Ammo storage
 

I'm having a problem staying organized in my gun vault.

4 different handguns and the 4 different cartridges.

And a 12 gauge and 3 different loads.

I keep everything at the ready.

How do I organize this for quick response?

I'm thinking ; when the SHTF and I want a particular load, theres no time to double-check what I'm grabbing!

I'm sure the Gim boys are lined out with this , can I get any suggestions?

Thanks,,,,,,, ( and Im not gay . LOL)

Re: Ammo storage
 

I line my ammo boxes up by gauge in groups for handgun and shotguns (two different drawrs or shelves) of descending order - (45's on one side, 9mm on the other) simple as that!

Re: Ammo storage
 

Do you mean for a bug out or for a repelling boarders?

For repelling boarders I just pick a go-to gun and keep it loaded. A pistol belt with holster and mag pouches w/ spare mags, chest pouch, or similar can be good to have at the ready. I keep my AK loaded and have a chest pouch for it that carries three more magazines and a couple pepper spray grenades and smoke grenades and a powerful high lumens flashlight, in the event of riot or similar. It's goes on as fast as a t-shirt.

Re: Ammo storage
 

Attachment 16814

color coded boxes?

Re: Ammo storage
 

No not for bugout.

For instance ; first response , I grab the Glock 19 15 round mag in place, at the residence here. I need more ? I grab the second 15 R Mag.

Lets say I left the Glock at work or its in the vehicle, then Im left with the Python 357,or the Smith or Ruger 44's. I dont have a ammo setup on me, I run to the safe for more ammo and have to verify calibers, no good!

I need to get organized DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Ammo storage
 

I hear ya...

I have that same problem, more with Rifles than hand guns though... As far as Hand Guns, I only have a Glock 21 (.45) and Mac 10 (9mm)...

But I've got 4 different caliber Rifles and 3 different Guage Shot Guns...

Re: Ammo storage
 

It sure helps talking about it! I'm getting Ideas : Bigger vault, another gun cabinet in the livingroom, have a place for each weapon, etc.


( smullen? ya still got that city slicker rig? LOL)

Re: Ammo storage
 

Ah.

I use standard milsurp ammo cans with either boxed or lose ammo of a given kind in each one. You can paint caliber on the front and lid, and I like the idea of arranging them from largest to smallest. If you're worried about needing to grab a gun unexpectedly, I'd maybe keep some speedloaders for the revolvers handy.

Re: Ammo storage
 

Yes I was thinking GET ORGANIZED and keep spped loaders with colors or spcified areas.

Maybe the Logical is get me a 1911 and pack all the rest away.

Thanks for the idea ............Peace ...CONNER

Re: Ammo storage
 

OH yea.. I don't plan on ever getting rid of any of my weapons... I've had most of them for years...

I guess I'd get rid of something to upgrade to something else maybe... But only if I had a specific plan and weapon in mind....

Re: Ammo storage
 

Gotcha!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Smullen............

I dont own a 1911 yet, Im waiting to pick up a nice one tho. I'm gonna go the best , like a Wilson of Top of the line Springfield.

Ya know ; Only the best Money; silver and Gold. and the best Food. And the Best weapons , I got my priorities straight.

And the best site for gay people LOLOLOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

LOL What a bunch of shit.

Re: Ammo storage
 

My plan is pretty much the same as Rev's. Preloaded magazines for the pistols and rifles I intend to count on, webbing vest with shell and magazine pockets if the situation calls for a lot and a holster/belt if the situation calls for something less obvious, and ballistic vest nearby (hey, you never know...). I have 3 gun safes, and I keep a loaded "go to" in the bedroom (I don't have kids to worry about). The guns in the gun safe are divided such that the guns I plan to rely on most or most want to take with me if I have to leave in a hurry are all in one safe, as are a couple of loaded magazines for each. I have 2 "go to" ammo boxes of the ammo/spare magazines for those guns next to that safe. Each of those ammo boxes has a mix of ammo types in case I only have time to grab one. You could also keep loaded magazines in your "go to" ammo box. I keep the rest of my ammo in the basement in either ammo cans or cases. The basement is a walk-out in the back (I'm on a hill), and I keep a dolly next to the ammo and other stuff. If I have time to load my truck, I intend to maximize it by moving as much as possible in the shortest amount of time possible.

I would recommend that you figure out which handgun you consider your "go to" gun and which shotgun load will cover the most situations, then keep those at the ready (front of the safe, preloaded magazines, holster/sling at the ready if you have to bug out). If you're worried about grabbing the right load so quickly that you won't have time to double-check, then you don't have time to make decisions about which load or which gun you're going to use! Decide now. You may end up having to buy a smaller safe to keep those two at the ready, then putting your larger safe in an area where your floor can handle it.

For bugging out, get a vest or belt with magazine pouches that you can grab in a hurry and have a couple of "go to" ammo cans with a mix of ammo at the ready. Put the rest of your ammo in color-coded boxes or in labeled ammo cans (nail polish works well on ammo cans...I painted little pink and red flowers on some of the cans I carry my .308 to the range in; I don't really like the flowers, but it amuses me to watch the reactions at the gun club, and I sure can pick those cans out of a stack quickly :laugh:!).

Want to hear a funny story? Despite all the weapons (I also have a sword collection, and I keep a cannister of police-grade pepper spray near each door), when I walked out of my bedroom one day and found a couple of strange men standing in my living room, did I grab any of my weapons? Noooooooo. I noticed they'd left my door open, and my Siberian Husky was making a bee line for the exit. What did I do? Cussed them out royally for leaving the door open as I shot past them to go chase down my dog! Startled the daylights out of them and scared the dog so bad she came crawling back to me on her belly! The guys came out of the house with fear in their eyes, got in a windowless van, and left.

Re: Ammo storage
 

Seems to me like part of the problem is keeping all your ammo locked up except that for your glock.... thats a entire post in itself, no need to go there IMO. Sufficed to say I have lots of extra mags and while I don't leave guns laying around the house, reloads are strategically located.

Since two of the 3 pistol you listed (python and ruger) are revolvers I'll guess the smith is a wheel gun too. In that case, speed loaders in the safe in designated areas /slots or whatever are your best option.

Whatever you do choose, be consistant. Always put ammo xyz in slot/area xyz and abc into abc. In my safe I keep on a lvl 3 vest with a sure fire and 12 30-round AR mags (among other things). I figure if I have to resort to opening the safe to defend the homestead I've probably already expended several dozen rounds and I'm going to need alot more firepower. As I always say, if I need to get to safe and make it, anyone left alive at that point is going to be super screwed.
:bandito:

Re: Ammo storage
 

I do the ammo can thing as well. Each one is marked externally by caliber. I did change one thing recently. I've bought so much surplus 5.56, 7.62 NATO, and 7.62x54R that issues of "which kind of 5.56" comes up. So I separated my pile. I have the total milspec, 100% ammo on one side. That's the "for real" ammo. The other side is the older milspec, assorted commercial, and reloads. As it says on the ammo cans, "general blasting and plinking ammo."

And then I have a reloading closet with shelves. Those shelves are crammed with many different colors of ammo boxes. I write the caliber on the end facing me and keep like calibers together. .22's start it out on the left and .45 Colts end it on the right. But that stuff is nearly all my reloads so I wouldn't expect to be grabbing some of it in a hurry. It's for hunting, shooting, or vermin killing. If I'm in a serious rush because the situation is critical, I'm going for an ammo can of milspec stuff!

My go to rifle is a SAR-2. Loaded mag in place. Safety on, empty chamber. I figure a bad guy who got lucky and grabbed it as I came around the corner wouldn't have time to figure out why he couldn't draw the bolt all the way to the rear. And I keep several East German magazine pouches nearby that are all full of loaded SAR-2 mags. Several other guns are in various places. Each one with at least one reload right next to it.

What was that Unforgiven line? "I don't want to die for lack of shooting back?" (Said by the one arm deputy as they are loading up guns.)

Gregg

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Just one question. I feel like I'm pretty ready for just about anything that might happen....but I can't forsee anything happening so quick that I won't have at least 5 minutes to grab the correct ammo I might need.

Please tell me what I am not prepared for? :afraid: Am I missing something, or were you just being overly-dramatic with an ammo organization.

Basically I just have surplus ammo cans written on with a Sharpie. Am I doomed?:rolleyes: :wink:

Re: Ammo storage
 

MAGAZINE SPRING FATIGUE after time loaded???

http://www.gunsprings.com/1ndex.html

5. Should I unload my magazines, rotate magazines, load with fewer than the maximum rounds? How often should I change magazine springs?

Magazine springs in semi-auto pistols are one of the most critical springs and the subject of much debate and concern. Magazines which are kept fully loaded for long periods of time, such as law enforcement applications, will generally be subject to more fatigue than the weekend shooter's magazine springs which are loaded up only when shooting. Magazine design and capacity also affect the longevity of the spring. Older designs where maximum capacity was not the goal such as the 7 round 1911 Colt magazines will last for years fully loaded. There was a lot of room for a lot of spring which reduced the overall stress on the spring. In recent hi-capacity magazines, the magazines were designed to hold more rounds with less spring material. This puts more stress on the spring and will cause fatigue at a faster rate. Unloading these magazines a round or two will help the life of the spring. Rotating fully loaded magazines will also help the problem somewhat but is not always practical. In applications where the magazine must be kept loaded, a high quality magazine spring such as Wolff extra power magazine springs, will provide maximum life. Regular shooting will verify reliability and regular replacement of magazine springs will provide the best defense against failure from weak magazine springs.

Re: Ammo storage
 

If you are talking some kind of regional or national disaster, you will probably have a LITTLE time to get prepared. But do you want to waste precious minutes trying to remember where you put things?

In my case, I was thinking more of possibly having to defend the homestead against drunken idiots with a pickup and guns. We live on 90 acres. Five miles from the nearest town. The Sheriff told me it can take 20 minutes for them to get to our house in the middle of the night. And that's assuming we were able to call them. So you have to have SOME ability to "hold off" the idiots who are trying the smash and burn things on your property. 2-4 drunk guys in a pickup who figure they can bust open the gate, zoom up to the house, and hit the door fast before anybody can react. And who are counting on being gone 5-10 minutes later just in case the cavalry arrives. That's the kind of situation where I leave the home defense .357 revolver in the bedroom and transition to the AK and extra mags! And you better be able to have your hands on whatever you are going to need in 15 seconds out of a sound sleep. Otherwise "A Clockwork Orange" could feature you and yours as the victims!

(Just because something is unlikely doesn't mean a person should ignore the possibility.)

Gregg

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Looking at my peers all I can say is I'm so screwed.

Will reevaluate the knives I have in various places.

HAHAHAHA

E-A

Re: Ammo storage
 

I have several (never can have enough) of those Surplus ammo cans each packed with loaded mags for each type of weapon...

EX:
2- Full of 20 and 30 rnd mags of .223 for the AR
2- Full of 30 rnd mags of 7.62x39 for the AKs
1- Half full of boxes of .45 rounds and other half 13 rnd mags for the Glock 21
1- Half full of boxes of 9mm rounds and the other half 33 rnd mags for the MAC-10
1 full of various 10, 25, 30 round mags of .22 for the Ruger 10/22s
1 full of 12 Guage shells

I take them to the range and rotate them a few times a year to make sure the ammp is fresh and none of the springs are weak in the Mags...

All of the Ammo cans are Clearly marked on top, front and back with whats in them...

Also, I one of those Black Eagle tactical vests I think was the brand name, Made here in Missouri... It has a crossdraw holster on the chest sized for the Glock 21 or simmilar frame pistols, plus 2 extra mags, and then 3 extra mags for the AR... On the back it has a Moto 2way Radio a camel back and a small backpack with 1st aid type stuff and a few other things like a knife, Tape, water proof matches, some cash, etc...

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If you have to ask then you are in trouble...... experience is the best teacher and it doesn't matter how you do it as long as you do it the same way every time and that way in an emergency you will react witout even thinking...... do it the way that feels more comfy for you :proud: :proud: :proud:

Re: Ammo storage
 

Get box. Place ammo in a box first. Magazines on top of ammo next. Place handgun in box last. In case of long gun close box and place on top.

Repete with new box for each firearm.

Comments?

Re: Ammo storage
 

Ponce set me straight on this a few months back. It matters little where or how you keep the stuff as long as you can load quickly and as easy as drawing a breath...

PRACTICE