Long Term Ammo Storage

[LiveFreeorDie]

*Yep, this turned into a great thread and I've learned a lot. Absorb vs. adsorb. I never knew that!
*I'll take a mechanical engineer who's specialty is metallurgy's word on spring steel and I've heard that as well. Cycling is the enemy, not compression. 11B's photo of the springs was enlightening, and a little disturbing. No one needs failed springs just at the moment you need them to feed your weapon!
*Probably right about ammo in a safe in case of fire, but that's why I bought a 2hr fire rated safe. If it gets that hot inside, everything is lost anyway. Hope that doesn't happen!
*I'm not sure but I think the "dunk the ammo can in the water" was a joke. Then again maybe not. Makes me think of the debate over "duck" tape vs. "duct" tape. Which is it? Heard a story that it was first called "duck" tape 'cause GIs used it to seal the outside of their ammo cans because water rolled off the tape like off a duck. Not sure, but I also read some folks do use Vaseline to moisten the rubber seals, but since Vaseline is petroleum based over time it dissolves the rubber. Don't know what's true, just sharing what I read.
*MCA-you asked me about dessicants. The boxes I use in the safe are too large for ammo cans but I think the hand-warmer suggestion might be perfect for you. Cheap and they are good oxygen adsorbers. Oxygen, as you know, is reactive and corrosive. Some folks even use them for long-term food storage but I've read not to use them on food. Ammo should be fine.
*Again, good thread. Lots to learn here. And yes, diapers and milk are expensive but you're just getting started. Wait 'till daycare. After that he'll be driving! What did you get yourself into?

 

[11B3XCIB]

My 2? on mag loading:
The springs wear out from cycling, not from remaining compressed. This from a mechanical engineer who specialized in metallurgy while designing the Sea Wolf sub.
Load 28 in a 30 for easier mag changes if you want, but that is another myth that has been thoroughly debunked. Originally came about because retards kept forcing 31 into 30 round mags with predictably bad results.
I've read of guys discovering mags loaded in Vietnam that fired fine 40 years later,
I leave mine full. Outside the safe for the reason already discussed (except for 6 ready to go next to the rifles). The rest loose in ammo cans. A little vaseline will keep the seals supple and tight,

I think it also depends on the TYPE of magazine. I definitely had Beretta magazines wear out quickly from just being compressed. In theory, cycling is supposed to be the killer, not compression, but if that was a 100%, unfailing principle, it'd be scientific LAW, which it's not. Again, I agree it's not supposed to happen, but it does under certain conditions. If yours don't wear out, great. It also depends if you actually use the magazines versus them just sitting in the safe. Shooting with them means they need to be maintained (ie, unloaded and taken apart) periodically to clean, especially if you shoot suppressed. The crap that can build up in there (sand, dirt, carbon, etc) can lead to sluggish springs. Simply loading and unloading a magazine a couple times a month is not going to noticeably decrease the life of a magazine, which is a consumable item, anyways. If keeping magazines loaded works for you, great. But leaving them loaded doesn't work for everyone in every case.

Stuff 30 rounds in a magazine then slap it in an AR with the bolt closed. Pop 2 rounds out, and try it again. It'll be easier with the 28 round magazine. Not a myth and I'm not retarded :?

 

[Tigerstripe]

im guessing there arent a lot of prefarted people loading AR mags, especially if you are speaking of war vets.

 

[FunkyMonkey]

Stuff 30 rounds in a magazine then slap it in an AR with the bolt closed. Pop 2 rounds out, and try it again. It'll be easier with the 28 round magazine. Not a myth and I'm not retarded :?

No. Easy mag changes is a good reason to load 28. Not to preserve spring life. That's the "myth". Not speaking to your mental capacities, either.

Sorry for the ambiguity.

 

[FunkyMonkey]

im guessing there arent a lot of prefarted people loading AR mags, especially if you are speaking of war vets.

What's "prefarted" ? Sounds painful.

Actually, the story I read was that it was GIs that were doing this enough times so the rule was changed to 28. Don't have a hard link to back it up, just something I read on another forum that made sense. Perhaps retard was a bit extreme. Careless? Inattentive? Pick your adjective.

Not a slam against vets, current service members, or special people.

 

[FunkyMonkey]

Not sure, but I also read some folks do use Vaseline to moisten the rubber seals, but since Vaseline is petroleum based over time it dissolves the rubber. Don't know what's true, just sharing what I read.

Yeah. Silicone might be a better long-term choice. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[fordnut]

I like the story about water off a duck's back for the tape.....But...auctually....duct tape is the name for the Aluminium back tape that sheet metal workers use when building Air & Heat& Steam Ducts.....ie...Duct tape. It seals up the joints...And, it is very costly....

The normal version, I have no idea about....but, there was one brand Lowe's sold for awhile...It was called "Duck Brand " tape...

One other little thing. I use Rem Oil on my guns...and...on the rubbers around ammo can lids. It has a lot of silicone in it and it seems to work for me...

Got to go....I got about 30 AR mags loaded and I need to go take 2 rounds out of each one...

Steve

 

[FunkyMonkey]

Got to go....I got about 30 AR mags loaded and I need to go take 2 rounds out of each one...

:lol: That's the spirit.

 

[MCA]

Got to go....I got about 30 AR mags loaded and I need to go take 2 rounds out of each one...Steve

And now you have extra ammo for 2 more 30 round mags!

I really enjoyed this thread. Thanks again for everyones contributions.

 

[Tigerstripe]

i will assume that the 2 less rds will also include 308 mags. just loaded 23 into 2 -25 rd mags.

refarted , i didnt want to use the other word used previously. didnt think of "special".