Freshing up my ammunition stockpile

Well I have virtually everything on everybody’s lists here except the dehydrated gun… Wally World has quit selling them. :(
Since I have so much of this stuff along with a weak, worn out old body, I I don’t pack a “go bag” I have a “stay house”. Of course I have these things secreted all over the house, so finding them is sometimes a challenge. Also, I can’t find any of the bug out bags (empty) I’ve bought over the years, so even if the back and legs would hold up, how would I carry all of this stuff? :confused:

Do you know how difficult it is for a frog to get his tongue rolled up inside his cheek? :rolleyes:

Froggie
 
Considering I bought all that during 2020. It’s the closest thing I could get for a stock pile. But also I wouldn’t tell anyone how much I truly have either.

Why is everyone keep calling my work bag a bug out bag? It’s just a bag with stuff for work. I’m not a doomsday type. Never have been.
 
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On NCIS they have what they call a “go bag”, and working LEOs who spend most of their time in a vehicle have a “work bag” or a “trunk bag” or whatever. I’m sufficiently OCD that such a thing is attractive, but old enough that I seldom have occasion to use one. I do normally keep a sort of “go bag” of clothing and shaving gear etc ready or ready to throw together for short trips. Everyone needs to organize a little, some of us more than others! ;)

Froggie
 
djohns6 said:
My ammo cans were submerged for two days and the contents were bone dry when I opened them . I use a little silicone O-Ring grease on the seals for peace of mind .
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2016 taught us something about the usefulness of milspec ammo cans.

Agreed with the grease, I use some ShinEtsu 100% silicone grease. I bought a tube when repairing the door window assemblies in one of my cars, used about a single dose of toothpaste equivalent (at most) when I did that. A dab on a neoprene gloved fingertip per rubber seal on each can.

Not too awful long ago, somebody (Lucky Gunner?) sold a bunch of 50 cal cans in "fair" condition, at about $5 apiece. I bought a goodly amount, and then proceeded to fill them all.

You take a day like I have today (mid 80's, low humidity, no clouds), and load the cans out in the sun and seal them. Hotter the better, if the humidity is low. As things cool, it pulls a vacuum on the lids.
 
biku324 said:
Just fired some 1986 issue Federal 357B 125 grain JHP. It's just as unpleasant to shoot today as 36 years ago.
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Probably just as effective now as back then, also.
I have fired it from my M60-10. My accurate follow up times would suck! Maybe something to be said for loading the magnum round in the last hole.

73,
Rick
 
I've shot ammo from 1968' recently and every single round popped off just as clean and surgical as could be both in 7.62 and 9mm. Ammo, when stored high n' dry will last for many, many decades if not 10 decades. In fact, a lot of the older factory ammo is a damn sight better than some of this newer "S" ammo that was made so fast as to keep up with demand during the drought... that some of the newer stuff just sucks quality wise in comparison.
 
Ghost Magnum said:
I usually don’t keep ammunition for to long. I buy new ammunition and use the older stuff for practice. I was under the impression that it’s usually not a good idea to keep older ammunition stored for to long. But I could be wrong. My ammunition has been moved around a lot for the past few years. I’m not a prepper though. I always thought that was kinda silly. I know people that told me what equipment they will use if or when the solid waste hits the fan. It’s usually some expensive rifle and custom hand gun. They usually have hundreds or thousands of rounds of 5.56 or 7.62 stored at home. The problem is the one guy I know pretty well is a prepper works long hours on rotating shifts. So if the Russians invaded red down style. Odds are he will never make it home to recover his equipment. His hunting rifle I know he keeps in his truck will probably be his primary firearm throughout the whole ordeal.

I keep all kinds of stuff in my go bag. It’s just stuff to help me through long shifts.
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As long as you are not storing it where it is subjected to high temperatures for long periods of time, ammo is just fine for at least 50 years; usually longer.
Don’t know why people get it in their head that ammo is only at it’s best for about 4 or 5 years.
 
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Everybody has a unit of measure for ammo: box, Ziplock bag, bulk bullet box, ammo can. It all too complicated. Round numbers work best: about 15 to 20 five-gallon buckets, mixed between ammo, brass, and lead ingots.

Inventory reduction is in full-force due to threatened estate sale.
 
biku324 said:
Those rounds also aren't good for your night vision.
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The 125gr .357 "planetwreckers," that is. Depends how you look at it. For me, they help illuminate the target at night.;) Having lived in big cities my entire life, I've pretty much only shot in semi-dark indoor ranges. I either do not notice muzzle flash or modern powders don't produce any.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
smoothshooter said:
As long as you are not storing it where it is subjected to high temperatures for long periods of time, ammo is just fine for at least 50 years; usually longer.
Don’t know why people get it in their head that ammo is only at it’s best fo about 4 or 5 years.
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Ammunition should come with a Best Used By date stamped on the box.
 
Ammo will last a lot longer than we think.
I am shooting military surplus 8 mm and 7.62 Russian ammo from the 60's.
Once i a while you have a cracked neck, but it all shoots.

My Dad just passed a couple months ago, and there is ammo down there that he loaded in the 70's. When we get the time and courage to through his things, it will be divided up, and will eventually get shot.
I have not doubts that it will most all go bang.
The only thing that I worry about is the shot gun ammo. He gave brother and I some boxes of 12 gauge ammo a few years ago, and it was pretty hot. I know it was loaded correctly, and Dad was a load by the book sort of a guy. I think the moisture has dried out of the powder, changing the burn rate. May have to scrap that stuff, but its only 15 or 20 boxes of shot shells.
 
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