Long term Ammo Storage

DPWLHR01

Does anyone have experience storing ammo long term (like 10+ years)?

For example: Storing ammo in a stable environment (low temp, low humidity, low light)… but not in truly sealed containers (like mil spec ammo tins sealed from factory, example: Russian Cold War era ammo cans that still can be opened and shot). Rather, just placing the individual ammo boxes in a plastic or metal ammo can. I suspect this is how most people store ammo. but it’s unclear to me how long ammo can last like this without degrading.

I want to avoid making a large ammo purchase that later becomes useless.

BobJudy

I've got some ammo, both rimfire and center fire that is up to 40 years old that has never shown signs of degrading. Most is stored in the original boxes in wooden cabinets in my dry basement that stays between 65 and 75 degrees year round. If you have similar conditions, I wouldn't worry about it. The enemy of ammo is high temperatures and to some extent moisture. Today's ammo goes a long way towards being moisture proof but it isn't perfect. Bob

navc130

AS BJ stated above an easy 50+ years when stored properly. I had some 12 ga. shotgun ammo from my grandfather -paper shells. About half were misfiring. I replaced the primers and they shot fine. Those shell were from the 40's or earlier. I bought and shot old ammo for 30+ years and only remember one problem. That was some old 8mm military ammo that had green corrosion on it. It misfired 75% of the time and I gave up on it.

TANK78Z

I had purchased two cases of 12 ga. Remington slug shells and have stored them in an ammo can since 1980, temps have varied from a low of 50* to a high of close to 100* for short periods of time, but 98 % of the time between 60*and 80*. I have opened the ammo cans at least once a year to retrieve a box for hunting season or to return one that was never used or loose extra rounds left over from the hunt. they have never failed to fire and have not lost any punch at all. I also have a few of thousand 1971/72/73/and 74 dated military 5.56 purchased before 1980 and shoot a few stripper clips of it every year, it is stored the same as the 12 ga. and these rounds have also functioned as new every year,

So if quality ammo is stored properly, or close to perfectly you most likely will be good to go for a long time, I have other assorted ammo stored for as long in small quantities and all are in ammo cans so humidity has no effect on it,

pulsarnc

I have ammo from the 60s and 70s I still shoot in occasion. Stored in a garage that is not heated / cooled . Mostly stored in original packaging. No problems .

yoshmyster

I store my ammo in ammo cans from 50 cal. to those if you fill it you better poop before trying to move them cans 30mm/40mm?

Recently like this month I started hearing "popping" like cans flexing behind me (yes I keep my ammo behind my Lazyboy). The temp in my condo is about 60 - 80 mostly it's mid-60s to low 70s most of the time.

I don't open the cans since I'm hoarding my stack.

waltermoe

I store my ammo in old military ammo cans. I store my powder for reloading in ammo cans as well. The ammo I store is reloads and factory ammunition. Now if you’re storing military ammunition it is sort of self sealed it self you might say. Military ammunition has an asphalt sell put in the neck of the case and a seller around the primer pocket to protect it from moisture for long time storage and moister when in the field. The most detrimental thing to ammunition is extreme temperature changes over time.

Mobuck

Use sealed cans/containers and keep the temp moderate and even. Prevent fluctuation of temp as much as possible. I use old, non-working freezers or refrigerators in a remote building. In winter, I use gun safe dehumidifiers to moderate the cold and in summer the building is shaded and has ventilation.

I'm currently loading primers and powder purchased prior to 2010.

utbrowningman

Shot a few paper shotgun shells from my grandfather's shotgun (both were his) just because. Divided up time between Washington and Utah sitting in the original box and it went bang.