Stocking up on ammunition and storing it away “just in case” is, in my opinion, a good idea for many reasons. Whether we find ourselves amid another ammo shortage like we experienced in 2020 or we are prevented from acquiring more thanks to government overreach, the list is long as to why having extra on hand is a good practice. The intent of stockpiling ammunition isn’t because you honestly believe you might need to shoot that much during an emergency. It is to preserve your ability to continually train, hunt, and supply others within your community regardless of access to any additional supply. With that in mind, there are a few ways I personally like to store ammunition based on the intended purpose.
Long-Term Ammo Storage
Once you get into the higher numbers of stocked-up ammunition, a large percentage will sit on the shelf for a long time, acting as a reserve. Personally, I will cycle out my range and training ammunition out of the same storage location by replenishing it as it is used. This means the reserve stock is just on the shelf, never being rotated, waiting for that possible long-term emergency event. Because of that, you want to store the ammunition in a way that protects it from the elements as much as possible to extend its shelf life. Ammo can last a very long time if it isn’t affected by corrosion. Corrosion is caused when the ammunition is exposed to moisture and temperature fluctuations. Corrosion can cause catastrophic malfunctions by weakening the case or damaging the primer, which is why it’s important to store ammo properly for the long term.
My preferred method for long-term storage is to use a Military Surplus Ammo Can for the container, as their steel construction is extremely durable, they have a rubber gasket that creates a watertight seal, and they stack well for the sake of organization. Not to mention, they are usually affordable, considering they’re a surplus item. I place the ammunition in loose, removed from the boxes. My reason for doing this is to expand the amount of ammo that can fit into the container by removing the bulk of the boxes and any excess moisture trapped by the cardboard. One caveat here is that you need to ensure all the cartridges in the can are of the same type to avoid any confusion. I don’t mix loose rounds. If a can is full of Hornady Black 5.56x45mm NATO Ammo 62 Grain Full Metal Jacket, that is the only cartridge type you will find in that can. I add a MidwayUSA Silica Desiccant packet to remove any remaining moisture, close the lid, and label it. Very simple, affordable, and proven to be extremely effective. You can use this same method and leave the ammo in the original boxes if you prefer, and it will likely work just as well. I just prefer removing the bulk and possible excess moisture, just in case.
Range & Training Ammo Storage
As previously stated, I store my range and training ammo in a different location using a different method to make it more accessible. Since I replenish what I shoot from this supply to avoid digging into my long-term storage, it's easier for me to limit consumption by only using what’s available in this inventory. I also prefer storing this ammo in a decently portable way so I can load it up and take it out wherever I might go to shoot. Luckily, there is a perfect option for this that I have been using for a while now.
The MTM 3-Can Ammo Crate Combo with 50 Caliber Cans is a perfect solution for this exact task. They also offer other options with smaller cans to get what works best for you. Personally, I like the 3-can setup as I don’t need a ton of different ammunition types all at once. Since this setup is distinctly different from my Military Surplus Ammo Can 50 Caliber, it’s easily identified as range and training ammo storage. Each ammo crate can easily store over 1000 rounds of 5.56, or 9mm, and around 700 rounds of .308. That’s generally overkill for a day at the range and can get you through most training with extra left on hand. This helps limit consumption if you hold yourself to only shooting what’s in these cases before needing to replenish. And since those storage numbers are decent, you get a lot of trigger time in before you have to restock.
For this purpose, I generally leave the ammo in boxes and skip the desiccant pack as I expect to go through it quickly. I will often shoot whatever ammo for the range and training as well, which means there’s likely to be a mixture of different ammo types, which makes having the boxes more beneficial. Of course, I only store one cartridge type per can, but the loadings can vary, unlike what I do for long-term storage.
Another benefit of the MTM 3-Can Ammo Crate is the “crate” part. It comes with a handled tray in which the ammo cans are nested. The handles make moving all the cans together much easier. The tray also provides tie-down points for slapping on the back of your ATV or in the bed of your truck. The ammo cans are a durable polymer and O-ring sealed to keep moisture out, so they’ll be fine out on the backroads. Even better, the crates are stackable if you have more than one. By using this method and separating my range and training ammo from my long-term storage, I have become more organized, portable, and frugal with this portion of my ammo supply.
Quick Access Emergency Storage
Now, not everyone might find this storage idea to be necessary, but I have a healthy skepticism of the stability we currently enjoy. Because of that, I like to have some ammo set aside and stored in magazines, ready to be retrieved immediately in an emergency. This would allow me a decent amount of ready-to-use ammunition that can quickly be thrown in a vehicle or relocated to a defensible position without messing around with administrative tasks like loading magazines. Luckily, high-quality magazines can be stored even when loaded for a very long time without wearing out, as the actual compression and decompression cycles of a spring are what truly degrade tension over time.
To fulfill this role, I use two similar products: MTM Tactical AR/Pistol Mag Can and MTM Tactical AR Mag Can. These are ammo can-style containers that have foam inserts that let you organize loaded magazines in a way that is easily accessed while maintaining a manageable weight. Between the two ammo cans, I have ten 17-round Glock Factory Magazines and twenty-five 30-round Magpul PMAG M3 Magazines. That equates to 170 rounds of 9mm Luger and 750 rounds of 5.56 NATO ready to go in magazines. That’s a pretty solid amount of resupply if needed. I also place a desiccant packet in each case as I leave these magazines alone. They’re loaded up and ready to go and I don’t touch them. They truly are just for an emergency.
You can technically fit many more magazines in each case if you remove the foam insert or decide to squeeze extras between the magazines. However, the numbers are already decently high, and by limiting what you can fit in these cases, they maintain a manageable weight. Since this is meant to be a portable ammo supply, I find weight important. The way the magazines are organized within the container is also a benefit, as they stick straight up so that they are easily retrieved if needed. Because of all of the aforementioned reasons, I really like these cases for this type of ammo storage. Like the mentioned ammo cans, these are durable and have an O-ring seal.
Conclusion
Ammunition stockpile storage does not have to be difficult. It really is a simple concept. However, many options on the market today can help keep things more organized. And having dedicated purposes for the different portions of your ammunition supply can help with inventory management. Personally, I’ve found that by using these methods, I feel more prepared, less worried about the condition of my ammo stored for the long term, and more frugal with my ammo consumption. This is why I wanted to share these ideas. And even if you don’t use any of them, remember... you can never have enough ammo.
--Magic Prepper