[Paddyd]

So get this.
Just for conversation sake.
A good friend of mine had to move and gave me all of his reloading stuff from the 1970s.
He hasn't shot since about 1980.
I got a few thousand primers in their factory non sealed packaging. These primers spent over 30 years in a Virginia attic. We have four seasons here, and they change like a rollercoaster. Would you believe that every primer worked flawlessly? Doesn't make any sense to me, but its absolutely a fact.
I still stick to metal ammo cans as I stated above, and in a controlled environment. Although this ammo we all store so cautiously may be more resilient than we give it credit for. I'm not going to find out by testing the limits of ammo I spent my hard earned money on though.

Primers can be exposed to massive humidity, dried and will go off just fine. When made, the primer compound is mixed with water and squeegeed into the cups. The compound is inert when wet, but once dry they are active. I still store mine in ziplock bags to try and maintain a constant level of humidity to keep the SDs consistant.

 

[aztarget]

My ammo cans don't have ammo... View attachment 314028

Those look like 20mm cans?

Sent from my 9029Z using Tapatalk

 

[711b]

For all other misc. shotgun/centerfire ammo I use heavy duty plastic tool boxes w/trays and sealed lids picked up on sale at various places.

I use plastic containers for ALL my ammunition, and have for decades -- I mean things like plastic shoe boxes, and bins of various sorts. They seal fine for moisture, and I've never had a problem with any ammo, including contemporary ammo such as .22LR, 5.56, 6.5 Swedish Mauser, Swiss 7.5mm, 7.62x39, shotgun shells, WWII 30-06 ammo in belts(!), etc. This is all stored in a corner utility room that includes our massive whole house water filter. Yet NO problems of moisture or corrosion over about 35 years now.

My multiple pounds of black powder and percussion caps -- both true black and a couple canisters of Pyrodex -- are stored in a large plastic toolbox under a bench in the garage.

I agree that there's a certain historical/romantic appeal of the old steel GI ammo cans, but for storing ammo in your home/barn/shed/whatever environment, I don't see an advantage there.

 

[SnakePleskin]

I just took my 25K rounds out of the .50 cal military ammo boxes they are stored in. I throw some desiccant in each box, then seal them the normal way. I opened them last week after three years in the garage. Each can I had to break the air seal with a screwdriver, you could hear the suction! The ammo was in prefect pristine condition. Each can holds between 3500-4000 rounds depending on size of brick or individua boxes! I love the .50 cal ammo boxes!

 

[mrnoitall]

I just ran across these 0.50 Caliber Ammo Box for $7.99 limit 4 w/coupon on the website regular $9.99 but the sale ends tomorrow, may pick up 4.

Those are plastic not near as good as the metal GI boxes !!

 

[mrnoitall]

I use plastic containers for ALL my ammunition, and have for decades -- I mean things like plastic shoe boxes, and bins of various sorts. They seal fine for moisture, and I've never had a problem with any ammo, including contemporary ammo such as .22LR, 5.56, 6.5 Swedish Mauser, Swiss 7.5mm, 7.62x39, shotgun shells, WWII 30-06 ammo in belts(!), etc. This is all stored in a corner utility room that includes our massive whole house water filter. Yet NO problems of moisture or corrosion over about 35 years now.

My multiple pounds of black powder and percussion caps -- both true black and a couple canisters of Pyrodex -- are stored in a large plastic toolbox under a bench in the garage.

I agree that there's a certain historical/romantic appeal of the old steel GI ammo cans, but for storing ammo in your home/barn/shed/whatever environment, I don't see an advantage there.

If you ever have a fire you will see the advantage of having steel boxes over plastic !!

 

[Beastly]

If you ever have a fire you will see the advantage of having steel boxes over plastic !!

That's MY main reason for using the steel cans! Can withstand a bit more heat that plastic however, if it gets hot enough, all bets are off

 

[711b]

Can withstand a bit more heat that plastic however, if it gets hot enough, all bets are off

Yeah, I'm not convinced that in practical situations it would often make much difference. Plus there are drawbacks to storing such materials in metal containers that have their lids or doors clamped closed. If you want to see some of those issues in more detail, take a look some time at the BATF regulations for storing black powder -- and all the disputes about whether and to what degree those apply to individual owners/users or only to commercial sellers. But in any event, each of us has to make that choice for himself.

 

[JB01]

I se 30 cal GI metal "cans' with intact seals and desiccant in each "can."

 

[1Rudedawg]

Those are plastic not near as good as the metal GI boxes !!

Hum, now you got me to wondering and fretting over why ammo is shipped in plastic trays rather than metal......

 

[1Rudedawg]

I use ammo cans from Cabela's. They are larger than 50 caliber cans. And they are pretty heavy when full. But they are plenty sturdy and work out pretty well for where I store ammunition.

I just stumbled across an old invoice from Cabela's where I bought mine and at the time they were $8.99 each, should've bought more

 

[moofy07]

I use ex military 30 cal ammo boxes for my bulk centerfire ammo and for my BULK rimfire ammo I use an aluminium,
truck box with a rubber seal.

 

[1Rudedawg]

I use plastic containers for ALL my ammunition, and have for decades -- I mean things like plastic shoe boxes, and bins of various sorts.......

I started to go to HF yesterday and pick up some 50 cal. cans on sale but was in $Genl. and picked up 2 snap lid sealed storage containers for less than half the price which held all the bricks of Federal AM & CCI SV with some silica packs. They have a larger one and I'll measure to see if the 19 bricks of Norma Tac22 will fit in it.

 

[711b]

I've bought a lot of my plastic storage boxes from DG, but their offerings got really thin during the COVID effects. They're partly back now, but not all the way. My other primary source for those types of containers is Walmart -- which is often better than DG, depending on what size/type of container you're looking for.

 

[1Rudedawg]

I've bought a lot of my plastic storage boxes from DG, but their offerings got really thin during the COVID effects. They're partly back now, but not all the way. My other primary source for those types of containers is Walmart -- which is often better than DG, depending on what size/type of container you're looking for.

You're right and WM is where some of mine came from but the closest is a 40 mile round trip, so is HF. I only use them for the faster turn over ammo rather than long term storage, for that it's definitely the heavier duty stackable containers.

 

[SnakePleskin]

Yeah, I'm not convinced that in practical situations it would often make much difference. Plus there are drawbacks to storing such materials in metal containers that have their lids or doors clamped closed. If you want to see some of those issues in more detail, take a look some time at the BATF regulations for storing black powder -- and all the disputes about whether and to what degree those apply to individual owners/users or only to commercial sellers. But in any event, each of us has to make that choice for himself.

Using a GI .50 cal can is an excellent method for storage. They seal tight and take abuse. That is why the military used them! Its like a Russian or Eastern Block Spam can. Ammo lasts virtually forever! I bought a crate of Yugo 7.62x39 brass ammo. Sealed in tin covered blocks, two to a crate. We are talking 1970's production! Ammo was perfect! I use them for BP too , but lined them with cardboard ,Styrofoam, or rubber flex seal, to stop static etc. Works fine.

 

[Arizona22shooter]

If you ever have a fire you will see the advantage of having steel boxes over plastic !!

If the fire is hot enough to melt plastic that the ammunition boxes are made out of. It's hot enough to set the ammunition off.

 

[SirMilo]

I use these for long term storage and smaller ones for carrying to the range. They can get extremely heavy when full but at least it has handles on both ends. This can is one of my more empty ones (easier to move) and barely fits on a full sized desk chair for size reference.