Owning a gun might be a cause of major debate in several countries right now, but it’s certainly something to consider at times. If you live in a dangerous neighborhood, want to prepare for emergencies, or simply have a job that requires a gun, you also need to read up on proper gun safety and storage. Gun safes are a must-have for gun owners, but it’s a different matter when we think about the bullets.
Many licensed gun owners and survivalists know how vital it is to stock bullets before an emergency, but what’s the verdict on ammo storage? As is the case with fresh meals, improper storage can lead to bullet degradation to the point of rendering it useless or even hazardous to use.
Other potential issues caused by improper storage include:
1. Deteriorating of the charge over time.
2. Loss of sensitivity in primers.
3. Corrosion malfunctions that can modify the characteristic or size of the bullets, making it risky to use.
4-.The cartridge could weaken and even rupture while the user is about to fire.
Naturally, none of us want to feel endangered or put our loved ones in danger by having a weapon stored improperly. We all take precautions when cleaning and handling guns, but we might forget about the bullets that actually make the gun a weapon. In order to ensure complete safety, we should start looking at ways to store bullets properly.
How About Storing Bullets in a Gun Safe?
There’s always the option to store bullets in a gun safe, but is it a good idea? Will your bullets stay secure and durable in those locked boxes?
The short answers to both these questions are yes. Below, we’ll be looking at the various reasons as to why a gun safe would be the best option for both guns and their bullets. There are other options, of course, such as regular lockers or a gun cabinet, but an introduction to gun safes will soon make us see their worth.
To start with, it makes sense to store bullets in a gun safe due to the following reasons:
1. Less Humidity
Humidity is one of the biggest enemies of bullet health. Simply speaking, brass and extra moisture don’t go hand in hand. Many bullets are made out of brass, so we need to take the features of this material into account. There are several other materials used for bullets, such as copper, steel, lead, etc. By being careful about humidity levels for gun storage in general, we may ensure that every kind of bullet material will be as safe from corrosion and rust as possible.
Primers, along with any casings, can corrode easily and labeled as unsafe to use. The best gun safes offer a dry environment that is designed to seal bullets securely and keep moisture at bay. However, even after storing ammo in a gun safe, you want to avoid high humidity spaces.
Even after storage in a gun safe, you might suspect that the bullets were exposed to moisture. This could happen even without the corrosion showing right away. In order to be perfectly sure there’s no deterioration here, you might want to try using the bullets as a test. If this is so, consider placing a dehumidifier alongside and ensure they’re dry before you put them in the gun.
2. Family Safety
A big part of ammunition storage is a concern for family safety. While most gun owners have their weapons due to a desire for protecting their families in worst-case scenarios, the precaution could definitely become a cause for danger itself.
This means that it is wise to protect the health of your family and bullets by either locking the guns and bullets in a gun safe or ammo safe. Several accidents have already occurred where young members of the family figure out how to put bullets inside the gun and inadvertently use it in the wrong manner.
With a range of action flicks full of gun scenes; kids can get misleading ideas in their heads. Hence, it’s not only crucial to teach the young ones about the functioning of firearms, but it’s also vital to tell them about their dangers. However, before anything else, store your ammo in a safe area, such as in a locked gun case, so children cannot access them.
Fortunately, gun safes are not hard to locate nor are they too expensive. Many are even portable, so you can carry your weapon with you while on the go without worrying about mishandling it.
3. Temperature Balance
When rounds are exposed to a higher temperature and then brought back in a place with a normal level, nitroglycerin – one of the main elements in gunpowder – doesn’t always change back to its original state after becoming gaseous. This can result in potential issues and hazards along with causing an imbalance in the cartridge.
So, if you live somewhere that goes to 30 F in the cold season and 100 F in the summer season, it may not be a good idea to store a gun or bullet outside. A space where the temperature stays consistent and a bit below 125 degrees is going to work out the best. If you live in a region where the climate is more or less stable all year round, consult an expert on the subject on whether you need a gun safe or not.
4. Easy Rotation
When you purchase ammo, but you don’t have a plan to visit the range straight away, it’s smart to indicate the date you got them on the packaging. You could even use the date as the passcode for the gun safe.
When you decide to visit the range for some practice, grab the oldest ammo fist. That habit ensures you have the best and freshest quality ammo at hand. How does a gun safe help in such cases? It lets you take out the bullets faster than you’d be able to if you were to keep ammo stored outside the house or in a faraway location. Other than that, it’s also a good decision to use individual storage containers for each rounds’ caliber.
Always Store Bullets in a Gun Safe, Not a Magazine
Unless you’re currently using the gun for self-defense (either for concealed carrying or inside your home), never place your ammo inside a magazine. Experts say that storing bullets in a magazine can wear the spring that inserts the next round in your gun’s chamber out. Hence, your bullets may fail to chamber correctly. Keep bullets in a gun safe and rotate between two magazines frequently to maintain proper functioning of your bullets and guns.
Conclusion
While the gun safe idea might have some pros and cons, it’s certainly the most logical space for storing your bullets. Most users of the gun safe we’ve mentioned above have said that keeping their firearms away from young kids is a priority. You might have different requirements for your gun safe, so make sure to think carefully before making a final decision.