Best way to prolong USGI metal ammo can?

[Charlie98]

Pellgun Oil is top Shelf for O-rings. Can restore a dry Airgun seal that has not been fired for years.

Not sure if you are funning or not, based on your FlexSeal comment, but... while Pellgun oil is excellent for just that purpose (I've done it with my Crosman airgun... screwed in a new CO2 cylinder and it leaked out in about 7 seconds, but the oil fixed it pronto!) it is likely petroleum-based. I wouldn't use any petroleum-based oil on a rubber seal... it will destroy it sooner or later, depending on what it's made of.

 

[Ernie Bass]

Not sure if you are funning or not, based on your FlexSeal comment, but... while Pellgun oil is excellent for just that purpose (I've done it with my Crosman airgun... screwed in a new CO2 cylinder and it leaked out in about 7 seconds, but the oil fixed it pronto!) it is likely petroleum-based. I wouldn't use any petroleum-based oil on a rubber seal... it will destroy it sooner or later, depending on what it's made of.

Dead serious about Pellgun oil. Have used it for years. I have one CO2 air Pistol that is about 15 years old and still shoots the same FPS over my Chrony. Find a old gun that won't shoot. Just put some Pellgun oil on and it restores them. All my CO2 pistols are in fine shape because of this Oil. A little goes a long way.

PS Plumbers Putty makes the best Back Stop material.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I use 'welcome mats' from HD and Lowes that are made of recycled rubber. They are very dense, don't skid, don't really compress, and you can cut them with a saw to fit any shape you like.

that’s a good idea. Cheap and available! I have pretty ready access to stall mat, which is why my brain went there first.

 

[Meeks36]

I've thought about vacuum sealing ammo with desiccant pack. Then put those in ammo cans for loooong term storage. 10+years I'm still on the fence about it.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've thought about vacuum sealing ammo with desiccant pack. Then put those in ammo cans for loooong term storage. 10+years I'm still on the fence about it.

That is exactly what I do, I separate into 20,30,50 or 100rnds vac seal then insert into can with a desiccant pack and label them.

 

[lightman]

I just have mine stored off of the ground. About once in a lifetime I spray the gasket with silicon spray. Many of the ones that I bought in the early 90's had a lot of red dirt in them. (Fort Benning???) I hosed them out and let them dry out before using them.

A lot of the farmers around here have a 20mm can welded onto a piece of equipment thats out in the weather. They last literally forever.

 

[crestoncowboy]

The old military cans lasted. We have a few old junk tractors that have had the cans exposed to the elements for at least 50 years. The new walmart/tractor supply etc cans are not the same. The work fine for indoors and I have a few but they weigh half and bend easy. They may rust faster or may not rust I do not know. Just depends which metal or alloys they use. But they arent the same as the old real surplus cans which I'm sure have had changes throughout the years as well.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have been kicking about 20 of them around on the concrete floor under my reloading bench for 25 years. If they are rusty, never looked, I am sure its minor surface rust.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Got some under my bed. 12ga 00 buck, slugs, #6's, and lotta .22LR. Been there as long as I remember. 20 years.