Ballistic Magazine
  • Guns
    • All
    • Class III & More
    • Handguns
    • Rifles
    The New Original Henry Rifle.

    New Original Henry Rifle Kicks Off Cody Firearms Museum Collectors Series

    The compact 1895 Trapper should be a favorite with hunters.

    Marlin 1895 Trapper: The Iconic Lever-Gun in .45-70 Returns!

    The new Davidson's Dark Earth Cerakote Diamondback DBX brings upgrades.

    Davidson’s Launches Dark Earth Cerakote Diamondback DBX

    The Terminator Rifle build pays homage to a classic.

    This ’40w Plasma’ Terminator Rifle Build is Ready to Take on Skynet!

    The Winchester 88, introduced in 1955, was handsomely embellished with a hand-checkered diamond pattern stock and forend. The first models were chambered in .308 Winchester, the caliber in which most Model 88s are found today.

    Winchester Model 88: Rare, Valuable & Still Used in the Deer Woods

    We tested 12 compact and micro compact pistols to determine the best carry gun.

    Best Concealed Carry Pistols 2022: Compacts & Micros Dominate

    The Walther PDP F-Series was designed for women.

    VIDEO: The Walther PDP F-Series Completely Redefines ‘Women’s Gun’

    The Big Horn Armory AR500 Starter Kit includes 100 rounds of ammo.

    Big Horn Armory’s AR500 Starter Kit Brings Big-Bore Hunting Power

    Shooting the Mossberg MC2sc.

    Concealed Carry Powerhouse: The Mossberg MC2sc Delivers

  • Gear
    • All
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Knives
    • Suppressors
    Federal Ammunition: The First Hundred Years celebrates the company anniversary.

    Federal Ammunition Celebrates 100 Years With Coffee Table Book

    300 Blackout vs 308, rifles, ammunition

    300 Blackout vs 308 Win: Which Round Reigns Supreme in AR-15s?

    The Big Horn Armory AR500 Starter Kit includes 100 rounds of ammo.

    Big Horn Armory’s AR500 Starter Kit Brings Big-Bore Hunting Power

    The Wicked Ridge Raider 400 is perfect for spring turkey season.

    Get on Turkeys Quietly With the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 Crossbow

    The Riflespeed Gas Control System gives user-control in the field.

    Riflespeed Gas Control System: Is This the Ultimate Recoil Management?

    The Vaultek Lifepod features a biometric lock.

    Vaultek LifePod XT Series: Keep Your Gear Safe & Secure in Any Weather

    The new Garmin Tactix 7 Series comes loaded with features.

    Garmin Tactix 7 Series: is this the Ultimate Smart Watch for Outdoorsmen?

    The author found the Walker Defense NERO extremely effective.

    VIDEO: The Walker Defense NERO Muzzle Brake Tames Beastly Recoil

    Trijicon REAP IR 60mm mini thermal riflescope, shooting bench, review

    Where Does the $9K Trijicon REAP IR 60mm Rank Amongst Riflescopes?

  • News
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Culture
    • People
    • Podcasts
    • Rides
    • Survival
    • Tactics & Training
    A man open carries in a Walmart store.

    Mr. Manners: Let’s Have an Open Discussion on Open Carry

    Shit in the Woods, Wilderness pooping, toilet paper

    How to Poop in the Woods

    FUBeAR goes long-range in the April-May 2022 issue of Ballistic Magazine.

    Ballistic Magazine Mascot FUBeAR Goes Long-Range in April-May Issue

    Federal Ammunition: The First Hundred Years celebrates the company anniversary.

    Federal Ammunition Celebrates 100 Years With Coffee Table Book

    Follow these tips to catch more fish.

    Fish On: Use These Simple Lessons to Catch More Fish!

    Cross-Eye Dominant Shooting, pistol

    The Guide to Cross-Eye Dominant Shooting

    This turkey porn video should bring all the hunters to the yard.

    Extra, Extra … Get Your Hot, Wild Turkey Porn Here!?!

    Place rocks around your survival campfire.

    50 Survival Tips and Tricks for the Outdoors

    New video evidence suggests Alec Baldwin lied about pulling the trigger in fatal Rust shooting.

    Video Shows Alec Baldwin Held Finger on Trigger Before Fatal Shooting

  • Videos
    The Terminator Rifle build pays homage to a classic.

    This ’40w Plasma’ Terminator Rifle Build is Ready to Take on Skynet!

    This turkey porn video should bring all the hunters to the yard.

    Extra, Extra … Get Your Hot, Wild Turkey Porn Here!?!

    The Walther PDP F-Series was designed for women.

    VIDEO: The Walther PDP F-Series Completely Redefines ‘Women’s Gun’

    New video evidence suggests Alec Baldwin lied about pulling the trigger in fatal Rust shooting.

    Video Shows Alec Baldwin Held Finger on Trigger Before Fatal Shooting

    The Wicked Ridge Raider 400 is perfect for spring turkey season.

    Get on Turkeys Quietly With the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 Crossbow

    The Riflespeed Gas Control System gives user-control in the field.

    Riflespeed Gas Control System: Is This the Ultimate Recoil Management?

    The Vaultek Lifepod features a biometric lock.

    Vaultek LifePod XT Series: Keep Your Gear Safe & Secure in Any Weather

    The new Garmin Tactix 7 Series comes loaded with features.

    Garmin Tactix 7 Series: is this the Ultimate Smart Watch for Outdoorsmen?

    YouTube channel The Collector features $1M gun collection.

    The Collector: New YouTube Channel Shows Off $1M Gun Collection

  • More
    • Sweepstakes
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Ballistic Magazine
  • Guns
    • All
    • Class III & More
    • Handguns
    • Rifles
    The New Original Henry Rifle.

    New Original Henry Rifle Kicks Off Cody Firearms Museum Collectors Series

    The compact 1895 Trapper should be a favorite with hunters.

    Marlin 1895 Trapper: The Iconic Lever-Gun in .45-70 Returns!

    The new Davidson's Dark Earth Cerakote Diamondback DBX brings upgrades.

    Davidson’s Launches Dark Earth Cerakote Diamondback DBX

    The Terminator Rifle build pays homage to a classic.

    This ’40w Plasma’ Terminator Rifle Build is Ready to Take on Skynet!

    The Winchester 88, introduced in 1955, was handsomely embellished with a hand-checkered diamond pattern stock and forend. The first models were chambered in .308 Winchester, the caliber in which most Model 88s are found today.

    Winchester Model 88: Rare, Valuable & Still Used in the Deer Woods

    We tested 12 compact and micro compact pistols to determine the best carry gun.

    Best Concealed Carry Pistols 2022: Compacts & Micros Dominate

    The Walther PDP F-Series was designed for women.

    VIDEO: The Walther PDP F-Series Completely Redefines ‘Women’s Gun’

    The Big Horn Armory AR500 Starter Kit includes 100 rounds of ammo.

    Big Horn Armory’s AR500 Starter Kit Brings Big-Bore Hunting Power

    Shooting the Mossberg MC2sc.

    Concealed Carry Powerhouse: The Mossberg MC2sc Delivers

  • Gear
    • All
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Knives
    • Suppressors
    Federal Ammunition: The First Hundred Years celebrates the company anniversary.

    Federal Ammunition Celebrates 100 Years With Coffee Table Book

    300 Blackout vs 308, rifles, ammunition

    300 Blackout vs 308 Win: Which Round Reigns Supreme in AR-15s?

    The Big Horn Armory AR500 Starter Kit includes 100 rounds of ammo.

    Big Horn Armory’s AR500 Starter Kit Brings Big-Bore Hunting Power

    The Wicked Ridge Raider 400 is perfect for spring turkey season.

    Get on Turkeys Quietly With the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 Crossbow

    The Riflespeed Gas Control System gives user-control in the field.

    Riflespeed Gas Control System: Is This the Ultimate Recoil Management?

    The Vaultek Lifepod features a biometric lock.

    Vaultek LifePod XT Series: Keep Your Gear Safe & Secure in Any Weather

    The new Garmin Tactix 7 Series comes loaded with features.

    Garmin Tactix 7 Series: is this the Ultimate Smart Watch for Outdoorsmen?

    The author found the Walker Defense NERO extremely effective.

    VIDEO: The Walker Defense NERO Muzzle Brake Tames Beastly Recoil

    Trijicon REAP IR 60mm mini thermal riflescope, shooting bench, review

    Where Does the $9K Trijicon REAP IR 60mm Rank Amongst Riflescopes?

  • News
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Culture
    • People
    • Podcasts
    • Rides
    • Survival
    • Tactics & Training
    A man open carries in a Walmart store.

    Mr. Manners: Let’s Have an Open Discussion on Open Carry

    Shit in the Woods, Wilderness pooping, toilet paper

    How to Poop in the Woods

    FUBeAR goes long-range in the April-May 2022 issue of Ballistic Magazine.

    Ballistic Magazine Mascot FUBeAR Goes Long-Range in April-May Issue

    Federal Ammunition: The First Hundred Years celebrates the company anniversary.

    Federal Ammunition Celebrates 100 Years With Coffee Table Book

    Follow these tips to catch more fish.

    Fish On: Use These Simple Lessons to Catch More Fish!

    Cross-Eye Dominant Shooting, pistol

    The Guide to Cross-Eye Dominant Shooting

    This turkey porn video should bring all the hunters to the yard.

    Extra, Extra … Get Your Hot, Wild Turkey Porn Here!?!

    Place rocks around your survival campfire.

    50 Survival Tips and Tricks for the Outdoors

    New video evidence suggests Alec Baldwin lied about pulling the trigger in fatal Rust shooting.

    Video Shows Alec Baldwin Held Finger on Trigger Before Fatal Shooting

  • Videos
    The Terminator Rifle build pays homage to a classic.

    This ’40w Plasma’ Terminator Rifle Build is Ready to Take on Skynet!

    This turkey porn video should bring all the hunters to the yard.

    Extra, Extra … Get Your Hot, Wild Turkey Porn Here!?!

    The Walther PDP F-Series was designed for women.

    VIDEO: The Walther PDP F-Series Completely Redefines ‘Women’s Gun’

    New video evidence suggests Alec Baldwin lied about pulling the trigger in fatal Rust shooting.

    Video Shows Alec Baldwin Held Finger on Trigger Before Fatal Shooting

    The Wicked Ridge Raider 400 is perfect for spring turkey season.

    Get on Turkeys Quietly With the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 Crossbow

    The Riflespeed Gas Control System gives user-control in the field.

    Riflespeed Gas Control System: Is This the Ultimate Recoil Management?

    The Vaultek Lifepod features a biometric lock.

    Vaultek LifePod XT Series: Keep Your Gear Safe & Secure in Any Weather

    The new Garmin Tactix 7 Series comes loaded with features.

    Garmin Tactix 7 Series: is this the Ultimate Smart Watch for Outdoorsmen?

    YouTube channel The Collector features $1M gun collection.

    The Collector: New YouTube Channel Shows Off $1M Gun Collection

  • More
    • Sweepstakes
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Ballistic Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Ammo Storage: Why Long-Term Storage Is Critical for Crisis Preparedness

Dr. Martin D. Topper by Dr. Martin D. Topper
March 16, 2020
in Ammo, Gear, Lifestyle, Survival
0
Ammo Storage, Survival Ammo, long term ammo storage, Prepper
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ammo storage for survival isn’t a no-brainer. It involves more than just leaving it in a place that’s cool, dry and dark. But before you buy a waterproof container and bury it in the backyard, you need to have a good idea of what you’re preparing for and how to keep the ammo fresh after the balloon goes up.

[in_content post=”8116″ alignment=”align-left” /]

Ammo Storage for the Next Crisis

Step one in preparing for the next crisis is doing a red-team evaluation. Red-teaming is a two-step process. First, list all of your potential vulnerabilities in the place you live and how they might affect you. Then, critically ask yourself how likely each event is to occur. History is a good guide for this process, so I’ll use our household as an example.

In the 13 years that we’ve lived in a Southern city, an F2 Christmas tornado struck a couple of miles away, a tropical storm dropped 22 inches of rain in 36 hours, two high-end Category 1 hurricanes tore up trees and knocked out power, and there have been several local forest fires. No one’s ever nuked the naval base 90 miles away, there’s never been an EMP, there are no recorded major civil disruptions, and we’re not in an earthquake zone. Our house is hardened to resist a low-end Category 3 hurricane, we are well-supplied, our gear is proven, and we don’t live in a flood or storm-surge zone. On the other hand, we’re not young, and we have elderly family members who would find evacuation difficult.

Given all of that gathered info, our next local crisis is likely to be a weather-related event. Our Plan A involves keeping gear and supplies ready and inviting the relatives over to shelter in place as we’ve done in the past. Plan B is to evacuate over back roads we’ve scouted, but only in the event of a storm above a low-end Category 3 or a severe societal breakdown.

Getting the Most Bang

When choosing gear for crisis-related personal defense, guns chambered for smaller cartridges are better choices because they use ammo that’s smaller and lighter. This makes it easier to store and transport more ammo.

If you evacuate, the ready vehicle needs to have room for money, financial records, clothes, medicine, food and water for several days for each passenger. Space will be at a premium, so our preference is for lightweight high-capacity semi-auto rifles up to 7.62x39mm in caliber and 9mm or .38 Special handguns. We keep at least 250 rounds for each gun used for survival. Our kit includes at least one .22 LR firearm because it’s possible to pack a lot of .22s in a small space. And if people stop accepting money, a person can barter .22s for other needed items. Stock up on generic mil-spec ball ammunition for your centerfire guns and save money for water-resistant ammo containers, other vital gear and supplies.

Ammo Storage: Keep Your Powder Dry

There are a number of ways to store ammo and keep it fresh for a long time.

CanMunition

The first is to use “canned” ammo like CanMunition, produced by Global Ordnance. Each aluminum “soda can” of CanMunition holds 90 rounds of Fiocchi 9mm ammo or 40 rounds of Fiocchi .223 Rem and also contain an inert gas to reduce the potential for corrosion. The cans are waterproof and opaque, preventing damage to ammo by moisture and light.

MTM

Another option is using the various ammo-storage cans and crates from MTM Case-Gard. MTM makes lockable, heavy-duty polypropylene crates in a wide variety of sizes. These all have O-ring seals that are tightly held in channels that assure the seals stay in place. They also have strong hinges and heavy-duty clamps to be sure that the upper and lower portions of the can retain a tight seal. Because of this, they offer good protection against moisture and light along with limited protection against heat. So, keep them indoors out of direct sunlight in humidity-controlled rooms that are below 85 degrees Fahrenheit. There are other polymer cases on the market, but many of them don’t have heavy-duty construction. MTM also sells a specialized survival ammo can (SAC) for in-ground storage.

GI

Lastly, there’s the good old GI ammo can. The good news is that these cans are designed to be air- and watertight, and they’re made of strong materials. The bad news is that they’re heavy and they’re mostly available as surplus items. Surplus cans can be rusty, bent out of shape or have rubber seals that are deteriorated or missing. When buying GI cans, look them over closely to check that their sides are straight, their hinges and rubber seals are intact and that they remain closed when the latch is in the down position.

We use all three types of containers, labeling our ammo by caliber and storing it in an air-conditioned, humidity-controlled, windowless interior room.

Keep It Fresh

Ammo stored for survival purposes may wind up being stored for years. With that in mind, it’s important to periodically shoot up old ammo and replace it with new stock; that’s because gunpowder and primers degrade over time. All gunpowder contains nitrocellulose, which generates nitric acid as it ages. This acid can corrode cases, damage primers and destabilize gunpowder. For this reason, all gunpowders contain a small amount of stabilizer that neutralizes nitric acid. As time goes by, the stabilizer is used up and the acid becomes more likely to seriously degrade the ammo. Gunpowder also contains retardants that control the powder’s rate of burn, and these can also degrade with time.

This whole process speeds up if you store ammo in rooms with high temperatures, moist conditions or high levels of ambient light. Temperature is the worst offender, but moisture can be a close second. It seeps into cartridges at the case mouth and around the primer cup. Sealing those areas slows the process but doesn’t stop it. Moisture can also creep into powder containers, so powder containers and ammo storage containers must be kept tightly closed. Also, avoid storing ammo and powder in places that aren’t climate-controlled, like attics, garages and auto trunks, especially on hot and/or humid summer days.

This article is from the November/December 2019 issue of Survivor’s Edge. Grab physical or digital copies at OutdoorGroupStore.com.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

Related Posts

Place rocks around your survival campfire.

50 Survival Tips and Tricks for the Outdoors

The Garmin Tactix Delta puts the power of ballistic information on your wrist.

The Garmin Tactix Delta Provides All of Your Ballistic Data on Your Wrist

The Case Winkler Pack Axe is a no-nonsense design that is all performance.

The Case Winkler Pack Axe is a Battle-Born and Field Proven Axe Design

10 Mormon survival tips for thriving in a disaster.

10 Holy Mormon Survival Commandments for Making it Through Disaster

Load More

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

A man open carries in a Walmart store.

Mr. Manners: Let’s Have an Open Discussion on Open Carry

by Fred Mastison
May 18, 2022
0

You walk into your local grocery store and immediately see an intense discussion going on. There...

Read more

TRENDING

A man open carries in a Walmart store.

Mr. Manners: Let’s Have an Open Discussion on Open Carry

You walk into your local grocery store and immediately see an intense discussion...

The New Original Henry Rifle.

New Original Henry Rifle Kicks Off Cody Firearms Museum Collectors Series

Henry Repeating Arms, in partnership with Baron Engraving and Davidson's Inc., just launched...

The compact 1895 Trapper should be a favorite with hunters.

Marlin 1895 Trapper: The Iconic Lever-Gun in .45-70 Returns!

Long live the lever-gun! Marlin made a big announcement today, marking the return...

Shit in the Woods, Wilderness pooping, toilet paper

How to Poop in the Woods

Bears do it, why shouldn't you? Yes, we're very literally talking about pooping...

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Montana Mega Mansion, Indoor Shooting Range, two lanes

$14M Montana Mega Mansion for Sale Has an Indoor Shooting Range

Update: The Montana Mega Mansion sold on March 18, 2021, for an undisclosed amount of money. Must be nice to...

PRODUCT SHOWCASE: ATHLON OUTDOORS RENDEZVOUS

A man open carries in a Walmart store.

Mr. Manners: Let’s Have an Open Discussion on Open Carry

The New Original Henry Rifle.

New Original Henry Rifle Kicks Off Cody Firearms Museum Collectors Series

The compact 1895 Trapper should be a favorite with hunters.

Marlin 1895 Trapper: The Iconic Lever-Gun in .45-70 Returns!

Shit in the Woods, Wilderness pooping, toilet paper

How to Poop in the Woods

FUBeAR goes long-range in the April-May 2022 issue of Ballistic Magazine.

Ballistic Magazine Mascot FUBeAR Goes Long-Range in April-May Issue

site logo
The Premier Firearms & Survival Magazine
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms Of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • View All Guns
    • Handguns
    • Rifles
    • Class III & More
    • Sponsored
      • SIG Sauer
  • Gear
    • View All Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Knives
    • Suppressors
  • Videos
    • Free Gun Friday
  • More
    • Sweepstakes
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • View All Lifestyle
  • People
  • Podcasts
  • Rides
  • Survival
  • Tactics & Training

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.