Properly storing and transporting your ammunition is essential to extending its lifespan and ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal laws. Handling your ammo correctly can prevent deterioration; obeying the law can prevent prosecution, incarceration and fines.
This guide discusses ways to improve the longevity of your ammo, as well as the safest (and legal) ways to store and transport it.
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Report Highlights: Ammo should be stored properly and can be transported if local and federal regulations are followed.
Report Highlights:
- Maximize the longevity of ammunition by storing it inside secure containers in cool, dry areas.
- It is legal to travel with ammunition as long as you lawfully possess it and the state does not prohibit its quantity or type.
- Ammunition should not be left in hot cars for prolonged periods.
- The TSA regulates the type and amount of ammunition that can be transported on a plane, as well as the fashion in which it is contained. Local ordinances may also apply.
The Best Ways to Store Ammo for Longevity
Want to ensure a long shelf life for your ammunition investment? There are just three easy steps to making sure your ammo stays reliable.
Keep Ammo Dry
Moisture is kryptonite to ammunition. No matter where you live, there is moisture in the air. Fortunately, there are several ways you can keep your ammo dry. 1
- Ammo Cans: The military learned about moisture’s effects on ammo the hard way, which is why it developed ammo cans. Make sure your cans have rubber seals to ensure no moisture gets inside.
- Moisture-Absorbing Packs: Handy (and cheap!) silica gel desiccant packs should always be kept with your ammunition, regardless of whether it’s stored inside a can or a Ziploc bag.
- Environment: Humid spaces like laundry rooms and bathrooms are never good choices for ammo storage. Wherever you decide to keep your stockpile, store it high and dry – i.e. off the ground. Also, make certain never to store ammo in direct sunlight.
Store Ammo in Proper Temperatures
Temperatures below 55° and above 150° Fahrenheit can ruin ammunition. Passing exposure to extreme temperatures can cause damage in a narrow timeframe.
Temperatures between 55° and 85° F are recommended for keeping ammunition fresh. Leaving ammo in a car for one or two days in extreme temperatures is unlikely to cause damage, so don’t throw it away. 1
Keep Ammo Fresh
Avoid opening ammo cans or other storage containers to see what’s inside. Label them with a description of their contents. Including the date of purchase allows you to follow the “first in, first out” (FIFO) rule, thereby ensuring you always fire your oldest ammo.
Now that we know how to safely store ammunition, it’s time to learn the safest ways to travel with and transport it.
Continue reading Ammo Storage: How to Store Ammo and Transport It Safely on Ammo.com