Polymer Tip Ammo Storage

[Mot45acp]

My Google-Fu is weak.

I am running out of room and have since focused my ammo storage on rounds other than fmj range ammo. Problem is the rounds in boxes have a high volume per round ratio. I can fit 14 boxes of 20 in a small .50cal can.

I'm wondering if storing the rounds loose in .30cal cans would/could damage the polymer tips. Particularly the rounds on the bottom supporting the weight of the rounds above them.

280 rounds in .50cal can vs 500 rounds consolidated in a .30cal can would free up a lot of space.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Not science, but I don't believe the polymer tip is more susceptible to damage than an exposed lead tip on a soft-point round -- if anything, it is probably more robust.

FWIW, I store all my loaded ammo (except bulk packaged rimfire) in plastic ammo boxes, both to keep different loadings for the same cartridge segregated and to make an accurate inventory faster.

This photo was taken several years back and since then I've entirely switched from steel military ammo cans to plastic jobs from Harbor Freight, partly in order to reduce weight. The plastic cans also open with less fuss -- the lids on the military cans always stick on me, requiring both hands to open.

I use industrial-type steel shelving to store the cans, with labels on the end to show contents at a glance. They're in a secure, alarmed, insulated outbuilding with fairly constant temperature and humidity.



Right now my storage issues are with reloading components, especially bullets.

 

[792mauser]

They're designed to "spring back" to a spitzer shape after taking a SEVERE g-force load.

Sitting with a couple of pounds on em is probably gonna make no real difference.

 

[edwardware]

Polymer will plastically deform over time at strain levels below the short term elastic limit; in other words it will "take a set." A few hours won't do it, a few years will, and a closer definition depends on time, strain density, temperature, and polymer chemistry.

If you want to preserve those expensive looking spitzer tips, don't store them in a way that deforms them.

 

[Hugger-4641]

You don't have to store them vertically. I have my 6.5cm and .223 ballistic tips stacked horizontally in ammo boxes, you do end up with a little gap between rows that needs cardboard or foam inserted to keep the stacks tight. You do get a few less rounds this way as opposed to vertical, but not a big difference.

 

[jct61765]

Why not just buy more ammo cans? It's not rocket science.

 

[troy fairweather]

I'd spend the time to stack them nice and neat laying down if your limited on space, wear some gloves and throw in some of those Oxygen eater packs in the can.

 

[Demi-human]

Why not just buy more ammo cans? It's not rocket science.

Nope, it’s geometry. Ten cans won’t fit into a volume of nine cans, for example. So it becomes a volume density equation, 500 in each can or 250 in each can.

I have higher accuracy requirements than some.
I do not store non-bulk ammunition in bulk style.
Those came packed in sleeves for a reason.

I agree with @edwardware about the tip deformation on those with the softish plastic. The hard plastic ones should be fine, but I still wouldn’t dump those in a can.
Even though they aren’t as long as the bullets I shoot, there is still leverage being placed on the neck and may disrupt tension and accuracy. After spending so much, I can’t do that.

 

[BudrowBob]

I have never liked the idea of storing ammo loose in ammo cans myself.
I like my ammo easy to load when I want to use it and easy to inventory.

A couple of options:
Load that ammo onto stripper clips and bandoleers and pack 420rds per .50 can. You would be getting 21 boxes per can instead of 14.
-or-
You can skip the bandoleers and simply store the ammo on stripper clips and packed in the cardboard sleeves and get 1020rds per .50 can. (51 boxes of ammo per can)

It would still be protected and easy to load when needed.

 

[bfoosh006]

https://www.midwayusa.com/ammo-boxes-and-labels/br?cid=683&Brand=MTM

 

[lightman]

My Google-Fu is weak.

I am running out of room and have since focused my ammo storage on rounds other than fmj range ammo. Problem is the rounds in boxes have a high volume per round ratio. I can fit 14 boxes of 20 in a small .50cal can.

I'm wondering if storing the rounds loose in .30cal cans would/could damage the polymer tips. Particularly the rounds on the bottom supporting the weight of the rounds above them.

280 rounds in .50cal can vs 500 rounds consolidated in a .30cal can would free up a lot of space.
View attachment 1085740 View attachment 1085741View attachment 1085742

I don't think you will damage anything by storing them like your bottom picture shows. I wouldn't even be worried about storing them like your top picture. But I wouldn't store the rounds loose in an ammo can. But I do have some ammo stored loose in ammo cans and have seen no problems. Most of its FMJ though!

 

[entropy]

Stripper clips. You can store more that way than even loose, because of less wasted space.
It's how I store my range .223 ammo. Just got done using some to point blank zero my AR carbine. I really like the 1-8 Strike Eagle I put on it.

 

[Mot45acp]

My primary concern is the polymer taking a set over long term. I do like the idea of horizontal stacking with cardboard or foam spacers to keep from shifting.

I do plan on desiccant packs. Good catch on wearing gloves, I had forgotten.