How to store ammo? Lifespan of ammo?

[Gkgas]

Get some ammo cans and put in some desiccant packs:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/LOW650-63419-2143.html

[bdancer]

I actually vacuum packed some steel core ammo with our food saver. I don't know if that will make a difference or not. Maybe someone else has a thought on that.

I've heard that by doing that you risk unseating the bullet from the casing. Probably depends on the power of your vacuum packer though.

[str8shooter]

Get some ammo cans and put in some desiccant packs:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/LOW650-63419-2143.html

Will ammo survive in these if buried for years/decades?

next to the spam, baked beans and rolls of tin foil in case I need to make more hats

[Xringshooter]

bdancer - unless you are putting them under extreme vacuum it should not affect them at all.

str8shooter - It should if no moisture gets in. There was just a report a week or so ago about a guy blowing himself up while trying to clean up a cannon ball from the Civil War. It had been buried for how long? The big thing is moisture free and no extremes in temperature.

[theSaj]

"cannon ball"

Are you sure it was a cannon ball? or was it a grenade or mortar?

As aren't cannon balls solid round slugs? Though I do believe a number cannons, mortars, and carronades could fire incendiary rounds, bombs, etc. These shouldn't be be construed as cannon balls should they?

[Xringshooter]

The report was that it was an explosive cannon ball. He was using a grinder on it to take off the corrosion.

That said, the report came from the wife and I sure that the writer wouldn't get the "facts" wrong as all journalists are fine upstanding writers that always check their facts and follow up with experts in the particular field. Right??

[smitty56]

At the last gunshow, a guy was selling 50 caliber ammo cans for $6 but $5 if you bought four. That is about what you would pay for a Rubbermaid container at Walmart. I bought four but will buy another dozen the next time. They are indestructable, have a handle, and stack. Any plastic box that you fill with ammo and drop will break for sure. I came home and filled them immediately. With the price of ammo continuing to rise and people beginning to stock up, good military surplus air tight containers cannot be beat.
After all, the ammo can is what the military used to make sure the ammo got to the far corners of the world still intact anyway right?

As for the ammo question? I used to think of buying guns whenever you could and not worry about the ammo, because the ammo will always be available right? Now, because of the demand for copper for electrical wiring in China and lead for all the batteries, and the demand for all ammo for the war, ammo prices have gone through the roof. I just try to buy it when I can and stock up, even if it is just a trip to Walmart every once in a while. 22 is becoming more popular with the prices. It is hard to enjoy full auto as much when you think that those four seconds of 45's going down range just cost you $10.

[theSaj]

Does anyone know who the dealer was?

I wanted to buy one or two medium ones. I have a small one already.. There was one table that had stacks upon stacks. When I went back a couple hours later, all the medium sized ones were gone.

I now realize, this being my second show, that these disappear VERY quickly.

- The Saj

[Hawk]

I've seen (first hand) stored ammo have the primers work themselves out of the pocket, so that when the round was sitting on the table it would wobble.

[Shawn.L]

I actually vacuum packed some steel core ammo with our food saver.
I don't know if that will make a difference or not. Maybe someone else has a thought on that.

Ive done the same thing, now I'm scared.......