Federal Ammunition and others suggest a conservative shelf life of 10 years for ammo. This doesn't mean your ammo will suddenly go bad after a decade. The key factor is the storage environment. Heat and moisture are the main enemies.
If you can keep the humidity below 50 percent and maintain a mild, stable temperature (around 70 degrees or cooler), you'll significantly reduce the chances of moisture or corrosion issues.
The best way to preserve your ammunition is to store it in a cool, dry place. This also helps slow down the natural breakdown of smokeless powder over time. While reactions within the powder can eventually weaken the load, keeping it cool slows these oxidation reactions more effectively than extremely cold environments.
Avoid storing ammo in uncooled buildings, car interiors, or basements without temperature control, as these conditions are detrimental.
Thank you! Very thorough explanation.
Thread collapsed