Ammo Storage Tips?
 

Whats the best way to store ammo so that it functions decades from now?

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

Keep your powder dry!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

GI AMMO CANS.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

Yup, keep it cool and dry. Shut out the air if you can. If you are buying ammo for which it is a possibility, buy the pre-sealed cans designed for longterm storage. Otherwise the surplus ammo cans will work if the gasket is in good shape. Corrosive powder and primers last longer than the non-corrosive stuff. Blackpowder never goes bad.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

Don't keep it in a safe deposit box ! :s9:

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

You laugh but a few years ago on Democratic Underground forum there was a thread where the dems were talking about buying guns and ammo for some imagined anti-Bush war, they were talking about storing the guns in safe deposit boxes! :D

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

+1 for battlepacks IN ammo cans. If you store ammo that isn't sealed in cans, line the sides and bottom in corregated cardboard, as the cans WILL sweat in humid conditions.

Also, add desicant. You can buy it, or just use what comes with your shoes, etc., or befriend some chick in the shoe section.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

Even stored on shelves out in the open it will last that long. I recently bought some surplus 1940 WWII 8mm Greek Mauser ammo that has just been in its original cardboard boxes for 70 years and its in great shape. The main thing is keep it dry. Putting it in ammo cans is also a good idea.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

Don't store the dessicant with the actual ammo, where it can come into contact, if it gets humid enough some of it it basically turns into a liquid, which is going to ruin primers and corrode things. This goes for anything, including electronics.

Check on it regularly, and replace the dessicant.

People have indicated that in cool/dry conditions, well stored ammo can just about last a lifetime.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

Actually, IF the dessicant became saturated, (and I've never seen this, and I can throw a rock in salt water) it would only ruin a couple of rounds (the ones it was touching), while opening and closing the can would provide a fresh influx of moisture each time you open it.

In reality, ammo, especially military surplus with sealed primers and bullets, will last a long time even with pretty poor treatment.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

Big, big piles....:D

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

I keep mine in ammo cans along with desicant.

Also if possible keep the ammo cans indoors. This would eliminate the temperature extremes that might cause sweating etc.

Best place to buy the cans is at a gun show. Last show I went to a dealer had a car trailer loaded front to back, 5 feet deep with cans. I paid $3 for cans in excellent condition.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

There is a show coming up 12-13 Jan in my area that I will investigate for good priced cans. I found .50 Cal cans in the 'net for $5.99 but I think I can beat that price.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

That's a pretty good price, about as good as I can find in Houston, but buying off the net stinks on cans as they are expensive to ship.

One would think with a war on there would be plenty of surplus ammo cans, but the prices just keep going up. We could get 50 cans for 3frns each a couple of years ago, now they're 6 and up.

I like to get the bigger cans, as they are usually only a buck or so more than the smaller (30 cal) cans, and are twice as big.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

I think it was the DUCK that told me to store whole grain in 5-gallon plastic buckets (like paint buckets -- except using food-safe plastic). He recommended setting a large chunk of dry ice (CO2) over the top of the bucket, then carefully sealing the lid when the dry ice had sublimated. I think the concept is that the gaseous CO2 will displace the atmospheric oxygen in the container. I wonder if this would also work with air-tight ammo containers? Seems like it would completely eliminate any oxidation.

PS - I don't think I would place dry ice directly on my ammo... but maybe suspend it over the top of the bucket on a couple sticks. Also, you want to do this outside... pools of CO2 could kill a sleeping pooch.

Re: Ammo Storage Tips?
 

Probably better to use Nitrogen, which is inert, can probably buy that in canisters also.