How to Store Ammo in Your Gun Safe

If you’re a gun owner, you probably already know that ammunition can get expensive. So it’s important to take the necessary steps to not only protect the investment of your firearms but also the ammo you need for them. We’re going to cover how to store ammo and the best practices you need to keep in mind.

Why Proper Ammunition Storage Safety Matters

Proper ammunition storage is more than just keeping your ammo out of sight—it’s about ensuring safety, longevity, and legal compliance. Here are a few reasons why storing ammo correctly is so important:

Safety Concerns

Ammunition that is improperly stored poses significant safety risks. When your ammo isn’t secured, it can easily fall into the hands of children or other unauthorized individuals, increasing the potential for misuse.

While ammunition is less flammable than some assume, improperly stored ammo in high-heat environments can also become a fire hazard. That’s why fire-resistant safes and/or containers for your ammo can mitigate this danger.

Preservation

Ammunition is an investment, and proper storage ensures that it performs as intended when needed. If ammo is exposed to humid environments, it can quickly experience corrosion on the casing or primer, rendering the ammo unreliable and unsafe to use.

Corroded ammunition can have a big impact on its performance, as it may fail to fire, misfire, or cause damage to the firearm itself. With the proper care and storage techniques, ammunition can remain viable for a long period of time. The best way to preserve the quality of your ammunition is by storing it in a cool, dry environment.

Compliance With Regulations

There isn’t a universal law around storing ammunition, but it’s important to refer to your local regulations to make sure you’re complying with those requirements. Plus, if you’re dealing with insurance policies, it’s important to review their rules for firearm and ammo storage just to make sure you aren’t violating that agreement.

By prioritizing safe and proper ammunition storage, you protect your household, preserve your investment, and ensure you remain compliant with local laws. These practices not only enhance security but also provide peace of mind for gun owners.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Ammo

There are a few things you want to be aware of when it comes to storing your ammunition. Let’s go over a few of the common mistakes.

Neglecting Humid Conditions

It’s quite common for safes to collect humidity over time when you don’t utilize the right tools to combat the issue. This isn’t always a blatant issue for gun safe owners, and the worst thing that could happen is opening your safe and discovering that your supply has been damaged.

Humidity causes significant corrosion to your guns and ammo over time, so taking proactive steps to maintain dry conditions within your safe is worth the time and effort. Not only can corrosion occur, but mold and mildew can accumulate in the safe and around your valuables the longer the moisture remains.

Overcrowding

Overcrowding your firearms and ammo in your gun safe can be a detriment to you during emergency situations. In cases where you need to access your guns and ammunition quickly, the last thing you need is to fumble through your unorganized safe to get what you’re looking for. Every second counts, so dedicating the time to organize and label everything in your safe now so that you have an easier time maneuvering through it later, is extremely important.

Best Practices for Storing Ammo in a Gun Safe

Now let’s go over what steps you can take to avoid the mistakes we’ve mentioned and protect your ammo inventory.

Separate Guns & Ammo

To maintain organization, you should store your guns and ammo in separate areas of your safe. Some state laws require guns to be unloaded no matter if you’re storing them at home or transporting them somewhere. Similar to what we mentioned earlier, it’s important to check with your local area to make sure you’re following those regulations.

It’s best to store ammo at the bottom of your safe. Since ammunition is usually heavy, placing it on a shelf could cause it to collapse under the weight. Keeping it at the bottom offers a more stable and secure option.

Maintain a Dry Environment

If there’s one key takeaway from this article, it’s this: control humidity and keep the interior of your safe dry. There are some affordable solutions for this such as silica packets which minimize humidity levels. Another option is to purchase a gun safe dehumidifier that regulates the interior conditions.

dehumidifier

These efforts will help you protect your guns and ammunition from experiencing any corrosion or degradation. It’s best to take a proactive approach, as it’s often that many gun safe owners only recognize the importance of dehumidification after discovering their valuables have been damaged.

Utilize Storage Containers

Not only will additional containers in your safe help with organization, but they can add another layer of protection to your supply. Many fireproof containers on the market can serve as a great storage solution. While many of our safes have strong fire ratings, it doesn’t hurt to bulk up your protection even more with quality containers.

Additional Tools and Accessories for How to Store Ammo

To maximize the space of your gun safe, we’re going to share some additional accessories you can use to effectively organize your collection.

Cabinets & Racks

If your gun safe has limited space, adding cabinets or racks can help improve organization. American Security offers storage cabinets designed to hold smaller valuables, freeing up more room in your safe for firearms and ammunition. This setup allows you to maximize available space while keeping everything neatly organized.

gun safe storage cabinet

A feature that comes standard with our gun safes is our door organizer. This helps you maximize space by giving you another area to store more guns or ammunition that would otherwise be dispersed in the safe itself.

Gun Safe Door Shelving Organizer

Lockable Storage Boxes

If you don’t have room in your gun safe or you have a bulk amount of ammo you don’t want to clutter the interior with, you can invest in lockable storage boxes. They come in a wide range of sizes, so depending on how large your inventory is and if you plan on transporting it, you can select the right one for you.

Dehumidifiers & Hygrometers

While we briefly touched on the importance of dehumidifiers, they often go well with hygrometers. This tool helps measure the level of vapor in the air and gives you a better idea of how you should manage the humidity within your safe.

Final Thoughts on How to Store Ammo Effectively

Storing ammo safely and effectively is straightforward, but it’s easy to overlook these simple strategies. Unfortunately, many only realize the need for better storage after discovering their ammunition has been damaged or compromised. By staying proactive and adopting the right storage practices, you can protect your investment, extend its lifespan, and reduce potential risks.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to American Security for any advice on storing your guns and ammo, we’d be happy to help you come up with the right solution for your needs.

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