How to Store Ammo Safely and Properly

If you’re relatively new to owning a gun or if you have just started to expand your firearm collection, naturally the amount of ammunition you have will start to collect as well. You never know when you might need extra on hand for when you and your friends decide to go to the shooting range or deep into the wilderness to have a great time. The last thing you want to do is to have to make a pit stop at your local firearms dealer or sporting goods retailer only to find out they have limited supply of the type of ammo you need. So, if you’re the type that likes to stock up when ammo is in good supply, here are some helpful tips on how to store ammo safely and properly.

Ammo Storage Tips

Follow these tips and you’ll know how to store ammo safely and properly:

1. Store in a dry environment

Ammo stored in humid environments can lead to corrosion of the brass casing and even the bullet. This can cause a few issues including the cartridge improperly seating in the chamber. It can also weaken the cartridge, making the bullet unsafe to fire.

If you live in a humid environment, keep your ammo stored off the ground in a sealed container. Consider storing your ammunition in area with a dehumidifier. If storing your ammo in a safe, there are dehumidifiers you can purchase that don’t need to be plugged into a power source.

2. Store away from heat

Long term storage in areas that are exposed to regular extreme heat (like the trunk of your car during Summer, for instance) can affect the chemical mixture of gun powder, affecting the lifespan of your ammo. In high temperatures above 125°F, your ammo can literally begin to sweat as the nitrocellulose in the gun powder turns to gas and seeps out of the casing.

3. Keep in a sealed container or ammo can

Even if you keep your ammo locked away in a safe or gun cabinet, it is important to store your ammunition in a sealed container or ammo can to prevent from the natural elements of the air from affecting the lead on the bullet.

Tip: Put some sawdust inside your container to absorb any humidity that makes its way into the container.

4. Store ammo in a dark area

UV rays can damage more than just skin and paint. By storing your ammo in a container and locking it in a safe or cabinet, you are greatly mitigating the damage that UV exposure can do.

5. Store ammo where only you can have access to it

In order to prevent your firearms and ammunition from reaching the wrong hands, it's important to store both in a safe or gun cabinet. Not only does doing so help preserve your ammo, but it can also help prevent an accident from occurring in the home. Storing ammo in a safe or cabinet can help keep your ammo in a cool, dry and dark environment ensuring their preservation and safety.

Surelock Gun Safes and Cabinets offer versatile options for storing your firearms and ammunition all in a cool, dry, dark, and locked area preserving your valuables, preventing unwanted access and protecting what can’t be replaced.

Be sure with Surelock. Check out our 60-minute fire rated Lieutenant Series featuring SecuRam’s rugged steel construction and 10-12 total bolts.