ammo storage? how do you do it?

Jeff V

Jeff V

New member
Im talking bulk qty's of ammo, not just put it in a ammo can how do you store it, cans on shelves, filing cabinets, in the safe ect.

Im looking to start increasing my supply. Right now I put shotgun shells in grinder bit boxes from big road grinders (get them free from work and they hold about 150 loose rounds) and 9mm/22lr/22 mag goes in either the plano plastic ammo/marine boxes or military ammo cans.

from there it goes on shelves in my wooden gun cabinet but I am trying to redo my storage if I can come up with a better way
 
I bought a Stack-On locking ammo cabinet last year- don't remember where i got it but it was $80 shipped i think.
I just stack the factory ammo boxes on the shelves.

I also have some stored in my Stack-on gunsafe in steel ammo boxes- on the floor of the shelf area. And a few boxes of ammo thrown in where-ever they fit. I keep as much stuff in the safe as possible. Most of my pistols are in velcro-attached holsters on the door and back wall and side walls of the safe and this frees up shelf space for magazines and other accessories.
 
I keep enough hunting ammo on hand for hunting and thats about it. Its easy to keep that stuff around. My defensive calibers are all held loose in labeled ammo cans and stacked in a closet near my safe
DaFunk
 
I found an old IOOF Lodge storage locker (wooden, about 3'x3'x5') and set it up on end...I installed a couple of shelves and it holds my reserve ammo that is boxed and kept in sealed military ammo cans or dry boxes...The wooden cases are also full...I have no problems with deterioration...

AmmoInventory10-09.jpg
 
Although I'm sure it's not the best way, I keep 90% of it out in the unheated garage year round. I'd rather not have thousands of rounds of ammo stored in home in case of a fire.
 


If you have a fire your insurance may not pay if your ammo cooks off.

The firemen will go home and let your house burn to the ground.

I keep ammo and powder in my locked shed behind my house. I store them is unmarked containers.
 
Originally Posted By: willy1947

If you have a fire your insurance may not pay if your ammo cooks off.

The firemen will go home and let your house burn to the ground.

I keep ammo and powder in my locked shed behind my house. I store them is unmarked containers.


I have my locking steel cabinet in a deep dark corner in my basement specifically because of fire hazard. My up stairs ammo is locked in the fire-resistant gunsafe.

I also try to keep all my ammo with bullets pointed downward- although i don't know if this makes any difference once they start cooking off.
 
I always keep some ammo in my garage be it centerfire/handgun or shotgun shells. Couple hundred for my handguns and couple dozen for each of my rifle calibers.
But why would you tie your money and buy in extreme quantities and then worry about storage and insurance? Is there an apocalypse coming that I'm not aware of?
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: farmer44mag

I also try to keep all my ammo with bullets pointed downward- although i don't know if this makes any difference once they start cooking off.

If rimfire ammo starts "Cooking Off" the case actually becomes the projectile and I suspect that centerfire would do the same thing.
Don't believe it? Throw a few 22 shells in a campfire sometime. The case being lighter than the bullet will bounce around but the bullet won't go anywhere.
Not that I would do that to a new guy at Deer camp,
cool.gif
but I've heard of such things.
 
im not talking about extreme qty's.

1000ish shotgun shells of may varieties
2000 rounds of 9mm
5000 rounds of .22lr
2000 rounds of 22 mag.

I know guys who have a few of those construction jobbox boxes full of ammo, I can't justify the cost of that.
 
Originally Posted By: DoubleplayI always keep some ammo in my garage be it centerfire/handgun or shotgun shells. Couple hundred for my handguns and couple dozen for each of my rifle calibers.
But why would you tie your money and buy in extreme quantities and then worry about storage and insurance? Is there an apocalypse coming that I'm not aware of?
smile.gif


I bought a good quantity of pistol ammo before the 2008 election- and therefore had plenty of it to shoot when everyone was sold out. And i also didn't get price gouged for the little that was available like alot of people did. I did screw up and buy some last year before it fully came down- but no matter what i get a better deal buying in bulk from Natchez than even walmart- the fact of no taxes online makes it as cheap or cheaper then walmart.

I just ordered, last week- on sale- another 500 rds. of .45 blazer alluminum for 13.99 a 50rd. box- shipping jumps it to 15.99. Also ordered in some .30-06 of various varieties and a few other items. The bigger you order the more you can spread out the shipping. Could of got 9mm for 10.50 shipped but have enough of that.
This is as cheap as it was going for in 2008. I now have enough ammo of all varieties to comfortably carry me through the next ammo shortage that will surely happen if Obama gets re-elected. If it is looking likely i may even make another order if the price is right pre-election.

as of now i have apprx:

2500rds. 9mm
1500rds. .45
700rds. .380
200+rds. .30-06
200+rds. .30-30
800+rds. .223
1000 rds. .22
various- .44 mag,.357mag,.38,12ga......

The brass cased stuff is still a tad higher as 17.50 shipped the cheapest i can find. Got brass for 17.00 shipped in 2008. Last year i bought 750rds. cci blazer brass for 19 shipped- should of waited but i was running low.

Cabelas is selling the alluminum cased for 19.99 and i'd have tax on top of that yet.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: RePeteOriginally Posted By: farmer44mag

I also try to keep all my ammo with bullets pointed downward- although i don't know if this makes any difference once they start cooking off.

If rimfire ammo starts "Cooking Off" the case actually becomes the projectile and I suspect that centerfire would do the same thing.
Don't believe it? Throw a few 22 shells in a campfire sometime. The case being lighter than the bullet will bounce around but the bullet won't go anywhere.
Not that I would do that to a new guy at Deer camp,
cool.gif
but I've heard of such things.

well, hopefully the steel cabinet would slow them down a little- or better yet- keep the fire away long enough that they don't cook off...
 
Exactly.

The fire caused by "burning" (not "exploding") powder is probably more danger than the projectiles.

As far as storage containers go. Military surplus ammo cans are probably as good as it gets.
 
Ammo cooked off will not penetrate a turn-out coat. Urban myth. SAAMI made a video that shows it is perfectly safe for firefighters.
 
Originally Posted By: NitromanAmmo cooked off will not penetrate a turn-out coat. Urban myth. SAAMI made a video that shows it is perfectly safe for firefighters.

I agree loose ammo just goes "poof". I've seen it happen. Ammo in a steel can or some other container that causes pressure to build could do a lot of damage though. If you reload large amounts of powder can be pretty explosive as well depending upon how it's stored.
 
Originally Posted By: JTB"I agree loose ammo just goes "poof". I've seen it happen. Ammo in a steel can or some other container that causes pressure to build could do a lot of damage though. If you reload large amounts of powder can be pretty explosive as well depending upon how it's stored."

Actually, it's the other way around - the cartridges go bang in a fire (it's the primers) but are not very dangerous - and powder NEVER explodes - it burns very slowly with no noise, or a very slight hissing.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top