What is a good spot to store ammunition?

When choosing an ammo storage location, shoot for dark, dry and cool — not cold. A closet inside a home is ideal. I would, however, avoid extremes such as basement storage or storing ammo in the attic. Normal fluctuations in household temperatures are OK.

Which of the following would be a good spot to store your ammunition?

It is highly recommended that you don't store your ammo in damp basements, on or in the ground, or anywhere on the floor. The best place to store your ammunition is in an air-tight, water-tight ammo container. Just remember that when it comes to storing your ammo the drier the environment the better.

Can you store ammunition in a garage?

The garage can be the perfect place to store you ammo, if it is a cool, dry & cool environment. Storing in a safe will provide additional protection, some even include dehumidifiers.

Can ammo be stored in a hot place?

Ammunition Can Be Damaged in a Hot Car

Once temperatures reach around 150 degrees, which is about the temperature in a car's trunk during summer, although unlikely, the propellant in your ammo can be damaged. This could keep ammo from igniting properly when you fire the gun.

Does cold weather affect ammunition?

When the Winter months hit, the last thing you want to do is expose your ammo to freezing cold temperatures. Doing this can result in altering the ballistics or your ammunition and could lead to some inaccurate shooting when the bullets are used again in the Spring.

What's the RIGHT Way to Store Ammo?!

Is it OK to keep magazines loaded?

When using quality magazines with quality ammunition, stored and maintained properly, you can leave them loaded as long as you want to without any reservation.

At what temperature will a bullet explode?

A bullet will melt if it is exposed to a thousand degrees fahrenheit. The primer will pop when a loaded cartridge is exposed to a few hundred degrees. There are Cartridges that don't explode.

Does temperature affect ammunition?

If a propellant is at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (F) and then heated to 120 degrees F, the rate that it initially starts burning will be faster at 120 degrees than it was at 70. If the propellant is loaded in ammunition, the increase in burn rate will cause higher pressure and velocity at 120 degrees than at 70 degrees.

Can I store ammo in my attic?

In addition to staying away from moisture, avoid storing your ammunition is area with high humidity. This includes older damp basements, sheds, and attics. Storing your ammo in a climate controlled area will help your rounds stay dry. Also aim to keep your storage off of the floor.

How long can ammunition last?

Ammunition isn't a perishable good - if stored correctly, it can last almost indefinitely. Whether it was stored correctly or not is another matter. Ammunition isn't like the still-edible 5000-year-old honey found in Egyptian tombs; ready to eat and spread on toast.

Can I store ammo in my basement?

Keep it Cool & Dark

The basement, with a dehumidifier, is the perfect choice for ammunition to be stored as it is generally cool and stable in temperature. A dehumidifier unit will continuously pull moisture out of a damp basement. Ammo should not be placed on the floor of the basement but elevated on a shelf.

Can stored ammo explode?

“When a fire comes through and when that ammunition gets super heated to ignite, if it's stored in a steel container, that can create quite an explosion within the steel container.” And the the container itself can become dangerous bits of shrapnel, in addition to the bullets and casings.

Is it okay to store ammo loose?

Generally, loose ammo is pretty safe, because the primer has to be directly struck with a decent amount of force, and when it happens, they are not very dangerous. Because of this, you won't need to worry about your ammo going off when stored correctly in a cool, dry place, away from any fire hazards.

Can ammo ever spoil?

Ammunition doesn't “expire” per se, but the gunpowder looses potency over time. The largest risk to shooting old ammunition isn't a failure to fire, it's the risk that you will actually fire the shot and it doesn't have enough momentum to make it out the barrel.

Can I bring ammo across state lines?

Private Vehicle Travel

You can legally transport firearms across state lines as long as: You can lawfully possess firearms in your state of origin. You can lawfully possess firearms at your destination. The firearm and ammunition must be stored out of reach (not in the glove compartment or center console).

Do bullets explode in a house fire?

Let's consider this scenario: Ammunition/bullets are located in a box in a nightstand during a house fire. The bullet, when heated, will explode, and pieces of the casing—often referred to as shrapnel—will scatter in all directions.

Can you store ammo in a wood box?

Wooden ammo boxes are the most common option for storing and transporting small-caliber ammunition because they offer many different options and benefits. Wooden ammo boxes are usually made from the highest quality wood available, making them durable enough to carry heavier rounds (such as 12ga slugs).

Can ammo fire if dropped?

Likelihood of a Cartridge Going Off

When this happens, the bullet will land in a way that prevents the impact from being sufficiently forceful to cause the bullet to fire. Significant impact to the primer would be needed to cause it to discharge. This is extremely unlikely to happen from it simply being dropped.

How often should guns be cleaned?

As a general rule, it's a good idea to clean your gun after every trip to the shooting range. Defensive firearms that don't get used very frequently should also be cleaned on occasion. Try to give them a deep clean and inspection about once a month.

Can you vacuum seal ammunition?

Does Vacuum Sealing Ammo Work? Vacuum sealing ammo works. Notably, the absence of air, moisture, and oxygen from the container prevents oxidation and condensation. Without any air for bacteria growth, your ammunition should last longer than if you stored it in a non-airtight container.

At what temp does gunpowder ignite?

Black powder has an ignition temperature of approximately 500 °F and is federally regulated as a Class A Explosive.

Why is there a shortage of Barnes Bullets?

The scarcity of ammunition is the result of a perfect storm that initially formed during the first quarter of 2020 as the effects of a worldwide pandemic took hold. In one fell swoop, the COVID-19 outbreak and the restrictions that came with it put the brakes on a roaring US economy.

What is hot ammunition?

A load is “hot” when the velocity/energy are at the upper end of that particular cartridges performance potential. For example, . 45 ACP can run anywhere from 350-600 ft/lbs of muzzle energy, with the average being around 400 ft/lbs. So when a load is in the 500-600 ft/lb arena, it is considered hot.

How much ammo should I carry?

If you carry a mag-fed pistol — concealed or open —I'd say the minimum is two magazines. Full. Your mag may hold just seven rounds.