How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

[jlficken]

I stopped buying guns for the most part a few years back and started concentrating on ammo/reloading components.

I have a fairly large quantity of powder and primers and would like ideas how to secure them best since there is a lot of $$ invested in these items.

Also, before anyone says I am hoarding it was all bought 2-3 years ago and not panic bought I am just trying to get stuff bought before I have kids and lose my ammo/gun budget. Also these things never get cheaper. I have enough bullets to load 90% of my powder and primer stash.


All of that said:

Any ideas/designs on steel/wood lockable cabinets? I don't want fireproof or airtight I just want lockable so as to stop the smash and grab types.

Also ideas on storing a few hundred pounds of bullets would be helpful as well.

Thanks

 

[KHOOKS]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

I found a large locker it's like the big football lockers in school. I built shelves out of wood and attached them inside the locker and it will hold a lot of stuff and is lockable. Works good for me and I only gave 35$ of the old locker.

 

[Munimula]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

Get a broken refrigerator and put a lock on the side of it. Insulated, sealed, and non discript. Most people don't try to steal your milk and eggs.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

I have loaded ammo stored in ammo cans and stacked in a double door metal wall locker. The shelves are reinforced to handle the loads. I picked up the unit at a surplus sale for $25.

Powder is stored in a 1" plywood cabinet with a lock. I made it from scrap lumber I had left after a different job was completed.

The primers are stored in a 20mm ammo can in their original factory boxes. I welded 2 steel pins to the sides of the box that will lock the handles. Keyed alike locks from Home Depot top it off.

Good luck.

 

[M855]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

A jobox tool chest bolted down is great,there are many brands like this even home depot has their own line of them

 

[MacMan]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

I installed 5/8" drywall in my old jobox for fire protection,store powder,primers etc..Had to do something as my vault is full.

 

[Quicky06]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

I have an old VHS tape cabinet that I put everything in and it has a lock on it. I could pop it open in a couple seconds with prybar though.

I'm currently designing a wooden cabinet that will hold all my powder primers and bullets in drawers and have a rack ontop to hold a couple rifles / pistols. Probly out of 3/4" mdf or 1/2" pine I havnt decided yet

 

[MacMan]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

Thinking of purchasing one of these for organization and fire rating:
http://www.fireking.com/fireking_file_fk25.html

 

[former naval person]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

Fire regulations state thick wooden walls for the storage units to retard fire. As Jaffer says: I go to my local pawn shop and purchase,as they come out of pawn, the contractors secure boxes (referred to above as JOBOXES) used on job sites. I line them with thick plaster type wall board and fill them with 50 caliber boxes of things with dessicant packs inside of the boxes. Aside from spiders and roaches, nothing bothers them. Being metal as well, static electricity bleeds off into the ground. They reside in my old dog pen. Away from the house.

 

[jlficken]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I will look for one of those boxes and failing that I like the idea of thick wood with heavy shelves.


I am a bit nervous about primers in an ammo can though. Wouldn't that be an explosion hazard?

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

Primers in the original makers cartons are packed so there can't be a sympathetic or chain explosion. I store them in an ammo can with either dry chalk or desicant packs to keep the moisture out. Sitting out in the open air for very long will kill primers. And zip-lock bags don't always seal very well. And they also wear in places and start to leak.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

The key concept is to have a container that will vent, if it must, at a low pressure. It's the pressure containment that does the damage because it creates flying debris and shrapnel, and also increases the order of the detonation, resulting in more dangerously powerful pressure waves.

I have gotten into some heated discussions regarding the safety of ammo cans.

Their latches are designed to pop open before they reach the point where they will rupture and create shrapnel. But there's nothing gentle about the process, and anything that blocks the lid and/or latch from achieving full motion will defeat the safety aspects.

I'd say they are perhaps better than nothing, but I'd also not want to be a fireman going in when one or more are getting ready to go "POW".

Use you own judgement, but don't count on them as pure safety devices.

Greg

 

[Lt. Arclight]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

+1, the "Job Boxes" come in so many sizes now, it sure beats trying to build anything that will even come close.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: How to securely store powder/primers and bullets

I use ammo cans and a $100 4 foot wide cabinet. I'm not to worried about ammo and components for theft. Limiting fire and posible explosion (explosive combustion) is maore of a concern.

For bullets, the wire rack shelving supports a lot of weight in a small foot print.