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Ammo Storage Tips for Reliability When It Counts
The Lodge ^
| June 15, 2017
| David Lewis
Posted on 06/22/2017 5:25:26 PM PDT by upchuck
Proper ammo storage can be the difference between function and failure. Use the tips in this guide to rest assured you can rely on your ammo when it matters most.
Awesome, you have ammo. Now, if you’re not shooting it all in one range trip, how can you keep it to make sure your ammunition will fire reliably the next time you need it?
Whether you’re keeping some hunting rounds on hand, stockpiling hard to find calibers or just want to be prepared for an end of the world scenario, its always great to have a stash of some sort. Knowing the proper ammo storage practices and techniques will keep your ammo around for years to come.
Three Simple Guidelines
Ammunition can last years and even several decades when stored properly. There are three basics to keeping your rounds properly stored. Following these guidelines will insure your ammunition stays fresh and ready to use whenever the need arises.
Rusted ammunition due to improper storage.
Keep Ammo Dry
You’ve probably heard the expression “keep your powder dry”. There’s a lot of truth and wisdom in that statement.
Keeping your ammunition dry may be the most critical component to a good munitions storage plan. Moisture is the enemy of ammunition. It can foul up primers and render powders useless. Corrosion of the casings and bullets are also avoidable headaches if you properly store your ammo in a dry location. While the picture of rusted rounds to the right is an extreme example, there are instances where your ammo could have been wet and it’s not so obvious. Those less apparent cases might be even worse because thinking you have reliable rounds that don’t function when you absolutely need them could be matter of life and death.
In addition to staying away from moisture, avoid storing your ammunition is area with high humidity. This includes older damp basements, sheds, and attics. Storing your ammo in a climate controlled area will help your rounds stay dry.
Also aim to keep your storage off of the floor. Direct contact with the ground can result in moisture absorption. Place your ammo on a shelf or use a pallet to give it some breathing room. Monitoring moisture levels with a hygrometer or other humidity measuring device can help you determine if your storage location is a good fit for your stash.
Store in a Cool Place
Keeping your ammunition in a cool place also helps increase the life of your stored rounds. This is another reason why storing your ammo in an attic, shed or even a vehicle may not be the best choice.
Ammunition today is manufactured to be used in extreme conditions. So its not the cold or warm temperatures that will damage your rounds alone. The threat of damage comes from the extreme swings of temperatures your rounds could face if improperly stored. Experiencing swings of extreme cold to extreme hot and back again can really wear on the primers, casings and other components of your ammo.
A general rule of thumb for ideal storage temperatures is between 55°F and 85°F. According to SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute) standards, extreme high temperatures (over 150° F) should be avoided.
Store in a Dark Area
Its commonly known that UV Rays are damaging. If you don’t think so, Im sure you know of someones weird aunt that spent way too much time at the beach and now looks like a walking leather wallet.
UV Rays can cause just as much damage to your ammunition as it does your skin and your cars paint job. By storing your ammo in a dark area such as a closet or safe, you will greatly reduce the risk of any damage caused by UV exposure.
The container you use to store your ammo in can also help. Using a solid material container rather than clear plastic will help reduce exposure to unwanted damaging light. Pretty much any commercially available or military surplus can will fit the bill for this need.
Rest of article.
TOPICS: Hobbies
KEYWORDS: ammunition; guns; storage
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Interesting article. Good tips.
1
posted on
06/22/2017 5:25:26 PM PDT
by
upchuck
To: upchuck
Seal in .50 cal. GI ammo cans. Keep in a cool place where the temps don’t vary much.
Loose boxes can be just kept in your house but not in basement.
Probably not necessary but desiccant in the cans would be nice.
2
posted on
06/22/2017 5:30:01 PM PDT
by
yarddog
(Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
To: yarddog
I have found the Plano brand of opaque plastic storage boxes with a rubber gasket work well. Desciccant packages certainly won’t hurt.
3
posted on
06/22/2017 5:34:33 PM PDT
by
upchuck
(... you might not be interested in Shariah; however Shariah is interested in you. h/t dogcaller)
To: upchuck
I always store one in the pipe.
4
posted on
06/22/2017 5:35:22 PM PDT
by
KingLudd
To: upchuck
“Ammunition can last years and even several decades when stored properly.”
Are some more prone to degradation than others?
If so, which?
5
posted on
06/22/2017 5:35:51 PM PDT
by
dontreadthis
(I finally came up with this tagline)
To: KingLudd
I imagine they would work well especially with the seal.
A surplus store near me used to sell the .50 cans for almost nothing. I understand they have increased greatly in price.
6
posted on
06/22/2017 5:37:05 PM PDT
by
yarddog
(Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
To: upchuck
Just 3 words are needed: cool, dry place.
7
posted on
06/22/2017 5:38:10 PM PDT
by
Red Steel
To: upchuck
UV exposure??? C’mon. Even if it was fast neutrons it would probably just glow some... ;-)
8
posted on
06/22/2017 5:38:31 PM PDT
by
Axenolith
(Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
To: upchuck
I have old 1946 mercury fulminate primed stuff that still goes bang.
9
posted on
06/22/2017 5:38:43 PM PDT
by
mylife
(the roar of the masses could be farts)
To: dontreadthis
I had some FN produced 7.65 Argentine Mauser which was head stamped 1932 and 33. It shot great. I sold it all around 10 years ago.
On the other hand, I had some Argentine .45 ammo which was bright and clean with a 1950s head stamp which was totally bad. I think every single round was bad.
10
posted on
06/22/2017 5:40:34 PM PDT
by
yarddog
(Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
To: upchuck
11
posted on
06/22/2017 5:43:49 PM PDT
by
mylife
(the roar of the masses could be farts)
To: yarddog
1932 sounds old.
Is there any market for antique ammo?
12
posted on
06/22/2017 5:44:48 PM PDT
by
dontreadthis
(I finally came up with this tagline)
To: yarddog
I think that has to do with the primer composition.
Not sure when they stopped using mercury fulminate.
Modern primers do not last 25 years or so I have been told.
13
posted on
06/22/2017 5:47:07 PM PDT
by
mylife
(the roar of the masses could be farts)
To: dontreadthis
I imagine the price would be low for ammo that old but it can be still good. Then again it might not be. It just depends.
14
posted on
06/22/2017 5:48:15 PM PDT
by
yarddog
(Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
To: dontreadthis
Lots of Market for old ammo.
People buy it just for collectors value.
15
posted on
06/22/2017 5:48:56 PM PDT
by
mylife
(the roar of the masses could be farts)
To: dontreadthis
To: yarddog
“Seal in .50 cal. GI ammo cans...”
50 cal cans aren’t any better than other sizes, but their larger internal dimensions do afford more flexibility.
The older style cans fabricated of drawn steel are stronger than the newer plastic variety, but are at least as heavy. Corrosion risks to the steel cans are not zero: both inside (if dessicant is neglected, or they get packed on a very humid day) and outside - if the cans get shelved where moisture (or worse, pooled water) touches the bottoms.
The strength of steel can come in handy, if one must stack supplies.
Black powder boasts a long shelf life, if kept dry: it’s merely a mechanical mixture of the ingredients (potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal) which can almost never separate, thanks to modern mixing, drying, and coating methods. Nitro propellant will ultimately degrade: the solvent chemicals and mixing/reactant agents can never be completely removed following formulation Cool-and-dry is recommended, because it slows any incipient reactions as much as they can be.
For decades, the US War Dept refused to use non-corrosive primers, citing insufficient evidence they’d remain stable. The sole exception during the Second World War was 30 US Carbine ammunition, which was specified from the outset to use non-corrosive priming. Shelf life can extend well beyond “a few decades”: in a prior job, I repaired guns and test-fired M1 Carbines. Less than five years ago, I touched off a couple 30 Carbine rounds headstamped “44”: zero hangfires, zero misfires.
To: dontreadthis
I have around 20 boxes of Lapua Match with this headstamp:
7/027/6. I have no idea what that means but it is pretty old and I think it will last far longer than I will.
18
posted on
06/22/2017 5:55:06 PM PDT
by
yarddog
(Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
To: dontreadthis
19
posted on
06/22/2017 5:56:06 PM PDT
by
mylife
(the roar of the masses could be farts)
To: Tijeras_Slim
cool!
20
posted on
06/22/2017 5:59:17 PM PDT
by
dontreadthis
(I finally came up with this tagline)
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