Desiccant And Ammo Storage..

[B-Bob]

How much desiccant (size of packet/s) is reasonable for your basic military ammo can (.30, .45, .50 size), when storing loose and boxed rounds.
rw

[baih777]

You actually don't need it for a ammo can. But if there's room I add small.bag.

[Metal God]

[SquidBilly]

Here in California and our dry weather. Unless you're far north coast or living in a beach house I don't see the necessity. Especially in a rubber sealed ammo can.

A rule of thumb i've learned. Keep ammo dry and at temperatures you're comfortable with. If you're comfortable (room temperature and dry) your ammo will be fine and usable for many, many years.

[ScottsBad]

Just make sure the packets are dry. If you are not sure put them in the oven for about 30 minutes....sorry you'll have to Google the temperature.

I bought a 5 Gal bucket of desiccant packets from some industrial outfit in Texas. So, I use them liberally. Maybe 5-6 per small 50 cal ammo can. First, I line the can with a plastic bag or plastic, put the ammo in, put the packets in, then tie off the plastic.

I have 5 different sized ammo cans, so it depends. But I can put 1000 rounds of loose 5.56 easily in a small std. 50 cal can. And usually I can fit 1000 rounds of boxed in the same size can depending on how the factory boxes it.

I'm probably way too weird about it though. Calif is pretty dry in most places.

Up until a year ago I had California ammo from the mid-1970s that was never stored in ammo boxes or with desiccant and it shot fine. However, cheap ammo like .22lr and maybe some reloads might not age as well if the cartridge cases are not sealed. But wrapped in plastic in an ammo can with desiccant even cheap ammo could last for decades.

[John Henry]

Not sure where I first heard about this but I make my own disaccant using coffee filters and cat litter. I use the smaller, V shaped filters and about 2 large tablespoons of just about any type of cat litter. I hold the filter by the "V" bottom and fold it in half so now I have 2 "pockets." I put about 1 large tablespoon of litter in each folded pocket, fold the top down and staple it. When done it kind of looks like 2 large, attached tea bags. I put 2 bags in my ammo cans and a couple in my range bag and gun cases. Seems to work great. The materials are so cheap I just replace every 3 months or so.

[Truck286]

I have cans with and without.. Some ammo 10 years plus old and still looks new and fires perfectly.. Cental Valley California.. I dont think it matters as long as ammo is kept dry and inside out of elements here in Commifornia.

[Divernhunter]

Simple answer is NONE. I have ammo stored for 20+ years in ammo cans without any in my garage that is just fine.
Too many people overthink this.

[TurboChrisB]

Simple answer is NONE. I have ammo stored for 20+ years in ammo cans without any in my garage that is just fine.
Too many people overthink this.

This! I have a .30 cal ammo can that my dad brought home when he was in the service. It was full. He left the service in 1960. It was in the garage until 20 years ago when he gave it to me. I've shot several hundred rounds out of it without a single issue and it all looks pristine. I have about 100 rounds left. The last bandolier.

[cdtx2001]

Make your own. Go to the pet store and get a bag of CRYSTAL kitty litter, not the clay stuff. The crystals are dessicant. Then go to the dollar store and pick up some pantyhose and make a little baggie with small scoop (1/8 or 1/4 cup) of the dessicant in a piece about 8" long and tie off each end.

Or....

All those plastic CCI 22 ammo boxes that you throw away........ Put em to use.


Peel off the labels and drill some holes in the lid.





Fill with dessicant and put in your ammo cans.

[GM4spd]

I've had FN 762Nato rds from 1958 stored in Ammo cans. They all went
bang with no problems.

[onelonehorseman]

I don't use desiccant for ammo here; never had any issues whatsoever.

Now if I was burying it in the ground in plastic drums . . . maybe then. But not in the house.

[Bansh88]

Simple answer is NONE. I have ammo stored for 20+ years in ammo cans without any in my garage that is just fine.
Too many people overthink this.

Pretty much. I've got loose milsurp ammo from the 70s and 80s. No worries, no issues. I toss in a small packet after opening an Amazon package occasionally.
But I wouldn't think twice if I didn't.

Someone on Calguns overthinking something?!

[Mayor McRifle]

Simple answer is NONE. I have ammo stored for 20+ years in ammo cans without any in my garage that is just fine.
Too many people overthink this.

When my father-in-law died a few years ago, we found 700 rounds of .30-06 in boxes dated 1961, 1962, and 1963. It had all been stored in metal ammo cans with no desiccant. Every round looked perfect -- no rust or corrosion of any kind. 698 rounds fired flawlessly. 2 rounds suffered from light primer strikes, but I really doubt it was because of being stored for half a century without desiccant. It was most likely because of the hard military primers.

This was proof enough for me. I don't store my ammo with desiccant.

[B-Bob]

Metal God (and others), thanks..
rw