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Posted: 5/1/2006 6:05:42 PM EDT
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As I've been gradually buying ammo faster than I shoot it, I've been filling up all the ammo cans I bought. This got me wondering about ammo storage. I could always buy more cans, but I was wondering if other people used different methods. I'm a cigar smoker, and a lot of people keep the cigars they're going to smoke in the relatively near future in a nice humidor, but their much larger, long-term stash (many boxes) is kept in a "coolidor"; a large, plastic Coleman cooler (128 gallon). These are fairly airtight and hold their humidity (or lack of) quite well. For cigars, you throw in a humidifying element, and they can be kept long term, with checking occasionally. I was wondering if anyone did something similar with ammo. It seems like one of these big coolers could hold several thousand rounds of ammo. Throw in a bunch of desiccant packs, and you'd be fine for many months, if not years. Anyone try this, or something similar? |
Gee......................that little bit of smartassedness sure answered Mazemans question. sorry, I don't know the answer to your question either, but I couldn't resist responding to "Dick's" posting. Why not just answer the guys question, or not post anything? Sorry Mazeman, hope someone answers your question! John |
If 50 cal ammo cans are good enough for the armed services they are good enough for me. A cooler full of ammo could not be moved easily. All of my ammo is in GI ammo cans with good seals and desiccant. It's not complicated. Forget the humidor unless you plan to smoke your ammo
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The Zombies are coming dude, where have you been? Mazeman from one good stogie lover to another I would stick with ammo cans. Have a cigar your gonna go far. Elvis |
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Not much is better than ammo cans. www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=17&t=257897 edit: Being a team member you can do an Archive Search: ammo storage (good threads) A SAW can is like an oversize 50cal can. Example: 
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Well I might as well jump in. The ammo I'm keeping in reserve i used my mother-in-laws vaccum machine that prevents freezer burn. Vaccumed it down put it in ammo cans. Oh, Iforgot I put one of those little packs that absorbs moisture in before vaccuming it down. Keep your powder dry, Man 
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| Ammo cans......if possible in a relatively dry area humidity wise, but most importantly keep it out of very hot environment (ie. attic type environment). You can overcome humidity with the sealed ammo can and dessicant. Finally, for the L/T storage stuff, leave the damn ammo can closed. |
Government Liquidators In a perfect world, you'll be able to fill every one of these LOL |
One potential problem with this method is that you will create some vacuum inside the cartridge case. This could result in moisture getting sucked into the case once you finally open up the sealed bag. IMO, it is better just to use ammo cans at 1 atmosphere. -Troy |
| With regard to storing in a 'cooler', weight will limit capacity if needed to be moved. It is a good solution, I think to use a cooler for stationary storage. Plastic coolers do seem a good solution for some stashes. I keep a crankshaft assembly in a [styrofoam] cooler for safe keeping wile other components are being fabricated. |
I use ammo cans for long term storage, but the main thing I do is store it inside the house, not in the garage or the basement. Stable temperature and controlled humidity are your friends. You just have to spread the load out - don't pile 1000 lbs of ammo all in one stack unless you have a slab home.
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Not to step on Troy's toes, if you do vacuum seal dont seal all the air out so its super tight and drop a dessicant pack in and you will be good. Take this another step further and put it into an ammo can with dessicant. You can now store this indefinitely. OR like Troy said just drop it into an ammo can with a dessicant pack, will work fine as long as the seals are ok and you DONT open it. Heres where I get the dessicant from www.uline.com/ProductDetail.asp?model=S-1058&ref=1001 One pack is more than enough for a 50 can. |
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Factory new ammo is stored inside where heat and ac help regulate temp and humidity. I have a lot of surplus 308 from AIM and while those ammo cans have holes in the bottom the ammo is in sealed battle packs so that is the seal for it. I have a lot of this stuff stored in a garage and while I would like to keep it all inside I am getting to the point where I can't give it enough space. I either buy it and stack it in the garage or I don't buy it. Somehow I figure the garage is fine and it does not have serious temp swings for the most part. I do have a fair number of US military ammo cans and since these seal up well I have been packing them up with some reloaded ammo I have around. I plan to pick up some more ammo cans from the local army surplus store, but boy I bet his prices are high these days. I don't need that many and I am not willing to mess around with buying them online and dealing with having them shipped because I don't trust the condition of some of the descriptions I have read on the cheap ammo cans. On the expensive ones I trust I suspect the army surplus guy will be at a similar price and I can hand pick his stuff. |
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