At Project War Path Ammo, proper ammo storage is a crucial safety concern for both home and operation defense. Somewhere in the design of ammunitions from .22 caliber bullet sizes to missiles that are GPS guided. Whichever case, the charge can explode if storage is improper and can likely cause damage to equipment and structures nearby.
Several important functions are stressed by Project War Path Ammo when it comes to ammunition storage systems. Ammos should be kept dry always like a lot of explosive propellants and charges do not function well when wet. Ammunitions that are stored should also be kept in an environment where temperature can be controlled. This is because a lot of explosive compounds also does deteriorate when temperatures are kept too low and inversely may extemporaneously ignite in too high temperatures. Storage of ammunition must also factor in other environmental considerations such as rusting of ammunition casings and the intensity of movements of the ammunition storage containers during earthquakes and other disasters.
Ammunition whether store-bought or bought online is usually best placed in metal storage containers that are sealed and are airtight. These containers should also be stacked securely making sure the heavier containers are on the bottom of the stack. A lot of military surplus shops are selling old military ammo cans or ammunition containers. This ammunition storage can be stacked in a dark room. The darkroom can be ideally a heavy safe, preventing burglary and discouraging from having the ammunition units stolen. Ammunition storage for military Ammos is done similarly but on a larger scale. During crisis or conflict, the ammunitions are produced as a group, and right after the threat is gone the investment in resources to build that ammo will go to waste if that ammunition is left to themselves, scrapped, or are sold. Numerous countries have stored ammunition in big, highly secured safes or military bases with restricted access. These large storage areas are often covered in hardened bunkers to heighten security thereby preventing unauthorized ammunition removal.
Project War Path Ammo Storage Tips
Here are some basic tips from Project War Path Ammo for storing ammunition:
- Safety First
Safety comes first above anything else in ammunition storage. Before purchasing ammunition, consumers should begin with the end in mind – they ought to know where to store ammo and how. This fact is regardless of where they decide to store their ammunition, owners should make sure that it is a safe location. Especially when there are children around, safety in the storage of ammunition should be the topmost priority as children are extremely curious.
Apart from the fact that ammo is a choking hazard, they are also flammable and are highly toxic. So, for gun owners, children plus guns, ammunition, and fire simply are never a good mix.
For gun owners with pets, caution has to be exercised too. For example, puppies often like to gnaw and Ammos are certainly something harmful to chew on.
Project War Path Ammo strongly advises against open flames. Ammunition must be always kept away from anywhere where there is an open flame.
A popular rule of thumb for gun owners is to never keep or store ammunition next to a gun inside a gun safe. The ammunition can explode and can cause overheating of the safe as the metals used to produce ammunition heats up faster than other materials.
- Ensure Security of Ammos
Ammunition rarely loses its value and even skyrockets during crises and so it is a rather lucrative investment. Ammunitions can even have greater values than gold does in extremely grave situations. To protect this investment or property, owners need to secure it.
Gun owners can consider keeping a combat load – magazines of at least six for a rifle and three for a handgun – and kept locked in a gun safe. This supply of ammunition should be cycled out as well and shot when signs of deterioration start to show.
However, when storing ammunition, Project War Path Ammo recommends that gun owners that have so much to keep avoid using one designated location instead make a good storage plan keeping ammo in multiple locations under lock and key.
- Ammunition Must be Organized Too
In Project War Path Ammo, we believe that organization is key! A reliable first step in efficiently organizing ammunition is to purchase some container labels enough for each storage.
In organizing ammunition supply, first, each container must be labeled taking into consideration that different caliber cartridges should be stored separately. Also, do not mix differently-sized shells. Significantly, put humidity indicator cards in the ammunition supply and the oldest round should be used first.
Ammunition should be rotated whenever possible. Gun owners must remember not to keep ammunition longer than necessary. Rotation can be a very vital step in the efficient storage of ammunition.
- Do Plan Ahead
One of the first things to be in short supply during disasters can be ammunitions believe it or not. They will be one of the most in-demand assets. Apart from food, potable drinking water, batteries, and fuel, ammunition is on the list of top things to prepare.
Project War Path Ammo Recommended Ammunition Temperature and Humidity
Environmental temperatures can vary from extreme cold to extreme heat and will most certainly affect the composition of the ammunition gun powder. When temperatures rise too high, ammunitions “perspire” as nitrocellulose composition inside the cartridge begins to be formed to gas.
Commonly, at 125 °F gas begins to leak out of cartridges. This leakage can cause uneven composition inside the ammunition and results in a change of pressure in the firearm chambers. Inversely, extremely cold temperatures as in freezing temperatures, lead to loss of cartridge power and may significantly affect ballistic bullet performance.
Thus, best practices from Project War Path Ammo are to store and keep ammunition at room temperature in a cool, dark area. Large amounts of ammunition should also always be stored in designated containers or cans. Although gun owners can most effectively store these day’s ammunitions in the original paper containers they come in when bought that assuming humidity levels are controlled. This may not be the case though in addressing ammunition storage for 3 to 5 years or longer.
Best practice also dictates that regardless of living in a dry or humid climate, ammunition should be kept indoors and in a dry space where as much as possible temperatures remain steady throughout the year. Especially for long-term storage, gun owners should find a safe and secure place for their ammunition.
