Long Island Shooters Forum banner

Ammo Storage Ideas?

14K views 44 replies 30 participants last post by  Mossy930spx 
#1 ·
Hey guys... so my ammo is getting to be a bit much for the storage containers I have them in. I can't actually lift the containers anymore (the plastic kind you get a target) so I'm thinking of using my basement space and putting in some type of lockable cabinet. I'm going to try and put most ammo in ammo cans, some will be in manufacturers cardboard box... but looking for ideas.

File cabinet/storage shelves from staples seemed like a good idea, but they seem to be expensive. And i'm worried about the weight limits per shelf. Ammo as we know gets heavy.

What do you guys do? Any thoughts/ideas/recommendations on what/where to buy something?

I wanted something with a few shelves so that I can keep the calibers separate. I'd LIKE something lockable. I don't have kids now but when I do have kids, one more extra layer is nice (firearms are stored in the main house).

I didn't want to spend more then say $200 on something if I can help it. I don't have a LOT of ammo maybe a few thousand rounds of each caliber (3-5k that is)
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Negative on 50 cans. Use 30s when you can. Easier to move.

As far as locking up cans in a bike cable? What does that accomplish? The can might stay but it can be opened.

If you drill through the can to install a lock on the face you comprise the seal of the can. Might as well put in Tupperware at that point.

Not that I get all anal about packing rounds.

 
#3 ·
That's not a terrible idea. I have shelves down there now which I can use (the plastic ones from Home Depot, which can carry SOME weight). Might work for now until we have kids, and even then, we're about 5 years out really till I have to worry about a kid being old enough to get down there (you can't access basement from inside the house)
 
#8 ·
Uncle Paul
1) Have you seen these very simple locks for $8 that don't require drilling but just use leverage?
2) By wiring the cans to the shelf you make it very hard to remove as they don't go far, are locked, and the shelf will hold 10 loaded 50 cal cans. The sheer weight and clumsiness of being cabled to he shelf and to each our will prevent any kid from opening it without some serious tools.
3) I use 30 cal cans for my loose bulk rounds and garand but 50 cal for all my boxed Ammo of other calibers. Yes they are heavy but my 15yr old can lift them and it jus take too many 30s especially since it's just storage.
 
#9 ·
1. No I have not. But when you say leverage it makes me wonder. I would like to see what you are talking about.

2. I am not that worried about a random thief taking that much time and effort into stealing ammo. When I store ammo it is about the life of the ammo. I'm more concerned about a thief taking lighter easier to fence or sell stuff more so than a lead based product.

3. As I get older, I think a bit more and although a 15 year old may easily lift and carry a 50 can full of .308, I find it easier and faster to lift 2 30s.
 
#10 ·
Don't skimp on the shelving if you go that route. Slats, plastic and lower end shelves will sag under the weight of any respectable amounts of ammo. Spend the few dollars up front and you will not regret it in a few months.
I use the Home Depot heavy steel racks w wood shelves. I have kindorf struts under the ones w heavier loads.

Buy once, cry once
 
#11 ·
External entrance, but it's pretty comfortable downstairs. We converted the old interior stairwell entrance into a bathroom, so put in an outside entrance.

Anything in a can will have one of those gel packs. Any ammo stored down there will be in some container. Either an airtight ammo can or one of those target plastic bins.
 
#17 ·
Bjs had a stack on 18 gun cabinet on sale right before New Years. Picked one up for $129. Needed some space for accessories/ammo. I was checking craigslist for lockers, metal storage cabinets, things like that. There were a few good things that would have worked. Keep an eye on there and check often with multiple search words. I had just missed a double door storage cabinet in great shape for $20.
 
#20 ·
Nice set up. I too have been reorganizing storage. I have exsisting metal racks. Lowes/Home Depot. Call me crazy but was thinking of plain sight storage: Unused paint cans with desicant. Thoughts?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mad Russian
#27 · (Edited by Moderator)
Musical instrument Rectangle Gas Art Metal
Construction worksite gangbox
 

Attachments

#30 · (Edited by Moderator)
Ammo is more waterproof then you might imagine. My dad had ammo in his garage for 20+ years in a 5 gallon bucket with no lid. It was exposed to dramatic temperature changes since the garage was not heated or cooled, and it all shot flawlessly. The only problem was that the cases were a little tarnished. I use 30 cal cans to put my reloads into and they work great.
 
#32 ·
I bought a metal locking gun "cabinet" from an LIF member a few years ago. Lined it with plywood covered in the same stuff thats inside my gun safe. Added a couple of shelves. All my BS supplies go on the shelves, ammo is in .50 cans stacked up in the bottom. Key for the cabinet is locked in the safe. I raised the cabinet a few inches with a wood platform so its even with the top of the safe. Looks okay and works for me.
 
#36 · (Edited by Moderator)
2x4's, some plywood, frame up a closet, put a door with a lock (or a doorknob and 2 deadbolts, one high, one low if you're paranoid) and you're done. You get maximum space for the space you're using, you shelve it how you want it, and you only deal with one key (ammo cans with locks makes me think keychain headache)

probably most cost-effective too.

walls can be sheetrock or plywood, depending on how secure you want it.
 
#38 ·
 
  • Like
Reactions: MikeM
#42 ·
Might be helpful.

http://concealednation.org/2015/05/does-ammunition-have-a-shelf-life-lets-take-a-look/

3 Ways to Preserve and Protect Ammunition

A common question is, "does ammo have a shelf life?"

Contrary to popular belief - it does. While modern munitions are built to outlive the people who purchased them, it doesn't mean that upper limit can't be reached. In this article, we'll talk about several misconceptions about modern ammunition shelf life and recommend ways to improve it.

Lead Degradation

For full metal jackets and bullets lined with brass, this is almost a negligible issue. For bullets with exposed lead, there is some risk associated with lead being exposed to oxygen over a long period of time and then being inhaled. That period of time? A long one. While there isn't much in the way of definitive timelines set, it basically comes down to the perfect combination of:

1. Humidity

The more humid an environment the rounds are exposed to on a regular basis can help determine the available water that lead has to cling to before being evaporated into the air.

TIP 1: Wood boxes actually work wonders in terms of absorbing excess humidity. Sawdust is also a great medium to store excess rounds inside a sealed container because it absorbs ambient water vapor very well.

2. Temperature

The evaporation rate of water or just the movement of gas is all regulated, at least in part, by temperature. The hotter the temperature, the more that exposed lead will interact with air.

3. Confinement

The availability of air is a major determination in how much it can interact with the exposed lead on the bullets.

TIP 2: Kept ammo in a container with no open air access (i.e. an ammo can, sealed container, etc.). This greatly reduces the effects of the previous two factors mentioned.


Primer Shelf Life for Ammunition

In comparison to the olden days where black powder was used as the primary propellant for the shell, modern day ammunition is produced with smokeless powder primers. These primers - when not exposed to ammonia or corrosive agents - can effectively last for quite some time.

NOTE: A general definition of modern ammunition is any ammunition produced with smokeless powder after the 1930s. So, those old Soviet-era 7.62x54R rounds are probably still good if they're in a sealed container.

The specific chemical composition of smokeless powder may vary depending on the manufacturer but generally it will always include nitroglycerine (primary charge for TNT) and nitrocellulose.

The best way to keep munition primers viable is to either pack the rounds in sawdust or simply follow good ammunition storing procedures. We've included those below for convenience.

"How do I know when my ammunition primers are no good anymore?"

A big sign - a bad sign - is when you see either a violet or scarlet colored gas coming from the canister. The primers have corroded to the point where the nitrogen-based compounds are exposed to the air and have begun to degrade. That means they're no good. And those fumes? Certainly hazardous. But unless you're popping open an old rusty ammo can buried in a partially exposed creek bed, this shouldn't normally happen.

Ammunition Storage and Use Considerations


Will it fire?! The primers look good. The casings, on the other hand - a bit suspect.


Hopefully, we covered a range of different factors responsible for ammunition shelf life. In general, ammunition stands the best shot of being preserved for the long run if it is stored in a sealed container and kept in a cool, dark, arid environment.

TIP 3: Store ammunition in a cool, dark, arid environment.

For those stacking larger amounts of surplus ammunition for a rainy day, just remember that every time you open those canisters to do an ammo count, those rounds are exposed to air and humidity. While this won't likely be a major factor in ammo degradation, it's a consideration to ensure that ammo is promptly put back into a dark, dry, and sealed environment.
 
#44 ·
HF plastic ammo boxes, which have a padlock tab built in, are surprisingly good for what they are and on sale for $5 per right now. I don't use them for ammo since I have a lifetime supply of .50 cal cans, but I do use them for other stuff and they are a little smaller than a ,30 which make them easily portable.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top