Storing ammo can be tricky. On the one hand, most ammo made after smokeless powder was introduced in the 1930s can last for decades. However, some ammo from the First World War is still usable if it was stored in the right conditions. And some modern ammo, supposedly meant to outlast its owner, could be green and corroded when you open the box if stored incorrectly.
It all depends on how you keep the ammo for your 204 Ruger or any other firearm you own. Here is everything you need to know about properly storing ammo so you will not be sad when you pull out the 556 can for a trip to the range.
Cool, Dry, and Dark
The three main rules for storing ammo are a location that is cool, dry, and dark. You do not want to keep the temperature too hot or too cold. You also want to avoid any chance of humidity, which can ruin the ammo in multiple ways. Finally, you want a dark area that does not get a lot of sunlight.
Temperature Swings
Chances are good that you will not have to worry about high temperatures unless you live in Death Valley. Low temperatures can present problems but are not necessarily the worst part of storing ammo. Instead, you should be conscious of temperature swings—big changes from hot to cold or cold to hot—which can bring about humidity.
Humidity
You probably know not to store your 30 06 rifle in a humid place because it can rust. The same goes for ammo. Humidity corrodes the brass and can damage the propellant and primer. This can make it hard to gauge whether the ammo is even worth trying to shoot. Best case scenario, the affected ammo might not do anything, but the worst case could be the bullet getting stuck in the barrel or becoming a delayed round.
Ammo Boxes vs. Ammo Cases
There is some debate over whether to store loose rounds in ammo cases or keep them in the boxes they came in when you purchased them. While taking them out of the box means handling them and exposing them to the elements, as long as you are working in a well-ventilated area or have a way to combat humidity, the choice is yours. Some find storing the boxes is simpler and easier, while others prefer to have a labeled case.
Gun Safe
You have to store your 243 rifle somewhere, so you probably have a gun safe already. Since keeping guns in a cool, dry, dark place is already a good rule of thumb, having shelves in your gun safe dedicated to ammo storage is ideal. You can even get rechargeable dehumidifiers that will keep the entire safe dry, no matter where the safe is located in your home.
Where Not to Store Ammo
Anywhere you do not have control of the climate is a bad option for storing ammo. Therefore, most garages, barns, or other outbuildings are less-than-ideal candidates, as are cars and basements. Cars are susceptible to temperature swings and are easy to break into, while basements can suffer from high humidity.
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Original Source: https://bit.ly/3vAcOk4
