Powder/Primers separate, or loaded rounds

[Henry45]

Which would give you the safest, longest shelf life? If you take loaded rounds, and put them in ammo cans, sealed with dessicant bags, is that more safe, than keeping powder and primers in original packages, separate from each other in say 70-75 degree conditions?

The reason I ask, is, i got all my dad's reloading stuff, and now i've got a BUNCH of primers and powders, other than mine. It's always been kept in a controlled environment, like mine has, but was wondering if i should load it up and store it in ammo cans.

Thanks folks!

 

[rcmodel]

Keep in original packaging and store separately.

That way, if one can of powder goes bad, you know which can it is.

No telling what you have if its already loaded in cartridges strung all over the place mixed with others from a different can.

Same with the primers.
Before seating, the lacquer and foil seal over the primer compound is completely intact.
It's broken slightly during seating.

rc

 

[FROGO207]

To add to what RC said I find that having the components on hand to load many different calibers instead of already loaded ammo allows me to be fluid in what I shoot/reload. My shooting interests change from year to year ao some years I shoot a boat load of 9MM and next year it might be two boatloads of 38 SPL. If all my primers and propellant are tied up in 9MM still and I run short of primers that would be no fun taking apart rounds to reuse primers. So I keep a minimum amount of loaded rounds on hand for each caliber and use components as needed when I get low. That said, I process all my brass and reload as needed in the winter months. Then I shoot mostly in warmer weather as a rule. Some .22 postal matches in the winter to keep me on the X ring.

 

[Potatohead]

Same with the primers.
Before seating, the lacquer and foil seal over the primer compound is completely intact.
It's broken slightly during seating.

Good to know. Didnt know that.

 

[W.E.G.]

I don't know where this notion of putting "dessicant" packs in ammo cans came from.

If the ammo container is not airtight, the "dessicant" pack is going to absorb moisture from the intruding air, and within a few days will be of no use to the ammo.

If the ammo container is airtight, the "dessicant" pack won't need to absorb any moisture, because ammunition does not contain or generate moisture.

Moreover, you will NEVER find a "dessicant" pack in any ammunition container owned by the military. One might fairly infer then that there is no need whatsoever to ever put a "dessicant" pack in an ammo container.

Who thinks this stuff up anyway?

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

It may not be enough to be important, but since we reloaders don't vacuum pack or inert gas purge our ammo cans, there will be some moisture in the air sealed in the can. More in a can sealed in a garage in Alabama in July than in a basement in Illinois in January, but some amount in either case.

If the temperature drops, that moisture could condense out onto our ammo. The dessicant will not dry an infinite amount of air, but it should dry the amount of air sealed in the can with ammo, preventing any condensation. It's been 40 years since I saw military small arms ammo delivered, but I believe military ammo is sealed at the bullet and the primer, a step most reloaders don't take. Also, most military purchases of precision equipment requires purge and seal or vacuum pack, and that may be the case for ammo though I don't know. Even if not, the small amount of moisture trapped in a delivery container would be unlikely to have any affect on sealed ammo. That may very well be true of our unsealed reloads, too, but if someone wants to put a dessicant pack in his ammo can I say "go for it" if it makes you feel better.

 

[W.E.G.]

Anybody who discovers corroded handloads in their G.I. ammo-can can fairly well bet that the cause of the corrosion is due to something quite other than the air trapped in the can at the time the can was closed.

If you have powder reacting with itself, or with bullet-metal or with some oddball case-lube residue, or with the fouling inside the case when the rounds were assembled, the "dessicant" is not going to help.

For instance, see http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=362601

The corrosion inside the case did not come from the air outside the case.

FWIW, I store my ammo in Ziplock bags inside G.I. ammo cans.
Not to protect the rounds from the air inside the can (although I suppose the bags may serve such purpose), but simply to segregate the ammo into particular batches; or to just have a more-manageable smaller sub-containers than a whole can of loose rounds.

 

[Sunray]

The only component that might deteriorate overtime and needs constant temperatures is the powder. Primers don't need special care.
Like W.E.G. says, desiccant is more trouble than it's worth. Requires regular maintenance and isn't exactly cheap to start with. Your controlled environment will do.
Always laugh when my buddies open my beer fridge and find cast bullets. Tell 'em it keep 'em fresh. Also makes handling 'em with the lube less messy.

 

[witchhunter]

Keep them separate, I used to load all of my brass into ammo and store in ammo cans. But being that I load precision rounds for my pdog guns, it has caused me to change up. I usually neck size fireformed brass. I scored on a gang of 17 Remington bullets and brass and loaded them all (1800 or so) then two months later, my barrel went away. I had to pull all of them and full length resize as the new chamber was tighter and they wouldn't fit. Now, I keep this years stuff loaded, no more. I have all of my brass prepped and ready to load, but it is stored in gallon baggies. My theory on ammo storage is use GI ammo cans, they are airtight and are perfect for long term storage, no moisture packs needed. I have 38 special ammo loaded in them since 1980. It still works great.

 

[Rule3]

I don't know where this notion of putting "dessicant" packs in ammo cans came from.

If the ammo container is not airtight, the "dessicant" pack is going to absorb moisture from the intruding air, and within a few days will be of no use to the ammo.

If the ammo container is airtight, the "dessicant" pack won't need to absorb any moisture, because ammunition does not contain or generate moisture.

Moreover, you will NEVER find a "dessicant" pack in any ammunition container owned by the military. One might fairly infer then that there is no need whatsoever to ever put a "dessicant" pack in an ammo container.

Who thinks this stuff up anyway?

The Master Locksmith that has been selling and installing safes in my area for over 30 years says the same thing. The safe I bought came with a giant bag of desiccant. He said he was going to throw it out. I asked why. The bags absorb moisture, once the are saturated then what you have is a "bag" of water so why keep that in the safe? Even though we are under AC most of the year there is still moisture and the AC does a better job.

In a job I had I used to go into Condo Units of people that left for the summer, They would put containers of damp rid all over the place, every room. You look at them and all they are are plastic containers full of water!.

All it is is Calcium Chloride that then liquifies.

Anyway, leave components separated in original containers. I have some that I used a seal a meal type bag and sucked the air out,

 

[W.E.G.]

If you find a dampness-situation in a non-airtight metal box (gun safe or otherwise), the "Goldenrod" dehumidifier is the better solution.
http://www.amazon.com/GoldenRod-36-inch-Dehumidifier-7D-36/dp/B005FRG6T2

 

[jmorris]

Loaded is only bad if you wish you had components for something else.

Most of my stock is unloaded and stored in a controlled environment.

 

[Henry45]

I loaded up a few rounds with all the ''old'' stuff yesterday and went out to the range. Some of this stuff, (powder and primers), were from the 70's. Shot perfect. No issues at all. Pop kept all his stuff in a heated/airconditioned work shop and took meticulous care of his stuff. I'm just going to keep it separate, and in my controlled atmosphere shop. I can tell ya, if I live to be 100, I dont' think i'll ever shoot up what I have now in primers and powder.. Not even if i shot 500 rounds a week. I can see now where i got the insanity from.. LOL...

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Another vote for keeping them separate.

I don't keep huge stockpiles of ammo on hand. I keep a few thousand loaded up and as many components on hand as I can afford.

 

[mdm]

It depends on your habits.

If you are a tinker that routinely tweaks your loads and esp. if you use the components for more than one gun, keep the components in the original pack until you need them.

If you tend to find a load that meets your needs and probably won't change that load until they add an eighth day to the week, load it up as you have time and store the rounds in good sealable containers.

I'm a bit of both. With the ARs, .30 carbine, and 9mm I've settled on good loads that serve both my practice and SD/HD needs with all the weapons in the house. With the .243 I tinker.

 

[Hondo 60]

Who thinks this stuff up anyway?

The dessicant makers - so they can sell more.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

I just opened a new Remington "Bucket of Bullets" of .22 lr (I happened to be in the right place at the right time not long ago) and what do I behold but two dessicant packs. I guess the dessicant makers got to the ammo manufacturers as well

 

[cfullgraf]

I both keep loaded ammunition and componets on hand.

Since I started playing with progressive presses, I will do a year's run of certain cartridges that I never change the load.

Cartridges that I am tinkering with or do not shoot much, I keep alot less ammunition on hand.

I also keep a stock of components on hand. Primers and many powders can be used in different cartridges so I have flexibilty for reloading since I do not necessarily shoot the same cartridge all the time. These days with all the fun and games in Washington, I keep a couple years inventor of components on hand.