Ammo Storage

[anonymouscuban]

In anticipation of the ensuing ammogeddon, I spent all of last year stocking up on ammo. I now find myself with thousands of rounds of 9mm ammo. I currently have them still packaged in the shipping boxes.

How would you guys recommend I store them?

Should I buy some of those metal ammo boxes and just dump the rounds inside?

Should I keep them in their 50 round count boxes?

May seem like a trivial question but I'm a fairly new gun owner and until now, never really gave ammo storage much thought because I never really had more that a few hundred rounds on hand.

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[holt7153]

I would try to find someone local selling .30 cal plastic ammo cans for $5/can with free delivery.

As luck would have it I know a guy .

[anonymouscuban]

I would try to find someone local selling .30 cal plastic ammo cans for $5/can with free delivery.

As luck would have it I know a guy .

Oh really? And you wouldn't happen to be said guy, would you?[emoji4]

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[billped]

If they are being stored for decades, put them into sealed containers like .50 cal (or .30!) boxes. Otherwise, leave them as-is.

I have a combination of both and shoot the non-sealed ammo first.

You'll probably get other opinions.

[holt7153]

Oh really? And you wouldn't happen to be said guy, would you?[emoji4]

My "friend" has over 20 and they're in great shape...

[timeexposure]

[traveler1952]

Leave them in there original case packaging.

[Powder_Keg]

I keep my factory ammo in their boxes. Usually on the inside flap of the box, the factory prints manufacturing info (lot code). You will need this if you have a bad batch. I keep approx 500-1000 rounds on the shelf and the rest in their boxes in ammo cans.

If you buy bulk loose factory ammo, I believe the box will still have the lot code stamped on the exterior. You can cut the box end with identifying info and lot code and put it in the ammo can. I've bought 500 rounds of bulk from Remington that came in plastic bags and IIRC, the boxes were shipped with the lot code on the outside.

For personal hand loaded ammo, 50 cal ammo cans are perfect.

[boopiejones]

I put all my ammo in 50 cal cans with desiccant. Anything used for hunting or precision shooting stays in the factory boxes. Plinking ammo is dumped into the cans loose to maximize space. I typically take one empty box, fold it flat and place inside the can so I know the lot number.

[anonymouscuban]

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't think about retaining the lot information in case of bad ammo. To be honest, I think you guys may consider all of my ammo "plinking" type. It's all just regular brass FMJ in 9mm of various grain weight. Really just to use at the range for recreational shooting.

I already have a couple of 50 cal ammo cans. I guess what makes sense for me is to keep most of it in the packaging it was shipped and a supply for use in the ammo cans. I have them all in the house right now. The wife has been bugging me to move it to the garage but I think I'm going to put it in a closet in the house to keep it in more consistent conditions. Garage temp fluctuates too much.

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[Denver Dick]

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't think about retaining the lot information in case of bad ammo. To be honest, I think you guys may consider all of my ammo "plinking" type. It's all just regular brass FMJ in 9mm of various grain weight. Really just to use at the range for recreational shooting.

I already have a couple of 50 cal ammo cans. I guess what makes sense for me is to keep most of it in the packaging it was shipped and a supply for use in the ammo cans. I have them all in the house right now. The wife has been bugging me to move it to the garage but I think I'm going to put it in a closet in the house to keep it in more consistent conditions. Garage temp fluctuates too much. [DD - emphasis added]

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Just curious, where is the garage? Here in Southern California (Ventura County), I leave my stored ammo in the garage in the factory cases. The ready to use ammo stays in the original 50rd boxes a locked cabinet also in the garage. Except for few days a year, the temperature range in the garage here runs between mid 40s and low 90s with low humility.

[AKexpat]

I put all my ammo in 50 cal cans with desiccant.

Large bags of silica gel are a handy thing to have, even in a gun safe.

[anonymouscuban]

Just curious, where is the garage? Here in Southern California (Ventura County), I leave my stored ammo in the garage in the factory cases. The ready to use ammo stays in the original 50rd boxes a locked cabinet also in the garage. Except for few days a year, the temperature range in the garage here runs between mid 40s and low 90s with low humility.

I'm up in the West San Fernando Valley so heat is a concern. My garage is attached but it's not insulated. It can get well over 100 during the summer.

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[Cortelli]

I keep all of it in factory boxes, stored in ammo cans. My SD/HD ammo is in 30 cal cans in a closet, along with a thousand or so in a couple of calibers in 50 cal ammo cans. The remaining stash is also in ammo cans, but out in the garage. Dessicant packages in each can.

Honestly, I am sure it is overkill. Barring very unusual circumstances, I expect factory ammo to do just fine in all sorts of conditions. The garage storage is really just to avoid too much in the interior closet. The closet is to have a ready and easily accessible stash when I want to go shooting, without having to fight through a messy garage and inconvenient storage location. When an ammo can goes empty in the closet, I swap it out for a new, full one from the garage.

[CSACANNONEER]

Stacked in original boxes is my preference but, I "know a guy" who has a bunch of surplus (not the lesser made Costco cans) .50 cal cans for sale at $10 each or 6 for $50. I'm sure "he" will make you a better deal on +20 or more. He happens to be a short drive from the SFV close to Thousand Oaks.