Ammo Storage?

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

Those of you storing your ammo in the garage, I'm curious. Aren't you concerned about the effect of our warm summers on your ammo? Or do you 'rotate' the stock so frequently that it's not an issue?

[Cokebottle]

Those of you storing your ammo in the garage, I'm curious. Aren't you concerned about the effect of our warm summers on your ammo? Or do you 'rotate' the stock so frequently that it's not an issue?

What's it gonna do?
Moisture isn't a problem even if you submerge it for a short time.
Heat isn't going to cause it to "cook off" unless it gets well over 300 degrees.

Contrary to myth, ammo generally doesn't degrade as it ages (within reason). People are still today buying "spam cans" of ammo that was packaged for the military 40 years ago.

[seanbo]

I got some from 60 years ago. I think that a fire would be the major problem for most of us. Because of that I have been thinking of an outside storage option.

[Dutch3]

I converted my old Stack-on gun cabinet into an ammo cabinet. I removed the foam rubber and added wood shelving.

I have one of those. Unfortunately, it is still housing my guns. When I obtain a decent safe, the cabinet will be used for ammo storage.

I am just looking for ideas for ammo storage using what I already have or can easily find. I guess ammo cans, trunks and toolboxes will work for now.

I saw these PLANO Sports Lockers...does anyone here use them? My experience with plastic storage devices has not been the best, although I do have one surviving "Action Packer" storage tub that is still going strong after 20+ years.

[Dutch3]

The cats are pretty sneaky, and they don't care who you are, friend or foe.

Anyone coming in and not knowing about them will never make it up the stairs because the cats will run up to them and flop down on the stair step just as they are about to put their foot down. They've taken me out more than once.

Yeah, you have to wonder about "loyalty" with these instinctively defensive animals.

The first chihuahua we got is still the smallest of the bunch, but she rules the roost. She got hold of my lip once (my fault) and put the hurt on me. What can you do.

[jgraham7897]

Holy crap! I just took a bite of dinner when the picture came up and I am now cleaning rice off my desk and the floor.

[rdmmdr]

For forty dollars take a hallway closet and put a dead bolt on it with security hinges that should keep the kids out. I keep about 4000 rd of 12 ga and about 5000 rounds of rifle mixed plus 2000-3000 of 22 and about 1000 of 357 plus powder for reloading, black powder for the rockets, and rocket propellant.
legally loaded rounds in a house don't count, loose powder does under nfpa I believe the rule is twenty for smokeless and five for black without a magazine while i do have two magazines for powder and rocket propellant I stay under those rules so the atf and the fire marshall does not have to get involved. Detached buildings each get their own allowances for storage but not for total personal possession rules.

Have fun
Rick

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

Ammo Storage

What's it gonna do?
Moisture isn't a problem even if you submerge it for a short time.
Heat isn't going to cause it to "cook off" unless it gets well over 300 degrees.

Contrary to myth, ammo generally doesn't degrade as it ages (within reason). People are still today buying "spam cans" of ammo that was packaged for the military 40 years ago.

I'm not worried about moisture or "cooking off"; if it's that hot, the house is on fire and we've bigger problems.

No, my concern is powder/primer deterioration due to temperature swings. I know in my gargage in the summer, the temp can change from the 60's in the morning to over 100 during the middle of the day. The typical recommendation I've see from powder manufacturers for years is "Store in a ventilated, cool, dry place."

As you correctly pointed out, we buy and shoot ammo that is 40+ years old and there is no problem with it. I agree; however, I suspect it was stored for most of that time in a cool dry place, not in a California garage. Not that I'm suggesting someone would store ammo, powder or primers in their garage for 40 years.

[Cokebottle]

The typical recommendation I've see from powder manufacturers for years is "Store in a ventilated, cool, dry place."

But there is a difference between "powder" and powder that has been loaded into a cartridge and sealed with a bullet.

It's not very well ventilated

[Ubermcoupe]

7.62 and 50 cal ammo boxes on the closet floor.
Boxes are marked with their caliber with P-Touch Labels

Almost the same!

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

Ammo Storage

Thanks to all for this thread and your responses. Thanks to you, I have now convinced my wife that the paultry 5 - 6,000 rounds of reloads I have (not counting the 22 LR) is nothing compared to some of my peers.

[G1500]

Thanks to all for this thread and your responses. Thanks to you, I have now convinced my wife that the paultry 5 - 6,000 rounds of reloads I have (not counting the 22 LR) is nothing compared to some of my peers.

We have about 15-20 cases (5000 rounds per case) of .22lr at our shop, even then, I know guys who have pallets of ammo in storage.

Tell her to buy you more ammo :P

[xrMike]

Boy am I feeling inadequate! I see all these pics of you guys marking your 50 cal ammo cans with computer-generated labels, or fancy label-maker labels, and here I am using torn off pieces of duct tape and a sharpie on mine:

[xrMike]

Then there's the CMP:



Pallets, a warehouse, and a forklift!

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

Ammo Storage

Boy am I feeling inadequate! I see all these pics of you guys marking your 50 cal ammo cans with computer-generated labels, or fancy label-maker labels, and here I am using torn off pieces of duct tape and a sharpie on mine:

Inadequate?! Geeezzzzz! I'm feeling downright depressed!