Ammo Question

I was just wondering if there might be anything wrong with storing your ammunition on the inside of those clear plastic "zip lock" sandwich bags ? It will definitely keep the water out, but do you suppose that it could also have the unwanted residual effect of causing damage to the ammo, say by causing the said ammo to "sweat?"

It is not a problem. If you are still concerned, get some of those silica desiccant packs and throw in.

Should be fine... but is it for long term storage or in your pocket or in your vehicle or what?

There most likely is a better solution.

I have found the most common usage for this, if if I have extra rounds that just a waste of their original container. I have used them years later without any issues. The worst thing you can do with ammo is to get them wet. Remember the old addage "keep your power dry". There is a reason for that.

Opened ammo does not last a month here, let alone a year... YIKES!!

I have boxes that are unopened and years old but not opened!! HEHE

Those ziplock baggies might keep off a light spray of water, but they won't survive a dunking. They also rip and develop holes at the drop of a hat. Putting something heavy like ammo in them will just cause more abrasive wear and punctures. It won't hurt if you use them, but it won't help much either.

Get some real ammo boxes, even cheap ones, and add some desicant in there if you're in a humid area.

Geez Todd, what are you doing that your opened ammo doesn't last a month? It's not like the ammo is wrapped in plastic inside the box before you open it.

Anyway, nothing wrong with keeping it in a ziplock bag except maybe durability. A lot of military ammo around the world is stored in cans or heavy plastic "battle packs". I can't think of opening one yet that had dessicant packs in it.

I've got a heat sealer and a few thousand 3x5 4 mil bags. At first I just heat sealed a bunch of ammo for longer term storage. It turned out to be so convenient that now I heat seal all my ammo, new and reloads. The 3x5 turned out to be perfect. They'll hold (20) 5.56, (10) .308, (5) 12 gauge, and a plethora of other calibers. The convenience is great, I can throw a few packs in my pockets and go shooting. Never have to worry about sweat or dirt. The smaller size of the bags means I don't have a bunch of loose ammo left over when I'm finished. And the bags are TOUGH. I haven't worn holes in them while carrying them in my pockets all day. If there is a problem, it's that I have a hard time tearing them open.

You got ammo? That's great!

Anyhoo, we sometimes store our IDPA ammo in Ziplock bags with no issues. Can't say we keep it there for very long or in adverse weather conditions, but for 8 months at least.

Ziplock Freezer bags are pretty strong things. I think you will be fine under several conditions.

Michael

It is likely for the same reason beer never lasts around here once you open the case.
He he he.

I have had ammo sitting around for years. Some of the casings were even turning green. It still went bang and grouped well on the range.

I have also read stuff from manufacturers that said ammo would go bad and not shoot well after a year in storage, and that it didn't matter how it was stored.

Ammo sweats?
If you mean condensation my rifle shells used to do that every time I came into the house after hunting in the winter.
Just empty the magazine out before you go inside, hang the shell belt up, and the frost that condensed on them soon dries off.

It was the condensation on the rifle and scope that used to worry me more.

I have no personal experience with home heat-sealed bags, so this may be an incredibly stupid idea:

Would making a small vertical slit above the seal make it easier to tear the bag open?

Heat sealing does good with the right ammount of sturdy plastic to keep things sealed. I wouldn't make a vertical slit as that would defeat the purpose. However, any good knife will get you ready access again to the contents.

Yes. I make a 1/4 inch, or so, cut, on the side, near the top, not into or through the seal, and the bags rip right open easily.

Scafool - Correcto

For long term storage it's either in the safe or in ammo cans.

That's exactly what I was wondering about: a small slit outside the sealed portion, in the leftover part of the bag, to serve as a "starter" for ripping it open.

The ink cartridges for my printer come in vac-sealed plastic, with a little v-notch for tearing them open. That's what made me think of it.

Thanks!

scafool: "It is likely for the same reason beer never lasts around here once you open the case."

First it was open ammo that doesn't last, now it beer? What's going on with you people?

I'd done up most of the bagged ammo with a starter cut. The thing is, these poly bags don't tear at all. They reluctantly stretch. I can't complain too much, because that toughness is what makes them good for storage.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I need to find the camera and post some pictures. They really are a handy size and neat way to pack ammo.