Ammo Storage Ideas and Tips for Winter
When hunting season ends and the brutal cold of Winter arrives, many hunters will be looking to store their equipment until Spring. Proper ammo storage is an essential part of this process and should not be overlooked. While storing ammo may seem simple, there are several best practices for keeping your ammunition ready for Spring. In addition to these ammo storage ideas, there are also a number of precautions to follow and ammo storage places to avoid.
Storing Ammo in Ammo Cans
No matter what anyone tells you, the best place to store ammo is still inside an ammo can. Most ammo cans are both air-tight and water-tight making them a secure spot to store your ammunition and keep it unexposed to the outside elements. Ammo cans come in a wide range of sizes to fit the specific needs of your ammunition. Many ammo boxes used today were previously military storage containers. These military ammo cans were designed specifically for storage during transportation from site to site. This is an additional benefit for those outdoorsmen who travel with ammunition a lot or keep their ammo stored away from their home. With a tight waterproof seal, most moisture is kept outside of ammo boxes and never affects the contents inside. However, some humidity and condensation can potentially seep through causing damage to your ammunition. One of the great benefits of using an enclosed ammo container is that measures can be taken to counteract these damaging elements. Dry packets will absorb this moisture when added inside of your ammo box.
Ammo Storage Temperature
When the Winter months hit, the last thing you want to do is expose your ammo to freezing cold temperatures. Doing this can result in altering the ballistics or your ammunition and could lead to some inaccurate shooting when the bullets are used again in the Spring. While ammo cans will help keep the cold away from your rounds, it is still best to store your ammo at room temperature. Common places of storage include basements, garages, and well-insulated storage sheds. However, it is even more important that each one of these places does not expose your ammo to moisture and humidity.
Avoid Storing Ammo in Humidity and Moisture
Above all else, a humid or moist environment is the worst place to store ammunition when you pack your hunting gear away for Winter. Bullets exposed to humidity and moisture can easily become corroded. This not only causes these cartridges to be wildly inaccurate, but makes them dangerous to fire in general. Ammo cans can help eliminate most of this exposure, but not all. Finding a dry place to store your ammo is paramount to keeping it in prime condition. Unfortunately, the most common places to store ammo are often the dampest places for storage as well. Many basements, garages, and sheds attract a lot of moisture and dampness. The solution to this problem is to store your ammo at an elevated level and away from the floor. As you get closer to the floor, you consequently get closer to the damp outside ground. Storing ammo on a high shelve, rack, or within a cabinet will decrease the chances of it being exposed to moisture.
