Ammunition storage

[Guest]

I know this has been covered before, I did a search but could not find any post on storage.
My .22 ammo is out of the box and dumped into a .50 cal. ammo can, is this OK to do for long term storage? I have not done it yet, but read an article that said to take a paper towel with rice in it and store it with the ammo to counter any moisture that may get in.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

If the seals are good on the ammo cans as most are then nothing is needed.

[Grand58742]

I'd probably toss in at least a dessicant pack or two depending on the size of the packs.

Here's what some of mine looked like after 5 years in storage:

https://www.survivalandpreparednessforum.com/showthread.php?3419-Weapon-storage-%96-A-Five-Year-Test&p=30631&viewfull=1#post30631

[jmsneorrcom]

thanks for the information, I remember your post Grand58742 but I could not find it

[SeldomSeenSlim]

Gunpowder degrades in heat. The hotter it is the faster it degrades. The ammo will still go bang, but velocity starts to vary the more the powder degrades. So for long term storage, power and loaded ammo is best stored in a cool dry place. 70 degrees or under is ideal. If I remember right under 50 degrees and the exothermic reaction stops completely. If you have a choice between the basement and the attic, take the basement. The cooler the better.

I keep my ammo, powder and primers in an non-functional chest freezer. It's lockable (childproof), insulated, and sealed off from outside air. It also provides a small amount of fire protection. Not enough to keep it all from burning, but would buy some time to de-*** the area. I have a small sack of dessicant packs hanging from the lid. There's not a lot of humidity down here in the desert though so it doesn't take much here.

[MartyRed]

I just store mine in the boxes and have a few desiccant packs in the ammo cans too. Other is on shelves in the cool dry basement.

[onebigelf]

Mine is in the boxes, in 5 gallon buckets, buckets marked by caliber. Heavy.

John

[BioG8r]

My ammo is kept in mil ammo boxes, still portable, sealed, safe and labeled. the ease of moving it is a huge bonus. Can't imagine trying to hoist around five gallon buckets of ammo. HEAVY! Gotta be a really big elf to move that in a hurry, lol.

[Tackleberry]

Make that a reeeeeeally big elf!

[Benn Gleck]

I store mine like the .gov. Ammo cans no dessicant.

[ANVIL]

In ammo cans, or still in the cardbord boxes on wooden shelfs in the basement fruit celler.

[Daelith]

We store ours in ammo cans too. I've still got to add some desiccant packs though.