Securing ammo

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Dave Lively

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From about 2014 until the end of 2019 I pared down my gun collection by selling everything I had not shot in a couple of years and kept stocking up on ammo. I added up how much I my guns and ammo are worth and realized that at today's crazy high prices my ammo is worth more than my guns.

The guns are in a safe, the ammo is on shelves. I keep both guns and ammo out of sight so any repairmen or other visitors will not see it. And my house has a monitored alarm system. But other than that the ammo is unsecured.

Do any of you with a big stockpile of ammo do anything to secure it? Putting it in a safe seems like it would be a bad idea if there was a fire. And I do not want to buy another safe.
 
Not a big stockpile here, but the same concerns. I think hiding in diverse spots is about the best option at this point. Maybe build a couch with the cans, and drape a blanket over it? (only half kidding). Or buy an old freezer/fridge for the basement/garage, and store it in there?
 
In general ammo, powder and primers should all be stored separately.

Generally away from and outside wall due to moisture.

Each storage container should be made of wood and have a top, bottom or side that can "blow out" so an explosion is not contained. Not sure a "fire proof" gun safe qualifies!

Most reloading manuals have safety recommendations in the front.

Some fire district jurisdictions have "maximum" quantities for home storage.

In a fire projectiles do not take off like in the movies. When ignited they separate by only a few inches and not spectacular!

A stockpile of paint spray cans could pose a higher danger than ammo storage!

Smiles,
 
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I was thinking about this "sort of" thing the other day. I bought some, meaning very little at normal prices (no primers though), reloading components. No-one looked at me funny or anything but I can't help but wonder. If I was a crook I would hang out and watch for someone buying something in particular and follow them to their home, or at least get a license plate number. I wonder if this time is coming as it pertains to this, hope not. Maybe I'm just a little paranoid but I'm always in condition yellow...

As far as locking ammo up I've always done it. When our kids were young it had to be that way in our house. Guess I just never got out of the habit.
 
My suggestion is a locking metal cabinet for ammo storage. If in the garage, some desiccant.
 
Dave,

For the past ten years I have been using Stack On metal safes that are lockable, and that are bolted to a wall. However, ammunition is both bulky and very heavy. I don't want to use my Liberty safe to store my ammo, or buy a second safe. I've been reading forum posts for several years and recently decided to buy plastic, sealable ammunition boxes. I have labeled each of the ammo boxes with the caliber of the ammo that is inside.

The ammo boxes are stored in my "Man Cave" on top of a small wooden block (keeps the boxes off the concrete floor), and in a location that cannot be easily seen by anyone.

Hopefully, after we have this pandemic under control I can get back to range and begin to use it again.

I have also agonized on the fire issue-risk. If there is a fire in my home I don't want to watch the firefighters standing by watching the fireworks while my home burns to the ground. Therefore, I sure hope that "jjfitch" is correct!!

Cheers!

Bill
 
When I built my current house I built a gun room. Guns and Ammo are in the guns room and quite secure, but Primers and Powder are in another area, not in the main house. They are locked up in separate enclosures that allow venting if touched off.

Bob
 
I look at it this way . Some of my guns are irreplaceable . They go in the safe . Ammo is bulky and HEAVY . Probably not worth the effort for a burglar in a huge hurry . I don't waste space by locking the ammo away .
 
Marine Corps Air said:
I have also agonized on the fire issue-risk. If there is a fire in my home I don't want to watch the firefighters standing by watching the fireworks while my home burns to the ground. Therefore, I sure hope that "jjfitch" is correct!!

Cheers!

Bill
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I talked to a fire chief about that and he said they had the training that showed ammo is not dangerous but they still won't go in a house with ammo exploding. It leads me too believe that there are some fireman that will think up excuses too keep from doing anything. I was a volunteer fireman for 20 years and and ammo exploding would not slow me down. Larry
 
schutz5 said:
Boating accident here ! ;)
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Me too! If I didn’t have bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all. Snapped a couple pics before she slid beneath the waves. :(
 

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At least you have a choice. Here in Australia, ammunition must be stored separate to the firearms, and in a lockable container. I use one of those large tradesman (you might say Contractor) tool boxes hidden in my garage.

Weapons Education YouTube channel had ammo stored in an old refrigerator albeit the video has been taken down now.
 

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Marine Corps Air said:
Dave,

For the past ten years I have been using Stack On metal safes that are lockable, and that are bolted to a wall. However, ammunition is both bulky and very heavy. I don't want to use my Liberty safe to store my ammo, or buy a second safe. I've been reading forum posts for several years and recently decided to buy plastic, sealable ammunition boxes. I have labeled each of the ammo boxes with the caliber of the ammo that is inside.
I have also agonized on the fire issue-risk. If there is a fire in my home I don't want to watch the firefighters standing by watching the fireworks while my home burns to the ground. Therefore, I sure hope that "jjfitch" is correct!!Cheers!Bill
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JJFITCH is correct. I have demonstrated this to a number of people including my wife. Take a burning barrel, start a fire, a good fire, once you have a bed of ashes you can drop a cartridge into the fire, with safety shield on, you can watch it. A 22 lr bullet is about 36-40 gr, while a case weighs about 9.6 grains. Basic physics- heavier object stays where it is, lighter objects moves. So the casing may move a couple of inches, the bullet is not going to "fly" around like in Rambo -First Blood, it just does not happen. Why the face shield?, because a fire has a life of it's own. Be it a burning barrel, fire pit , campfire, little pockets of gases can be contained in wood and shoot hot embers, which could hit eye, face etc. Bullets in loaded firearms may fire like pulling the trigger, since the pressure is contained a chamber & barrel. I would hate to see any of my ammo burn, I do keep some mint boxes of rare ammo in a safe to prevent sunlight from discoloring the box. Be Safe,
 
GI ammo cans. I picked up a couple of dozen when they were dirt cheap (some came for free). Good rubber seals, airtight and waterproof. Storage in areas without excessive heat.

I also have a steel cabinet used as my ammo locker. That is for the stuff I use frequently for range practice.

As others have pointed out, some jurisdictions have fire code restrictions on quantities of ammo stored in dwellings. The major danger is not explosion effects, but an insurance adjuster might ding a policyholder in the event of a claim involving ammo in excess of a legal limit (insurance policies usually have provisions for denying any claim involving violations of law), so it makes sense to research your local ordinances and fire codes.
 
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