For long vaults, bury vertically to minimize metal-detector footprint. Probably won't matter much though if anyone is being thorough in their sweeping. One way to thwart metal detecting is to lay a bunch of rebar over the whole area. Though instead of giving up they may be familiar with that trick and look even harder!
Proper Methods Of Ammo Storage Including Burial Vaults
Hi, I just purchased a Burial Vault from The Sportsman's Guide. I want to use it for long term ammo storage. Now I read somewhere that just before you seal this can up for good, you should put in a hand warmer packet. This packet supposedly "burns up" all the Oxygen in the container, thereby eliminating the gas that causes rusting, etc.
Anybody hear about this?
Any other tips that you'd like to share?
Thanks
Anybody hear about this?
Any other tips that you'd like to share?
Thanks
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
I drive i
I drive it into the ground with a T post driver.
For long vaults, bury vertically to minimize metal-detector footprint. Probably won't matter much though if anyone is being thorough in their sweeping. One way to thwart metal detecting is to lay a bunch of rebar over the whole area. Though instead of giving up they may be familiar with that trick and look every harder!
I drive it into the ground with a T post driver.
Greetings,"Hi, I just purchased a Burial Vault from The Sportsman's Guide. I want to use it for long term ammo storage. Now I read somewhere that just before you seal this can up for good, you should put in a hand warmer packet. This packet supposedly "burns up" all the Oxygen in the container, thereby eliminating the gas that causes rusting, etc.
Anybody hear about this?
Any other tips that you'd like to share?
Thanks"
I treat this the same as you would food storage items, keep in a cool dry place. the best way I know is to place your ammo into a Mylar bag w/oxygen absorbers, something like this.; https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-10...TF8&qid=1482754204&sr=8-3&keywords=Mylar+bags
I would toss a few of these in your vault as well; https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-Mo...482754400&sr=8-1&keywords=anti-Moisture+packs
With the protection the vault itself will give you that should keep your guns & ammo for several years.
How about buying milsurp ammo? It's got sealed primers and bullets.
In my area the big issue in burying stuff is it has to be below the frost line or the constant freezing unfreezing of the ground will crush it and or make it difficult to find or dig out. Not to mention it is nearly impossible to find and dig out when snow is on the ground.
I've found that it's easier to get to by stashing it above ground either in a structure (wood shed, garden shed etc) or in something that looks like something else (dog house, well house, kids play house, bird/bat house, deer blind, root cellar).
I've found that it's easier to get to by stashing it above ground either in a structure (wood shed, garden shed etc) or in something that looks like something else (dog house, well house, kids play house, bird/bat house, deer blind, root cellar).
Vacuum sealing each box or firearm might be an option too.
Greetings,
I treat this the same as you would food storage items, keep in a cool dry place. the best way I know is to place your ammo into a Mylar bag w/oxygen absorbers, something like this.; https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-10...TF8&qid=1482754204&sr=8-3&keywords=Mylar+bags
I would toss a few of these in your vault as well; https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-Mo...482754400&sr=8-1&keywords=anti-Moisture+packs
With the protection the vault itself will give you that should keep your guns & ammo for several years.
hey, they have to be heat sealed, the Mylar bags I mean, right? Can I use an iron? Or do I need a special machine for heat sealing?
Does anyone know if I could heat seal Mylar bags with an iron, or other heated things, or do I need a special heat sealer machine?
Yes you can use an iron.
A little trick - when you are ready to final close your package, place a regular beverage straw in the corner of the bag. Close the bag up to the straw, than suck the air out of the bag as best as you can, pull it out quickly - than finish closing up the rest of the bag.
This will take most all of the air out of your storage bag, keeping the moisture down. This is the next best thing if you don't have one of those sealer type of products.
A little trick - when you are ready to final close your package, place a regular beverage straw in the corner of the bag. Close the bag up to the straw, than suck the air out of the bag as best as you can, pull it out quickly - than finish closing up the rest of the bag.
This will take most all of the air out of your storage bag, keeping the moisture down. This is the next best thing if you don't have one of those sealer type of products.
I like the idea of burying them inside of a shed or building. If you have a garage or morton building with a sand floor bury it in one of the corners next to the foundation. It's safe from moisture, building is under your control, safe from fire and only you know it's there. I'm not a huge fan of going out into the middle of the woods and saying I recognize these 3 trees and I'm putting the cache here.
Aah! An education moment. Below is my search term used in google and up popped a video. I keep writing that google is your friend.
A guy wrote about ammo storage. So, let's take it from a different perspective. Do you want to store ammo (or food or generally any goods) where the item is subject to temperature change, temperature extremes, water damage, rust? Of course not! If you bury something beneath ground, it is your responsibility to avoid those potential dangers. You cannot rely upon a label attached to a commercial product and have to do your own thinking.
I am kind of reminded of the following. Some relatives who lived in rural Ms kept getting sick and wondered why. My dad pointed out that the outhouse was positioned to near the drinking water supply! So, if some guy puts a label on a product that it is a burial vault, and you decide to plant it next to a pond or down in the water table in Florida, you haven't thought too much.
Now for the bonus comment: I had some training. You have to keep ammo from being exposed to the sun. So this is why snipers will put a simple handkerchief over exposed ammo in the field. So, do a simple experiment for when you go to the range on a bright sunny day. Leave some ammo exposed to the sun. Take other ammo and shelter it. Look at your patterns! It take a few minutes for the ammo to become "accurate" again after you cover the same.
So, you put on your thinking cap.
How to Properly Seal a Mylar Bag with an Iron".
A guy wrote about ammo storage. So, let's take it from a different perspective. Do you want to store ammo (or food or generally any goods) where the item is subject to temperature change, temperature extremes, water damage, rust? Of course not! If you bury something beneath ground, it is your responsibility to avoid those potential dangers. You cannot rely upon a label attached to a commercial product and have to do your own thinking.
I am kind of reminded of the following. Some relatives who lived in rural Ms kept getting sick and wondered why. My dad pointed out that the outhouse was positioned to near the drinking water supply! So, if some guy puts a label on a product that it is a burial vault, and you decide to plant it next to a pond or down in the water table in Florida, you haven't thought too much.
Now for the bonus comment: I had some training. You have to keep ammo from being exposed to the sun. So this is why snipers will put a simple handkerchief over exposed ammo in the field. So, do a simple experiment for when you go to the range on a bright sunny day. Leave some ammo exposed to the sun. Take other ammo and shelter it. Look at your patterns! It take a few minutes for the ammo to become "accurate" again after you cover the same.
So, you put on your thinking cap.
How to Properly Seal a Mylar Bag with an Iron".
I can attest to this. It caught me off guard at an ipsc match in houston in the late 80's, when I left my ammo setting in a closed, dark-colored ammo can in the summer Houston sun. Pretty normal pistol ammo (Tetrinox 9mm if anyone remembers that) and even at shortish ipsc pistol distances, my groups not only opened up noticeably, it also shot much 'hotter'. It was so hot that I had two guys who I regularly shot with ask me if I'd had my 9mm rechambered to .38 Super after one run. I came to my senses and kept the can in some shade after that....Now for the bonus comment: I had some training. You have to keep ammo from being exposed to the sun. So this is why snipers will put a simple handkerchief over exposed ammo in the field. So, do a simple experiment for when you go to the range on a bright sunny day. Leave some ammo exposed to the sun. Take other ammo and shelter it. Look at your patterns! It take a few minutes for the ammo to become "accurate" again after you cover the same...
You never seem to hear guys talk about this in iraq or other hot-climate fight places. I don't know how they address the issue, but I've experienced it firsthand.
You guys do realize that the Russians just threw ammo in boxes and stored it god knows where for decades and it works just fine, right?
I'm not saying that you shouldn't do anything, but seriously, modern ammo is even more resilient. Toss some rice in and bag, suck the air out, and move on. It'll be good for 20 years easy. How long do you need it to last?
I'm not saying that you shouldn't do anything, but seriously, modern ammo is even more resilient. Toss some rice in and bag, suck the air out, and move on. It'll be good for 20 years easy. How long do you need it to last?
+1. Twenty years easily; probably a hundred. I've shot .45acp fmj left over from WW2, that was not only ~50 years old at the time, but had spent probably 10-15 of that 50 years in cardboard boxes in an unheated, non-airconditioned barn in Arkansas. No problems with it whatsoever, so I suspect a closed ammo can would keep it in that good a shape for probably twice that long. In a closed ammo can in a climate-controlled environment, no telling how long it would last.You guys do realize that the Russians just threw ammo in boxes and stored it god knows where for decades and it works just fine, right?
I'm not saying that you shouldn't do anything, but seriously, modern ammo is even more resilient. Toss some rice in and bag, suck the air out, and move on. It'll be good for 20 years easy. How long do you need it to last?
Oldest stuff I have much of on hand anymore is case or two of norinco 7.62x39 from the late 80's or maybe 1990-91. (Bought at $80-some dollars per 1200 rounds; I miss those days...) Also somewhere have a partial box of my dad's old .38spl LRN stuff from the 60's or so. I have no worries about either one being viable.
My vote for best answer.Greetings,
I treat this the same as you would food storage items, keep in a cool dry place. the best way I know is to place your ammo into a Mylar bag w/oxygen absorbers, something like this.; https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-10...TF8&qid=1482754204&sr=8-3&keywords=Mylar+bags
I would toss a few of these in your vault as well; https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-Mo...482754400&sr=8-1&keywords=anti-Moisture+packs
With the protection the vault itself will give you that should keep your guns & ammo for several years.
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
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