Hunters and firearm hobbyists have no doubt witnessed the glaring shortage in ammo available in shops. When there is a insufficiency of anything, it usually means there is a hesitancy to use up current supplies. Consequently, the need to stock pile supplies is significant. This makes ammunition storage methods more significant, now more than ever. But what choices are available and what is suggested to keep the shelf life of ammo as much as possible, while remaining effective? This article will help answer these inquiries.

It may surprise you to know that with regard to munitions, your worst enemy isn't the guy who is shooting back at you. Instead, it is moisture. Ammo that is appropriately cared for is ammo that can serve you well. This is why ammunition storage is so important. It makes no difference about the size of caliber being considered, storing the rounds in the right ammo boxes can absolutely guard your investment. This is not to say that the boxes that the ammunition is sold in are completely inappropriate, but as a long term answer there are better options available. For example, such containers to avoid are made of paper-based material such as cardboard. Should these get wet (e.g. high levels of humidity), the end result will make the ammo box to deteriorate and promote corrosion on the metal casings.

If you have not yet provided for adequate ammunition storage, there may still be time to correct the situation even if you have identified signs of moisture. Be sure to remove all rounds from the affected area and wipe them down thoroughly. If there are no indications of corrosion and you are certain that no moisture has made its way into the shells, then you should be all right. However, if corrosion can be seen, then try to rub the corrosion away using steel wool. If successful, then place the rounds into better ammo cans. If not, then you are better off disposing of the rusted rounds.

Storing munitions inside the cardboard containers they come in can be effective if stored inside the home and preferrably not on the floor, no matter where in the home they are stored. This is because levels of humidity can be controlled. For instance, storing your ammo on a shelf in the garage may not be the most appropriate place for a humid-free environment. However, if you were to store the ammo in a closed container like a gun safe or even the plastic ammo boxes you find at the store, you would increase the shelf life of your investment. This would protect you from injury by eliminating the use of compromised ammunition. It will also prevent your firearm from becoming damaged, eliminating the possibility of rust entering your firearm.

For every ammunition storage method suggested, there is likely to be an opposing view with stronger or looser standards involved. Some gun owners have had no difficulty with storing their ammo in barns for years and have had no signs of degraded shooting potency. Others have taken more extreme measures by placing their munitions inside military-grade ammo cans and sealing those up with something like wax along the seams. However, as good as this method may seem, it is worth noting that taking such measures do not lend themselves to easy extraction of the ammo when they need to be used in an emergency. So easy access to the ammo being protected should be taken into consideration.

In conclusion, use common sense when considering your ammo storage options. Identify the right size ammo can for the caliber you are storing and place it in an area that is relatively cool and definitely dry. A climate-controlled environment is preferred. Marking the containers with the dates they were put into storage will help with rotating your inventory. So as new ammo is added and then dated, the ammo with the older date can be used first. Doing so can make for more enjoyable target practicing, safer hunting, and more dependable self-protection.