Upside-down ammo

I was always told to rotate position every so often. Generally if it is stored in controlled environment there should be no problem. I grew into the habit of tapping boxed ammo in my palm on several angles and ammo that's loose in an ammo can I stir it before use. If it makes any difference I don't know but I've never had any failures.

I could see thinner cast bullet lubes possibly contaminating powder if stored long enough bullet up.

Walkalong said:

I have never considered ammo orientation when storing ammo.

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Well, I try ti store the girl ammo in among the guy ammo as much as possible hoping that will result in more ammo, maybe some loose .22lrs created in among them ?

mea culpa ... it's late and tomorrow's hump day

A few kernels of double based H110 or W296 working its way in with the primer, may produce a faster burn? But i would guess nothing to worry about.

It appears that the effectiveness of the primer is enhanced by the propellant itself

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https://discover.dtic.mil

Walkalongs info on powder position would seem more important.

I try every orientation since mine just get tossed loose in an ammo box when it comes off my LCT press. Maybe the poorly oriented ones are my fliers? I can’t imagine that orientation would matter.

Don't worry about it, California will soon have a law mandating which direction it is stored....
Then you will know the "Right" way to do it.
If it's not loose I normally store bullet down in ammo boxes because it is easier for me to get out with my fingers..

Since it easier to get out bullet down CA will say storing it bullet up is the right way.

The only effect gravity is ever going to have on the cartridge is after the thing has been fired. Both the projectile and case will follow a trajectory.

I am careful with loaded ammunition and do not subject it to shock or vibration or stirring or throwing it around the shop. Especially rimfire, which can have it's primer charge knocked loose.
Loose bulk packages can set there, unmolested, until their use. While durable, there's no sense in placing "wear" on them. Just because ammunition survives fine by war truck delivery, doesn't mean it needs it.

However, I do store my ammo in protective steel containers. They keep them all lined up and ready to go.
Magazines, they're called. They go right in the gun and can hold all the rounds without dropping any out of the box. I fill them at the shop and just leave them till I need them.

I don't know about storing it upside down, but reloading it upside down is a challenge to say the least.

I was thinking this was going to be about loading hollow base wad cutters upside down

I thought it was about storing double end wad cutter bullets on the base or their nose. I was starting to worry.

Dudedog said:

Don't worry about it, California will soon have a law mandating which direction it is stored....
Then you will know the "Right" way to do it.
If it's not loose I normally store bullet down in ammo boxes because it is easier for me to get out with my fingers..

Since it easier to get out bullet down CA will say storing it bullet up is the right way.

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I'm just surprised they don't have you all driving on the left side of the road by now. In their thinking it would stop the accidents of someone driving the wrong way on the highways. That would fix that.

Sounds like another long term myth buster project for bds.

higgite said:

I don't know about storing it upside down, but reloading it upside down is a challenge to say the least.

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Englishmn said:

I could see thinner cast bullet lubes possibly contaminating powder if stored long enough bullet up.

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Yes, i would worry about cast bullets. Some lubes melt at 120f. Ammo left in a hot car may do it.

Other wise, i dont see an issue?

Mr_Flintstone said:

Is there anything wrong with storing ammo with the primer side down in boxes?

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No.

C’mon fellas, really? It’s 2019, we’ve evolved past the point of being prejudiced against any orientation...

But really...

Some manufacturers ship pistol ammo bullet down, some ship it bullet up. Some ship it haphazardly dumped into ammo cans and buckets.

I’m not aware of any manufacturer which ships centerfire rifle ammo in any orientation other than laying on its side.

If it mattered, they’d ship it one way. All of it.

It doesn’t matter...

Hi...
I have never considered this heretofore.
My bulk plinking general purpose ammunition is stored loosely in plastic ammo cans. Orientation quite random.
Ammunition that is for a special use...self defense, serious target shooting or hunting is stored in plastic ammo boxes...primer orientation never considered.
I think orientating ammunition because of primer or type of bullet lube is as someone once said ..." a solution in search of a problem".

Mr_Flintstone asking the question is a good thing.

Now he, and those here who may also have been quietly wondering about this, know the answer.

Akin to the "cleaning cartridges in a vibrating case cleaners causes gay marriage" myth. When in doubt, ask.

O'course, try not to be too thin skinned if some of the fellows have a little fun in such Threads.

Yes it will damage it and render the cases totally useless.
Send it to me and I will safely dispose of it for you with a special tool with a tube and special handle to allow 100% safe disposal.
I won't charge you anthing.

I store bulk ammo vacuum packed stored in ammo cans with a dissicant pack. I've not had a problem. Riffle ammo is stored in plastic and cardboard boxes then in ammo cans, some are stored sideways and some primers down. I just purchased 5 100 rnd plastic ammo boxes for 30-06 to do another workup for 7 different rifles and they store them primers down. If bullet down couldn't it effect bullet setback if using a light crimp?

Perhaps manufacturers pack their ammo in a specific orientation, but I'd say that's for the automated packaging machines. I haven't seen a "This side up" sticker on any case of any kind of ammo and how the cases get stacked in a truck are the result of the lumper's toss. The only reason, already mentioned, is a thin lube on cast bullets stored in a hot environment and even though a cast bullet to case fit is very tight, there may be a remote possibility of lube leakage. I used to shoot in the So. CA desert area and often camped for a few days. None of my cast bullet loads leaked lube in 100+ degree weather. My reloading area was a metal shed that often got above 100 degrees and I stored all my cast bullet ammo in plastic cartridge boxes, bullet up. Never ant FTF from lube contaminated powder...

Dudedog said:

Don't worry about it, California will soon have a law mandating which direction it is stored....
Then you will know the "Right" way to do it.

Since it easier to get out bullet down CA will say storing it bullet up is the right way.

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If CA had its way, the antis would ban ammo altogether, so no ammo storage issue.

Now to properly store "CA legal" poop from growing homeless population ...

Back to OP before Walkalong locks the thread.

I prefer to put loaded rounds nose down in ammo boxes because they are easier to pull with my fingers.

I don't think orientation has much effect on powder as I have not heard of any powder-to-lead/powder-to-copper contact issue. Some have posted certain powder-to-powder coating interaction but I don't think with Hi-Tek coating (If you have such issue, you can store nose up in the box to prevent powder contact with coating).

Most of my loaded rounds are stored loosely in large Costco Folger coffee cans or 30 cal plastic ammo cans.

Walkalong said:

I have never considered ammo orientation when storing ammo.

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Well you better get with it! Ammo in now "neutral"