Long term ammo storage using duct tape

[jt-cali]

Anyone store their ammo just wrapped up in duct tape? I bought a couple of cases for SHTF and just want to store them long term. While researching to see if duct tape is air tight, I found out that it actually originated/used in WWII to keep ammo dry.

Can I just seal the case boxes with duct tape? Or should I put them in ammo cans?

[Guns R Tools]

Military surplus ammo can would be better choice/price. Roll of duct tape isn't that cheap considering how much you might need.

Plus you can ID ammo right away when you flip the box open.

[joelogic]

People have found 50+ year old ammo sitting in a basement that still fires. I put a couple of rounds of 9mm through the washer and dryer and they still fired. Just cycle your inventory.

[Scratch705]

long term storage of ammo just needs 1 thing to be successful.

no moisture contact

make it water proof and it will last for decades.

[damndave]

Get a ammo can at a show for $10 and throw some desiccant packs in it.

[tonytony86]

ammo cans! best way and you can find good deals (I find mine on craigslist). But if you order 1000 rounds of ammo and up at cabelas.com you'll get a free ammo can. (not military grade but gets the job done)

[chim-chim7]

Vacuum sealer.

[Tony.]

Ammo Cans = storing ammo. The are called ammo cans for a reason.

[jt-cali]

Military surplus ammo can would be better choice/price. Roll of duct tape isn't that cheap considering how much you might need.
Plus you can ID ammo right away when you flip the box open.

Price-wise, a 60yd roll of duct tape is about $4 (costco). I don't think I'll use more than .50c (7.5yds) per case. Versus $10-15 for a can. I'm not going to duct tape individual boxes, just the 500/1000rd cases.

I don't plan on opening the box to use the ammo anytime soon. Its for SHTF, just going to let it sit there for a decade or two, hopefully forever.

Just thought of another problem. How long will duct tape last.? When will it loose its seal?

[jt-cali]

Ammo Cans = storing ammo. The are called ammo cans for a reason.

Guitar cases are for guitars. But I've read several threads where people use them for rifles.

Growing up, the only thing I saw in ammo cans were tools. Maybe that's why I'm not seeing the connection. :-)

[blakdawg]

Are you sure the duct tape really will seal effectively, long-term? My impression is that duct tape tends to break down after 5-10 years.

[paul0660]

Duct tape may have been invented to keep ammo dry, but not for long. Any conditioned space (like where people live) will keep ammo indefinitely.

BUT my advice is to always test ammo before putting it away for long term storage, even if you have to bust into a spam can and repack it. There are many lots of ammo out there, new and old, that are faulty, and the only way to get your money back (and to avoid disappointment later, is to test fire it after buying.