I've recovered shotgun shells that I had lost 2 years prior in a hunting spot i made on some property in south Missouri. Through all those seasons of snow ,rain and mud.... I loaded them up to see if they would work. sure enough they shot like new
I have mine stored in factory boxes, in the metal/Military type ammo cans with silica packets, indoors(my bdrm closet) And I have one of those that holds the mags(15)as well.
Maggie's personality is one of the best parts of these videos. I've been having a really hard week and her positivity always brings a smile to my face. Thanks for the video!
Great storage tips, Maggie. Here’s mine: Calcium chloride is inexpensive and easily available. We buy it in bulk and put it into small buckets near our ammo and it absorbs all the water in the air. You just have to empty out the buckets periodically. Highly recommend it if you live in a damp area to play some of this in your closets. We live in SoCA near the water and can’t believe how much is absorbed into your clothes otherwise, without it.
When I used to reload when I was younger I used to lacquer the bullets in the case and lacquer the primers when I was loading 1000 cartridges or more. Ammunition will last for alot of years doing the lacquer process. Thanks Maggie and Mark for this information.
Try using a food vacuum sealer bag with dessicant bag in it. Date & load data on paper inside, pour in batch you loaded, then Vacuum seal. As long as seal is intact, it should be good.
You can get silica packets online, got a 45 pack on Amazon for $7.00 and threw a few in every ammo can. I keep ammo in the original boxes too, I saw somewhere that the cardboard can absorb moisture and that is why I bought the silica packets.
I’ve shot 12 gage shotgun shells that were my father in laws that were stored in a cabinet in his outdoors work shop where temperature varied from 30-120 degrees. It was dry and fired flawlessly. 1985 ammunition shot in 2022.
First thing I do with new metal cans is protect the paint same as your car. I use Nu Finish, but the new ceramic is probably better. Second is adhesive feet so as not to damage bottom paint and also so as not to damage surfaces. Use flat green stuff from craft stores or hardware . Hubby is correct. If not within reach, you are not armed.
Thanks for my Maggie video for the week. IMHO mine is in the 'climate' controlled old root cellar. Stays about 60 to 54 degree's all year long. Yes in ammo cans and it's pretty dry down there. Take care - Hope everyone is doing well.
Gosh after dad passed away and we began to gather up his stuff, I was fortunate he had stored most of his ammo in a stand-up gun case. However, it seemed like every drawer and I mean every drawer had shotgun shells, 22's, 38's, various rifle bullets, spare change, and those old paper matches with a date and place mom had put on them!
Ammo has been stored in cardboard boxes inside wood crates in warehouses that were not climate controlled for 4-5-6 decades and still functions flawlessly . I have 1950's 30 carbine ammo that shoots flawlessly . 1940, 30.06 ammo that shoots fine.
Thank you for the vid on coming 2024 amo shortage. I bought 357, 38 spl, 9 mm for $400. Went into brand new 50 cal metal cans from Harbour freight, $17 each. When humidity goes down, I will vacuum pack it like it was food. The metal cans are very well made and price is right.
When I purchase ammo, I wrap my boxes in saranwrap, attach a label which has the purchase date, description and where purchased. The ammo is then stored in metal ammo cans. I do the same with my primers and powder.
I have some 12 gauge shells from the late 1980s. I was concerned if they would be safe and work. I stored in a plasti ammo can. They still worked in 2021.
I have a WW2 vintage ammo can myself Maggie. When I found out about them I had to have one myself. I have to say your can is in excellent condition mine isn’t beat to all get out. But it’s not as nice as your specimen. I like the latch better I like the flaming bomb they are cool. But command a way higher price when you do find them.
Every Ammo Can gets a couple of silica gel packets. For ammo I do not shoot often but buy when I find it, like .38 S&W - I vacuum seal the box as well. For Ammo I buy in loose bulk , on sale, I usually leave about 6 months loose and vacuum package range packs that I can grab and go. The Harbor Fright cans are great, on sale - I tested one in a bucket of water overnight.....no leaks. Thanks Maggie.
Hey Larry, I've thought about doing this as well, but wonder if you throw a desiccant pack in just for good measure? I just recently started working on my med preps, got a food sealer and am making mini-trauma kits. I understand the whole "sealant" thing but I always throw a small 1-5gm bag into each med sack before sealing it. I also print out a little 3-5 card with kit contents, both so I can remember, and if there's someone else helping me, this gives them the chance to hopefully find the right 'bag-o-parts' i may need. Any experience with that?
I learned many years ago on my boat, anywhere that rust appeared, to coat it with vaseline. Works well and never runs off, as oil can in hotter environments.
Ask your local baker for used icing buckets. These come in 2, 3 or 5 gallon and often have rubber gaskets in the lids. My grocery store baker gave me a bunch for free.
When I started buying guns a few years ago, I read that it's better to have one safe for the firearms and another for the ammo. That may or may not be a concern for your particular storage situation. "Ready to use" firearms have some rounds in the same place, and more discretely located in caches in other places. There might or might not be ammunition for the long guns in the safe with the long guns, just because if I retreat to where the long guns are, I'll probably want ammo for those guns ready to hand. But, yeah, all the long-term storage is in sealed cases, with Silica gel packs to absorb moisture, and the Silica gel packs get rotated out periodically. I don't expect any of my ammo to be in storage for decades (I'm a FIFO guy, and only stock a few calibers...), so there's that.
Exactly my thoughts. Ammo us made to handle all weather. Ask Korean, and Vietnam vets if they've had any issues. One extreme to the other no problem. People will always overthink stupid shit.
I store my ammo loaded in magazines, in part of my gun safe, where they're protected from humidity. If I add to my gun collection any more than I already have, I'll buy another safe just for the ammo & stack the hell outta that! My unloaded ammo goes into Case-Gard sealed cans.
Gun safes are actually not very good at protecting against moisture intrusion. That's why you need either a dehumidifier of some sort. Otherwise, a metal gun safe will actually attract moisture and retain it inside the safe.
@@Uberragen21 These gun safe people are hilarious anyway. They buy 600 dollar safes that are NEVER installed properly. It takes two guys and 3 minutes to bust them open.
NEVER store powder and ammo in a safe. Buy a proper Ammo locker, otherwise you have literally built a bomb in your house. In the case of a fire the temperature in the safe will get high enough to set off the ammo, and in that sealed steel box the pressure will make it into a homemade 500 pound JDAM.
Sealed ammo cans in a humidity controlled environment with dessicant packs in each one. Each ammo can is labeled with contents and date of sealing. When an ammo can is sealed, a label strip goes across the can latch with a date. Mostly they are in the basement stacked by calibre.
Same with me. All bulk ammo is stored in my garage, inside the original cardboard packaging, and further stored inside of non-waterproof plastic tubs with lids I get at Home Depot. I don't plan on getting any flooding and the IMI ammo that I buy has a red color sealant (lacquer?) around the primer. I personally think that no matter how good of a job you do protecting long term ammo, the gun powder inside each cartridge degrades over time. Resulting in lower muzzle velocity.
You can purchase packets of SILICA GEL in order to keep Ammo Fresher longer in a Miltary Type Ammo Can. Also packets come with Many Shoes, Sneakers, Dog & Cat Food Bags all sorts of Places. Greatest thing about it is You can place it I. An Oven ,Heat it up for a while in order to dry it back out after too much moisture accumulates in the Packets!
Hoarding or stock piling you better do so. Or you want have any ammo. The same with reloading supplies. Especially primers. Thanks for the video and information.
All my ammo is stored in sealed ammo cans & is always kept inside so the temp is always comfortable. I would never put my ammo in an area that has condensation.
Was this clipped from the video that was posted the other day? Same clothes and holsters and hat?? Anyways I drop a few grand in Maggie's gun shop just to enjoy a conversation and see the awesome freedom goods she has for sale. Can't be down to earth folks. No b.s just straight honesty.
I miss the cheap primer costs from the 2000's. Wish I bought more. Have you considered Food vacuum sealer bags with a dessicant bag? Date & load mix on paper inside. Dump 200 bullets in, then Vacuum seal. As long as seal is good, ammo is fine. Old reloads I didn't vacuum seal didn't seem as hot. Too easy for moisture get past primer seating and bullet crimp if you're not applying a sealer which is fine consuming.
I buy and sell antiques and as such get into many old houses , buildings and barns I find a lot of ammunition stored often in less then perfect condition but It will still shoot fine. 1950s pistol ammo in falling apart paper boxes found in a barn? Shoots great Same with a bucket of WWII Ammo Only problem I ever had was some 110 year old 30-40 ammo that would give you hang fires I bought a bunch of shiny like new 9mm surplus once. All were squib loads. Not from storage though I do use ammo cans not because I need to protect the ammo but because they are cheap and Convenient
Love Miss Maggie for sure. We live in NC and humidity is rampant! I have 20 year old ammo and it’s still good. Better git to the range and shoot more of it up I suppose.
I have about 2000 5.56, 1800 9mm, 2000 .22, 100 12gauge, and 200 .308. It’s a lot to store. Ammo is heavy. I had to buy a filing cabinet and it’s almost tipping over. My house is 1900sq feet and I don’t want to dedicate so much space and weight to ammo. I only started buying ammo about 2 years ago.
Do you have a brand name or the product name so I can find this? I live in Kali and want to take care of the gear I have; as replacement if stolen or damaged would not even be feasible. I was able to purchase 2-3 Rem .22 'bricks' at Big-5 Sporting Goods a number of years ago. That's only what, one thousand rounds ( I know, I'm a "big' hoarder!) but I was able to buy them on sale for $17 each... last time I checked, those bricks were closer to $40 each. I know it's not millions of dollars, but I'd hate to damage stuff if I can avoid it. Anyway, if you remember the brand name I'd sure appreciate the info. Shoot true my friend! And remember, gun control means using both hands! And yes, i LOVE giving the finger to the libiturds.
NATO ammo specs include sealed primers. Great for long term storage. It also has a higher grain weight bullet and velocity than most target ammo that makes it more similar to self defense rounds. For training and storage NATO 9mm is great.
grandads 30yo 22lr under his pillow shot and 80 yo 32acp turned green and it fired I've also washed 38special in my washing machine and it shot next day
If possible, I would recommend the basement as a last resort, because the first thing that floods is the basement. Obviously, watertight containers help, but I would not recommend storing firearms in the basement
Mark, lets discuss this. Maggie, has once again mentioned her husband, yet we nevre see the man. I think its time we met the good man. Another thing, regardless of how people choose to store their ammunition, my suggestion is what ever container they choose, they should have some of those little silica absorbent packages. they are cheap, even free if you check the clothing you buy, ammo is not cheap. We use 30 cal and 50 cal ammo boxes with the rubber gaskets and still put the silica packets in there.
The MTM plastic magazine can you said was waterproof is absolutley NOT waterproof. The manufacturer rates it at "water resistant, non-submersible". Mil-spec ammo cans ARE air/water tight.
I store mine in a a safe with guns all locked up. I put one of those moisture wicking buckets in there and make sure my guns are dried off before putting them away after a snowy or rainy day hunt. I've never had a problem with ammo.
Let's face it. The ammo shortage is NOT because of "hoarders", It is due to the federal government purchasing all domestic production of most calibers favored by the civilian population.
Best way to store ammo long term is store it in a water tight container with a dehumidifier and at room temperature. Humidity is the worst thing on ammo so you want to keep it dry as you can at room temperature
I have been stacking ammo since the drought of 2008. I am to the point where I won't buy more unless it comes in sealed battle packs or in ammo cans. Ammo cans are getting to be a major expense.
"Watertight" is an okay idea for short term to mid term. However, for long term, it may be a different story. "Watertight" containers makes it hard for water to get in, but people tend to forget that once moisture gets in, it tends to keep that water in. Keep in mind that those cheap ammo cans are not designed to be used for decades, and it was also not intended to be a single layer of total protection. For long term storage, climate controlled well ventilated or moisture controlled room is the best approach. Not the most cheapest option, but good things rarely are.
We shot a blank 12 ga. shotgun shell a few months ago that was probably 100 years old,it was black powder, paper case and it went off with a little lag time and boy was it loud. It has lived it's whole life here in Florida and not in climate controlled either.
@maggie - 4:03-4:09 storing oils and cleaners sealed in with primers and powder (which includes ammo) can destroy them. Always store such in a separate container!
just occurred to me when you mentioned the importance of keeping guns oiled…Should we be applying gun oil to our steel mil surplus ammo cans as wel as gun lubricstion to the hinges every now and then?
Yes might aswell.. I wouldn’t recommend to oil the inside of the can though. Which you shouldn’t have to if you have silica packets and the can sealed nicely.. recommend to put oil on the gasket aswell to make sure it doesn’t crack 👍🏼
Don't forget the silica desiccant pack inside every air-tight container of ammo. Otherwise all you're doing is sealing IN the moisture that was in the air at the time you closed the lid. Also, if you don't want the outside of your ammo can to rust over time, apply a coat of wax. I use E.J. Wheaton microcrystalline wax, works great on exterior of firearms also.
