Ammo Storage Tips: A Guide to Protecting Your Stockpile

By James Barton •  Updated: 04/06/18 •  3 min read

Unlike food, ammunition has a very long shelf life. We’re talking about decades and years here; however, their long shelf life can be compromised due to wrong ammo storage. There are a lot of consequences when they are stored incorrectly like weak cartridges and deterioration of charge. Also, ammunition is not cheap so you don’t want your money going to waste. So here’s a guide on how to protect your ammo stockpile.

Ammo Storage: How to Store Them Correctly

Store them in a cool, dark place.

Heat can cause your ammunition to be defective which is why it is important to store them away from the heat and sun. Although corrosion does not happen overnight, getting them constantly exposed to heat degrades the performance of your ammunition. The best way to store them is in vacuum sealed plastic bags then, store them in ammunition boxes with a rubber seal.

Gun Safe Silica
Consider silica when storing ammunition

 Keep the moisture away.

Aside from the heat, moisture or humidity is an enemy of ammunition. A damp environment can also cause powder damage and corrosion. Storing them in vacuum sealed bags will keep the moisture away. Silica gel packs can also be put inside your ammo box because they help absorb moisture. In addition, putting a dehumidifier in your place of storage is a good idea.

 Label them and use the oldest ones first.

Before storing a set of ammunition, make sure you take note of the date it was bought so you can keep track of their shelf life. Also, store them according to their age—put the newest ones at the back and the older ones in the front. And when you are going to use them already, make sure to use your older purchases first.

Check them occasionally.

If you are don’t use your ammunition regularly, you may need to check your stockpile once in a while for corrosion. This is important so you can make sure that your ammunition will work when you need them.

Consider getting a gun safe.

If you don’t have one yet, you might want to consider getting a gun safe for your guns and your ammo. A gun safe is a perfect place for ammo storage because it will protect them from moisture and extreme heat. A gun safe will also keep your ammunition away from pets and children.

The basement is not the best place for storage.

The least ideal place is your basement because when a flood happens, the first place that gets wet is the basement. So, unless you have a good flood control in your home, keep your stockpile away from your basement.

Final Words

Making sure that your ammunition works all time is pretty simple. It does not require a lot of work to stay organized actually, but it’s very easy to mess it up. Keep in mind that all you need to do is to store them in a cool, dark and dry place so that they could last for a very long time. Finally, a part of being a responsible gun owner is making sure that your ammunition is protected.

James Barton

James Barton

Hi, I'm James. I am the founder and main editor for The Survival Corps. I have been a part of the survival and prepping community since my mid 30's as I downsized and started to prepare to be self sufficient in a time of crisis.