Proper Ammo Storage thoughts

[Max242]

So I've been reading online about proper ammo storage. I'm talking shotgun, pistol and rifle, no black powder. I have a couple of gasketed metal storage boxes 16"x16"x24" and I place a rechargeable silica plug in unit. Other ammo sits on the shelf. I run a dehumidifier in that area and it stays about 45% year round. I've seen the vintage green metal ammo boxes with gaskets and also the plastic ammo boxes with gaskets much cheaper than metal ammo cans. Wondering what everyone's ideas for storage are?

 

[22hipower]

Put it on the shelf and don't worry about it. I'm still shooting some 45acp I loaded in the '70s. There's probably some bad ammo from poor storage somewhere but I'm yet to find any, no matter how old, that won't go bang.

 

[Empe]

I keep mine in their original packaging and have it stored on several shelves in my basement . During the summer months a dehumidifier is kept running and set at 45% .

 

[Buzzzer]

^^^Agreed, don't overthink it. The only bad ammo I've seen started turning green but that was factory ammo and wasn't from improper storage...

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Keep it dry , not too hot and not too cold and you should be good . I have some on shelves in either original card board boxes or plastic , some in bags in GI ammo cans and any number of cases just setting on the floor.

 

[mckenney99]

All bulk ammo is stored by caliber in their original packaging in large surplus 20mm ammo cans, except for surplus .308 I bought many years ago which is still in it's original wooden crates and the CMP Greek 30-06 in the spam cans. Working amounts of ammo are stored in the house in 50 cal ammo cans by caliber. I have had no issues with moisture or apparent degradation in any factory or reloaded ammo that has been stored in this manner in over 40 years.

 

[375hh1973]

I have kept flats of skeet shells in my garage since I can remember.

Don't recall any duds.

Lost targets are all on me!

 

[pharmer]

I keep it in the house, not garage. Climate controlled in original packaging. I'm currently shooting 2019 vintage ammo, 1K/case on the way. Joe

 

['79 Magnum GT]

I keep seeing "in the original packaging". What does that really mean? Do people take it out of the container that it came in and dump it all in a glass jar or something? How else would you store it? I don't get it. Maybe I'm reading too much into it

Rick

 

[Muss Muggins]

I keep seeing "in the original packaging". What does that really mean? Do people take it out of the container that it came in and dump it all in a glass jar or something? How else would you store it? I don't get it. Maybe I'm reading too much into it

Rick

I like to use MTM plastic 50 and 100 round boxes. I cut the end flap off the original box and toss it in there with a silica packet. When I need ammo, I grab a plastic box, and then replace what I shoot from the ammo stored in ammo cans in the original packaging . . .

 

['79 Magnum GT]

I like to use MTM plastic 50 and 100 round boxes. I cut the end flap off the original box and toss it in there with a silica packet. When I need ammo, I grab a plastic box, and then replace what I shoot from the ammo stored in ammo cans in the original packaging . . .

Holy Hell!!! I completely got that all wrong. For some reason (other than senility) I was thinking smokeless powder. I must have been looking at another thread about powder then came here thought it was the same one. And yes, I am an idiot! I think I proved that to all that read this thread.
I also use MTM 100 round boxes I have them color coded. (10) Lt. green for Light 44 Mag loads (revolvers), (10) blue for Heavy 44 Mag loads (rifles). (2) tan for Factory Remington and W-W 240 gr. Lead gas checks. (3) red for Light 44 Spl loads (revolvers). I also have (2) 50 Round dark green boxes that have nothing in them. The top of each box has a 1 through 10 marking on top to match up with my excell reloading spread sheet.

Rick

 

[desi2358]

Ordinary household storage is good enough for small quantities. Just leave it in the box and put it in a drawer or on a shelf and you should be fine for years. If you're worried about someone getting into your ammo that shouldn't, store it in the safe or even just a lockbox can make it more secure.

Now if you have larger amounts to store you may need something a bit better. As a former dealer and a current pack rat I tend to store a lot of ammo. Still have several crates of military surplus put back. Stored on a raised platform in the basement they should be good for more years until I shoot, sell or gift them. Most of my shooting ammo is stored in GI ammo cans, with good seals they will last a long, long time. The cans have also been money savers in a way, due to a drain pipe collapse I had my basement flood a while ago. Quite a few cans were underwater for a time and I didn't lose a single box of ammo because the cans stayed dry inside (also why the crated stuff sits on a raised platform). While I may not experience another such flood I prefer knowing that things are as safe from flooding as they can be.

 

[pharmer]

I keep seeing "in the original packaging". What does that really mean? Do people take it out of the container that it came in and dump it all in a glass jar or something? How else would you store it? I don't get it. Maybe I'm reading too much into it

Rick

Lots of folks empty factory boxes into .30 or .50 cal cans to save space. Lots more rounds fit rather than in original packaging.

 

['79 Magnum GT]

Lots of folks empty factory boxes into .30 or .50 cal cans to save space. Lots more rounds fit rather than in original packaging.

Looks like my stupidity will never let me live this down.

Rick

 

[VaTom]

Just saying. .22 ammo that has the waxy coating should be kept out of extreme heat. Sent my brother some .22 ammo during the shortage. He lives in south Florida. He kept it somewhere in his non A/C garage for a couple years. When we tried to use it on a visit it was problematic in a semi auto (FTF -FTE) as it appeared the waxy coating had melted/become gummy.

 

[chief38]

I have always stored ammo in an air conditioned and climate controlled place. The basements and garages in my homes for over 35 years have always been climate controlled. Not just for ammo, for my cars, tools and everything stored and used there - not to mention for personal comfort. IMHO air conditioning a basement and or garage is really no more expensive than running a dehumidifier which also adds uncomfortable heat to the environment. The key to efficiency is proper insulation. Before I air conditioned my garage I spent a few days double insulating my garage doors and adding 16" of blown in insulation over my garage ceiling. The results have paid off big time! My 3 car garage is always comfortable and never humid. I have a 2 ton Mini-split AC unit that is always left on. The ONLY time it gets turned off is when the weather is in the 60's or below and super dry and I have the garage door opened for a specific reason for more than a few minutes. Other than that I let the thermostat do its thing. Best I can tell the extra electric to do this costs me under $15.00 / month for compete comfort and a controlled environment. Well worth every penny to me!

When the garage door opens and closes to pull vehicles in or out, it takes about 5-6 minutes to cool down once again. If my wife is running in and out all day long, I tell her to leave her car in the driveway until she's home for the rest of the day, then pull it in. That practice works out well.

 

[Jimbo41]

If you poke around looking for old ammo you find that the cardboard packaging will rot away before the ammo becomes unusable.

 

[Kal.38]

The recommended storage of a cool dry place, has always worked for me. I'm not so sure about the cool part though.
When my granddad passed we found paper shotshells from the 50s and 60s. It was stored in ammo cans in a dresser out in the shed.
This shed is a pole barn with a corrugated tin roof and siding. We are in AZ and pops shed got so hot in the summer, I swear you could have baked in there. This past quail season. I fired off the last of those paper shells.