Ammo storage question

[Shrinkmd]

Any thoughts on finished vs. unfinshed parts of a basement for storage? Since it's still in your house (heat/ac in basement), does the slight increase in temperature variation and humidity in an unfinished space matter? (as compared to the garage, which definitely gets colder in the winter!)

Also, if the ammo is surplus in sealed tins or in the wood crate, does this help in storing it in slightly less "ideal" conditions.

After all, I suppose that the warehouses or caves or whatever it was originally stored in wasn't as well controlled as my basement, and they have all gone bang so far.

I did have a couple PMC .38 specials not go off the first time, however. I'm not sure what to make about that! No more PMC for me...

So what do people think? Is it ok to put all the mosin and mauser food in the crappy cobweb, moustrap filled part of the basement? It seems weird putting stuff close to the furnace, water heater, or the sump pumps, even though I know that the stuff has been sitting quietly in its little cans for 30 to 50 years without a problem...

 

[MechAg94]

I was thinking heat and moisture are the two things that could screw up ammo over time. In sealed cans, you have heat. I would think any modestly dry spot in a basement would be better than an attic.

 

[XLMiguel]

Well, the conventional wisdom is "cool & dry" for ammo storage, but IMO, the "dry" part is probably the more important, assuming a reasonable range of temps. If it's in your basement, whats the likely range? 55 - 80? No big deal Humidity is a different matter, if it's damp enough to cause mildew on the boxes or corrosion on the ammo itself, you've got a problem. Likewise, big swings in temp & humidity over short periods of time is also a problem (i.e. condensation). Ammo in sealed tins or gasketed ammo cans will do better than stuff in cardboard/paper boxes regardless of conditions, but if you keep it dry and relatively cool, ammo lasts a long, long time. Surplus ammo cans are reasonably cheap and easy to find, get some, use them, no problem.

 

[nbkky71]

Just get some USGI ammo cans and you'll be fine. Throw in some of the small dessicant packs for good measure.

All my ammo is stored in my garage using ammo cans. The garage gets hold & humid in the summer and cold in the winter and I have yet to run into any problems with my ammo not going BANG.

 

[Shrinkmd]

How cool is cool?

I checked the temp in the non-finished part of the basement, and it reads out 59 today (its about 30 outside right now) Would that be ok for storing? The basement itself is around 67 right now, so it is a bit cooler in the back. I assume it won't vary too much, which will be good.

 

[dmftoy1]

Personally I don't think the cold that you're talking about will have ANY effect on the ammo storage (maybe if you store it below freezing for extended periods . .but even then I doubt it). I think I'd be only concerned about humidty and that's a pretty easy thing to take care. (ammo can, dessicant, etc.)

All of my ammo and reloading equipment is in my basement. We run a dehumidifier down there just to keep it from smelling like a basement, but even if we didn't I don't think I'd be too worried.

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave

 

[Brass Fetcher]

The thing to remember is to keep the ammunition -air-tight or keep it in an area with a stable temperature range. This is important because the moisture that can be held by air at a given pressure changes with temperature IE, the colder it gets through the day, the more condensation you will get on your stuff. This is most apparent while camping, with the dew resting on your tent, pack, etc - the air temperature dropped through the night, and the water molecules that were suspended by the hotter air have now condensed out as liquid water onto your tent, clothes, etc.

Unless you can keep the can airtight, there is the possibility of small amounts of moisture infiltrating into your powder, carried by the 'fresh' air from the surroundings. Witness this by the silica pack that turns 'pink' after a few weeks in your 'airtight' ammo can. Some are but most aren't.

Your basement temperature can be moderated by keeping a 55 gallon drum filled with water in with your stuff in the basement. This is akin to living next to a lake - the specific heat (amount of energy input/extraction needed to raise/drop the temperature of the water) of the water in the lake is very high and tends to be warmer than the air in the winter and cooler in the summer. Same idea here, but on a smaller scale. I hear that water is a good thing to have around, as well.

Another idea might be to insulate your cans with a styrofoam or put them in a food/drink cooler. I'm keeping my gelatin mold and other equipment in the cooler that I use to take the gelatin to the range - it is relatively airtight and will insulate the stuff from the outside temperatures - holding my stuff at a more constant temperature, for a longer time than if the stuff were just sitting out in the open.

JE223

 

[Neo-Luddite]

You sound like me--you're overthinking the problem (water heater, etc). But while we're doing THAT; get a nice de-humidifier for your basement. Cheap to run, and keeps moisture level stable. Fluctuation of temp / humidity is the biggest problem as it leads to moisture collecting in containers. And then, too you can store clothes and other gear more safely too and use your space.
My wife is a platic tote person and I've caught the fever. They beat cardboard and are (usually) chemically neutral.

I personally LIKE to have the ammo stored in the spider-decorated areas because these are places that are less likely to be messed with. I love GI ammo cans because that also helps transport things and no one is suprised by what's inside. I like to label things and also have an "Unsafe to use" box because I don't want someone who may shoot my weapons after I expire (ie. my kids) to have problems. A bit off topic, but something to think about.

Check your stock once in a while and store a portion in another secure location just in case. Shoot some off. Just my thoughts, but I dislike 'old' sealed tins. I'd open a representative of each lot and have a look.

 

[ATAShooter]

I seal long term ammo in Food Saver vaccume bags. No air. NOW,.... There is an exception. The ammo MUST have a CRIMP, or what little air that is in the cartridge will push the bullet, thus inreasing OAL ( found out the hard way ). Bullets that have a severe point to the end may puncture the bag, so in this event, wrap ammo in newspaper, or something to stop it. Air tite, watertite...

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

I have some of mine in an old wooden dynamite box from the 40's that my grandfather had. It says danger high explosives. It keeps people away.