Proper Storage Techniques For Ammo
If you have recently gotten into shooting and now you want to start stocking up on ammunition for your firearms, it means some careful planning and proper storage. Before you start investing in any ammunition beyond what you'll shoot in the immediate future, you need to make sure that you are prepared. Here are some of the tips that you will need to know to ensure proper ammunition storage for the longest possible shelf life.
Keep Your Storage Area Cool
Wherever you choose to store your ammunition needs to be somewhere that is cool and stays consistent in temperature. Avoid anywhere that is cold, though. You want to aim for somewhere that stays above freezing but doesn't get above room temperature.
This is an important consideration because if you store your ammo anywhere that gets too cold, the ammunition could freeze. As the temperature warms up again, it will create moisture. Moisture can destroy the ammunition, and it will not fire properly afterward.
Storing your ammunition anywhere hot invites humidity as well. Often, with heat comes humidity. And, if the ammunition is cooler than the air temperature when it warms up, you will also have a perfect environment for condensation and moisture to damage your ammunition.
While ammunition stored in differing temperatures won't suffer damage immediately, several years of this type of climate can be damaging. Basement storage areas often offer more consistent temperatures than attics or other above-ground storage spaces.
Avoid Damp Storage Spaces
No matter where you choose to store your ammunition, it needs to be somewhere dry. This is crucial because storing it in a moist, damp area will cause the bullets to rust. While small amounts of surface rust are easy enough to get rid of through sanding, allowing the ammunition to rust much more than that will affect the ability to fire the ammo and will also hinder its accuracy.
Aim for a climate-controlled environment with a dehumidifier. This ensures that you won't have any dampness to worry about. This is the biggest reason why you may not want to store your ammunition in the basement. Basements tend to hold moisture. If you are going to store your ammunition in a basement, store it in a sealed container that won't allow moisture inside.
Another great way to combat moisture, and a good safety measure even for sealed containers, is to add packets of silica gel to the container. The silica gel will absorb any and all moisture from the air, keeping your ammunition dry and preventing any kind of corrosion or rust.
Opt For Darkness Over Light
The other ideal feature of the perfect ammunition storage space is one that has no exposure to light. The ultraviolet rays of natural light will cause your ammunition to break down, just as it does with paint, furniture, and carpeting. Storing your ammunition in appropriate ammo containers will help to combat this because the ammo containers will block the sun, but you can take it a step further by storing those containers in a closet, a safe, or another dark environment.
Stay Organized
As you pack up your ammunition for storage, you need to prioritize organization. You might think that you'll remember exactly what you put into each container. Unfortunately, that isn't the way that it usually works out. You can avoid the risk of forgetfulness by labeling each of your ammunition containers with the type of ammunition, how many rounds, and what date you've put it into storage. That way, you will know without a doubt what is in there even if it is years before you get back into it.
For more information, get in touch with an ammo shop such as Wilcox Bait & Tackle.