Homemade desiccant and reloads

[Slasher]

I read an article recently that talked about making your own desiccant packs. They used Fresh Step Crystal cat litter, some tea bags and tape. I looked on the Fresh Step site and it shows that the crystals are silica gel and nothing else.

Would you think it would be safe to make your own desiccant packs with this? Can you foresee any issues with this being put in with loaded ammo for an extended period of time?

 

[snuffy]

Would you think it would be safe to make your own desiccant packs with this? Can you foresee any issues with this being put in with loaded ammo for an extended period of time?

No, but keep the cats away!

BUT, WHY? There's no need. Ammo, even reloads, are sealed tight by the way they're made. The primer AND bullet are a press fit into the brass, and the brass is a barrier to humidity/moisture.

 

[LiveLife]

If I have any humidity/moisture issues, I will throw in some uncooked rice into the can of ammo before I put it up for longer term storage. Much cleaner than kitty litter that may break down and foul up the inside of firearms.

I guess you can use some containment for the rice granules but when I remove the rounds from the ammo can, they will simply drop to the bottom and stay there to be dumped out.

For SD/HD duplicate/backup loads that must go bang, I vacuum seal them in 100 round battle packs. This is probably overkill, but I do it for easier ammo distribution and transportation.

 

[amlevin]

I ran across some large bags of dessicant that were used in shipping crates for jet engines.

Each bag is the size of a 10 lb bag of sugar and can be "reactivated" by placing in an oven @240 degrees for 12-18 hours.

Not real practical for individual ammo cans but great for inside a safe.

For individual ammo cans the Cat Litter works fine. Put it in a cotton sweat sock and tie the top. It will keep all the "gunk" controlled and the moisture passes through the fabric with no problems. A bundle of cotton socks from Costco and a bucket of cat litter will protect a whole bunch of ammo cans.

 

[rcmodel]

Ammo in GI ammo cans need no protecting, if you don't seal the lid down with water already in them.

GI ammo comes in GI steel ammo cans, without GI dessicant packs.

Reloads are no different.
If you use a GI can with a halfway decent lid seal, mosture simply can't get in them, unless you put some in there with the ammo.

rc

 

[billwright]

I took the easy route, I got the Silica Gel in those aluminum canisters for each ammo can. You can get them for under $10 each and it includes shipping. They will last you a lifetime so it was a no brainer for me. Also used the larger 750 cans of Silica Gel my safe for some cheap piece of mind:

http://www.silicagelpackets.com/dry...cks-40-gram-silica-gel-aluminum-canister.html

 

[snuffy]

If for no other reason than for peace of mind, then what the hey do as you please.

For my gunsafe, I use block camphor. It's white in color about 3x3x½ inch. Peel back the edge of the plastic pack, exposing the edge to the air inside the safe. it'll slowly evaporate coating everything inside with camphor oil. Such a slight amount can hardly be felt, BUT it'll keep rust off the exposed steel. If you have something made of silver, it'll keep it from tarnishing almost indefinitely. Besides, it smells good.

http://www.amazon.com/DEER-Refined-CAMPHOR-Tablets-Blocks/dp/B003YXQUAE/ref=pd_luc_hashrec_02_01_t_lh

 

[TygerAR]

If I have any humidity/moisture issues, I will throw in some uncooked rice into the can of ammo before I put it up for longer term storage. Much cleaner than kitty litter that may break down and foul up the inside of firearms.

I guess you can use some containment for the rice granules but when I remove the rounds from the ammo can, they will simply drop to the bottom and stay there to be dumped out.

For SD/HD duplicate/backup loads that must go bang, I vacuum seal them in 100 round battle packs. This is probably overkill, but I do it for easier ammo distribution and transportation.

I like this Idea, that way if the world comes to an end you can eat the rice.

I save the factory load boxes and vacuum seal my reloads in them

 

[amlevin]

For my gunsafe, I use block camphor. It's white in color about 3x3x½ inch.

Now we know where those missing camphor blocks have gone from the urinals

 

[amlevin]

Ammo in GI ammo cans need no protecting, if you don't seal the lid down with water already in them.

Ambient air contains water. Some parts of the country have extremely high humidity and when you "close the lid" you trap any moisture carried by the air.

The military "builds" their ammo differently than the commercial world or reloader does. Bullets have a sealer added when seated in the case. The military also "rotates" their ammo at regular intervals. Either by sending it down range in combat or training, or selling it off to the de-mil contractors where it's pulled down.

 

[mdi]

The only component I use dissicant for is my primers. I keep them in a tupperware type tub with a couple packs in to control the moisture (mebbe I don't need to do this, in rainy Oregun, but it make me feel better!). Powder is kept in original bottles with the lid on snug. Loaded ammo is kept dry with no special containers. Works for me and I have some 17 year old Unique and reloads from '96 that still work...

 

[Otto]

I read an article recently that talked about making your own desiccant packs. They used Fresh Step Crystal cat litter, some tea bags and tape.

I've done it but I made my packets out of heavy duty aluminum foil. That way they can be tossed in a hot oven and re-activated.
Keep in mind that silca gel doesn't remove oxygen and rust can still occur.
For that you'll need to use an oxygen absorber sachet...which is popular with survivalist.
http://www.amazon.com/50-Absorbers-...960Z2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_1/189-1298245-9867469

 

[rcmodel]

packets out of heavy duty aluminum foil.

Wouldn't that seal it so the moisture couldn't get in?

Or maybe that pesky humidity can get in the HD foil just like it gets in tightly sealed reloaded ammo.
By magic?

rc

 

[Revolver218]

Buy a 42 oz bag of Damp Rid at any grocery/hardware store for around $ 5.00. Put 8 oz in a small plastic cup and place that in an air tight box along with the ammo. I've done this and, using a humidistat, found I could reduce the humidity from 60% to 20 % in a few weeks. After that, put a new cup in, replacing the old one. Because it's so dry in the box the replacement will last a long time. The key is the humidity level INSIDE the storage container. If it's high all you're doing is locking in the humid air. And by the way, if you're storing the ammo in cardboard boxes, the cardboard can hold lots of moisture, taking it longer to dry out (or holding in the moisture). Dry is good for both the brass, powder and primers. Think humidity levels in the 30% range, or less, and your reloads/factory ammo will outlast you.

 

[paradox998]

You can muslin bags very cheaply on ebay. They sell small ones that hold about 3 tablespoons of material and have a draw string. I bought several hundred a few years ago. the fresh step litter is pretty much dust free and rechargeable like other descants. A gallon bottle of litter goes a very long way.

 

[Hondo 60]

Unless you plan on storing them underwater, you have no need for desiccant.

I recently bought some surplus ammo (no sealant) that was stored for 60 years.
All round shot very well (and you dang right, I had fun shootin it!)

 

[FROGO207]

I have some reloads that my grandfather made in the early 60's and they all are clean and all have gone bang so far. these were made with then surplus propellant and stored in old steel coffee cans with no lid. When I look out side I can see the north Atlantic a short distance away. No moisture problems noted here. I now store my ammo in Zip Loc baggies and put those in ammo cans for long term storage concerns. YMMV