ammo storage options

[moonshot]

Happy Independence Day.

I'm looking for something appropriate to do today prior to lighting off some fireworks. Decided to check on my ammo supplies - rounds are in original boxes stored in GI ammo cans.

Found many of the dessicant packages kept with the ammo to be showing signs of saturation (should be blue, and many are turning pink). This tells me I have a moisture issue.

I've been here before. Am I getting moisture from leaking ammo cans (possible) or from the cardboard boxes the ammo came in (also possible).

Some of my ammo cans are dry (no pink), some aren't. However, all the dry cans are either empty or contain items not in cardboard. Of my cans containing ammo (and hense cardboard), about 50% to 75% show some level of moisture (as indicated from the dessicant).

I'm kind of getting tired of this. Should I just place 3 or 4 times the level of dessicant I currently have in each can and dry the hell out of it, repeating as necessary until I get no pink indicators, or remove the ammo from its original packaging and place lose in VpCI bags and place the bags in the ammo cans?

I want this stuff to last, and I don't want to keep having to inspect it. Any advise will be appreciated.

[High Tower]

I would get a dehumidifier for the room where your ammo is. I can't see how the cardboard would hold that much moisture unless maybe in the deep south?

Also, check the rubber rings on the ammo cans. They have to be maintained to keep the effectiveness of the can going. If they are cracked, replace them. If they look very dry, rub some vasoline or something like that on there. Hell, try Froglube.

[The_War_Wagon]

Room de-humidifier sounds good. I actually keep mine stored in my upstairs office. Temperature & humidity are MUCH better controlled on the main floor, than the basement!

[Kokopelli]

Ammo keeps a long time.. Just sayin.. Ron

[moonshot]

Ammo should be kept cool and dry. My basement is the coolest place in the house, and I have a room dehumidifier running most of the time. The basement is relatively dry - no moisture on the walls, no damp smell.

Ammo cans are all new or like-new. Gaskets look good - no cracking. I've rubbed silicon grease on them, although I haven't removed them for a more thorough treatment.

Cardboard may not hold much moisture, but it can act as a wick. Thing is, wicking moisture out of the air only becomes a problem if there is moisture in the air, and if there is, that means my cans are not airtight.

Thought about VpCI bags to hold the ammo lose (no cardboard), and then place the bags into my ammo cans - more for structural support than anything else.

I've done this with a gun and mags I've placed into storage.

Placing the ammo lose in bags (or in the ammo can without VpCI bags) has always worried me as to the likelyhood of damage to the individual rounds - denting, setback, etc. I'm probably overreacting, but I don't want to take any chances.

[Pi3]

I've been shooting bricks of .22 ammo purchased in the mid 1980's. It has been stored in mostly conditioned space in a closet, not even in a sealed can. It has run fine.

[PA PATRIOT]

I use a old food vacuum sealer and dollar store quart sized freezer bags and sealed the whole box then placed them in a plastic ammo can. I have packs from the 90's that look like the day I bagged them with no signs of moisture whats so ever.

Its low cost and works well.

[Positive Displacement]

I have roughly 1,000 rounds of .223 and about 450 of 9mm, 400 of .40.

Most likely we'll be on the move, question. Should I have more ammo or go with what I have used sparingly?

[PA PATRIOT]

I have roughly 1,000 rounds of .223 and about 450 of 9mm, 400 of .40.

Most likely we'll be on the move, question. Should I have more ammo or go with what I have used sparingly?

Depends,

If the above is all low end FMJ plinking ammo thats pulling double duty as S/D ammo then I would suggest saving and buying some dedicated hollow points for the pistols and expanding or fragmenting rounds for the rifles with a minimum of a case per gun. See DocGKR's list for recommended loadings for both.

If you cant afford or find the high end rifle ammunition then at least buy true M193 5.56 ammunition so you have the bullets ability to fragment as a wounding agent. Basic/Cheap .223 FMJ ammunition usually will not fragment and will just poke a ice pick sized hole doing minimal damage.

As for the pistols just try to buy the best H/P's you can afford/find in the 147gr for the 9mm and 180gr for the .40S&W but I strongly suggest once again that if at all possible select a loading off DocGKR's list.

[CReynolds]

Great topic! I've always been concerned that my ammo is not properly stored for long term usage. I don't have a basement and the wife nixed me taking over a bedroom closet. I was using the utility room, but it gets hot in the winter (when the heat is on). So, I am using a walk-in closet on the first floor. That room gets some moisture, so I put a de-humidifier in there, but that gets the room hot. The shed is out because it gets really hot in there in the summer.

So, I am thinking that I am just going to put all the ammo in 50 cal cans with dessicants and put everything in the closet w/o the de-humidifier. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Cole