storing ammo

[chaddy187]

What is the best way to do this and long will the ammo last?

 

[41magsnub]

ammo can plus a desiccant in a cool dry area. dunno what to say about how long other than really really really long.

 

[ChuteTheMall]

a small plastic ice chest makes a nice colorful but discrete alternative to a milsurp ammo can.

 

[Starter52]

No need to get fancy. Any plastic container with a sealed lid will work. +1 to the ice chest idea.

 

[Drail]

Military ammo cans work well. The main thing to be concerned with is humidity inside the can. If you seal them up on a humid damp day moist air will remain inside the can until opened again. Dessicant will help and most of the dessicants can be reactivated in an oven. Avoid basements and attics. Ammo likes the same environment as people. (70 degrees/less than 45% humidity) Shelf life is pretty much until long after you've passed on.

 

[Deadheadted37]

I recently saw several ammo cans from my friends late fathers estate, these where loaded with ammo in the original cardboard boxes. They where dated when sealed between 1959-1966 and stored in his fathers basement in Chicago. The cans look pretty bad and almost all ammo was in good condition. But some of cardboard boxes had deteriorated so badly that the ammo was unusable.

My recommendation would be to remove and unnecessary packaging that was not intended or designed for long term storage. Seal the can in dry condition and store accordingly.

Another idea is to use a food vacuum sealer.

 

[possum]

welcome to thr.
i use the green ammo cans from cabelas the green plastic ones, they are about the size of a .50 cal can and they work great. have had no issues. not saying that you need that, but something with a sealable lid is good.

 

[Average Joe]

I use surplus ammo cans, and store in a dry place. How long will it last you ask? Probably for ever....I have ammo from WWI that still shoots like the day it was made.

 

[Shadow 7D]

by eastern block military production like wolf or bear or some S&B

They have sealed the cases, the red paint, should stay good until the little thingy in the back gets a dent.

 

[Vonderek]

Don't get overly concerned about ammo storage. Millions of rounds are stored worldwide in non-climate controlled warehouses for decades. 50 and 60 years later it still works fine.

 

[surplusfan]

... But some of cardboard boxes had deteriorated so badly that the ammo was unusable.

My recommendation would be to remove and unnecessary packaging that was not intended or designed for long term storage. ...

How did box decomposition damage the ammo?

 

[rcmodel]

GI steel ammo cans were desgned to store ammo perfectly for decades.

Unlike Ice Chests and Tupperware, they are fire-resistent, and will contain ammo fragments in case your house catches on fire.

rc