westernrover
Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2018
- Messages
- 1,613
I live in an arid climate, but I still take care to manage moisture and humidity when storing things long term. Until recently, I've primarily stored my ammo as components. I'll leave component storage to another discussion in the Reloading/Handloading section. The following is about storing loaded ammo.
In Magazines
It makes sense to store ammo for ready use in magazines even if they may not be needed for many years. It would depend at least on reliable, durable magazines where the spring won't set or the feed lips push out after a long, long time. Also, the magazines and ammo in them would still need to be stored in a sealed container like a metal or plastic ammo can with an o-ring seal. I don't personally have any experience storing loaded magazines over the long term. Do you have any concerns about damage to the magazines being stored full for 10 or 20 years?
In Clips
The reason I haven't previously stored full magazines is because my firearms primarily use clips. I store many hundreds of rounds in moon clips, but those tend to be the ones that get used and re-filled rather than ones stored long term. Stripper clips, on the other hand, seem a like a good way to store ammo for the long term. They're particularly attractive for storing ammo above and beyond the quantities that I could fit into the magazines I own. Three ten-round strippers cost less than $1 and I haven't seen good magazines that cost near as little. The strippers and a spoon make loading a magazine quicker in the moment. Someone could argue loading the strippers takes as long as loading a magazine, but strippers could be loaded at leisure while facilitating a quick magazine reload when one doesn't have leisure. No doubt an additional magazine is preferable for convenience but unless the entire inventory of cartridges can be contained in available magazines, clips seem to have a place. Their place would also be in a sealed can of some kind or a bandoliers within the can.
In Bandoliers
This might have logically fit better between Magazines and Clips, but I had to introduce clips first before I could discuss bandoliers. The most popular bandoliers must be the 4-pocket type that hold 3 clips in each pocket. Seven bandoliers pack in a 50-cal can for 840 rounds of 5.56. It's somewhat costlier to repack loose rounds or clips into bandoliers, but it must still be less costly than magazines and although time-consuming, it would greatly facilitate transport of the clips and reloading magazines when that time came. There are various bandoliers for 7.62x39 for the AK or SKS, and 6-pocket bandoliers that fit two clips of 7.62x54 for those guns with 20-round magazines. Similarly, a Mini-14 typically takes 20-round magazines which can also be preferable for AR's that are fired from prone positions. For those, I've found the 7-pocket, 2-clips per pocket bandoliers (Vietnam surplus). These pack six into a 50-cal can. The bandoliers often use cardboard inserts. Would this be a safe way to store them for the long term assuming the bandolier was thoroughly dried before being loaded and stashed in a sealed can with some desiccant?
In Factory Cartons or MTM boxes
Neither of these are sealed, so they'd still be going into a sealed container. The cardboard factory cartons can hold moisture so they must be dry before packing. The greatest appeal factory cartons have for me is for resale or trade. I use MTM boxes to store ammo for my own use that doesn't fit into clips or magazines (usually the low-quantity varieties). But for 5.56 and 9mm, I'd like to have boxes of 20 or 50 for resale, trade, or gifts in times of shortage. I think the factory cartons would be more desirable than loose rounds or anything that looks like reloads. Are there any concerns with storing in a sealed can factory cartons like 20-round boxes of Federal XM855 or 50-rounds of Winchester White Box?
Loose Rounds
I've seen them stored in ammo cans, vacuum-sealed bags, Zip-locs, large steel drums... you name it. I suppose for the largest quantities, it's the only method practical. I can also see how for a cartridge like 9mm where an UpLULA makes more sense than stripper clips, that loose rounds would be the most desirable way to store ammo beyond the capacity of magazine inventory.
Sealed Containers
Unless the ammo is in sealed bags, a sealed can or container of some kind seems necessary for long-term protection. I store my reloading components in sealed bags, so I don't have experience with ammo cans. I just bought a "Fortress" brand 50-cal can for $19.98 delivered. Is this a mistake? I haven't received it yet. I could buy US-made cans in good used condition in a modest quantity without paying a lot for the cans, but the shipping cost is killer.
In Magazines
It makes sense to store ammo for ready use in magazines even if they may not be needed for many years. It would depend at least on reliable, durable magazines where the spring won't set or the feed lips push out after a long, long time. Also, the magazines and ammo in them would still need to be stored in a sealed container like a metal or plastic ammo can with an o-ring seal. I don't personally have any experience storing loaded magazines over the long term. Do you have any concerns about damage to the magazines being stored full for 10 or 20 years?
In Clips
The reason I haven't previously stored full magazines is because my firearms primarily use clips. I store many hundreds of rounds in moon clips, but those tend to be the ones that get used and re-filled rather than ones stored long term. Stripper clips, on the other hand, seem a like a good way to store ammo for the long term. They're particularly attractive for storing ammo above and beyond the quantities that I could fit into the magazines I own. Three ten-round strippers cost less than $1 and I haven't seen good magazines that cost near as little. The strippers and a spoon make loading a magazine quicker in the moment. Someone could argue loading the strippers takes as long as loading a magazine, but strippers could be loaded at leisure while facilitating a quick magazine reload when one doesn't have leisure. No doubt an additional magazine is preferable for convenience but unless the entire inventory of cartridges can be contained in available magazines, clips seem to have a place. Their place would also be in a sealed can of some kind or a bandoliers within the can.
In Bandoliers
This might have logically fit better between Magazines and Clips, but I had to introduce clips first before I could discuss bandoliers. The most popular bandoliers must be the 4-pocket type that hold 3 clips in each pocket. Seven bandoliers pack in a 50-cal can for 840 rounds of 5.56. It's somewhat costlier to repack loose rounds or clips into bandoliers, but it must still be less costly than magazines and although time-consuming, it would greatly facilitate transport of the clips and reloading magazines when that time came. There are various bandoliers for 7.62x39 for the AK or SKS, and 6-pocket bandoliers that fit two clips of 7.62x54 for those guns with 20-round magazines. Similarly, a Mini-14 typically takes 20-round magazines which can also be preferable for AR's that are fired from prone positions. For those, I've found the 7-pocket, 2-clips per pocket bandoliers (Vietnam surplus). These pack six into a 50-cal can. The bandoliers often use cardboard inserts. Would this be a safe way to store them for the long term assuming the bandolier was thoroughly dried before being loaded and stashed in a sealed can with some desiccant?
In Factory Cartons or MTM boxes
Neither of these are sealed, so they'd still be going into a sealed container. The cardboard factory cartons can hold moisture so they must be dry before packing. The greatest appeal factory cartons have for me is for resale or trade. I use MTM boxes to store ammo for my own use that doesn't fit into clips or magazines (usually the low-quantity varieties). But for 5.56 and 9mm, I'd like to have boxes of 20 or 50 for resale, trade, or gifts in times of shortage. I think the factory cartons would be more desirable than loose rounds or anything that looks like reloads. Are there any concerns with storing in a sealed can factory cartons like 20-round boxes of Federal XM855 or 50-rounds of Winchester White Box?
Loose Rounds
I've seen them stored in ammo cans, vacuum-sealed bags, Zip-locs, large steel drums... you name it. I suppose for the largest quantities, it's the only method practical. I can also see how for a cartridge like 9mm where an UpLULA makes more sense than stripper clips, that loose rounds would be the most desirable way to store ammo beyond the capacity of magazine inventory.
Sealed Containers
Unless the ammo is in sealed bags, a sealed can or container of some kind seems necessary for long-term protection. I store my reloading components in sealed bags, so I don't have experience with ammo cans. I just bought a "Fortress" brand 50-cal can for $19.98 delivered. Is this a mistake? I haven't received it yet. I could buy US-made cans in good used condition in a modest quantity without paying a lot for the cans, but the shipping cost is killer.
