I store my 10mm in 50 cal ammo cans. I also put a desiccant in the can. I read on other forums that it can dry out primers. Anyone know if that is true?
I don't think much can affect the primer once loaded! Boxed primers may get a little dryer stored inside a ammo can. Drier primers get more sensitive. They are produce as wet and then dried out to specific dryness before being packaged and shipped.
I don't use the desiccant, but do place mine in ziploc bags and store in ammo cans. Same for ammo.
I have 700 rounds of 8mm ammo made by FN in 1938 and 1940 still in the cardboard boxes that had been kept in rusty ammo cans since the 80's I bought them a few years ago and I've never had a misfire.
I helped a buddy of mine about 5 years ago clean out his uncles house/shed. His shed had about 25 tall 50-caliber ammo cans full of reloaded 12 gauge shells....some were loaded in 1971...no moisture absorbent in the cans. Then there were about 20 cans of reloaded 30-06, oldest made was in 1973. We shot some of the shotgun and rifle ammo...all worked great.
Moral of the story, these were stored outside with drastic temperature/humidity changes....none of the sampling seemed effected. Once loaded, more than likely, not effected by moisture unless submerged.
Desiccants are coming out thanks.
Most of my ammo is just set into various ammo cans in its factory package.
I do have a few small amounts of rounds I have vacum packed with my food saver.. Those I leave in the glove box or console.
I've only done that with the expensive high end hollow points.
I read an article a few years back...I think in handloader magazine. The author had soaked ammo of various grades in 5 gallon buckets of water for some period of time.
I don't remember all the specifics, but I do remember he had darn few failures to go bang, and no real significant decrease in velocity. Even with handloads, though they were the most affected.
Ammo in a 50 cal can with dessicant isn't going to be affected in a measurable way, even after 50 years. And if the can seal is good, your great, great grandkids could enjoy unloading it.
Before Hurricane Katrina hit we loaded 500 9mm 124gr JHP's for my Brother-in-law, well his home was at ground zero for the storm and the surge washed his new home off the foundation. The ammo sat in mud and water for a week before he could retrieve it and get it to me to clean it up. I actually washed it with mild soapy water dried it and then passed it in the tumbler to polish it up again. He managed to finish shooting it all last year and out of 500 only 1 round failed to fire.
The pull-down revealed the powder was dry, but the primer was dead (no priming mixture)...could have been that way from the production.
Years earlier a co worker left his 357 ammo (MTM 50ct plastic slip top box) in his tackle box which sat in his boat that filled up with rainwater and sat there for a couple of weeks, he brought it to me to break it down. I said why? They all fired without incident.
In neither of these situations where there any primer sealant, just the CCI primers pressed into various cases. 8)
I stored some Ruger stainless steel magazines for a few years in a 30 cal ammo can with no desiccant. When I opened the can a dew years later the mags were getting rust spots on them.
I now use desiccant. I guess everyone has different experiences. A lot of it most likely depends on your climate. New Jersey gets awfully hot and humid in the summer time.