Ammo Storage

[Mr_Gixxer]

[Spaceballs]

I'm dead.... from laughter...not from unsolicited feet pics

[bogey1]

My basement is at 45% humidity. Ammo is fine.

[Spaceballs]

My basement is at 45% humidity. Ammo is fine.

I struggle to keep mine below 60% Any higher and rust starts forming on other stuff. I manage to keep it under 60 in the summer but I can't get it much lower. 45 would be ideal.

In the winter it gets down to like 20% down there.

The real question was if the old military ammo cans with salt packs inside were enough protection. I have also heard you can put a charcoal briquettes in each can (noy that one would fit) as those are REALLY absorbent.

My neighbor in the same style house with the same basement keeps his in the basement but he runs through ammo like I run through water. When I say "long term storage" to him he looks at me like I have 2 heads.

[oldengineer]

I also run a dehumidifier in by basement Spring thru December. I just shot some .223 reloads that I made in 2018. I've never encountered a problem with mold or mildew on any ammo. I have an extra problem because I have an opening in one end for a stairway up to the garage and above those stairs is another set of stairs leading up to a storage room above the garage.

[ShadeRabbit]

How do bare feet do long-term in a humid basement?

[imashooter2]

I struggle to keep mine below 60% Any higher and rust starts forming on other stuff. I manage to keep it under 60 in the summer but I can't get it much lower. 45 would be ideal.

In the winter it gets down to like 20% down there.

The real question was if the old military ammo cans with salt packs inside were enough protection. I have also heard you can put a charcoal briquettes in each can (noy that one would fit) as those are REALLY absorbent.

My neighbor in the same style house with the same basement keeps his in the basement but he runs through ammo like I run through water. When I say "long term storage" to him he looks at me like I have 2 heads.

Simply placing the ammo in ammo cans is adequate storage. Adding a desiccant pack or two is belt and suspenders. Shoe stores get a silica desiccant pack in every shoe box. Asking will often allow you to grab a few dozen from their trash.

Calcium chloride based dehumidifiers produce salt water that when spilled corrode the hell out of whatever it touches. I wouldn*t use them in ammo cans. If you gotta do homemade, instant coffee works.

[Spaceballs]

Simply placing the ammo in ammo cans is adequate storage. Adding a desiccant pack or two is belt and suspenders. Shoe stores get a silica desiccant pack in every shoe box. Asking will often allow you to grab a few dozen from their trash.

Calcium chloride based dehumidifiers produce salt water that when spilled corrode the hell out of whatever it touches. I wouldn*t use them in ammo cans. If you gotta do homemade, instant coffee works.

I said salt packs but I really meant the silica packs you are talking about that come in shoes, Ikea boxes, or anything else that was ever packed in any box ever. (Except ammo, oddly.)

What about opening an ammo can in the basement to remove a box of ammo and reclosing it in the basement? Do you find that concerning? Like it's trapping humid air inside or is the silica pack enough to handle that?

And do you change those silica packs out every so often or just leave one in there until you open the can?

[Walleye Hunter]

I said salt packs but I really meant the silica packs you are talking about that come in shoes, Ikea boxes, or anything else that was ever packed in any box ever. (Except ammo, oddly.)

What about opening an ammo can in the basement to remove a box of ammo and reclosing it in the basement? Do you find that concerning? Like it's trapping humid air inside or is the silica pack enough to handle that?

And do you change those silica packs out every so often or just leave one in there until you open the can?

The silica packs can all be regenerated by cooking the moisture out in the oven. Some turn colors from blue to pink during the process.

[Bug44]

I keep mine in ammo cans, in the basement with dehumidifier running. Never had an issue. Basement even gets some water in it occasionally during a heavy rain. Everything is off the floor. Safes are in there too, with a golden rod and dessicant boxes in each one. No issues there either.

Same. Ammo cans with a moisture pack inside is how I go. Been like that for years. No issues.