More Ammo Storage Questions

[lightman]

This topic comes up pretty often and I've seen some neat ideas. MTM plastic boxes, Military ammo cans and kitchen containers from Walmart all seem to be popular and work well as do repurposed plastic food containers. My questions are mostly for the reloader that uses ammo cans. #1-Do you put your ammo directly into the ammo can in direct contact with the ammo can or do you first put it into something else like a ZipLoc bag? #2-If you do put it directly into the ammo can have you ever had problems with the dissimilar metals causing corrosion?

I know that military ammo is placed directly in the can and seems to have an extremely long storage life. I have quite a bit stored in ammo cans and so far have found no issues. I do look at it every so often and even spray the lid gasket with Silicon spray. Mine are also stored in a controlled environment with a stable temperature.

The only issues seem to be that a full 50 caliber can is heavy!
Thanks in advance.

 

[frankmako]

I just drop the ammo in the army ammo can. I also like plastic coffee cans.

 

[NoirFan]

I write the load data on a heavy duty ziploc, bag the ammo, then put it in the can. Toss in some desiccant if I have it. I’ve never heard of can metal reacting with cartridges though.

When I’m reloading the components and finished rounds go in plastic Chinese takeout containers next to the press, very high tech

 

[George P]

This topic comes up pretty often and I've seen some neat ideas. MTM plastic boxes, Military ammo cans and kitchen containers from Walmart all seem to be popular and work well as do repurposed plastic food containers. My questions are mostly for the reloader that uses ammo cans. #1-Do you put your ammo directly into the ammo can in direct contact with the ammo can or do you first put it into something else like a ZipLoc bag? #2-If you do put it directly into the ammo can have you ever had problems with the dissimilar metals causing corrosion?

I know that military ammo is placed directly in the can and seems to have an extremely long storage life. I have quite a bit stored in ammo cans and so far have found no issues. I do look at it every so often and even spray the lid gasket with Silicon spray. Mine are also stored in a controlled environment with a stable temperature.

The only issues seem to be that a full 50 caliber can is heavy!
Thanks in advance.

Not at all; some of my ammo has been sitting in ammo cans loose for over 25 years; first in dry arid climates and then in damp humid climates

 

[Bfh_auto]

I do both. There is loose desiccant in the bottom though.
My latest is baby formula tubs. They stack well and are disposable.

 

[Jack B.]

My loaded ammo gets stored at the most 2 weeks then it gets used. Storage conditions not a concern. But I use plastic ammo boxes. MTM , Plano & Dillon in a climate controlled room. My usage, shooting & reloading habits don't require me to have thousands of rounds in storage.

 

[Wildbillz]

Most of it I have put 100 rounds in a ziploc and then into the ammo can. I also use the flap of the primer box to write down the load info and tuck that into the baggie with the ammo. Last run of 9mm I did I put it straight into the can. I think from now on I am going to do it that way. Reason being the baggies are not holding up over time and travel to the range when I pull them out. I keep a small round can that holds 100 rnds of 9mm that I fill each trip now.

WB

 

[GBExpat]

I am a fan of intermediate packaging (usually HD Ziplocs with loose ammo) inside storage containers.

Among other things, I currently have about 100 asst'd milsurp ammo cans (most are .50cal) in-use for ammo storage.

The bulk of my milsurp ammo is still in its sealed cases and/or battle packs.

 

[Blue68f100]

I do both. I store bulk in the ammo cans with load info and how many there is. For my current usage I transfer them to the MTM boxes so I know how many I'm grabbing when I start shooting. I have in the past used zip lock bags, 100 rounds counts for easy grab-n-go.

 

[lightman]

Thanks for the replys everyone. I've had some loose ammo stored in ammo cans since 1994 with no problems. I've kept a watch on it and was worried about it being in the can loose. I started bagging it, usually 500 to a bag and discovered that it takes up more room bagged than it does loose. That may be a good thing as a 50 caliber can full of ammo is quiet heavy! Its also a good bit of work! I'll probably just leave it in the can loose. Every few years I do open my cans and give the gasket a squirt of silicon spray just to keep the gasket pliable.

When I bought most of these ammo cans they had some red dirt in them. I'm guessing maybe Fort Benning? But anyway, I dumped them out, washed and dried them well and wiped the insides down with a silicon impregnated rag.

The ammo that I shoot regularly is in MTM plastic boxes. Pistol in in 50's and rifle is in 100's.

 

[frankmako]

I got some 22lr ammo that I put lose into ammo cans in the early 80s. Just as good as the day it went in. This ammo went into the two cans in El Paso, then moved to miami, then to d.c., then to tennessee. Just open them this summer to use them. Just cheap Remington 22lr blasting ammo that was kept in the out building/garage/basement.

 

[Nature Boy]

I’m kind of a nut when it comes to MTM ammo boxes. I get them from Amazon and because they are so cheap they fall into the “add on” category. As a result, they won’t ship them individually so I buy a buch at a time. My problem is I shoot so much that the boxes are usually empty so they’re just taking up space. If I was going to do it all over again I’d have 1/4 of what I actually purchased

 

[lightman]

I’m kind of a nut when it comes to MTM ammo boxes. I get them from Amazon and because they are so cheap they fall into the “add on” category. As a result, they won’t ship them individually so I buy a buch at a time. My problem is I shoot so much that the boxes are usually empty so they’re just taking up space. If I was going to do it all over again I’d have 1/4 of what I actually purchased

Yeah, I'm MTM poor! I should have bought stock in MTM years ago.

 

[cheygriz]

Military ammo cans with new silicone seals, and dessicant. I place a dessicant "tablet" in the top of the can so I can check them annually, If the tablet is pink, I will "dry" the dessicant in a 200 degree oven for an hour.

I have ammo loaded in the late 70s that's as good as brand new.

 

[TheDomFather]

For rifle rounds they all go into MTM or similar caliber specific boxes for me. I dont typically build a huge amount of these rounds. I usually build enough for a range trip or two. For pistol I tend to build about 2000 rounds at a time for 9mm for example. I have 9 MTM boxes for 9MM that hold 100 rounds each. The rest go into an ammo can. They dont usually sit around for more than a couple of months and I have not had any isues.

 

[Comrade Mike]

I am also an MTM addict, and keep everything neatly organized on the "ammo shelf" in the gun room. The other shelf is for the MTM cases loaded back up with the empty brass waiting for more bullet stuffing

 

[splattergun]

I put loading session quantities usually 100 or 200, with load data into plastic bags, then put them in the ammo can.
That way, if I try a variable in my usual data, I can easily see it and note it.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I store ammo in vacuum bags then in ammo boxes with dissicant bags on top, so far no issues.

 

[lightman]

Thanks again for the replys and ideas. I have been going through my stash, some of which has been in ammo cans since 1994 and have found nothing to be concerned about. It seems as though my concerns about the bare cases being in contact with the different metal in the ammo can are all for nothing. But I am taking the time to inventory and list it, just to know what I've got. Like I said, I'm also spraying the lid gasket with silicon spray to keep it pliable.

 

[GBExpat]

One form of "ammo storage" that I practice involves historically-appropriate bandoleers/belts/mag-bags that I have pre-filled with milsurp (usually) ammunition on strippers, chargers and/or in magazines.

I have many of them hanging in the basement.

If I feel the sudden urge to walk over to the farm and do some shooting, I can quickly choose a rifle from one of the gunsafes and a bando/belt/bag and be out of the door in a few minutes (after I use one of the pre-positioned rods to quickly run a patch thru the bore ... one of my personal safety rules ).