Long Term Ammo Storage

[Gun Geezer]

My aunt recenty gave me 1000 rounds of 9mm ammo she had in her closet for proably 10 to 15 years. Most has shot very well, no probelm. However, a few boxes have had a number of rounds with copper corrosion on the brass.

I have been considering some long term storage options. A sealed spam can would be ideal but I have never heard where you could buy and then seal a spam can. I have been considering also the ammo storage plastic cans that Cabela gives away with bulk purchases. You know the ones that have a $14.99 value. Those do have a rubber gasket.

Would that rubber gasket seal well enough that if I tossed in small desicant pack the ammo would be non-corroded 15-years from now?

Other suggestions for long term storage in 1000 round quantities would appreciated. Maybe tupperware?

 

[alsaqr]

Put it in a GI ammo can with a small dessicant pack.

 

[Ramone]

Me, I? I would break it down into smaller lots (maybe 200 per?) and put that in something tupperware-ish with dessicant packs (you can 'recharge' the little ones from consumer electronics/shoes/etc., by placing in a 300f oven for 3 hours), and then put those in a plastic ammo can with more dessicant packs. and store it in a cool, dry place:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYDpp2m_hpI


I'd go with the plastic over GI just cause they won't rust. Also these ones supposedly prevent corrosion due to being made of special plastic:

http://www.cabelas.com/tackle-boxes...-F5D2-DF11-82EF-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA

 

[Snowdog]

Unless you live in a location with high humidity, I don't really see the need for sealed cans for storage (though it's certainly not a bad idea).

I routinely shoot ammo that I've had for 10+ years and just about all of it looks similar to what you'd find on the shelves of your LGS today.

I do have about 20 50cal ammo cans (and need a few more) painted khaki and stenciled with the contents, but it's more for organization than anything else. I have about 20,000 rounds of loaded ammunition that I've accrued over the years and I like to keep track of things. An Excel worksheet also helps.

 

[W.E.G.]

This question is asked here repeatedly.

There are ammo cans, and then there is everything else.

1000 rounds of 9mm isn't really that much.
So long as you keep it dry, you'll be fine.

When you get larger quantities, ammo cans are the ONLY way to go, because you can actually STACK them without adverse effect.
Once you start stacking significant quantities of ammo in any other container, you're going to have a real mess.

 

[FROGO207]

Yep there is nothing like a product the military has spent countless hours and a metric butt load of cash testing for the specific use of long term storage of ammo. The plastic ones are OK but only hold so much weight when stacking.
Whatever you use make sure they have a working rubber gasket. If you use the cardboard containers be aware they will hold a small amount of moisture. I pack my ammo in reasonable quantities inside of Zip-Loc FREEZER bags inside of GI ammo cans of the appropriate size. You don't want the bags to split and ammo to spill out when you pick it out to use it do you. A big ammo can (40MM) is really heavy when filled with a bunch of 45 ACP or the like I have found.

 

[Walkalong]

there is nothing like a product the military has spent countless hours and a metric butt load of cash testing for the specific use of long term storage of ammo.

Yep, tried and true, military ammo cans.

http://www.wideners.com/itemview.cfm?dir=668|827

 

[ball3006]

Been storing ammo in GI cans for 40 years with no problems. Some of the ammo I have is older than me and still goes bang....chris3

 

[MrDig]

Got a food saver or a seal-a-meal? vacuum pack it if you want to store it for a really long time.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Generally I just stack the cases on shelves in the basement.
I do have ammo that's sat for decades in just cardboard boxes. No problems. It's not a gallon of milk.

 

[paintballdude902]

have you thought about a pelican case? ive got a large one the squadron was tossing out and it works great for keeping stuff in iv got another for deployment so this is just storage

 

[Warp]

My aunt recenty gave me 1000 rounds of 9mm ammo she had in her closet for proably 10 to 15 years. Most has shot very well, no probelm. However, a few boxes have had a number of rounds with copper corrosion on the brass.

I have been considering some long term storage options. A sealed spam can would be ideal but I have never heard where you could buy and then seal a spam can. I have been considering also the ammo storage plastic cans that Cabela gives away with bulk purchases. You know the ones that have a $14.99 value. Those do have a rubber gasket.

Would that rubber gasket seal well enough that if I tossed in small desicant pack the ammo would be non-corroded 15-years from now?

Other suggestions for long term storage in 1000 round quantities would appreciated. Maybe tupperware?

Dude, I SO have you covered. Check this out.

1,200 rounds of 9x19 stored, sealed, easy to stack and easy to handle, for a few bucks. ($4 maybe? I don't remember)

I put that can 'back' in 2007. You can get them at Home Depot or, I assume, other big box home improvement type stores. You can even get 1 quart cans! For reference, 300 rounds of 9x19 fits perfectly into a quart.






I use ammo cans too, but these were actually cheaper/easier to acquire. For long term storage, as you asked for, I prefer them to ammo cans. Why? Because once sealed I don't want to open them again without a good reason, so they stay sealed and snug as a bug in a rug. + I look less crazy when people see them on the floor in the spare bedroom.


FYI: A .30 ammo can holds almost exactly 1 gallon of ammunition. I'd figure the same number of loose rounds in the .30 can as the gallon paint can.


.

 

[kb58]

And, in the small chance someone breaks in, they'll likely go right past those paint cans...

 

[Double Vision]

I really like the paint can idea! Thanks!

 

[oneounceload]

Those paint cans are a great way to hide something in plain sight

 

[kb58]

Even better, dribble some paint down the sides of it and who's going to give it a second look?

 

[Double Vision]

Just don't forget which are the real paint cans, and which are the dummies!

 

[Warp]

I took a Sharpie and wrote on the bottom (some also on the top, as you can see in the picture) so that I know what's there. For example, one of them says:

7/62/39

Guess what it contains?

 

[kb58]

And if you're really, really paranoid, put the ammo in a sealed bag and then fill the can with real paint.

 

[Snowdog]

And if you're really, really paranoid, put the ammo in a sealed bag and then fill the can with real paint.

True, but just be sure to draw the blinds first... they may be watching.

 

[kayak-man]

True, but just be sure to draw the blinds first... they may be watching.

They?... there's more than one! I should have known!

I like the paint can idea. I may try it out if I ever can build up a surplus of ammo.

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson