Does storing hunting ammo loose cause issues?

[Scout21]

I picked up a .30 cal surplus ammo can recently and would like to store it full of my .308 reloads. They'll be Speer Hot-cor Spitzers or Barnes TTSX.

I'm wondering if having them loosely stored in the can will alter the tips of the ammo enough to cause any real issues with accuracy or terminal effect on game. I won't be slinging the can around, but it will be moved from time to time.

I won't mind a miniscule decrease in accuracy, as it is only a deer hunting rifle, not a match rifle. I'd like to maintain an inch at 100 yards.

I, of course, could keep them stored in plastic or cardboard boxes, but that takes up much more space.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Your ammo will be fine. I store all my ammo in ammo cans.

 

[AK Hunter]

You can store it loose as long as it's not SP ammo. I have had the lead tip distort on heavy rounds storing them in steel ammo boxes.

 

[starnbar]

The only caveat to that would be 22 rimfire that I would leave in the packaging it came with

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Well, really it depends on how it gets in the can - dropped, poured, placed, lovingly caressed like a baby being put down for a nap... - and how it gets out of the can - dumped, grabbed, snatched, siphoned, carefully plucked like delicate fruit... Careful going in and careful coming out, it should be fine. Don't let an airport baggage handler near it!

 

[AJC1]

Blamo is stored loose in an ammo can. Using packing materials to reduce movement feels good Like it helps so I use foam blocks or something to take up most of the extra space.

 

[Scout21]

You can store it loose as long as it's not SP ammo. I have had the lead tip distort on heavy rounds storing them in steel ammo boxes.

How significant was the distortion?

 

[Scout21]

Well, really it depends on how it gets in the can - dropped, poured, placed, lovingly caressed like a baby being put down for a nap... - and how it gets out of the can - dumped, grabbed, snatched, siphoned, carefully plucked like delicate fruit... Careful going in and careful coming out, it should be fine. Don't let an airport baggage handler near it!

I don't abuse my stuff, but I don't want to have to treat them as though they're as fragile as eggs. I'll be placing them in the can with reasonable care and removing them the same way. I certainly won't be dropping them in the can from several feet in the air, that's for sure.

I figure that I'll be fine, but I wanted to hear some first hand experience because I've always kept my ammo in factory boxes, particularly the grey Winchester PowerPoint boxes with foam inserts. Unfortunately, it takes up a rather large amount of space in ammo cans when still in the box.

 

[Jdague12]

There’s a video floating around where they actually buggered up the tips pretty significantly and had no issues with accuracy. I don’t have the link, I just remember watching it and being a bit surprised by it

 

[AJC1]

I don't abuse my stuff, but I don't want to have to treat them as though they're as fragile as eggs. I'll be placing them in the can with reasonable care and removing them the same way. I certainly won't be dropping them in the can from several feet in the air, that's for sure.

I figure that I'll be fine, but I wanted to hear some first hand experience because I've always kept my ammo in factory boxes, particularly the grey Winchester PowerPoint boxes with foam inserts. Unfortunately, it takes up a rather large amount of space in ammo cans when still in the box.

Watch the factory production videos. I don't treat my ammunition that way but they obviously do. Fmj is no problem. An SMK with a delicate hollowpoint goes in an individual holder. A polymer tip would be a low concern.

 

[twarr1]

The polymer TTSX will be fine. The soft points I’d pack a little more carefully. But I don’t think it would make a lot of difference in accuracy if the lead tips aren’t perfect.I have a bunch of decades-old 308 SP with some pretty mangled tips. They shoot accurately enough

 

[Mk-211]

If you're worried about the ammo bouncing around in the can, cut some cardboard and line the bottom and sides.

Pretty simple to do, only takes a couple minutes and will keep different types of ammo from hitting straight metal.

 

[Obturation]

You can stack it in the can which may help out on space too but I wouldn't be too concerned. Sometimes if I'm just making a bin of ammo for general use I'll put 6 (for revolver ) together and fold a piece of butcher paper (or parchment paper- whatever I got ) around it once and fold it over. Then if I'm going walkabout I can stick a few packets in my pocket and I don't got loose ammo in getting into the wash.
I don't do that a lot but certain loadings I do, not for accuracy but for convienice. Might help you stack of easier too.

 

[Otto]

Stack them loose laying them flat in rows along the width of the can with the bullet pointed one direction, then alternating right to left with each row.
You should be able to fit 400 rounds. I only load 308 in small batches and prefer MTM case-gards.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

You can stack it in the can which may help out on space too but I wouldn't be too concerned. Sometimes if I'm just making a bin of ammo for general use I'll put 6 (for revolver ) together and fold a piece of butcher paper (or parchment paper- whatever I got ) around it once and fold it over. Then if I'm going walkabout I can stick a few packets in my pocket and I don't got loose ammo in getting into the wash.
I don't do that a lot but certain loadings I do, not for accuracy but for convienice. Might help you stack of easier too.

Now why didn’t I ever think of that?
Great idea. Totally stealing it.

 

[AK Hunter]

How significant was the distortion?

It was enough that my sub moa groups went to fist sized groups. That may be ok for hunting at 100yds but if you move that to a 200yd or 300yd shot could be a miss on hog or dog sized prey.
I pack my SP in factory styled cartons now.

 

[Palladan44]

I bulk pack 9mm or 5.56 "shootin' ammo" loose sometimes.......
But my good hunting loads. Precision rifle loads....no way.

 

[entropy]

Get some .30 cal stripper clips (for the M14) and lay those down in the can in the manner Otto mentions:

Stack them loose laying them flat in rows along the width of the can with the bullet pointed one direction, then alternating right to left with each row.
You should be able to fit 400 rounds. I only load 308 in small batches and prefer MTM case-gards.

That's what I do with my .223 'plinking' ammo. You can get a lot more in the can that way, they are better off than just loose, and you have convenient 5 round carry 'packs'. If you rifle is an M1A, so much the better!

Here's what to look for:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/174389114385

 

[Scout21]

Get some .30 cal stripper clips (for the M14) and lay those down in the can in the manner Otto mentions:



That's what I do with my .223 'plinking' ammo. You can get a lot more in the can that way, they are better off than just loose, and you have convenient 5 round carry 'packs'. If you rifle is an M1A, so much the better!

Here's what to look for:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/174389114385

I hadn't considered strippers, I only think of them in context of .223. Not a bad idea, if they're decently cheap.

I may end up just layering them in loose to keep the tips from touching.

 

[Cypress]

Check the tips on soft point rounds in the magazine after firing 4-5 times with a moderately recoiling rifle. They will all be flattened. I used to be concerned about it until I accuracy tested a few of them and found that they were still as good as I was.

 

[Howland937]

Stacked wood takes up less space than a pile. If you're not stacking them, you may find the generic ammo boxes from Midway or whomever allow you to fit just as much in your can than dumping them in by the handful. And they're "protected"

 

[Blue68f100]

I've lined my 30 cal cans with cardboard to keep them from banging. Use brown paper as a divider medium if you want to separate rolls. The brown paper does not have the acids as colored paper that's been bleached.

 

[Scout21]

Check the tips on soft point rounds in the magazine after firing 4-5 times with a moderately recoiling rifle. They will all be flattened. I used to be concerned about it until I accuracy tested a few of them and found that they were still as good as I was.

That's nice to hear. I'm probably overthinking it, but I sure would hate to have to pull several hundred damaged bullets, you know?

 

[Scout21]

Stacked wood takes up less space than a pile. If you're not stacking them, you may find the generic ammo boxes from Midway or whomever allow you to fit just as much in your can than dumping them in by the handful. And they're "protected"

I'm seriously thinking about stacking them in nice, even layers.

I read that a .30 cal can holds approximately 320 rounds of .308 when tossed in randomly. I imagine I can get 400 to maybe 450 in there if I neatly stack them. It wouldn't take too much time to do.

 

[lightman]

I've had loose ammo stored in ammo cans for decades. At first I was concerned with corrosion from the different metals being in contact and I kept a watch on it. But ammo cans are painted inside and corrosion has never been a problem. As far as having the soft points getting damaged, it hasn't been a problem either. But I do use care placing the ammo in the can and don't just drop it in.

In more recent years I put my bulk ammo in heavy duty ZipLoc bags before it goes in the ammo can. I have ammo stored loose in ammo cans, in ZipLoc bags in ammo cans and even in MTM plastic boxes in ammo cans. It all works!