Whether you’re new to guns or you’ve an experienced marksman, it never hurts to brush up on your ammo storage skills. If you’ve ever opened a box of brass shells only to find that their heads are green with corrosion, you likely understand the importance of proper ammunition storage. As one of the top online stores for speed loaders and gun holsters, we also know a thing or two about ammunition storage. Today we’re going to review some of the do’s and don’ts.
- Avoid extreme heat with your ammunition. Modern, factory-loaded rounds are designed to function reliably in conditions ranging from the arctic to the tropics. You can expect your ammunition to last at least 10 years if not longer as long as you prevent exposure to extreme heat, high humidity and temperature fluctuations. For example, avoid leaving ammunition in your car on a hot, sunny day. This can cause rapid degradation of the gun power and priming components in the ammunition. Theoretically, extreme cold could eventually impact ammunition, but it isn’t worth your concern. High heat kills otherwise good ammo, and that’s the primary thing to avoid in regards to temperature.
- Keep that powder dry! Making sure your ammo is stored in a low-humidity environment is another huge priority. For example, if your basement smells damp or occasionally spawns mildew, it’s not ideal for ammo storage. Why? Humidity causes corrosion of the brass casing and maybe even the bullet. This changes the dimensions of the case and creates friction, which can cause the cartridge to not seat in the chamber correctly.
