I am a new owner of a model 10-8 revolver and I'm wondering if there is a corrosion risk if I leave the cartridges in the cylinder. The pistol is in a small safe with silica gel to absorb moisture and they're FMJ brass cartridges.

No risk. That’s where they are meant to be.

There is no risk of corrosion from the situation you describe.

Should be fine, but I'd probably check it every once in a while. I've heard stories of neglected, loaded guns with brass cases that oxidized, turned green, and were difficult to extract. But that's a worst-case scenario. With a dessicant and periodic inspections whenever you clean the gun it should be fine. I do have a tendency to take a belt-and-suspenders approach to things, though, so take that into consideration.

Welcome! Good information above, or since you are storing the gun in a locked safe you can keep a speedloader near it for quick access and leave the cylinder empty.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Cartridges should be rotated. Best method is to take the gun out and shoot the ammo, them clean the gun and replace with fresh ammo. At least every 2-3 months if not more frequently.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Check your gun annually and use your ammo within five years or so; not critical.

I like to wipe the brass cased ammo with a silicone cloth before loading the cylinder, in my mind a good thing to do.
Steve W

Most good defense ammo is nickel plated and target practice will keep it rotated.

Corrosion is caused by moisture, so if stored dry or perhaps even in an airtight container with a desiccant pack placed so that it does not touch the firearm, corrosion will not be an issue. Inside a safe or even a drawer in a climate controlled environment is not likely to introduce enough moisture to cause corrosion.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

If this is a quick access hand safe I doubt those moisture absorbent products are all that effective. I strongly suspect even the slight airflow is enough to equilibrate moisture content with the external air. Especially so if this is opened now and again.

Think the difference between Tupperware and a paper bag. Those hand safes are paper bags. A proper safe is like Tupperware.

Note this doesn't affect the question at hand.

I'm just suggesting that the gel likely doesn't affect anything, other than the cost and time spent involved.

I've had brass ammo left too long in leather gun belt loops go green (corrosion ?) but never any problems with rounds in a cylinder .
My night stand revolver stays loaded and gun / ammo gets wiped down once or twice a year.
My nightstand is dry ... safe and silica gel ... should be just fine .
Don't worry ,
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Excellent point. I'm going to add some weather stripping to the door of the safe to help keep out moisture.

Thanks all. Appreciate your guidance.

I left nickel plated 357 ammo in a stainless revolver for two decades. I left 44 mg nickel plated in a stainless revolver over a decade. I just wipe the ammo off and switch it out in the speed loaders. When my health problems started they just sat.

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Plant garlic in the fall