Every gun owner knows that ammo storage is a crucial component of owning a gun. This is because ammunition is only as good as its storage.
Here are some pointer on the do's and don'ts of ammo storage
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Everything Gun Owners Need to Know about Ammo Storage
The Do's of Ammo Storage
Store Your Ammunition in Ammo Cans
While ammo cans are specifically designed for ammunition storage, any standard airtight container like Tupperware will do the trick. If it can lock out air and moisture with food, it will do the same with your ammo.
Depending on how you like to keep your ammo, you can load up that factory ammo boxes into the cans. Alternatively, you can load up your magazines and store them in ammo cans.
You can also store your primers in your ammo cans as they are also vulnerable to moisture. Unlike ammunition that is only prone to corrosion when stored poorly, moisture will make your primer perform poorly, if at all.
Store Your Ammo Cans in a Temperature-Controlled Area
In other words, store your ammo cans in a spot where it does not get too hot or too cold. This is especially so for higher temperatures as they tend to degrade the chemical primer and powder compounds with time.
Your best chance is therefore storing ammo at room temperature and maintaining that.
Use Silica Gel
Most shipped items come with packs of silica gel and are therefore likely to be lying around in the house. To use them, pop them in the oven for a few minutes, dry them and then put them in your ammo cans.
They will absorb any moisture that gets trapped when you are sealing your airtight ammo cans. What's more, silica gel packets change color when they absorb moisture which is a good indicator of when to swap them with new ones.
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The Don'ts of Ammo storage
Don't Store Your Ammo in Cardboard Factory Boxes
Storing your ammo in factory boxes can be tempting, as that is how you get them. However, storing ammunition in cardboard boxes in the garage or basement exposes the powder, primer, and brass shells to moisture leading to corrosion and degradation.
Avoid Frequently Opening Your Ammo Cans
Only open your ammo can when necessary. Frequent opening and closing the cans lets in the moisture you are trying so hard to keep away. Also, if you have several ammo cans, consider using all the ammunition in one before proceeding to the next can. This ensures that you only interact with one ammo can at a time.
Pro Tips
- Besides using silica gel and airtight ammo cans, using a vacuum sealer helps to further get rid of corrosive elements
- Labeling your ammo also helps with storage. This way, you can use the oldest ammo first. It ensures that your ammo doesn't stay in storage too long
- Buying quality ammo will also ease your storage process, unlike low-quality ammo that will most likely erode despite your efforts
- Besides silica gel, you can make a homemade desiccant with salt and rice. The rice will keep the ammo dry, while the salt will prevent the rice from going bad
- Ammo doesn't have to come into direct contact with moisture to corrode. Factory boxes absorb moisture, and that is enough to cause corrosion
Watch this video by Tools&Targets on metal vs. plastic ammo cans. Which is better and how to store your ammo long-term:
There you have it, fellow gun enthusiasts. Though some ammo types will still fire even when rusted, there is no point in risking your hard-earned money. The idea is to keep things cool and dry, and you can bet that your ammo will last you for a long time.
Loading ...How do you like storing your ammo? Let us know in the comment section below!
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My wife is Tupperware manager I store my ammo and cleaning supplies ,powder, primers, bullets, tools, and most of my tools in these containers. I have not yet had any problems with them. They are also great for the shop stuff. Thank you for the great advice.
I need Tupperware the size of a shotgun. Would that be a large sheet cake?
There is a reason the military has stored and transported ammunition in rubber sealed metal ammo cans. They are water-tight,air-tight ,float and make it easier to carry and dispense ammo,especially from a crew-served weapon like the M2HB .50 BMG.
These metal ammo cans have been used from before WW2,especially right after WW1 when the ability to make a seamless metal can was implemented. Before and during WW1,wood ammo containers were used by every military and found to be difficult to keep ammo clean and dry during inclement weather.