"FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS": THE RIGHT WAYS TO STORE AMMUNITION
A recent Gallup poll reported that 47% of households in the United States have a firearm of some kind. Whether for self-defense, target shooting, or hunting, firearms have been part of our country's fabric from the beginning.
With this in mind we consider, Is there a proper method to storing ammunition? Does the effectiveness of ammo decrease with age? Is there a difference between short-term and long-term storage for ammunition? If it's over a certain age should it be discarded or is it still all right to shoot? And if it is, how can I tell?
Regardless of the tool we are using, we want it to work when called upon. This is especially true with ammunition. If you're hunting wild hogs you don't want to find out the round you have in the chamber is a dud when an angry boar is bearing down on you. Even more important, in the middle of a home invasion when protecting your family is paramount, you want to know the ammo you've locked and loaded will perform as expected.
Storing ammunition properly takes common sense and some attention to detail. But, thankfully, it's not complicated.
Here are some tips:
Keep your ammunition dry. The old saying from the pioneer days, "keep your powder dry" is still true today. Humidity is the biggest enemy of ammunition. Exposure to moisture over time will corrode the brass shell casings. This can make it unsafe to fire.
People living in dry climates like Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas don't have to worry as much but gun owners in these states should still keep moisture at bay when it comes to their ammunition. If your house is climate controlled then the cardboard box of ammo you purchased should be fine for a couple years. Just use common sense and keep it in a cool dry place.
For storing ammo over long periods of time, more attention must be paid to eliminating moisture and humidity. If you're buying ammo in bulk, buy the sardine can boxes that are vacuum-sealed. As long as you don't open them, they will remain air-tight indefinitely.
The next best option is to purchase metal ammo boxes with rubber seals. These will latch down tight and the rubber seal will help prevent any moisture from entering the box. However, to take care of whatever humidity exists in the box when you close it, add several packets of desiccant. These are sealed packets, typically consisting of silica gel or activated charcoal. They are inexpensive and will take care of the moisture. Keep in mind that each time you open the can you've allowed new humidity to enter. It's a good idea to put fresh desiccant packets in each time you open the can.
Properly stored, ammunition can remain fresh for a very long time. Some of the ammunition that was used in Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991 was manufactured in 1967. As a practical matter, one should mark their ammunition boxes as to the date of purchase. If using the larger metal ammo boxes, put a piece of tape on the top and side. With a marker write down the contents of the box and the date the ammo was purchased. For example: "200 Rounds.9mm Hollow Point - March 2012".
When shooting, make it a practice to use your oldest ammo first. Shoot the rounds you bought in 2005 before you shoot the rounds you bought in 2009. It's a simple way to rotate your ammo, keeping your supply fresh.
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