Consider this your complete guide to ammo storage. You will learn best practices and common mistakes to avoid in the process.
It is estimated that there are over 54 million gun owners in the United States. And those gun owners collectively own around 265 million guns!
Although the number of bullets owned by Americans is less certain, it is safe to assume that there is a lot of ammo out there. But that doesn’t mean that all of that ammo is being stored the way it was meant to.
When you buy ammunition, it is important that you store it properly. Believe it or not, ammo does actually have a shelf life. And the method that it is put away can affect how long it is viable.
Remember that ammo costs money. And poorly stored ammo can become inefficient, thus being a waste to your finances. Luckily, keeping your ammo properly stored isn’t a difficult undertaking.
Are you interested in learning the best way to store your ammunition? Read on, and we will walk you through everything you need to know about ammo storage.
Storage Temperature
In the summer and winter months, temperatures can often reach extreme lows and highs. This can affect the nitrocellulose that is in your gun powder. In fact, if temperatures get excessively high, your ammunition may begin to “sweat” as the nitrocellulose starts to take on a gas form.
Usually, when the cartridge temperature reaches 125 degrees Fahrenheit, gas will start to seep out. The leaking from your ammo can cause an imbalance of pressure within your firearm chamber.
When this happens, you could experience significant inaccuracy in your shooting. It is important to note that outside temperatures rarely reach such high degrees but the interior of vehicles and other spaces easily can.
Although freezing temperatures will not bring about a loss of gunpowder, it can still affect your ammo’s performance. Especially if you are shooting long-range rifle ammunition.
Because of this, you should store your ammo in a cool, dry place. Storing your ammunition in containers like these ammo boxes will keep your materials safe and can help protect them against extreme temperatures.
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Organize Your Ammo
Whenever you store ammo outside of its original can, make sure that you label the new container that it is in. This will help avoid any confusion later and save you a great amount of time. If you can, give each specific caliber cartridge its own container as you shouldn’t mixe different shell sizes.
When labeling your container, include the date you purchased the ammo as well. Ammo doesn’t last forever. That’s why you should rotate your cartridges and always use the oldest ones first. It would be ideal to use your old cartridges for activities like target practice and save your newer ones for more practical applications.
Keep It Dry
Humidity and moisture are among the top causes of ammo deterioration. And you need to be extra careful if your ammo has a brass casing.
You should avoid storing your ammunition on the floor as well on the ground or in places like a damp basement. A corroded cartridge will not fit correctly into your gun’s chamber and is thus useless.
This is why it is so important to store your ammo in a dry storage container specifically designed for holding ammunition. If you do not have access to a proper container, try to keep your ammo on a high shelf. This way, it can’t get knocked over and you are less like to spill any liquids on it.
Consider keeping a dehumidifier close to your ammo as a precaution against humidity.
Potential Fire Hazard
A major reason why you should keep your ammunition properly stored is that it can actually become a potential fire hazard. If you happen to have a loose pile of ammo just sitting in your hot garage, it could possibly catch fire.
And although you might not get a big, crazy explosion out of it, what could result is an incredibly hot and dangerous house fire. Once your ammo sets ablaze, the actual bullets will start to pop and explode, which can become so hot and dangerous that firefighters might not even be safe enough to approach the area.
If you happen to have a pet stuck inside your home when this occurs, it might not be able to get rescued. The situation could end up becoming so dangerous that a firefighter would not be able to access your home. This is because they would have to enter an area while there are essentially hot bullets firing off every which way.
This is one of the reasons why it is so important to properly store your ammunition. It’s not worth having your shed suddenly go up in flames.
Safety
We have all heard horror stories of weapons ending up in the hands of an unsupervised child. By keeping your ammo stored properly, you are reducing the chances of it being accessed by unauthorized users. Make sure to lock your ammo and keep it somewhere where children cannot get to it.
If you have children of your own, you should educate them on firearm safety and clearly establish what they do and do not have access to. A properly informed child can make better decisions than one who unwittingly stumbled upon a stash of bullets.
Ammo Storage for You
When considering ammo storage for your own situation, take factors like your environment and arsenal size into consideration. The number one thing to bear in mind is that humidity is ammunition’s biggest enemy. Like most consumer products, always strive to keep your ammunition in a cool and dry place.
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