Ammunition Storage, How long?

[inkhead]

I'm preparing to store up a large quanity of ammunition. My only concern is how long I can store them. Is it okay to have several cases of them already loaded in magazines? I assume that it's better to store them separately for long periods of time. I'm planning to store them about 80 feet underground in a concrete building. Sometimes it does get damp. All ammunition will be sealed in Pelican waterproof, dampproof cases. Is this method okay?

How does the military store up vast amounts of ammunition?

 

[CU74]

The usually quoted reason for ammunition "going bad" is wide temperature variations. Eighty feet underground in a concrete structure should take care of that concern. I'm not familiar with Pelican cases, but if they are truly waterproof that will take care of the other reason ammo could "go bad".

IMHO, ammo stored in waterproof containers eighty feet below ground in a concrete building should be good to shoot by your great grandchildren............

Long-term storage in magazines is not so much a cartridge concern as it is a magazine rust concern. (I'm not going to start ANOTHER magazine spring discussion - EVERYBODY has at least one opinion on THAT .) I have some old M1 Carbine magazines that were stored in cosmoline and waxed paper wrap that had rust spots on them.

 

[Hokkmike]

I'll bet 40 years or more. But I would want it where I could get at it more easily.

 

[heypete]

For bulk storage, I'd suggest keeping them in their original containers rather than magazines. If anything, it'll help identify the make, model, bullet weight, etc. of the cartridges themselves. Sure beats wondering "What the heck is this?" 10 years down the line.

Pelican cases are probably a bit overkill.

As they say on most stuff, "Store in a cool, dry place." Keeping the cartridges relatively dry is conducive to long storage life.

I prefer USGI ammo cans (easy to carry, sealed against the elements) with Hydrosorbent brand silica gel dessicant. The large 750g canister is in my gun safe (not watertight) and needs to be dried out every few weeks, while a 40g one is in each of my ammo cans. In the interest of preventing mildew, you should consider taking out the silica gel packets and following the instructions stamped on them to dry them out (usually a few hours in the oven at a certain temperature), wait for them to cool, and put them back in the cans.