Need ideas on storage of ammo

[ForrestLayne]

I have the ability to build wooden ammo boxes out of kiln dried wood. Will this work if I put in some dessicant? All the ammo boxes I see to buy are metal or plastic. I want to store rifle, hand gun, and shot gun ammo, several thousand rounds each for however many years. Prices are going up and availability is getting worse. I can build to fit based on package size and weight we can easily handle. Prefer to build my own if wood is OK.

Any thoughts or ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

[constituent]

best method?

in silence.

 

[ForrestLayne]

I agree - I buy 2-3 boxes each at a time and pay with cash - no check or credit card to follow - plus with my little bit of gray hair I never get carded for under 21.......haha

My wallyworld bags are busting and the cardboard boxes are full - need something better.

 

[constituent]

I agree - I buy 2-3 boxes each at a time and pay with cash - no check or credit card to follow - plus with my little bit of gray hair I never get carded for under 21.......haha

My wallyworld bags are busting and the cardboard boxes are full - need something better.

a lady in my hometown not too long ago found an arsenal her father had been storing since he came home from WWII.


everything live (what, sixty years later), wooden boxes filled with straw. make of that what you will

 

[Deborah K]

Ours are in metal boxes. What's wrong with metal boxes?

 

[ForrestLayne]

Ours are in metal boxes. What's wrong with metal boxes?

Nothing except you have to buy them - I'm cheap - I can also build to suit what I want to store. I just don't know if wood will keep the moisture out of the ammo or not. Metal boxes are best esp. if you put in a tube of dessicant and they have a rubber seal. Shot gun shells are large so it will take many boxes for storage.

I'd rather buy ammo than boxes.

 

[Deborah K]

Nothing except you have to buy them - I'm cheap - I can also build to suit what I want to store. I just don't know if wood will keep the moisture out of the ammo or not. Metal boxes are best esp. if you put in a tube of dessicant and they have a rubber seal. Shot gun shells are large so it will take many boxes for storage.

I'd rather buy ammo than boxes.

Gotcha. Well, we buy our ammo at the gun show when it comes to town and we always buy so much that they throw the boxes in for free.

 

[ForrestLayne]

Gotcha. Well, we buy our ammo at the gun show when it comes to town and we always buy so much that they throw the boxes in for free.

how much do you have to buy to get free boxes?

 

[Deborah K]

Well, it all depends on the size of the ammo. The boxes hold any where from 250-500 rounds. At the gun show, they just sell you the full boxes. We have several weapons so it just depends. I recommend you save your money up for when the gun show hits your area and do it that way. Buying piece meal, is way more expensive in the long run.

 

[Semper Vigilans]

If you're storing inside a home, do you still need a water-resistant container?

Just curious, as I have about 300 rounds of .45 ACP and 325 rounds of .22LR just sitting on a shelf.

 

[Chosen]

I think it will work fine.

I like to use the rubbermaid tupperware large containers-the heavy duty ones-for casual storage, as well as standard ammo cans.

If you need to bury an item or ammo, use pvc with twist on end caps. If it is a weapon spray it with clp and place some silica gel packs inside. If it is ammo the silica will do just fine.

 

[JohnMeridith]

ammo cans are the way to go. easy to move and are very durable. Just find a good deal on them and buy them

 

[ghengis86]

ammo cans are the way to go. easy to move and are very durable. Just find a good deal on them and buy them

surplus military cans are dirt cheap at gun shows and stores (couple bucks each). even cabela's has some hard plastic, water proof boxes for $10.

 

[JohnMeridith]

surplus military cans are dirt cheap at gun shows and stores (couple bucks each). even cabela's has some hard plastic, water proof boxes for $10.

if the cabela's ones are the old ones from last year they good. the new ones suck.

 

[Doktor_Jeep]

Store the ammo in your magazines.

 

[Texan4Life]

I have the ability to build wooden ammo boxes out of kiln dried wood. Will this work if I put in some dessicant? All the ammo boxes I see to buy are metal or plastic. I want to store rifle, hand gun, and shot gun ammo, several thousand rounds each for however many years. Prices are going up and availability is getting worse. I can build to fit based on package size and weight we can easily handle. Prefer to build my own if wood is OK.

Any thoughts or ideas are greatly appreciated.

IMO, the very best is in ammo cans with a pack of desiccant... but if u dont want to go that route...

Definitely use desiccant, moisture is ammo's worst nightmare. How air tight are your wooden crates? If it were me storing in crates, I would put the ammo in some sort of plastic bag with a pack of desiccant and then into the crate.

Just remember that the more air tight you can get your storage container the longer the desiccant pack will last.

 

[ForrestLayne]

IMO, the very best is in ammo cans with a pack of desiccant... but if u dont want to go that route...

Definitely use desiccant, moisture is ammo's worst nightmare. How air tight are your wooden crates? If it were me storing in crates, I would put the ammo in some sort of plastic bag with a pack of desiccant and then into the crate.

Just remember that the more air tight you can get your storage container the longer the desiccant pack will last.

I can build the as tight as I want - even caulk the edges

The plastic storage bags are a great idea - they make those up in the many sizes.

Never thought of that
Thanks a lot - big help with what I already have

And thanks to those who told me about buying ammo at shows with free cans - going to check that out, too for future stockpiling.

 

[B964]

Store the ammo in your magazines.

That's where most of mine is. In mags packed ammo cans with desiccant.
Wooden crates are good for holding the ammo cans. Not for storage but to be able to move/transport ammo effectively. Try carrying 4 full cans seperate from your house to truck, then try it with 4 cans in a crate with handles. Wood will never be air or water proof.

Well heck heres a picture of protype crate. I found I can carry four not just three. Notice the cans can be opened while in the crate.

And while you are at it, why not a crate to carry several rifles and ammo to the range.(a two person job)

 

[Pericles]

That has to be really heavy - 2 full 5.56 cans weigh about 65 pounds in the crate....

Do it the way the military does it - they have had practice in making sure ammo is transported anywhere in the world and works when it gets there.