{"id":6019,"date":"2024-03-08T22:05:18","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T22:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/?p=6019"},"modified":"2024-03-15T19:33:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T19:33:52","slug":"how-to-store-ammo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/how-to-store-ammo\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Store Ammo &#8211; Ammo Storage Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Curious how to store ammo to make it last? You&#8217;ve landed in the right spot. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re a gun owner that shoots on a regular basis, you\u2019re likely to have spare ammo hanging around. After all, it\u2019s more affordable to buy ammo in bulk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like we want to store our guns safely, we want to store ammo safely as well. That\u2019s why today we\u2019re covering the best ways to store ammo.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Store Ammo &#8211; What\u2019s Important<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6058 size-full\" title=\"ammo can storage\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/looseammo.jpg\" alt=\"loose .223 ammo in an ammo can\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/looseammo.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/looseammo-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/looseammo-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/looseammo-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/looseammo-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/looseammo-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/looseammo-750x422.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/looseammo-1140x641.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Ammo is an investment that we want to keep in good, useable condition over long periods of storage. Let&#8217;s take a look at how to store ammo for the long term.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Store Ammo Somewhere Dry<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Humidity is the primary issue shooters have with ammo storage. Humidity can cause corrosion of your ammo, potentially making it unusable. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To prevent this, it\u2019s best to store in a dry area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many shooters opt to store ammo in their basement or garage for convenience. Depending on where you live, these parts of the house can be extra humid. You&#8217;ll want to be sure you have your ammo sealed away in an ammo can and you&#8217;ll likely want to have a dehumidifier running. My gun room is in my basement. Early on, I learned that because the room is underground, the humidity would destroy my guns and ammo if I didn&#8217;t get it under control. I now run a dehumidifier at all times to preserve all my gun stuff.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also a good idea to keep your ammo stored on shelves off the ground, especially if in a basement. Learn from my mistake &#8212; a pipe burst in my basement, flooding it a couple inches. I had a couple cases of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/9mm-ammo.php\">9mm ammo<\/a> that were unfortunately soaked because I hadn&#8217;t yet put them away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep Your Ammo Away from Heat<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next you want to keep your ammo away from extreme heat and out of the sun. That\u2019s because extreme heat can damage the gunpowder and priming compounds inside of ammo. This can affect the pressure of the rounds, resulting in dangerous, unreliable, or inert ammo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s best to store ammo somewhere cool that does not experience major temperature fluctuations. A cool and dry, climate controlled environment will prolong your ammo\u2019s lifespan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep Ammo Inaccessible to Others<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like with our guns, we want to keep ammo out of the hands of those that shouldn\u2019t have it. This could mean kids in your home, unauthorized people, or intruders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the minimum, you should keep your ammo stored somewhere lockable. This could be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.libertysafe.com\/\">gun safe<\/a>, a special gun room, or a locking cabinet.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Store Ammo &#8211; Practical Ammo Storage Tips<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6055 size-full\" title=\"mixed ammo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammobin.jpg\" alt=\"a bin full of loose rounds of different calibers\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1078\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammobin.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammobin-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammobin-1024x552.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammobin-768x414.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammobin-1536x828.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammobin-200x108.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammobin-750x404.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammobin-1140x614.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now that we know the best conditions to keep ammo stored in, let&#8217;s look at how to store and organize your rounds.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use Ammo Cans<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6056\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6056\" style=\"width: 1990px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6056 size-full\" title=\"steel ammo cans\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammocans.jpg\" alt=\"five 50 cal ammo cans and two 30 cal ammo cans stacked against a wall\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammocans.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammocans-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammocans-1024x589.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammocans-768x442.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammocans-1536x883.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammocans-200x115.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammocans-750x431.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammocans-1140x656.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6056\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ammo cans are a great way to store ammo, keeping your rounds dry and organized.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A great way to store ammo is with ammo cans. Quality ammo cans, like our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/ammo-can-50-cal-green-new-m2a1-mil-spec-1.php\">50 Cal Ammo Cans<\/a>, are made of steel and seals shut to keep out moisture and dirt. They have a handle so you can easily transport your rounds to the range \u2013 just be prepared for some heavy lifting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With an ammo can, you can store rounds in their original boxes in the can, or store loose ammo. Be sure that you stick with a single caliber for each ammo can if you\u2019re storing loose rounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep Your Calibers Separated and Organized<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6054\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6054\" style=\"width: 1990px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6054 size-full\" title=\"labeled ammo can\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/22magnumstorage.jpg\" alt=\"an ammo can labeled with the caliber .22 magnum\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/22magnumstorage.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/22magnumstorage-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/22magnumstorage-1024x545.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/22magnumstorage-768x409.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/22magnumstorage-1536x818.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/22magnumstorage-200x107.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/22magnumstorage-750x399.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/22magnumstorage-1140x607.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6054\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In a pinch, some tape and a sharpie can help you label your rounds to stay organized.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re storing many different calibers of ammo, you\u2019ll want to be sure you keep your rounds organized. Accidentally mixing up calibers can result in a damaged or destroyed gun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To keep things organized, we offer ammo label stickers. Stick them on your ammo cans or other storage containers to keep your rounds properly sorted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here at Target Barn, we offer the following ammo labels:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/ammo-can-label-1-count-9x19mm.php\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9x19mm Ammo Label<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/ammo-can-label-1-count-223-rem.php\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.223 Rem Ammo Label<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/ammo-can-label-1-count-5-56x45.php\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5.56&#215;45 Ammo Label<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Storing Loaded Magazines<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6063 size-full\" title=\"storing loaded magazines\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/loadedmagazines.jpg\" alt=\"four ar-15 magazines loaded with rounds for storage\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1114\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/loadedmagazines.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/loadedmagazines-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/loadedmagazines-1024x570.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/loadedmagazines-768x428.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/loadedmagazines-1536x856.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/loadedmagazines-200x111.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/loadedmagazines-750x418.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/loadedmagazines-1140x635.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a great debate about storing your magazines loaded with ammo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Storing ammo in your magazines is great for a couple of reasons. First, it means you\u2019re ready for your next range day and you won\u2019t have to do the work of loading rounds at the range. It also frees up space because you\u2019re reducing the amount of ammo boxes you have to store.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, some say that keeping your magazines loaded long term can degrade the magazine springs, resulting in feeding issues. The truth is, as long as you&#8217;re using quality magazines, keeping your magazines loaded with the springs fully compressed won\u2019t put too much wear on them. What wears the magazine spring is expansion and compression cycles, i.e. the continual loading and unloading of the magazine.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Ammo Storage Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6057\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6057\" style=\"width: 1990px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6057 size-full\" title=\"disorganized ammo storage\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammoshelf.jpg\" alt=\"two disorganized shelves filled with ammo boxes\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammoshelf.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammoshelf-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammoshelf-1024x553.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammoshelf-768x415.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammoshelf-1536x829.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammoshelf-200x108.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammoshelf-750x405.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/ammoshelf-1140x616.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6057\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">If your ammo storage looks like this, it&#8217;s probably time to implement some organization.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ultimately, keeping your ammo somewhere cool, dry, and inaccessible to unauthorized people are the most important aspects of ammo storage. Finding a system that keeps your ammo organized and accessible will keep your sanity when it comes time to head to the range.<\/p>\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction\">\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction--text b-share-calltoaction-text\">\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction-text__header\">\n<h2>Share this article with your friends!<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"b-social-icons clearfix\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/how-to-store-ammo\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon facebook\">&nbsp;Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/home?status=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/how-to-store-ammo\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon twitter\">&nbsp;Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&#038;url=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/how-to-store-ammo\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon linkedin\">&nbsp;LinkedIn<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/how-to-store-ammo\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon pinterest\">&nbsp;Pinterest<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Curious how to store ammo to make it last? You&#8217;ve landed in the right spot. If you\u2019re a gun owner&hellip;<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item-meta\"><span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/clock.svg\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\" alt=\"\"><time class=\"published\" datetime=\"2024-03-08T22:05:18+00:00\">Mar. 08, 2024<\/time><\/span><span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/comment.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\">No comments<\/span><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/how-to-store-ammo\/\"><span>Read more <\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/chevron-right.svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" alt=\"\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":6062,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-range-training","category-self-defense"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6019"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6065,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6019\/revisions\/6065"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}