Long term bulk ammo storage...

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by Bandit99, Nov 6, 2016.


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  1. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    This summer when it became obvious Hillary was going to wear the crown I started purchasing a lot of ammo...and if she wins I will purchase more. Currently, I have a good portion stored still in their store cardboard boxes inside my closet...which I share with the wife. Since they are long boxes they stack well and not taking too much room...because I cannot infringe on the wife's side. If you are married then you understand...

    Anyway, I got 7000 rounds I need to store long term I wonder how others are storing theirs?

    Metal ammo boxes with good gaskets cost, at a minimum, $20-$25 and they hold a thousand loose rounds, I know because I got some stored that way. Throw some packets of desiccants in the box and seal it up and your done. But, is there any better way? A better way that might not have me purchasing 10 more metal ammo boxes and....using more space in the closet and starting a turf war with the Misses?

    I have lots of 5 gallon Mylar bags and buckets are cheap and was wondering about storing a good portion of it in this manner. Dump maybe 2000-3000 rounds into the 5 gallon bag, with packets of desiccants, and seal the bucket with either a normal lid or Gamma...not sure how much I can get into each bucket but... and I don't think I would need O2A packets inside the Mylar, can't think of a reason for it...

    That's the only thing I can think of besides purchasing more metal ammo boxes... Anyway... Ideas?
     
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  2. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    Dry seal in Mylar bags with a desiccant pack and store in good MTM or Plano Ammo boxes! I do this in what I call battle packs of 20 or 40 rounds ( for 7.62X51 OR 7.62X63 ) and for 5.56 I do it in 60 round packs! For others, I usually do it in 20 round divided packs! For a BOB/GHB I vac seal ammo loaded in mags and have them set up with a tear open top! I do these in the cal. listed above! This should get you a good set up for Very Long Term Storage! Remember to keep your ammo some place cool and dark!
     
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  3. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Buckets will work fine. If you load them in dry weather and seal them up, no desiccant will be needed.
     
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  4. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    I would think, some desiccant in a FoodSaver vac bag might work.
     
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  5. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    Another Storage Idea I have used in the past, especially in wet environs is to take Filsons Felt wax, or other type of natural bees wax based wax and get it nice and hot and dip the bullet and primer and then use a cotton patch to wipe off! Then wrap in normal paper and place in ammo boxes! Good for bulk storage as long as you don't need it RIGHT NOW. After you are done, use the cotton patch to treat boots, or your rain hat or..............Makes a great patch for muzzle loading if your into that!
     
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  6. Sgt Nambu

    Sgt Nambu RIP 4/19/2018

    Make sure everyone who could need to, can carry the buckets!

    I use safes and ammo cans too store most of my ammo. One is a StackOn that's about 3' square. Also two other safes and a steel tool cabinet! None of them are secure from a thief with a sledge hammer but I'm primarily trying to keep kids out of them! The guns are in a real, solid, heavy gun safe!
    Is the space under the bed taken? Ammo boxes fit real well under mine!

    Good luck on solving your problem! :)
     
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  7. Sgt Nambu

    Sgt Nambu RIP 4/19/2018

    I'd like to see a photo of a tear open top! SRG
     
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  8. Altoidfishfins

    Altoidfishfins Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    I simply leave it in it's original cardboard box, slip it inside of a garbage bag and seal it up with shipping tape. But I live in a very dry climate. Moisture will do definite harm through corrosion of the brass. If cases are steel, they will eventually rust even if copper washed.
     
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  9. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    I have some Lake City match ammo in the cardboard carton from 1970. Still goes "boom".
    Most ammo is kept in vacuum bags, in stored containers, and in their base components ready to be hand loaded.

    I remember stocking up back when Barry was first elected.
     
  10. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    I think wax of any kind isn't the best idea. When fired, the wax will melt and goo things up, at least so thinks me.
     
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  11. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    So, a couple of you use vacuum sealing to preserve your ammo. I could justify a Food Saver as it could be used around the house also. Having no experience with these machines, can one vacuum seal say a large bag of 1000 rounds or must it be smaller? Perhaps 200 rounds bags? What I am thinking is vacuum seal them with a desiccant packets inside then stick them back in their cardboard boxes in the closet. But, what is the largest size one can do? Have no experience with these things, actually never even seen one except in stores...

    @Ura-Ki "store in good MTM or Plano Ammo boxes" So, you use the plastic ammo cans? Have any problems with them, with the handles and what about the rubber gaskets, good seal? I am looking at something like this (see link):

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T4XL4HM/?tag=survivalmonke-20
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2016
  12. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    I vacuum seal pre-loaded Gen3 PMAG's and 300 round bags, then store in metal ammo cans. That allows me to just grab a bag and throw in a backpack as needed. The cans allow me to easily carry them...a bucket will just get way to heavy to move.
     
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  13. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    We use 5 USG Buckets, with Sealed, Gasketed Lids... and Dry Nitrogen Flooding, before Sealing.... The weight of the Buskets is the only issue, we have found.... Ammunition Weighs a TON, in those Quantities....
     
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  14. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    I chose the MTM and Plano's simply because they were all uniform size and were on sale at the time. Good seals, No corrosion issues ( like metal) and pretty tough for getting tossed around/banged up! I vac seal mine in small, ready to use amounts ether loose, or Loaded mags ( Loose for bolt actions/lever guns) I got a heck of a deal a few years ago on "static free" computer component Mylar bag rolls and have been using them for pretty much every thing! Don't need mylar, but for ammo I recommend a heavier vac bag! Sgt Nambu, Borrow the wife's sewing Pattern copying roller, or get your own and use that to roll the Vac Seam you just made when you vac seal something! Use a strait edge on the seam when rolling! Works really great! Gotta get a new Camera, went head first into the pond on fire duty, FUBAR!!!
     
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  15. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    I make all sizes. Depends on your operational procedures. The heavier, the more difficult it is to move.

    DSC00071.JPG Vacuum sealed a gas/chemical mask no problems.
    DSC00002.JPG DSC00001.JPG Sealed some .22lr in 1,000 round + packs, and many smaller packs, too.

    I have even sealed whole .308 magazines (loaded) and store inside ammo cans. You are limited only by your imagination...and perhaps some physics.
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2016
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  16. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    This uses the same type of wax lube seal that gets used for Black Powder arms. Doesn't gum things up, and actually makes corrosive ammo a bit easier to clean up after! Just make sure to clean immediately after!
     
  17. STANGF150

    STANGF150 Knowledge Seeker

    Walmart has sum decent chinamade metal ammo cans for $12 & change
     
  18. svjoe

    svjoe Angry Monkey

    I store mine in a large Pelican case with desiccant of course!!

    pelican-rolling-transport-hard-case-box-1660. desiccant.
     
  19. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    dJust to close the loop... I decide that I would not use pelican crates as they get too heavy for 1 man lift and since I always shoot alone and often I nixed that idea. I looked at the MTM plastic cases, as I have a few that I use for my gun cleaning stuff, but don't like the seals/gaskets on them. They look like sponge instead of rubber. It is not overly humid here so not too worried about metal rusting inside the house.

    So, I quit my crying and purchased some .50 caliber metal ammo cans from COSTCO but these cans came with a .30 cal metal can also - so not a bad deal for ~$17. So, loaded all of the 5.56 green tips (M855) in .30 cal cans and all the M193 5.56 and 9mm in .50 cal cans,, threw in 30 grams of desiccant into each and I am done for now with 6000+ rounds of 5.56 and 2000 9mm. Pay once and cry once...so the saying goes...

    @svjoe I do like your idea of that big can of DampRid and have another use for it. I have ordered some. Thanks!
     
    svjoe likes this.
  20. Witch Doctor 01

    Witch Doctor 01 Mojo Maker

    I use small buckets from pool chemicals... Once clean the will hold as many as 500 rounds of 223, 30 carbine, 38's or similar and the weight is more portable than a 5 gal bucket...

    YMMV
     
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