Storage & Organization - Ammunition
Ammunition Storage
Containers - How you store your ammunition is just as important as the way you store your guns. If you don’t safely secure your ammunition in proper containers, there’s a great chance that it will deteriorate. As a result, the gun you plan to use will not function properly. If you do your research, follow advice from professionals, and take basic steps to safely store your ammunition, it will keep it in good order when it comes time for use in a gun. Safety first! Before you even purchase ammunition, you should know where you will store it and how. Therefore, regardless of where you decide to store your ammunition, make sure it’s always in a safe location. If you have children, you know what I’m talking about, as kids are extremely curious. Without a doubt, the best place to store your ammo is in the original can or container that it came in. Why? Typically, this method ensures less movement and less chance of your cartridges becoming scratched, dented, or damaged in other ways. Original containers are usually labeled so you will know exactly which ammunition as well as the number of rounds that are safely in each container.
Conditions - Temperatures can range from extreme cold to extreme heat — this will definitely affect the nitrocellulose in your gun powder. It’s like this … if the temperature rises too high, your ammunition, can begin to perspire as the nitrocellulose inside begins to form gas. Generally speaking, gas begins to seep out of cartridge at 125 degrees Fahrenheit. When you purchase ammunition that you want to store long term, be ready to replace the box it came in. If you’ve ever gotten cardboard wet, then you know how bad cardboard boxes are at keeping out moisture. Never rely on cardboard as your primary storage option. And, ammunition from some manufacturers is often stored in metal tin canisters that are completely moisture resistant — as long as they are sealed. A common motif among military-grade ammunition is usually made waterproof. When storing ammo, make sure that humidity levels are low, because excessive humidity can be a primary cause of ammunition deterioration.
Staging and Cycling - Have you ever considered keeping a combat load ready in magazines just in case? A combat load is at least six additional magazines for a rifle and three magazines for a handgun — which should always be kept under lock and key. This ammunition supply should also be cycled out and shot at the first sign of deterioration. Rotate your ammunition whenever possible. It’s important to not store your ammunition longer than necessary. Rotation, just like long-term food storage, is a very important step in successful ammunition storage.
Long Term - Have you ever thought what resources will be in short supply if a disaster ever happens? Believe it or not, ammunition will be one of the first assets in demand. Besides food, clean drinking water, and batteries, ammunition and fuel are at the top of the list to be prepared if ever the end of the world is upon us. Ammunition is a lucrative investment. It rarely loses value and should a crisis hit, ammunition prices tend to catapult. In an extremely serious situation, ammunition will be of greater value than gold. You may not be thinking about a storage plan when you buy a large quantity of ammunition. To protect this property, secure it.
Inspect - You’ve got your ammunition sealed, stored, and labeled. Done yet? Not quite. The very last step you will need to perform is to conduct periodic checks every 12 to 24 months. This vital step will only take a few minutes if you remembered to place a humidity sensor card in the ammunition at the very beginning of your task! All you need to do is inspect the card to ensure the humidity is less than 30%. In addition, feel free to remove the existing desiccant packets and replace with fresh ones. Taking the time to run periodic checks will not only make sure your stocks are ready when you need them, it will also save you money.