is there a proper way to stack ammo in storage?

[MIgunguy]

This may be a stupid question, and I feel like a noob even asking, but when storing quantities of ammo, is there anything to consider when stacking boxes of ammo, re: all the weight from above squashing the ammo on bottom and compressing the bullet into the brass and possibly causing failure to feed or a kaboom (due to increased pressure)? I was beginning to think I was worrying for nothing but just tonight I picked up a case of .45ACP and the first box of 50, along one of the long sides (10 rounds), all the bullets were visibly shorter and pushed into the case (aluminium Blazer ammo). Same for the box next to it, which if the case was stored a certain way would have been the boxes on the bottom. Maybe this is more of a concern with aluminium Blazers vs. regular brass-cased ammo?

I guess the thing to do is make sure to store ammo so the individual boxes are on their sides or ends to the plastic tray bears all the weight from above? Who knows how these were stored in warehouses or during shipping.

 

[benEzra]

Seating bullets deeper in a case is a BIG problem as far as overpressure goes. It certainly won't kaboom in storage, but it could kaboom when you fire it.

Military surplus ammo cans are a good solution. Not only are they stackable, they are airtight, waterproof, and make it easy to keep things organized.

 

[CU74]

I never heard of that problem before - guess it might depend on just how high the stack of boxed ammo is. I store all of mine in military surplus ammo cans, so the height of stacked boxes is never more than three or four high.

Did you inspect the ammo when you first bought it? The "compression" may be from shipping.

 

[benEzra]

BTW, CCI might give you a refund on those boxes, or offer to exchange them. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

 

[John Wayne]

I saw the same thing with a box of Blazer .38 LRNs yesterday! I was going to pick up a box at Academy and opened the box just to verify all the rounds were in there (never know if someone swiped one when they're just lying around) and one round was seated noticably further into the case. I pointed it out to the guy behind the counter but I don't think he cared.

As far as stacking goes, isn't ammo shipped stacked on a pallet anyway? Either way, you can't go wrong with ammo cans...it's what they're made for. Georgia Arms even ships their bulk orders in the can for very reasonable prices.

 

[MIgunguy]

It certainly won't kaboom in storage, but it could kaboom when you fire it.

Yeah, that's what I meant, I guess I should have been more explicit

Those surplus ammo cans sound like a good idea. No wonder so many people around where I live are looking for so many of them.

 

[Gun Slinger]

CU74 hit the nail on the head.

Store your ammo in ammocans and it'll never be an issue since the ammocans support the burden above them and your ammo doesn't get crushed. An added bonus is that your ammo is protected from moisture issues (especially if you use a dessicant pack) in the sealed container. Using an ammocan solves all of the issues that concern you until you start stacking them so high that they constitute a "tipping" hazard.

 

[Nugilum]

Definitely use ammo cans. They're air tight and stackable.

Also, store near the ground, not on shelves. Remember fire travels up faster.

My only concern is the foundation...

 

[MIgunguy]

Did you inspect the ammo when you first bought it?

No, I bought it from a private individual in a FTF transaction. It was a sealed box with the shipping label intact over the seam where the halves of the lid came together, so I trust that he didn't know / isn't why he sold it (he was selling all his .45 ACP ammo). Could have happened anywhere.

 

[yooper_sjd]

i stacked ammo for 20 yrs in the navy as a gunnersmate, 6 of those yrs at weapons depot. Our stacking limit was only limited by the height of the forklift, and secureness of the pallets. but loose military cans , 4 or 5 high, don't want to bust your foot with a 50 lb can of ammo should it fall. other than that stack away as safely as you can with what you are using for storage containers.

 

[Fisherman_48768]

I've found that I can stack my ammo as high as I can lift it in one stack, then start another stack, etc..

 

[Treo]

There actually is a manual for this the Army puts it out. the artillery manual calls for

6 inches of dunage ( a pallet) underneath, 18 inches of airspace on top of the stack & 6 inches between pallets.

 

[louie19]

MIgunguy: How many boxes high were those stacked? Sounds they were piled up high.

I use the plastic ammo boxes with the waterproof gasket to seal it. They won't rust but they're strong and easy to find at a sporting good store like Dick's. It limits the amount you can put in, but you can get a decent amount in there and they won't get crushed. Put some desiccant in and you'll be set.

 

[rondog]

I recently found a guy selling surplus .30 and .50 steel military ammo cans, and that's what I'm going to store my stash in. I also buy those white 50 rd. cardboard ammo boxes from Midway with the styrofoam inserts. A .30 can will hold 6 of them.

 

[Dave A]

Some bullets sold for reloading have a wax lubricating band seated in a groove in the bullet. It is concievable that at high temperatures (trunk of your car in the summer) that wax might melt and contaminate the powder. Store that type of ammunition bullet down.

 

[JWF III]

The easy answer that really isn't an answer, stack them deep!

Wyman

 

[CWL]

A single case isn't going to do any damage to those rounds. If the shells were deep-seated from crushing, you'd see the damage to the case as well as individual 50-rd boxes.

I think the damage came out of the factory that way. You really should contact CCI to replace those boxes.

 

[jakemccoy]

What about stacking shot shells?

I don't have ammo cans for my 12 ga ammo. The boxes are stacked about 6 high. I imagine the pressure on one shell at the bottom is the same as if I stack 6 shells up in one column. That pressure is probably substantially less than the pressure on shells loaded in a magazine tube, but I don't know.

 

[dmazur]

I see the OP didn't express a concern about floor loading, but if you are storing enough in one room, it should be a concern. (Obviously this isn't a problem with a concrete floor.)

Typical live loads are quite low (like perhaps 80 psf), so if you're stacking it deep in a room with a conventional wood floor, you might want to investigate reinforcing columns in the crawl space.

I had to do this once when I added a masonry hearth in the middle of a living room. It made a dandy heat shield for the wood stove, but bricks are heavy! Additional posts & piers were added before I overloaded the floor.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I was going to say, why not worry about the floor caving in.

 

[JWarren]

When I have enough ammo to SERIOUSLY consider this question, I will be posting a picture of myself on THR.

I am sure that you all will be able to have fun captioning the picture of me with that BIG ol' grin on my face.


-- John

 

[Dodahdude]

I store mine around each door and every window. Less pressure on the floor joists if kept in one place...

 

[colorado_handgunner]

If you are making frequent trips to the range, over-storage of ammo becomes less of a problem, but it is replaced with the problem of constantly having to buy more!