Primer and Ammo Storage

[Farmer John]

I have seen ammunition for sale that is vacuum sealed in seal a meal pouches, some with an oxygen absorber in the package. Is there any information or experience regarding the storage life with this practice.

The same applies to primer storage. I have seen individual primer flats vacuum packed in this manner. Is this detrimental to the life of the primers?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Welcome to the forum...
It can't hurt to vacuum seal your ammo but IMO it's not necessary. If you keep your ammo in a place that doesn't have wide temperature swings it will last for many Decades. Same goes for primers. Sorry I can't tell you how much longer the sealed ammo will last because I have never had ammo fail from age.

 

[rcmodel]

It can't hurt anything, but I'm not sure how much good it would do either if you are already following good storage practices.

IE: Room temp, normal humidity, and keep the powder can lids on tight.

They ship it all over the country in trailers, and store it it non climate controlled warehouses in all kinds of weather.

Rc

 

[gamestalker]

Same here, it can't hurt to store it like that, but I've never had anything fail the result of age or storage conditions.

I store my primers in the original box, the keep them in a controlled environment.

My ammo gets stored in plastic ammo boxes usually. I've shot some bottle necks that I loaded a good 20-25 years ago, and it has functioned 100%.

GS

 

[ulflyer]

I'm still using SILVER Win primers.....been in orig box, outdoor dry shed, for some years. No issues. Not sure when they went to gold color primers but it was quite a while ago.
Same with powder.

 

[deadeye dick]

Welcome to the forum. Got a great bunch of guys here.
I have some shotshells (Winchester paper hulls with the nitro card overpowder and fiber filler wads) that I handloaded with a Lee Wackamole in 1966 and forgot about them till now. They shoot as well as the day I loaded them. Also still have the loader too. Had the boxes stored in the bottom of my gun cabinet.

 

[herrwalther]

Depends on WHERE you store your ammo to determine how you need to store it. If you plan on burying your ammo in the backyard or submerging it in a stream with a tether, sure. Vacuum sealed, metal container would be a good idea. In a house with regular temperature and pressure, factory packaging works just fine.

 

[oneounceload]

My finished metallic ammo is stored in those nice air/water tight green GI ammo cans in a closet. I have too much shotgun ammo to store in the house.

 

[Rule3]

Desiccant packs are useless. What do they do? The absorb and HOLD moisture So once they are saturated they just leave moisture in the package.

Regular Zip Locks or the vacuum packs may help some as they prevent outside humidity from getting to the items,

Living in hot humid Florida, the house is under AC almost all year so I do not use any extra prevention.

 

[joem1945]

I have a few sealed battle packs of .308, but properly stored primers and ammo will last many, many years. I have spam cans of WWII .30-06 that fired off with no problems.

 

[GLOOB]

Desiccant packs are useless. What do they do? The absorb and HOLD moisture So once they are saturated they just leave moisture in the package.

Well, if you are using them correctly, they work great. A fresh dessicant pack starts with low moisture. If it isn't sealed, you have to bake it in the oven at 300F or so, for awhile.

Then when you seal it in an airtight container, it removes the moisture from the air that is trapped inside. Job accomplished. Unless the contents get very hot, the moisture isn't getting back out.

If you think you can just stick a cup of dessicant in the bottom of your non-air tight gunsafe or your bedroom in Florida during the summer, well, then you're using the wrong tool for the job.

That said, no reason for the average joe to use dessicants or vacuum bags or anything special for ammo storage, beyond good climate control.

 

[Toprudder]

Well, if you are using them correctly, they work great. A fresh dessicant pack starts with low moisture. If it isn't sealed, you have to bake it in the oven at 300F or so, for awhile.

Then when you seal it in an airtight container, it removes the moisture from the air that is trapped inside. Job accomplished. Unless the contents get very hot, the moisture isn't getting back out.

If you think you can just stick a cup of dessicant in the bottom of your non-air tight gunsafe or your bedroom in Florida during the summer, well, then you're using the wrong tool for the job.

That said, no reason for the average joe to use dessicants or vacuum bags or anything special for ammo storage, beyond good climate control.

^^^^ +1

 

[Rule3]

Then when you seal it in an airtight container, it removes the moisture from the air that is trapped inside. Job accomplished. Unless the contents get very hot, the moisture isn't getting back out.



That said, no reason for the average joe to use dessicants or vacuum bags or anything special for ammo storage, beyond good climate control.

How exactly does it remove moisture from a SEALED airtight container?? All it does is absorb any moisture in the container and it HOLDS it in the package. It does not destroy moisture.

As you said to remove the moisture you would have to cook it (heat it) that means opening the sealed container and you start all over .

I used to inspect condos that folks would leave all summer. They would put all kinds of containers with absorbent (Damp Rid etc) all over the place. All they ended up being was buckets of water.