I don't know if this has been addressed before so I'll just put it out now. I had a house fire some years ago. I had a lot, I mean A LOT, of live ammo stored in metal GI ammo cans. Nearly every round detonated and fewer that 10 rounds escaped the cans. So, if you store ammo, can it.
Ammo storage
- Thread starter Catcar67
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sparkyv
Member
I'm way more concerned about my powder lighting up than loaded rounds. That powder can exacerbate the fire, the loaded rounds not so much, and they don't go very far unless you are in a movie.
We have a good thread on this here:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...on-ammunition-and-fire-fighter-safety.687125/
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...on-ammunition-and-fire-fighter-safety.687125/
BigBlue 94
Member
Had a shop burn down with 48lbs of powder, 10,000+ primers, and about 500 rounds of loaded ammo. ...and about 100 gallons of diesel and gasoline.
Powder was in a wine mini-fridge at 50°. It did not explode. The primers go off all at once, sounding like a bajillion black cats thrown in bonfire.
I didnt have one single loaded round go off. Some in ammo cans, some not. Either the case melted or the lead melted out of the bullets, soaking the powder and leaving a copper jacket husk.
The only explosions were a few lacquer cans and the oxygen/acetylene tank (dont remember which one). It ruptured big enough to fit two soccer balls in it.
Some point I'll find the pics of bullets and such. Here's a preview... both of thes fords would scrape the top of a 7' garage door.
Powder was in a wine mini-fridge at 50°. It did not explode. The primers go off all at once, sounding like a bajillion black cats thrown in bonfire.
I didnt have one single loaded round go off. Some in ammo cans, some not. Either the case melted or the lead melted out of the bullets, soaking the powder and leaving a copper jacket husk.
The only explosions were a few lacquer cans and the oxygen/acetylene tank (dont remember which one). It ruptured big enough to fit two soccer balls in it.
Some point I'll find the pics of bullets and such. Here's a preview... both of thes fords would scrape the top of a 7' garage door.
lightman
Member
Thats a sad looking picture. Sorry for your loss. Do you know how/what started it?
BigBlue 94
Member
That bronco was my first vehicle. Was rather sad, but then you realize it's all material and the memories can't be taken away. The cause was undetermined due to nothing being left of the building except ash and metal. Damage estimators said it was over 2000°.
MutinousDoug
Member
Firearms ammo does not "explode"; it "deflagrates". In other words: it burns and produces gas rapidly. The gas produced through deflagration in an ammo can is insignificant with regard to it's potential pistol or rifle cartridge. Will it burn at 2000d ? yes, but not as efficiently as it would at 40-60kpsi in a container such as a cartridge in a chamber.
BigBlue 94
Member
Finally got some pictures to share. This ammo box is a rare one, from a 20mm autocannon. It's a bit thicker than the standard 30 and 50cal cans. It was in the back seat of the pickup on the right. There was both loaded ammo and fired cases in here. A ruger bx25 mag can be seen too, or what's left of it.
Much of the bottom left corner is a mass of melted lead and plastic.
The next two are bullet jackets, with their cores melted out.
The only hole in this one is the primer cup
This one blew out the side.
Much of the bottom left corner is a mass of melted lead and plastic.
The next two are bullet jackets, with their cores melted out.
The only hole in this one is the primer cup
This one blew out the side.
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