How do you store your ammo?
- Thread starter American_Fusilier
- Start date
- Status
Deus Machina
Member
Surplus cans in the closet.
The rounds in them are in the factory boxes. For stuff that game bagged (Georgia Arms) and my handloads, they go into S&B or plain white boxes I found on ebay. Basically whatever's smallest. I've found I can fit something like 50% more in a can in the smallest boxes versus your standard Federal or WWB foam-trayed boxes.
The rounds in them are in the factory boxes. For stuff that game bagged (Georgia Arms) and my handloads, they go into S&B or plain white boxes I found on ebay. Basically whatever's smallest. I've found I can fit something like 50% more in a can in the smallest boxes versus your standard Federal or WWB foam-trayed boxes.
Trunk Monkey
member
I guess I'm the odd guy out. I just put some shelves in my closet and I stack my ammunition in the factory boxes on the shelves.
I have a couple thousand rounds of .223 in the USGI ammo cans but everything else is just in the original boxes.
I have a couple thousand rounds of .223 in the USGI ammo cans but everything else is just in the original boxes.
lightman
Member
Ammo in small quantities intended for near term use is in a cabinet over my gun safe. This is in either factory boxes or MTM plastic boxes. The rest is stored in USGI 50 caliber (or 50 caliber size) ammo cans. All is stored inside, in a temperature controlled environment. MTM boxes and GI ammo cans have labels on the outside as well as notes or tags inside.
BSA1
member
Well if that is the case it makes us 1 1/2 men odd out.
I store my reloads and the few boxes of commercial ammunition I have for the guns I rarely shoot on shelves in the vault. I have several cases of shotshells on the bottom shelf to keep the shelves from tipping over when the Big One hits.
The ammo I have stored in surplus ammunition cans are for use after the Big One hits.
Armored farmer
Member
.22lr, 9mm, 45acp, 5.56mm, primers, powder, and percussion caps are stored in significant amounts in surplus ammo cans in a steel locker.
Other ammo is reloaded and not kept in surplus amounts.
Other ammo is reloaded and not kept in surplus amounts.
Buzznrose
Member
I think this is a pretty good article on ammo storage from a safety perspective:
https://www.range365.com/how-dangerous-is-ammunition-in-house-fire/
I store most of my ammo in their original boxes inside plastic storage boxes:
I throw a few packages of desiccant in the box. I limit the boxes to between 2000-3000 rounds, depending on caliber and weight. If he had these cases for about a year now and so far so good.
I bought the brown cases from Amazon. They are MTMs. They are for the bulk stuff. The green boxes mainly hold ammo I’m gonna shoot next. I generally have around a case or so in each caliber.
Some cases are sealed with a zip tie. They are inventoried and logged. The zip tie is to prevent me from opening and grabbing a few boxes if I’m in a hurry.
Nothing complicated or innovative, just a simple system that works for me.
rdnktrkr
Member
I vacuum seal factory boxes and put in 30cal ammo boxes with dissicant, reloads and bulk go in vacuum bags in mag capacity or 2x mag capacity counts in 30cal or 50cal cans. I still have 7.62x39, 7.62x54r and 8mm in metal spam cans on the bottom of the reloading bench some still in wooden crate.
BSA1
member
Oh my poor back. It is killing me just looking at your picture. 50 caliber ammo cans are as heavy as I can manage to carry when filled with ammo.
I have brought surplus ammo cans over the years as I acquired more ammunition so I have not needed to play catch-up. My must buy items are 30 and 50 caliber ammo cans when I go to a Gun Show.
I am not the only person that likes them. I went to a Gun Show earlier this month but ran out of time on Saturday. No problem as the person I buy the ammo cans from had a lot of 30 and 50 calibers on hand and I will get them from him on Sunday. Well, when I went back on Sunday he had sold all of the 30’s and only had a few 50’s that had been pick over let so I had to settle for a couple of 50’s. Someone is doing some very serious stockpiling of ammo.
OP
OP
American_Fusilier
Member
Seems like we all have relatively similar systems for the most part.
Another difference I will add, is that I store reloads in MTM or Cabelas brand plastic ammo boxes. But I don't bother with load data cards. I just write the powder used, how heavy the charge us, the weight and type of bullet, and the date loaded on a piece of masking tape on the inside of the box. On larger reloads such as 308 and 30-06, I'll write the powder and charge and bullet weight with a Sharpie on the brass of each cartridge, that way if they spill, I'll still know what is what.
I do store all but one of my pistol mags loaded, and a lot of rifle mags loaded.
Another difference I will add, is that I store reloads in MTM or Cabelas brand plastic ammo boxes. But I don't bother with load data cards. I just write the powder used, how heavy the charge us, the weight and type of bullet, and the date loaded on a piece of masking tape on the inside of the box. On larger reloads such as 308 and 30-06, I'll write the powder and charge and bullet weight with a Sharpie on the brass of each cartridge, that way if they spill, I'll still know what is what.
I do store all but one of my pistol mags loaded, and a lot of rifle mags loaded.
Buzznrose
Member
Actually, moving these isn’t so bad since they stack well and I use a good dolly/hand truck. Worst case, I simply take some ammo out as needed to make the cases manageable. But having these heavy boxes also motivates me to stay strong enough to move them...
I’m also retiring from working for a living in the next 5-7 years, and I plan to have pretty much all my range ammo for my retirement bought and paid for by the time I’m done.
FROGO207
Member
I store mine in Zip-Loc freezer bags with most of the air removed packed inside appropriately sized USGI surplus ammo cans. I use the 40MM size for shotgun ammo. I do not plan on moving it any time soon so I fill the boxes up.
375supermag
Member
Hi...
What little factory ammunition I buy is kept in it's factory packaging.
My generic shooting/target/general purpose reloads are kept in plastic .30cal ammo cans.
My test/hunting/special purpose handloads are kept in separate plastic MTM type containers.
What little factory ammunition I buy is kept in it's factory packaging.
My generic shooting/target/general purpose reloads are kept in plastic .30cal ammo cans.
My test/hunting/special purpose handloads are kept in separate plastic MTM type containers.
Buzznrose
Member
If anyone wants cheap insurance against moisture, these are great:
https://smile.amazon.com/Dry-Premiu...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
https://smile.amazon.com/Dry-Premiu...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
TikkaShooter
Member
I'm in the same boat as some others. Literally, I have a lot of ammo, a real lot. OD green "battle packs" of 7,62N and 5,56 to spam cans of Com Block 5,45 etc. The unsealed ammo or commercial boxed, I protect with Military Spec MIL-D-3464E Type I & II Desiccant.
- Status
