Rifle ammo storage- magazine, or box?

[scoobysnacker]

I picked up a couple additions to the home arsenal recently, a Century Arms C308 (Cetme-based) and a Radical Firearms AR 15.
These are the first 2 rifles I own with detachable magazines, and I was able to pick up 10 extra for each gun since they were cheap.

Which brings up the next question: how do you store ammo, do you load up mags, or do you leave them in the box? Would loading the mags long-term hurt anything?

These are steel mags, to clarify. 20 rd Cetme mags for the 308, 30 rd Korean mags for the AR.

 

[minconrevo]

Keep your rifle ammo, and all ammo for that matter, in a cool, dry place. Leave it in the original packaging. Do not store any ammo in a hot or wet place.

It doesn't hurt to have SOME ammo pre-loaded in a magazine or two. My usual practice is to download a high cap rifle mag by a round or two. I put 28 in a 30 round, 19 in a 20. Mark the magazine to show what ammo is in it. I've found using electrical phase tape to be helpful in that effort.

 

[gwpercle]

Original boxes ... unless a firefight is eminent !

 

[Bozz10mm]

I keep most of my ammo in the original boxes inside ammo cans. I keep one or two mags for each firearm loaded with ammo.

 

[seldon14]

If you don't have enough ammo to fill all your mags, you need more ammo.

If you don't have enough mags to fit all your ammo, you need more mags.

No harm in keeping them all loaded, that's where they will end up eventually anyways.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Working with the 1911's when I was in the service........
I NEVER had the magazine 100% full, unless on watch or shooting,
in order to save spring tension.

Always did 80% of full on "Stand-by" mode and would top off when loaded.
Even my new 18+1 9mm mags only get 14 - 15 rounds max, unless
filled before use, if needed.

If you need more than five rounds, you need a lot more time at the range........
since that much time should mean that you are in the Ambulance !!

With rifles, they seldom see more than two-three days loaded if a hunting rifle, since they usually need to get wiped down at the end of the day, if not shot. Most trips seldom last more than seven days at which time they are unloaded.

Most rifle mags are loaded at the range and count does not really matter, unless a 100% loaded Mag will not feed, correctly. It just depends on the spring, ammo and weapon on what will work.

I never had a Military magazine, not work when "Full" of ammo. (30-06, 308 , 45 grease gun )
If it failed, it was tossed in the garbage can. Back then mags were a dime a dozen and not worth the time to dismantle and try to fix.

Todays mags are a different story............ $$$.

 

[Valmet]

Have enough ammo for both. I have loaded AR mags in my safe and lots more in boxes on my Ammo shelves.

 

[TMan51]

If you don't have enough ammo to fill all your mags, you need more ammo.

If you don't have enough mags to fit all your ammo, you need more mags.

Now that's simple enough!

My accessible firearms are all loaded and ready to go. No kids in the house. Wife never bothers with 'em. Anyone that gets invited over knows that if you can see it, it's loaded. Keeping 40 loaded AR mags on hand, and a couple dozen handgun magazines, not where I live.

 

[mike from st pete]

I keep my ammo in en-blocs

 

[jupiter1]

........+1

 

[Racer X]

Which Korean ones? Those over runs for the Korean military 30 rd steel? How is the quality? I see CDNN has them for $10.

 

[grip frame]

Simple:

Buy mags and ammo. Load mags with ammo. Have loaded mags at the ready for range visits or serious ****. Loaded mags do not hurt springs. Springs wear from cycling. Rotate mags (once fired. twice fired, etc.) If you have a ****load of ammo and mags load about half of the mags. Keep the remaining new mags and ammo as new for possible resale.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Keep your rifle ammo, and all ammo for that matter, in a cool, dry place.

With my beer?

 

[DasVidaniya]

Throwing in my 2 cents....

I start with a clean and oiled ammo can. Oiled with a good gun oil. Just a thin film on the inside and around the seal. I take all the ammo from the boxes and dump it into the ammo can. I usually store about 1K of rounds in a single Fat 50 can. I take a flap from the last box and put it into the can so I know what is in there and put a dessicant bag on top.

Closed up like that for long term storage.