I know ammo cans will keep ammo good for decades ,once while I was out in the desert someplace on the Fort Bliss North map ,I was playing war gameswith the 3rd Calvary north of white sands missel base ,this was about 1982 .I was in an APC,a M113A1 ,I had stopped by a large sand dune ,I hopped out and was taking a leak at the edge of this dune ,when I spied o.d.green metal cans buried all around the bottom of this dune .I showed them to my plot.leader,a 2nd.LT.and he had me unearth a few cans they was filled with belted blanks of ammo for a Browning M-2 machine gun .he radioed for EOD and we was ordered to stay with the blank ammo until they arrived .it was like 72000 rounds of old blank ammo produced back in 1945 .it was still good as I got bored just waiting around so I tried a round out in my M-2 that I had mounted on my track.and this stuff had been buried in the desert of New Mexico for 37 years.so I know for a fact our ammo cans are the way to keep your ammo for long term.
If anyone has an issue with ammo storage and humidity, feel free to ship it to me in Alaska (where there is no humidity). I will be such a good steward that periodically, I will take the ammo out, examine it and even test fire to ascertain it is still in prime condition. Just want to do my part.
I also live in Florida (Sebring) and I’m glad you posted this video as I just store mine on a shelf in my closet and inside the dresser. Just my wife and me so I don’t worry about children getting into it.
I keep my in cans along with powder and primers with silica bags. My AC went out and took a week to get a new one a few weeks ago. I checked a couple after ac was up.Everything appears good. We have high humidity here in North Florida. Thanks for the video.
This is a good topic to make a video on. Started shooting some ammo that's just been in their original boxes from 10 years ago and all the rounds look fine.
I keep most of my stuff in surplus military ammo cans with desiccant. Its not a problem to store ammo you are going to shoot in the next few months. Anything long term needs to be sealed with a desiccant
My buddy and I found some 223 in his grandpa's shed that gets uo to like 140 degrees. It was in there for at least 20 years and he gave me a 500 round box and his grandson 1000 rounds. They've all worked so far.
I have friends with 16 and 28 gauge ammo that been in original boxes only in their garage in Michigan and they still shoot it. Ammo storage isn’t that big of a deal. Just keep it in original box
I have too much ammo for cans. I use what was $16 Igloo coolers with a Desiccant pack. All ammo is store in original packaging to keep track of lot numbers for recall notices and other issues, like an exploded gun from overcharged ammo, it also makes it easier to trade. I still have a few ammo cans ready to go for range sessions. Oh the $16 coolers are now $25, thanks, feeble minded joe.
Definitely another proponent for steel 50 cal. ammo cans w/ a dessicant pack in each can. I have 10 year old ammo in pristine condition and it sits in my basement on wooden pallets. I also store the ammo in it's original boxes inside the cans, in case I ever need to know lot numbers and also for resale value in case I ever want to unload some. Luckily I purchased a buttload of ammo during the Trump slump, so I'm in good shape. Take care
I have a few .50 cal cans full of ammo, but mainly I keep mine in it’s original packaging. Never had any issue in the packaging . Just need to keep it in cool room like you said 👍
Just keep it dry and your good Andrew I have some in ammo cans and some on the shelf I have 30.06 rounds that are over 35 years old and they look like they were made maybe 🤔 a couple years old shoot fine
That would totally suck, having a firearm rust on you like that in such a short period of time. I'm lucky to live in a fairly dry climate (central Ohio) plus my home is dry from heat and a/c.
Yes like Michael Barfield said dessicants or damprid in your safe are a good idea because regardless what you may think humidity does get in there. I keep my temp in my home like yours and I also live in Florida.
For the moment, I have all ammo in it's original box. I do plan on getting ammo cans tho, just in case I have to pickup and go quickly. Personally, I believe it will/would be easier to transport in a hurry if I can just grab a can and go. I also keep at least 6 to 8 5.56 mags loaded and on standby in my safe at all times. Just because, you never know what the future holds. Grab and go. But everyone has their system, and what works for them. Great video, sir. This was just on my mind recently.
I've got ammo that's been in my closet and underneath my bed since I was 12 years old (35 y/o in July). The brass has turned dark bronze colored, but it still shoots fine. The ammo in question is '90s production 12 gauge Winchester Super-X hi-brass. I've also got 12 year old 9mm that was bought during the Obama years that shoots fine. I store all my new ammo in those plastic MTM dry boxes and if I feel like it, I'll vacuum seal my expensive stuff, like Black Hills, Speer Gold Dots, etc. One thing that no one here has mentioned is keep your ammo away from household cleaners that contain ammonia. Ammonia is corrosive to brass and copper.
You cannot compare the 2 different brands of 62 grain ammo..the bulk ammo from Federal is just that bulk ammo..and isn't considered first level quality. Frontier is decent ammo but not exactly top shelf either. I have stored thousands of 5.56 from Winchester Q3131 for over 25 years in ammo cans and they are still in pristine condition. I wouldn't recommend buying the bulk Federal..I only buy the XM193 and XM855 ammo in boxes and Stripper clips for long term storage. Both of the Federal 5.56 are over 20 years old and are bright and shiny in their factory ammo cans. Buy the bulk if you absolutely have to for range ammo not for long term storage.
I like your setup. I store most of my ammo indoors. I do have a few ammo cans that were gifts. Some of my bulk ammo I store in foodsaver bags with desiccant in the bags. Thanks for the video.
Yep. I store mine the same way. In a closet in thier original boxes. I’ve even got a few boxes of .22lr that are 35 years old that look and shoot like it’s brand new. ZERO tarnish . Some of these ammo freaks are Hillarious with their food savers and ammo cans. LOL.
Ammo cans for me. If I need to leave my house in a hurry to bug out or due to some disaster, then I will have cans full that I can easily grab by the handle and transport to my truck outside and get out of Dodge. I don't want to open an empty box and fill it with boxes of ammo. That's the main reason I use 30 cal and 50 cal ammo cans. So I can leave quickly and move my ammo easily.
Thanks for the video Andrew, always wondered how others store their ammo supplies. I only store loaded mags in my gun safes, the main bulk of ammo is in labeled 50 cal cans and mag racks stored inside a keypad dead bolted closet of my gunroom.
I watch a guys channel that he will put ammo in water or hopps and other stuff. He leave it for a week and longer and the fires the rounds. You should check it out.
Once you get to a certain accumulation it's just no longer practical to keep it inside your house due to space issues. It's at that point you need something with positive seal like an ammo can.
I have many guns around the house. Just oil (if not shot; at least 1 really wet oil clean job a year) I have cans but as long as you keep them in the box and out of elements? It ll be fine
I have them loose in ammo cans with desiccant packs in them. Once i get to the amount that fits the can per caliber, i close and forget it. Sort of long term. I do leave My “range” ammo in the original box and in ammo can just to move easier.
I store in ammo cans with stack-on rechargeable desiccants. Just over 20,000 rounds mixed caliber/gauges. I live in NW FL, house 70 degrees, inside humidity around 50-60%. It may be overkill but not taking a chance with my investment. I love to shoot, even during hard times, so gotta keep my inventory up! I think heat and humidity is bad, but also the temperature fluctuation up & down can be bad too!
I have mine stored different ways some in the ammo can some in the original boxes and haven't had a problem yet. I stay in a construction trailer in somebody's backyard and had a air conditioner go out last year have 2ac unit's one front one in back and It got pretty humid in the back I've been slowly going through it all and haven't found nothing bad yet....
I like to keep a some ammo cans with bulk ammo. I keep most of my ammo in the boxes I’ve purchased them in so I know what the different types are. I did buy one of the trays of 4 30 caliber cans from BPS to take to the range. I keep my main calibers of 9mm 556 22 and 45 in those. I live in a similar climate so mine stays at a moderate temperature and humidity level all year.
I have a closet full of ammo my Grandfather left me, all sealed in mason jars. You can take it out of the jar and it's as clean and shiny as the day it was made. It stays dry and clean an if stored in a closet will keep forever. Just my 2 cents.
YES, you must stay organized. One must keep the munitions clean and in good condition, after all you paid a pretty penny for your implement and you do not want damaged ammo cycled through it. Just my two cents.
I store my ammo in cans to make it easier to move from firing point to firing point with ammo and weapon. I’m , of course, referring to a catastrophic event requiring me to protect my family.
I've had worse in one year from a plastic ammo can I do use some metal but I stop buying ammo can waste of money shoot and replace just like storing food
Even if you don’t have a large stash why risk it? Ammo cans are cheap in comparison to what it would cost to replace a mistake or hurricane or whatever life brings. I’ll gladly spend the few extra bucks on ammo cans and desiccant packs any day.
No need for ammo cans unless your place is wet, hot and/or humid. All mine ammo are good in the great weather of california. I just keep them dry and cool. No corrosion or any issues. I have lots of surplus and cheap steelcase ammo too and they all shoot great.
Good deal Andrew, I've got 5 30cal ammo cans full and boxes like your examples. All in a gun safe just for ammo, firearms in a larger safe. Both are climate controlled. Here in Tennessee have close to same summer weather. 💯👍
i use ammo cans cause i reload and it keeps the ammo organized, i use a old stack on locker to keep the boxed factory ammo stored and safe as well as a contractors box for the bulk stuff, though my brass is setup on a wire shelf similar to what's in your closet, except its bins coffee cans and factory boxes, all my stuff is in my basement with a dehumidifier running 24/7 and stays around 60 degrees year round,
Cans are much easier to "toss and go" if you ever needed to evacuate and could be left outside with minimal or no shelter for a long time and still protect the contents. Ammo is too expensive now to not take all the precautions you can to preserve it.....and factory boxes are not the way. A can with a desiccant creates its own micro environment and that environment remains viable regardless of the humidity level in your living space, which is subject to change with a power outage. You say you've only lost power for a few days before......that's great.......what's your plan B if it's lost for months or not coming back on?
Not much different than yours, however i do utilize ammo cans for my bulk reloads 9 and 45 auto mostly. I own a large amount of plactic 50 and 100 count boxes and their stacked and categorized accordingly. .22lr, 22 mag and .17 open air in original containers also climate controlled room.
If you plan on storing ammo for any amount of time yes. Sure it will be good 10 years later left on a shelf in the closet but many of us have stashes we will likely pass down to our children. I shoot about 300-600 rounds of center fired ammo weekly
I keep all of my ammo in ammo can's because that is the way I do it just so it can stay nice and I have ammo that is over 10 years old and I can get it out and go shoot with no problems at all ....
I live in a very low humidity part of the country. I have 40 year old ammo that looks and fires like fresh, new stuff. Moisture is bad, just like it is for firearms.
**Question for everyone** I live in a very humid area and money is tight, but I want to make sure my ammo doesn’t get messed up. I’ve been trying to figure out a cheaper solution to store and protect my ammo without taking any chances. Is there more budget friendly way to preserve my mostly 9mm and 22lr ammo? Thanks in advance for your help and God bless the 2A community.
Also keep in mind you won’t always see the damage caused. Ammo can be bad but look completely fine on the outside. Buy some damn ammo cans man it’s cheap insurance. You live in Florida and you think because you have ac and insulation you have 0 humidity inside? Lol Oooook
