo cans doesn't come with desiccant packs in the cans!

Unless you seal the lid down with water already inside the can, no mosture is going to get to the ammo.

The cans are air-tight & waterproof when you lock the lid closed!

rcmodel

[Otto]

Buy a cheap safe for ammo. Horrible Freight often has these on sale for around a hundred.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/91000-91099/91006.gif

[rcmodel]

No venting for escaping gas in the event of a fire.

Limited ammo storage would be fine.

A large quantity would constitute a large pipe-bomb.

rcmodel

[Steve H]

A safe is NOT safe.......like rd states king size pipe bomb.

[danxt]

What if the safe had holes in the sides?
the kind that would normally be used for mounting.

[rcmodel]

It would have to have enough holes to release gas faster then a large quantity of ammo would generate in a fire.

And after you have that many holes you no longer have any semblance of humidity control for the stored ammo.

Why fight it.
GI ammo cans were designed to safely store ammo long-term.
They are cheap, available, stackable, humidity proof, safe in a fire, and small enough to move so you can clean under them once and awhile, whether it needs it or not!

rcmodel

[danxt]

my only problem with the GI ammo cans is that there doesn't seem to be a good way of locking them sufficiently. IMO

I like the idea of a full fledged safe (for security), except for the dangerous gasses part.

[Envisaged]

As mentioned by someone else - under the bed on the wife's side.

:)

[rcmodel]

It is quit easy to fashion a padlock stud on an ammo can.

You can make them out of a drilled bolt if you're handy with tools.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ZAA030-1.html

If you are only worried about kids, I think the snap-latch on a GI .50 cal ammo can would discourage most rug-rats until they get to be hard-as-nails pre-teens that should know better then to mess with dads ammo cans!

rcmodel

[ilbob]

ammo cans are designed to safely store ammo.

i would not discount the harbor freight safe idea. its no more a pipe bomb than the ammo cans are.

[rcmodel]

But GI ammo cans are not pipe bombs by any stretch of the imagination.

They are designed for the lid seal to melt and release gas, as well as the latch to pop and release the lid partway in a fire.

Side wings on the lid contain flying primers and case frags.

rcmodel

[danxt]

actually,
It's for my wife's peace of mind. (she's not a fan of guns at all, but i've convinced her to let me keep mine even though we're married now... it just has some conditions on it) .... am i whipped?.... maybe .... or maybe I just like to keep the peace in my house.

Most of the "fire-safes" will not get hotter than 350 deg F on the inside, unless they are in the fire for more than an hour.

How hot does it have to get before primers start popping?

[Walkalong]

Why fight it.
GI ammo cans were designed to safely store ammo long-term.
They are cheap, available, stackable, humidity proof, safe in a fire, and small enough to move so you can clean under them once and awhile, whether it needs it or not!Case closed. :cool:

The USA probably spent millions to design the perfect ammo can for "storage". You know how Uncle Sam is. :D

I have ammo cans under the bed, in the closet, .....