Wasn't quite sure where to put this...ammo storage?

[SilentStalker]

Ok, so I was thinking tonight about the storage of ammo i.e. the best place to store it, best storage practices, longevity, safety, etc. So, I am wondering how, where, and what you guys do to use and store your ammo? What got me thinking about this was the fact that hoarding ammo and storing it in a closet is probably not very safe for many reasons and aside from that probably not the best way to store it and I am not saying that this is what I am doing, but I would imagine that most people have their ammo stored either in ammo boxes in a closet, in their basements somewhere out of sight, or in a safe or something, none of which are IMO the best ways to store this stuff. However, I am curious to hear what options you guys can think of or are already practicing besides these methods. Anyways, just thought it would make an interesting topic...I look forward to reading your responses.

 

[General Geoff]

What got me thinking about this was the fact that hoarding ammo and storing it in a closet is probably not very safe for many reasons

...what reasons would those be?


Store in a dry place. Temperature doesn't particularly matter. Modern ammunition (especially military spec stuff) has a shelf life of at least 50 years, probably 100 or more, if stored in dry conditions at any earthly temperature.

 

[mdug59]

I use mine,it calls out to me to use it.I dont have the will power to let it sit around gathering dust.But if you have too,just heed the warning labels and cross yer fingers yer house dont burn down.

 

[General Geoff]

As an aside, smokeless powder is a propellant, not an explosive. Ammunition poses no particularly grave threat to life or limb if it is cooked off in a house fire when it's not chambered.

Black powder, on the other hand...

 

[o Unforgiven o]

It really does not matter where you store as it will not spontaneously combust or anything like that, and in a fire poses no real threat because it has no chance to build up speed or pressure. Just make sure that you keep it dry, and preferably in a cool place which I am sure your house is.

There are several options for the dry part though like dehumidifiers and desiccant packs which you will need to consider depending on the amount you want to store and where you will keep it.

 

[WVMountainBoy]

Military surplus ammo can plus desiccant pack, go along the ammo can's seal with a very small amount of vasoline to prevent drying damage and you have great long term storage. You may still want to keep it in a dry place to keep the can from rusting.

I don't deal with a very wide selection of calibers so I use a spray paint can and color code the ammo cans:
white-12 gauge 00 buck, orange- 7mm Mag, blue- 45acp, red-40 S&W, black-.38/.357
Thats just my color index, I'm sure it demonstrates the idea though

 

[W.E.G.]

Ammo goes in AMMO CANS.

There is nothing complicated about this.
Look at what the military stores their ammo in.
Does anybody here think they have a better idea than what the military has used for decades?

I will note that the military DOES NOT use desicant packs or goo on the seals of their cans.
If you are storing your ammo cans underwater, I guess you gotta come up with some unique strategies.

Don't even get me started on the guys who re-pack their ammo in paint cans and that sort of nonsense.

Yes, there are tricks for HIDING ammo.
But once you get to a certain point of ammo accumulation, it becomes impossible to hide it.
At that point you just gotta stack it neatly. Ammo cans will allow you to do that.

If storage space is an issue for you, it is time to downsize your collection and supplies.

 

[chevyman097]

I use 30mm ammo cans for storage and smaller ammo cans to carry a small ammout of what I take shooting. They are cheap. I find the 30mm cans for 20 bucks at random places and the smaller ones even cheaper. I usually prefer the ones in near 100% condition of course so I try to pick through them and fine the best ones. They seal up nice and are pretty much water proof.

They work great. And pose no threat when stored in a closet or what not.

Im curious to know why people seem to suggest storing ammo in a closet or even in a home is unsafe practice.

 

[mcdonl]

I store mine on a shelf in the boxes they get tossed in when they come off the press. Then, first chance I get... I shoot them... Ammo does not stay around my house. By the time I get a 1000 loaded, it is time to go shooting.

I would use ammo cans, but I have a lot of tupperware type containers that work well for me.

 

[NavyLCDR]

What got me thinking about this was the fact that hoarding ammo and storing it in a closet is probably not very safe for many reasons and aside from that probably not the best way to store it and I am not saying that this is what I am doing

I don't see any real basis for your comment and that is almost exactly how I store my ammo. Except mine is in plastic storage bins in my daughter's bedroom, so I guess that makes me a bad dad?

There are millions of cases of ammo stacked up on store shelves and on pallets in warehouses all over this country and it poses no problems. Not to mention the thousands of cases of military ammo in CONEX boxes stored in places like Kuwait where ambient temperatures routinely go above 140 degrees.

 

[General Geoff]

I will note that the military DOES NOT use desicant packs

I have opened factory-sealed surplus ammunition containers that had desiccant packs in them.

 

[medalguy]

But not US ammo I'll wager.....maybe some overseas manufacturers whose practices I would not be too sure duplicate those of US mfg's.

 

[hso]

none of which are IMO the best ways to store this stuff.

Why?

If you follow Department of Defense SOP you store it in ammo cans in dry conditions at temps below 100 degrees F. You don't want to have the ammunition near sources of ignition or where combustible material accumulates (for obvious fire reasons). Ammo isn't "explosive" so it won't blow up the house as depicted in movies and TV, but its presence may deter firefighters from entering your house to fight a fire if it is cooking off.

Here's an excerpt from 385-64

(1) Sudden changes in temperature may damage airtight containers or may result in excessive condensation. If the ambient temperature in an aboveground magazine exceeds 100 degrees F for a period of more than 24 hours, the magazine should be cooled by wetting the exterior of the building with water and by opening the doors and ventilators after sunset and closing them in the morning. If these methods do not effectively lower the temperature, the commander will decide whether the materials should be removed to some other magazine.
(2) Storage magazines in general should not be heated. An exception is made in the case of magazines where heating may be necessary to prevent condensation of moisture, to maintain constant temperature, or other reasons. Where a suitable heating apparatus is used to heat a magazine, it must be arranged so that explosive materials are kept at least 18 inches from the heating element.

 

[chevyman097]

Even if in a fire they start "cooking" off. It is unlikely to injure anyone. Seeing as the bullet is heavier than the shell you are more likely to get smacked by a hot shell casing than a bullet. Its also very unlikely that exploding ammunition would puncture the storage device if its metal.

I have asked the question to some fire fighters before about entering a home with ammunition. It was mixed.

some said they have no fear as they have done it in the past and they noticed no danger. Others suggested they would assess the situation before entering to ensure no danger. So guess its just a toss up.


Just my opinions based on experiences and other discussions. I am far from an expert on this one.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Most of my ammo is in steel military ammo cans. That's what the cans were made for.

, and in a fire poses no real threat because it has no chance to build up speed or pressure.

As in most statements of fact there are exceptions to the rule.
My gun shop burned to the ground in 1995. At the time there were seven unloaded guns in the shop along with something over 23,000 rounds of ammo and gun powder and primers.

There are a number of bullet holes in things. In most cases the bullet had to go through the side of a steel ammo box first.
As an example note the bullet holes in these powder cans.
These cans of powder were on shelves, or in wood or Styrofoam boxes. The cans preformed exactly as designed. Except for the Black Powder and cans of WD-40, no cans blew up. The top or bottom of the powder can just popped out, as designed. The Black powder and WD-40 did impressively blow up.


And yes, loaded ammo can build up impressive pressure.






It was an exciting day.



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