Did you know that many U.S. states and cities have laws that could subject a gun owner to one-year imprisonment and a hefty fine in case of improper gun and ammo storage?
Findings of gun violence-prevention organizations have shown that around 350 children unintentionally shoot themselves every year — that’s almost one child every day! As such, it’s no wonder lawmakers across the U.S. have been regularly changing gun laws in hopes of increasing gun safety.
However, the good news is that keeping your guns locked and unloaded, separated from the ammunition and inaccessible to children reduces the risk of injury by 78%.
Now that we’ve established the importance of proper gun and ammo storage, let’s look into what it entails. Here are the best four ways to store firearms and ammo safely.
Avoid storing your guns and your ammo in high humidity and high-temperature spaces.
Good storage conditions are the number one factor in extending the lifespan of both your gun and your ammo. Did you know that applying proper storage methods can have your gun performing just as effectively even a hundred years after its purchase?
While guns and ammo are generally durable, you don’t want to keep your valuables in the open air and exposed to the sunlight. This would lead to gun and ammo oxidation and, ultimately, destruction within just weeks.
Instead, you want to keep them in closed spaces, under very specific conditions.
Temperature changes in your storage, particularly extreme heat and high humidity, lead to a faster decay of your gun’s components due to mold growth and other factors that may affect its performance.
Humidity leads to rust and corrosion, which is incredibly hard to repair. If your guns and your ammo are valuable to you, you should store them at around a 50% humidity and a 70o F temperature.
High temperatures may lead to ammo degradation within time, which will likely cause your shots to fall short of the target at first, and then stop your rounds from firing altogether.
Some good investments you might want to look into would be a gun safe hygrometer and dehumidifiers. Dehumidifiers are good not only for protecting your guns from damage, but also for protecting the shells of your ammunition and keeping your gun powder dry.
Safely dispose of your old ammo and rotate it with the new
Gunpowder loses its potency over time, which essentially makes the ammunition ineffective. For that reason, you want to dispose of your oldest ammunition when it’s no longer fresh.
A way to tell whether your ammo is fresh is to label its containers, properly organize it and check on it seasonally to make sure that it remains in good condition. Deficient ammo has to go!
Don’t bury the old ammunition in the ground or throw it into the trash because it’s not good for the environment and it’s unsafe.
A better course of action would be to check with your local police station whether they’d take old ammunition for recycling. Alternatively, you could check with your local hazardous waste location or a local gun range.
When you buy ammo, make sure to mark it with the date of purchase. That way, when you’re replacing old ammo with the new, you can make sure that you’re first disposing of the oldest purchases.
If you need help with restocking your ammo, Natchez Shooters Supplies can take care of that for you and ensure the safe delivery of high-quality ammunition to your doorstep.
Store your ammo by its type
If you’re a passionate gun owner, you’re likely aware of the unprecedented shortage of ammunition due to high demand. This means that you’re likely buying your ammo in bulk, which is smart!
If you’re buying in bulk, you’re likely receiving all your ammo stored in original boxes, and believe it or not, these shipping cartons are the ideal solution for long-term storage of your ammo.
Original containers ensure less movement of your ammo and therefore prevent your ammo from getting damaged, scratched, or dented.
Moreover, these boxes usually indicate the brand, the grain, and the caliber of your ammo, which makes it much easier for you to trade it. This can provide you with a great advantage during market peaks and ammo shortages.
Keeping your ammo labelled and organized separately will ultimately save you lots of headaches, so having designated corners in your storage space for different ammo is the way to go!
Safe storage applies to the transportation of your gun, as well.
Safety in gun and ammo transportation can mean many things. Abiding by the local, state, and federal laws of wherever you’re traveling with your firearm and ammo is the most important thing.
Generally, the legislation requires your to store your guns in the trunk of your vehicle or, if you don’t have one, in a secure locked container.
Storing your gun and ammo in your car’s storage cubbies or glove compartment is usually a big no-no. Some states’ laws are also strict about your gun being unloaded during transportation, so it would be best to check with the local law enforcement about these rules before starting your trip.
When transporting gun and ammo via planes, civilians are subjected to even stricter rules. You are not allowed to store a gun and ammunition anywhere in checked baggage. They must be securely packed in hard casing and there are restrictions in regard to the ammunition size and the amount.
While your ammunition clips can be loaded if securely boxed in carry-on baggage, you have to report all hazardous ammo components to the airport security. On the other hand, you are never allowed to carry a loaded firearm onto an airplane.[VK1] [N2]
As you can tell, secure ammo and gun storage keeps you and your loved ones safe, reducing the risk of life-threatening injuries. In addition, it prolongs the lifespan of your stock , allowing your guns and ammunition to remain operations for decades.
[VK1]Does this refer only to traveling by plane or generally?
[N2]I’ve added clarification that this is connected to the paragraph talking about transportation via plane.
