Ammo storage - boxed or unboxed ?

x0ra

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Hi,

How do you store you bulk ammo ?

Most of it, might it be surplus or commercial is properly boxed in cardboard and plastic (or polystyrene) encasing, or wrapped in paper. I guess this is to prevent primers to be ignited during transport.

Is there any counter-indication to remove all the packaging and keep all the ammo in bulk readily available in sealed ammo cans ? As a corollary, has anyone had an accidental ignition during transport of ammo ?

Thanks.
 
There is a great SAAMI video on you tube that tries its best to ignite ammo outside of a gun. Really interesting to watch basically have to run over them with a bulldozer...
 
I suppose it depends on how obsessive you are and how often you use up old stock of ammo and how long you want to store it.
Theoretically, in a sealed can with dessicant, ammo will last functionally forever. Would not surprise me one bit if we still have perfectly usable surplus ammo from WWII in the year 2100.

Another consideration is space. I fit something like an extra 200 .223 in an ammo can by going through and staggering the rows of cartridges to account for the minimal taper. If you're going to be handling small quantities regularly, then leaving it in the boxes makes sense, but if you're going to store it long term, eliminating the packaging might maximize your storage capacities.
 
I store mine loose in 50 cal. cans, but in heavy duty zip locs with 100rds. each in them. That way I just grab a couple of bags and toss them in my range bag. I already carry too much stuff without carrying a full can of .223 with me.
 
I store ammo in 50cal and 20mm ammo cans. Paint pen the caliber data on the end of the can. I leave ammo in the boxes, paper wrap etc because it stacks in neater and I get more in the can. It also makes it easier to identify brand and lot #, later.

I have had loose packed 308 ammo in ammo cans get dented. Leave it in the packaging.
 
Half my stuff is in mortar ammo cans. I keep everything in the package it came with and leave surplus stuff I bought in the spam cans until im ready to use it. Everything else is kept in a 10 gun cabinet from crappy tire with a closet dehumidifier in it along with the big basement dehumidifier running most the day. No rust etc in the few years since ive started
 
Loose in ammo cans, there is nothing to worry about. Just don't fill the cans right to the top to allow for expansion if you have a house fire.

Shawn
 
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I have been using 8 gallon totes from CT, black bottom with grey top and red locks! seem to work good. All my ammo cans are full which is the reason for the totes :)
 
I have been using 8 gallon totes from CT, black bottom with grey top and red locks! seem to work good. All my ammo cans are full which is the reason for the totes :)

So you put ammo in the ammo can, then ammo cans in a BIGGER ammo can! :D Laugh2
 
Last bulk .22 I bought was the 'cci' blazer stuff, and it's just dumped loose into a cardboard box. The 5250 rounds fit perfectly into a sealed 9mm ammo can with a big desiccate on top. By the time I put all the bulk packs into cans like this, it was taking up much less space and I felt better about how it was stored. Centrefire stuff I'm honestly less cautious with, because I know it wont be sitting around long. Now that I'm reloading those calibers, I don't see myself having 10k+ rounds to worry about. If I did, I might consider vacuum sealing them if not the same ammo can method.
 
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