Length of time to store ammo in truck or car?

[Still Learning]

Hot weather will be here before long and I was wondering what your thoughts are on keeping ammo in the vehicle. Last summer I stashed my extra ammo in my brief case and carried it into the office with me. I typically like to carry about 40 rounds of carbine ammo and 20 extra rounds of .45 ACP in addition to the loaded magazines.

At the last gun show I picked up some large GI ammo cans for storing first-aid kits, water, etc. in the vehicles. Could I get away with storing the ammo in there too? I know heat is really hard on everything but what if I replaced the ammo on a monthly basis?

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[CWL]

Since ammo has been successfully buried in the jungles of the Phillipines for over 30 years and still works, you should have no problems with storing some ammo the trunk of your car in OK.

 

[Art Eatman]

Get some styrofoam to line the ammo can. That'll cut down the max temperatures. Remember the inside of a vehicle can get well over 140 degrees, if parked in summer sun.

A month at a time shouldn't hurt anything, SFAIK. I've deliberately left a few pistol rounds in my glove box, just from curiosity. They always have shot okay. Dunno about an entire summer...

Art

 

[benEzra]

Get some styrofoam to line the ammo can. That'll cut down the max temperatures. Remember the inside of a vehicle can get well over 140 degrees, if parked in summer sun.

Or get one of those small, soft-sided coolers sized for 3-4 Pepsi's and a sandwich and use that to store the ammo. Also has the advantage of looking innocuous if you have to access the trunk.

 

[ambidextrous1]

The use of styrofoam in a storage compartment will delay the increase in temperature of its contents. In a climate where the overnight low is maybe 80 degrees F and the daytime high is around 100 degrees F, the contents of the compartment will probably average 90 degrees, sometimes higher and sometimes lower. Another possible problem is vibration, which may affect powder particle size and burn rate(!).

Hey, it's fun to go shootin' from time to time, say four times a year. Shoot the stuff you've been hauling aroung first.

Incidentally, it's okay go go shooting once a week - it can improve your marksmanship!

Problems can develop; but if you turn over your 'stash' at least once a quarter, you should be okay, IMHO.