badguybuster
Member
I was just curious how everyone is going about storing the vast array of ammunition. I have mine stored in air tight (or so it would seem) rubber maid containers with some of those sillica packs.
How are you storing your ammo?
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Black_Sheep
Member
I use military surplus .50 caliber ammo cans. They're fairly cheap, have a good seal on the lid and a convenient carrying handle. They stack nicely too...
thearborbarber
Member
Plastic and metal ammo cans. Same for my primers too.
+1 on surplus ammo cans. You can put a lot of ammo in them, and as mentioned earlier they stack well for maximum storage. I also throw in the little packs of desiccant I find whenever I buy a pair of shoes or whatever.
mgjohn
Member
50 cal ammo cans here also. Put a label on the end that states caliber and bullet info. Some reloaded pistol ammo goes in 30 cal cans for ease of carrying to the range.
For long-term storage, I use some old "wooden" ammo crates. Wood is a better insulator in case of fire. Wood burns eventually but conducts heat slowly. Metal ammo cans conduct heat quickly and increase the likelyhood of an early explosion. Most of my ammo is in the commercial boxes or the plastic cases. Unless you're storing ammo in a very humid place, the moisture absorbers aren't needed. Primers and bullets are well sealed against moisture intrusion.
Some places have special ordinances for storing large quantities of "explosives," which includes ammo, that may include private residences. This is for the protection of first responders (Fire Dept., in particular). Check your local laws.
Some places have special ordinances for storing large quantities of "explosives," which includes ammo, that may include private residences. This is for the protection of first responders (Fire Dept., in particular). Check your local laws.
JohnnieB
US Veteran
Over the years I've managed to pick up a few 15-20 cubic foot cigar humidors at yard and estate sales. I gave them a little TLC and sold most, but kept some.
One in nearly perfect condition keeps my cigars fresh and a couple that couldn't maintain the 70% RH needed for cigar storage without a lot of attention, were fitted with dehumidifiers and heavy duty tracks for roll out shelves and are now keep my ammo and reloading supplies at low humidity.
The Spanish Cedar used for lining cigar humidors is very hydroscopic and once the RH of the enterior of the cabinet has been established, it trys to stay constant no matter what the outside air does.
Raising the interior RH above ambient requires adding water periodically, but lowering it only requires a little electricity.
A fairly airtight box made of plywood and a goldenrod would probably work just as well, but not look as nice.
John
One in nearly perfect condition keeps my cigars fresh and a couple that couldn't maintain the 70% RH needed for cigar storage without a lot of attention, were fitted with dehumidifiers and heavy duty tracks for roll out shelves and are now keep my ammo and reloading supplies at low humidity.
The Spanish Cedar used for lining cigar humidors is very hydroscopic and once the RH of the enterior of the cabinet has been established, it trys to stay constant no matter what the outside air does.
Raising the interior RH above ambient requires adding water periodically, but lowering it only requires a little electricity.
A fairly airtight box made of plywood and a goldenrod would probably work just as well, but not look as nice.
John
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jeffk49738
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I use the MTM 50 Cal plastic ammo cans. They are lockable, stackable and have an O-Ring seal. And the best part is they're $9.99 at Dunhams. And I throw in the silica packs for good measure.
I have a closes in the den in which all my ammunition is stored. That way the temperature stays constant as does humidity due to our residential AC/Heating system. I store all ammunition in the factory boxes which are placed inside surplus USGI .50 cal. ammo cans labeled on the outside. Ammo is stacked with the oldest on top and the newest on bottom (FIFO) unless it is a item which is currently hard to obtain, in which case it is stored as above but then placed in a 20mm USGI can with chains and locks and three hungry bad dogs to keep me from foolishly blasting some of it off just to hear the sound of my gun go "bang!"
I too, use the 50 caliber ammo GI cans and have done so the last 25 years. They were made for that purpose where most were stored in concrete igloos. Never had a problem in climates as diverse as Alaska and Florida. They, as said, stack really well and utlize a small amount of space. I keep them in the garage which it is sometimes a hot place, but the ammo has always gone "bang".
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I use ammo cans too not that I have all that much to store anyway. Since I reload I really don't need to store all that much ammo.
rburg
Member
Different ammo requires different techniques. Yes, I have and love the .50 cal cans. But showing my broad mindedness, I also have and use .30 cal cans. And recently I've added on another storage medium. Fiberglass milk crates, as seen in dairy's, convenience stores, and groceries. The molded plastic ones are weak and undependable, but the fiberglass (and I'm calling them that because you can actually see swirls in the plastic used to form it) ones are up to the task.
They have one attribute most other things don't. They have good handles, on all 4 sides. And they stack well because they're designed to. The only thing I put in them are the loose 550 bulk packs. The ones the guy at Wally World sold me in the original inconvenient cases are still there. Cardboard is hard to move when it weighs that much. Can't get your fingers under it. And I don't fill the milk cases all the way up, I'm more lazy these days and I let weight be my guide. And 22 shorts have a drawer all to themselves. Over 3 bricks of it don't even fill it up.
I don't reload all that many calibers these days. But stuff like 38 wadcutters, 357s, 9mm, 44 Specials and magnums all require their own .50 cal cans. Ammo goes straight from the press to a pile on the carpet. Then a final inspection step and into the huge 1 gallon zip locks before going into the ammo can.
Ammo cans sometimes weigh too much. Sometimes way too much. The plastic zip locks serve as a second moisture seal (not that I've ever had a problem) and in each baggie goes a hand written slip with crap written on it, like the load and the date loaded.
Rifle ammo also goes in .50 cal cans. I hate it when the quantity exceeds one can and I've got to label a 2nd or 3rd.
My bullets go in the card catalog. Not sure why, and I'm a little inconsistent about it. Like all the supplies for .32-20 are in one .50 cal can. But most of the bullets are just sorted by caliber.
For factory ammo and odd components I store stuff in my refugee library card catalog. You remember the ones the mean old librarian forced you to use to look up books when you were young? I've got 60 drawers that are long an work well. When I've only got a small quantity of factory loaded ammo, I just dedicate a drawer to it. Like I've got a few boxes of Gold Dot self defense ammo in 44 Special, so it gets a drawer.
The only thing I use plastic tubs on are powder and primers. Of course all powder is in its original container (I've thought about mixing it together, just for fun!) I have no idea why I feel primers need some kind of special handling. They've been stored indoors forever. I haven't bothered to buy any in about 16 years, the last time we had a shortage and I found some for $7 a brick of 1000. So I was stupid and bought all I could get. Now I've got a lifetime supply on hand.
One criminal exception to all this. My dad died back in 1980. My mother hated guns and gun stuff, so I brought it all home. On thanksgiving day my youngest wanted some 12 gauge ammo, so we went to the garage. There, where its moved twice but still in milk crates and milk cartons and original boxes are some of my dad's reloaded shotgun shells. His hobby was reloading more than shooting. The old ammo was damp. Beyond belief. But it still fired. So the same son can have all of it. They're just going to burn it up anyhow. Dad only reloaded 7 1/2 and 8 shot. But he hunted with 5 and 6, go figure.
And recently I've added on another storage medium. Fiberglass milk crates, as seen in dairy's, convenience stores, and groceries. The molded plastic ones are weak and undependable, but the fiberglass (and I'm calling them that because you can actually see swirls in the plastic used to form it) ones are up to the task. They have one attribute most other things don't. They have good handles, on all 4 sides. And they stack well because they're designed to. The only thing I put in them are the loose 550 bulk packs. The ones the guy at Wally World sold me in the original inconvenient cases are still there. Cardboard is hard to move when it weighs that much. Can't get your fingers under it. And I don't fill the milk cases all the way up, I'm more lazy these days and I let weight be my guide. And 22 shorts have a drawer all to themselves. Over 3 bricks of it don't even fill it up.
I don't reload all that many calibers these days. But stuff like 38 wadcutters, 357s, 9mm, 44 Specials and magnums all require their own .50 cal cans. Ammo goes straight from the press to a pile on the carpet. Then a final inspection step and into the huge 1 gallon zip locks before going into the ammo can.
Ammo cans sometimes weigh too much. Sometimes way too much. The plastic zip locks serve as a second moisture seal (not that I've ever had a problem) and in each baggie goes a hand written slip with crap written on it, like the load and the date loaded.
Rifle ammo also goes in .50 cal cans. I hate it when the quantity exceeds one can and I've got to label a 2nd or 3rd.
My bullets go in the card catalog. Not sure why, and I'm a little inconsistent about it. Like all the supplies for .32-20 are in one .50 cal can. But most of the bullets are just sorted by caliber.
For factory ammo and odd components I store stuff in my refugee library card catalog. You remember the ones the mean old librarian forced you to use to look up books when you were young? I've got 60 drawers that are long an work well. When I've only got a small quantity of factory loaded ammo, I just dedicate a drawer to it. Like I've got a few boxes of Gold Dot self defense ammo in 44 Special, so it gets a drawer.
The only thing I use plastic tubs on are powder and primers. Of course all powder is in its original container (I've thought about mixing it together, just for fun!)
I have no idea why I feel primers need some kind of special handling. They've been stored indoors forever. I haven't bothered to buy any in about 16 years, the last time we had a shortage and I found some for $7 a brick of 1000. So I was stupid and bought all I could get. Now I've got a lifetime supply on hand.One criminal exception to all this. My dad died back in 1980. My mother hated guns and gun stuff, so I brought it all home. On thanksgiving day my youngest wanted some 12 gauge ammo, so we went to the garage. There, where its moved twice but still in milk crates and milk cartons and original boxes are some of my dad's reloaded shotgun shells. His hobby was reloading more than shooting. The old ammo was damp. Beyond belief. But it still fired. So the same son can have all of it. They're just going to burn it up anyhow. Dad only reloaded 7 1/2 and 8 shot. But he hunted with 5 and 6, go figure.
don p
Member
Military ammo cans and the card board box that the bullets come in.
5906fan
Member
as many here mil-surp ammo cans for the supply I do keep.
12ga 3" buck and 'game' loads from #2 on up about 400 rds I have a 'spare' loaner
20ga " and ditto I have 2 20's one a 'spare' loaner.
.22LR Mini-Mag and SuperX about 3K rounds - very important as I have 'spare' rifles for friends/family caught w/out a gun if needed
handgun chamberings .32acp up to .45acp about 3K
'06 about 400rds of carefully loaded 'match' ammo + about 200 rds sp game ammo. my Ruger is accurized.
12ga 3" buck and 'game' loads from #2 on up about 400 rds I have a 'spare' loaner
20ga " and ditto I have 2 20's one a 'spare' loaner.
.22LR Mini-Mag and SuperX about 3K rounds - very important as I have 'spare' rifles for friends/family caught w/out a gun if needed
handgun chamberings .32acp up to .45acp about 3K
'06 about 400rds of carefully loaded 'match' ammo + about 200 rds sp game ammo. my Ruger is accurized.
Beemer-mark
Member
Mine ammo is on plain old shelfs in my shed. No heat, no AC, no nothing. Been that ways for years. Never have even a tarnish problem.
TAROMAN
US Veteran
I was going to put one in my back yard, but the city refused to issue me a building permit:
So, I'll just have to continue storing it in .50 cal cans in my garage!
So, I'll just have to continue storing it in .50 cal cans in my garage!
Andy Griffith
Member
Is is the 20mm or the 90mm cannon boxes that are about 4 to 6 times the size of a .50 box?
The big ones is what a feller I know of uses.
I second Dick's suggestion of the fiberglass milk crates- the plastic ones are no good for anything of decent weight. The other thing if you have a bunch around, is old wooden coca-cola cases- I use them for large parts, but I think they would work just fine for ammunition.
I lost all my ammo in a boating accident.
The big ones is what a feller I know of uses.
I second Dick's suggestion of the fiberglass milk crates- the plastic ones are no good for anything of decent weight. The other thing if you have a bunch around, is old wooden coca-cola cases- I use them for large parts, but I think they would work just fine for ammunition.
I lost all my ammo in a boating accident.
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