All at once I have lots of centerfire ammo. I have had a bunch of 45 colt for nearly three years and now 44 special for a year and a bunch of 9mm this year. I am talking factory made and then I have a bunch of reloaded by a relative 38 special. It occurred to me that I read, on this forum I think, a year or two ago about keeping the boxes of 50 upright. It seems that the person writing said there is some risk in storing the boxes on their sides or upside down for some reason. I may be just confused...or maybe it was just some types of ammo. It seems like maybe it had something to do with lubricant becoming runny in heat and tainting the explosive...the powder. So, help me out here. I know ammo lasts and lasts but should centerfire be kept upright...meaning the way the tray boxes are packed....or ??????
Ammo storage question
- Thread starter moewadle
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nicholst55
Member
I expect the poster was referring to cast bullet loads when he was talking about potential powder contamination.
Personally, I wouldn't stress over it too much, unless you're storing your ammo in extreme heat, which is a bad idea to begin with. In my experience, if the bullet lube is going to melt and contaminate the powder and/or primer, it isn't going to matter much whether it was stored bullet up, down, or sideways.
Personally, I wouldn't stress over it too much, unless you're storing your ammo in extreme heat, which is a bad idea to begin with. In my experience, if the bullet lube is going to melt and contaminate the powder and/or primer, it isn't going to matter much whether it was stored bullet up, down, or sideways.
streakr
Member
I have reloaded various rounds for nearly 15 years. Recently I shot some 38 and 9mm rounds loaded in 1994 stored in my garage (in Florida) in military ammo cans. Some were copper-washed lead, others were FMJ loaded using Hodgdon powders, the lube was blue moly lube. All of these rounds fired without fail. My son recently purchased 1944 made British 303 and has not had single failure to fire (over 100 rounds).
Some black powder (BP) shooters use "exotic" wads and lubes (beeswax and olive oil) to reduce fouling; these can melt on a hot day and foul the powder but these are usually special loadings made by the users of those rounds.
Old commercial BP rounds still work, I once shot some 32-20 black powder ammo that was over 50 years old (in a 115 year old Marlin rifle)
Don't worry about those rounds. Modern lubes do not melt at temperatures that humans can tolerate.
s
Some black powder (BP) shooters use "exotic" wads and lubes (beeswax and olive oil) to reduce fouling; these can melt on a hot day and foul the powder but these are usually special loadings made by the users of those rounds.
Old commercial BP rounds still work, I once shot some 32-20 black powder ammo that was over 50 years old (in a 115 year old Marlin rifle)
Don't worry about those rounds. Modern lubes do not melt at temperatures that humans can tolerate.
s
IfYouOnlyKnew
Member
How hot is too hot for storage? I have some handgun ammo stored inside, upstairs, in an airconditioned room but due to the recent extreme heat hear the temp could be as high as 85 degrees at times. Any ideas?
Jorg Nysgerrig
Member
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85C, you should probably move it.
85K, turn down your AC.
85F, nothing to worry about.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Ever open up a box of .22 RF or lead bullet .38 Spl ammo?
Every other round is upside down, and every other round is rightside up.
Seeing as how this ammo has lube on the bullets, and seeing as how it spent part of it's life traveling across the country in a 150 degree semi-trailer.
I'd say don't worry about it!
rc
Every other round is upside down, and every other round is rightside up.
Seeing as how this ammo has lube on the bullets, and seeing as how it spent part of it's life traveling across the country in a 150 degree semi-trailer.
I'd say don't worry about it!
rc
Steve H
Member
I'd agree with what RC says. I have some 22 lr from the 60's the boxes are right side us with every other bullet up/down. They still go bang. It's old Sears stuuf.
Geneseo1911
Member
Jorg said:
LMAO!
Fun with Science!
chuckusaret
member
I am still using ammo that was manufactured in the Mid to late 1950's that was stored in cardboard boxes in a protected dry area in my fathers garage. I use the old suff for practice and have not had a failure. My "good" ammo is stored in military ammo cans with desicant and humidity indicators. All my stored ammo is checked at least one time every year.
Tamlin
Member
85 degrees??? In Arizona during the summer, we PRAY for 85 degrees! I've stored ammo for several years in AZ, all during the 110+ heat, and it has been just fine. Kills paper upon contact, with no messy implosions, lube drippings, lead meltings, etc. Yes, I try to keep it as protected from the heat and elements as I can, but bottom line is, you don't have to worry about 85 degrees!
IfYouOnlyKnew
Member
Thanks for the replies. I guess I can stop sweating bullets now. 
Lightninstrike
Member
Groan.
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