Didn't want to hi-jack another post on ammo storage options, but, MANY people recommended military (metal) ammo cans. I'm just wondering about the possibility (?) of these cans creating an explosive effect if caught in a house fire (?). It appears to me that these totally sealed cans could create the necessary "closed chamber" effect to create an explosion. I had been warned years ago by a primer company tech to never store my primers in such a container. He said that 6,000+ primers in a typical military can wouild explode in a house fire with the effect of a single stick of dynamite. Curious for comments/knowledge....
THANKS,
J.

Don't store primers in military ammo cans with a sealed top.https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads...oc-Primers.pdf

No don't store primers, but loaded ammo is what they are made for, All the military in World seem to think they are OK.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I prefer to store my primers in the plastic MTM versions of the ammo cans. They still are sealed but won't pose an explosion hazard.

Another use for the cans-according to one guy on the Austin TX PD, is make IED's.

Back 10 or so years ago, I hunted in a town that picked up Austin's TV stations. News story talking about a guy had gone into town and made threats, showed weapon (don't remember particulars). They arrested him and went to the property he lived on to search.

APD officer on camera said "opened up a storage shed and saw a .50 cal. metal box on floor. His quote "Immediately backed out and called for bomb squad as I know these are used for IED's". Of course they never found any bombs or bomb making material, but why let that stand in the way of a good story.

I think he would have a heart attack if he ever saw my or probably most of any of yours ammo storage. But then again these days according to the news, more than 1 gun and a box of ammo is an arsenal!

Thanks. I didn't know that.

I ammo gets so hot to burn off in a fire, it's not the bullets that go flying it's the cases that do.


Primers should be stored in original package in a cool dry place.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Thanks for all the comments.... My personal feeling is that if you have to use ammo cans to store ammo or primers; plastic maybe the way to go. p.s. I'm guessing that homeowners' insurance probably isn't going to cover this type of explosion. I'm pretty sure they don't cover military ammo bunkers either :-)
J.

Store primers in plastic if that concerns you, but I'd store ammo in steel milsurp cans.

I'd also recommend storing valuable papers in one.

Real cans, if undamaged, will seal up airtight (and watertight). Plastic won't.

I'm more worried about another flood, than a fire. I guess that's because I've been through one.

I store ammo in my home in metal ammo cans, but leave the tops unlatched. That's to prevent pressure building up in case of a house fire. I do have some plastic cans as well.

DO NOT,I REPEAT NOT store ANY kind of pressurize can in a sealed ammo can. If they leak they will pressurize the ammo can and when opened it can blow your hand off, or worse. Just saying.

I honestly think you are "over thinking" a problem that doesn't exist.

Ask yourself.... when was the last time you actually heard of the problem you are trying to envision.

I am not an explosives knowledgeable guy, but I believe GI ammo cans will bulge and burst before they will explode like a bomb. They are not so sturdy as to contain rising pressures to the point where a major explosion would take place. Once the can’s ability to contain pressure is compromised, ammo will probably cook off similar to any other non-pressurized storage. The remaining parts of the can may even help reduce shrapnel from cartridge cases. I don’t know.

JMO, ready to be corrected by someone trained.

I do the same thing - store primers in metal ammo cans, close the lids firmly, but do not latch them. Provides some protection, but hopefully will not explode in a fire. I run a dehumidifier in my garage / reloading room, so humidity isn't an issue.

Larry

Great comments.... thanks everyone.... we got some interesting perspectives and info.
THANKS,
J.

Since apparently nobody bothered to read the SAAMI link, I'll spell it out...don't store primers in military ammo cans. They can be stored in a wooden cabinet made of 1" lumber. Don't store primers and powder together. It is perfectly ok to store ammo in military ammo cans. Of course, these days, internet opinions outweigh anything that SAAMI could come up with.

Have to ask, if this information is first hand knowledge? For I cannot make my pea sized brain
understand how a can of bug spray stored within the ammo can might rupture, fill the box
with the contents and then cause me harm upon opening, I just don't see it. Just saying as well.

terry

There IS that! I love the .50 cal size.

Rob

If you are referring to my post, You are wrong. Several years ago this happened. Just saying.

I think plastic cans seal up tight with the rubber gaskets. They claim to be water resistant so.....makes sense that they're also air tight. Try to sink one.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I am not worried about the 20K of primers I have stored on the shelf and in a Pelican case. The 20+ pounds of powder are a bigger concern. Two 8 pounds jugs and a couple of 4 pounds jugs and multiple one pound canisters will make a bigger boom than the primers.

The old style steel powder cans with soldered seal will just vent any gasses should the pressure cause the solder to melt. The plastic powder jugs or bottles do not have much structural strength and would vent any gasses to the atmosphere. It is perfectly safe to store ammo in the U.S. style ammo cans as that is what they were designed for. Buddy had one in the back of his truck. Got into a wreck, they found the ammo can about 40 feet from his truck. banged up to be sure but except for some damage to a few cartridges all the rest would have been fine to shoot. Storing primers in ammo cans is almost like making a bomb. I store my primers in a old file cabinet. Plenty of seams to vent pressure and only keep a limited supply on hand. Frank

The GI ammo cans are designed to vent pressure so that they don't explode. The reason you don't want to store your primers in it is that the steel will transfer heat to the primers faster in the event of a fire. The best type of home container to store primers and powder in is made of wood. The thicker, the better.

I was pretty ignorant about the subject of storing primers. Now that I'm educated, I moved my primers from a large GI ammo can to a large wooden box. I'm so glad the OP started this thread.

Yes, this is an interesting thread.
A little off topic but this week I stopped at a roadside vendor's display where a number of other folks were as you never know what you might find.
As I was looking the goods over I noticed a partially full tray of CCI shot shells in 38/357. Another customer was telling the woman selling the stuff how dangerous it was having ammo laying out in the sun like that as it will go off once it's hot enough. She removed them from the table and asked the guy did he want them. He didn't so she asked me to take them for free as she's getting rid of them. I asked her what price she had on them and she said $2, so I obliged her and went on my way. Too bad there wasnt a case...
ETA:
The original price tag was $18 so I didnt do bad.

Working as a firefighter I remember a few fires where some rounds cooked off..no biggie though. We did have one military can(surplus ammo) cook off and it snapped crackled and popped for a bit. Primers on the other hand was a much bigger biggie. Powder was not a real worry. If it burned it got really hot but that was about it. Bombs were another worry at the airport where I was based. The words Semtex and C-4 got your attention in a hurry. Dynamite was something that was often seen around farms where I lived when I was young. I liked watching stuff get blown up but didn't like to mess with explosives. BTW...primers ARE explosive!! course y'all know that!!

Most plastic ammo cans have a gap in the seal. Military ammo cans don't. There was a test on sinking cans in water and burying them. The GI cans did fine. Plastic ones not so much.

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

So, is a wooden box the final word on storing primers? Right now I have mine on the shelf in the closet, along with my reloading powder. I figured it was the best climate to store everything.

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Kevin in Oregon

I saw some steel GI ammo cans which went through a house fire with ammo stored in them. They just bulged, nothing which could be called an explosion.

a few years ago, we had a devastating flood in my area. It was before the last election, as I remember Trump coming, but Hillary didn't.

Many, many homes were destroyed. My ex's house got 7-8 ft of water and mud. Things got floated, banged and pushed around. Big refrigerator ended up in the living room. Everything was wrecked.

She didn't have any ammo cans, but I knew someone else who did, and they had similar problems. They found the metal ones in sludge here and there. Intact.

Both homes in question had various plastic containers, including a couple plastic ammo cans. They were all busted.

I know this is all worst-case scenario, and it did feel like post-apocalypse at the time. But those metal cans survived and protected what was in them, when we looked at things a couple weeks later going back in.