Ammo Storage

[JDA58]

All that surplus ammo that people buy up that's been sitting in a warehouse for 50 years... do you think they keep it stored in perfect conditions?

I'm more worried about guns in a safe

[pens87pgh]

I'm more worried about guns in a safe

These things are awesome

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D1WYZ1Y...m?ie=UTF8&th=1

[Delkal]

Constant temp is more important than a little humidity. Close the can on a dry day and don't worry about it.

[Noah_Zark]

Loaded ammo is pretty durable. I wouldn*t have a care in the world opening and closing cans in the basement. The volume of air is small and the silica (if I bothered to use it) would last many many years.

. . . I store primers and powder in their factory packaging on shelves. I store factory ammo in the factory boxes in fifty cal cans, no desiccants. I store reloads loose in fifty cal cans, no desiccants. I have never had any issue with any ammunition, reload, powder or primer so stored. Some on the shelf for 30 years or more. I think people worry about these things WAY too much . . .

^^^THIS.

My house is 1955 construction with concrete block basement, no weeping or running water ever, but which will see 65-70% RH at times between June and early Sept. I run a dehumidifier then.

Otherwise I mirror what imashooter2 does, almost exactly. No dessicant packs. I've had ammo stored in GI cans for over 40 years and it's never not fired and has not exhibited degradation of accuracy performance at the range.

One experiment I did some years ago was to leave 25 primers in an open tray on a shelf for five consecutive years, taking five primers a year in the Fall and loading them and test firing. Not one failed to ignite, and the bullets hit the target with the gun as-sighted. So no, I don't worry about a fart's worth of humid air getting into a can full of ammo when I access the contents for a minute or two.

Noah

[Emptymag]

I've posted this numerous times.
1977. Johnstown flood.
Our basement took on 3-4' of rainwater.
A bunch of my dad's ammo got submerged for a day or two.
The boxes were discarded and ammo tossed into paper bags.

A few years later, I took a lunch bag filled with 22LR out back and shot it all up.
I had about 3 that didn't fire, but that's not terribly unusual with 22LR.

[esh21167]

Constant temp is more important than a little humidity. Close the can on a dry day and don't worry about it.

I agree. I have loose ammo in sealed cans for about 8 years and no issues. I 'loaded' the cans with the wood stove cranking to create a dry environmnet. I did put a couple small desiccant packs in each can, but probably not necessary.

[Walleye Hunter]

All that surplus ammo that people buy up that's been sitting in a warehouse for 50 years... do you think they keep it stored in perfect conditions?

Why yes, yes I do. Climate controlled storage.

[Walleye Hunter]

Keep in mind. Desiccants don't suck up water eternally. They have their ceiling and then they need to be cooked dry or replaced.

[Emptymag]

Why yes, yes I do. Climate controlled storage.

By "they", I'm clearly talking about where it's been for the past 50 years before you finally took good care of it.

[Walleye Hunter]

By "they", I'm clearly talking about where it's been for the past 50 years before you finally took good care of it.

I know that, I was being sarcastic.