How much is enough

[Tracker]

I have several rounds of surplus ammo but am worried about storing too much. I mean I don't want to endager fire figthers should there be a fire at my house. Is there a safe way to store ammo that won't endanger them?

 

[5.56blaster]

It just sort of pops when it goes off in a house fire.

 

[rj1974]

I have several rounds of surplus ammo but am worried about storing too much. I mean I don't want to endager fire figthers should there be a fire at my house. Is there a safe way to store ammo that won't endanger them?

You can store it at my house .Where should I pick it up ?

 

[teratos]

You can store it at my house .Where should I pick it up ?

 

[WeaponsCollector]

Myth busters did a test and found that the casings tend to fly more than the bullets do when they blow up from being in a fire.
Ammo needs to be chambered in order for the bullet to fire so if you have a chambered round loaded in a gun it can fire the bullet during a house fire.
Unchambered loose or boxed ammo really shouldn't be lethal in a house fire unless you have a giant pile of thousands of rounds and it all blows up at the same time like a bomb(not even sure if that's possible).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAK2dDQ-S4Q

 

[Tracker]

Ok that's funny I was just trying to be responsible. Never mind.

 

[CasualObserver]

It just sort of pops and explodes, but usually with less the lethal results. I guess if you toss a case of it on a bon fire you might not want to stand too close while you drink your beer. If it worries you, get a fire resistent safe and store it in there.

 

[Dan44]

I asked my firefighter brother that same question. They are more worried about paint and fuel cans then ammo.

 

[rj1974]

Ok that's funny I was just trying to be responsible. Never mind.

I keep most of mine in some Knaak job boxes in the basement . I put heavy duty wheels on them so I can move them if need be . Some is stored in GI ammo cans in various spots throughout the house , some in the safes and some in magazines .



If there is a fire they can pop but not with near the velocity of a fired round from a firearm .

 

[Tracker]

I asked my firefighter brother that same question. They are more worried about paint and fuel cans then ammo.

Thanks, coming from a FF I feel better about storing ammo, Just didn't want to hurt anyone unless I meant too. Especially someone who is trying to help me

 

[smokedog]

Don't know how much you have to store but one of those cheap sentry safes from home depot or lowes will add some level of fire protection.

 

[Tracker]

Don't know how much you have to store but one of those cheap sentry safes from home depot or lowes will add some level of fire protection.

It's not really that much but I have always been apprehensive about keepng alot without some safe storage. I won't worry about it anymore based on the responses here. Thanks folks

 

[Machodoc]

I know one guy who has his larger amounts of ammo and reloading powder in military containers that are in large plastic containers that are in a larger plastic trash bin outside his storage shed. There's almost no chance it will ever be exposed to fire, it stays very dry, and nobody has any need to go into his yard and look inside the trash ... but he doesn't have many neighbors, either.

 

[CraZ4GunZ]

You can store it at my house .Where should I pick it up ?

I'm late to this one, but I KNEW somebody was going to beat me to it!

 

[Chaunsey]

black powder is explosive, that should not be stored in large amounts in your house, and there is a legal limit to the amount of powder you are allowed to store in your house anyway.

ammo is perfectly safe, it just pops and burns, this is because smokeless powder is a propellant, not an explosive like black powder.

worst case scenario, a fire fighter going through your burning house finds your giant stash of 200,000 rounds, and all he sees is a mountain of boxes with flames coming out of them

 

[Tracker]

black powder is explosive, that should not be stored in large amounts in your house, and there is a legal limit to the amount of powder you are allowed to store in your house anyway.

ammo is perfectly safe, it just pops and burns, this is because smokeless powder is a propellant, not an explosive like black powder.

worst case scenario, a fire fighter going through your burning house finds your giant stash of 200,000 rounds, and all he sees is a mountain of boxes with flames coming out of them

200,000? Not quite. Maybe 2500

 

[maddogthegreatest]

Here is more comprehensive educational video about Fire and Ammo.



www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SlOXowwC4c