Need some thoughts on safe ammo storage

[1911 guy]

Yep. Cans. And the reason the military stores ammunition is locations separated from other areas is simply one of security. Got nothing to do with KB's. Thing is, though, a lot of people, even some shooters, don't know the difference between a propellant, explosive and high explosive. And many assume that a cartridge outside a firearm chamber behaves the same as a cartridge inside a firearm chamber. My biggest worry with ammo going off outside a chamber is the small possibility of brass coming my way. But even that only happens with very heavy projectiles.

 

[alsaqr]

While storing ammunition in a military ammo box is very popular, if heated to the point that a round cooks off, they will almost certainly all go off together, making a rather large explosion.

No, they don't. i've burned the stuff in ammo cans. It pops off until all the ammo in the can is burned. Seldom does a bullet leave the can.

Been working in US Army EOD and as a civilian UXO tech for over 50 years. I've burned hundreds of millions of small arms ammo rounds: Maybe even a billion or two. When burned in the open, the bullet seldom travels more than 30 feet.

This burn pit contains millions of rounds: Mosty 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammo:

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll268/alsaqr/BurningAmmo-1.jpg

 

[leadcounsel]

FWIW, I like the "fat .50" cans. I think they're for M240 ammo, not positive though. But they're big enough that a standard .50 cal can will fit inside, yet they're not too big. I put my ammo in the white boxes from Midway, and the fat .50's will hold lots of them nicely.

I found this funny - those .50 cans are for ... you guessed it.... .50 calibers! The M2 comes to mind. The 240 fires the .308 (7.62x51).

 

[hso]

ammo cans full of ammo are not bombs that will KABOOM in a fire. That's [strike]two [/strike] 3 MEC/EODT professionals that have laid that myth to rest and we should all take note of it.

Can we NOW consider this old nag of a myth beaten sufficiently to death by experts so people will stop regurgitating it?

 

[Reloadron]

Can we NOW consider this old nag of a myth beaten sufficiently to death by experts so people will stop regurgitating it?

Absolutely and without a doubt. It can be put to rest till the next time it rears its ugly head. Maybe a month or two.

Ron

 

[hso]

You're more optimistic than I am.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

Why are you bullying that maybe not-quite-so-innocent rumor!? Tsk, tsk!

900F

 

[vito]

I think your solution is to dig a sub-basement under your current basement, designing a room there specifically for ammo and powder storage. A fire started in your home, or basement, would move upward, not downward so the sub-basement storage area would stay secure. Once you break the concrete floor of your current basement, just did a bit each evening and within no time at all you will have had hollowed out the needed room. Reinforce with 4x4's and 1" plywood and you're set to go.