View Full Version : Howe much ammo are you allowed to store?
Are there laws/ordinances regarding how much ammo one can store in their home? I've got about 5k rounds of various calibers in the house (I know that's probably nothing compared to some of you!) but even this modest amount would pose a danger if there were a fire or such in my home. Is there a legal, or more importantly, a common sense limit? Is there a best practice/location for storage? Right now I just have it all locked up in .50 cal ammo boxes next to my gun case. Is there a better or safer way?
Bailey Guns
12-14-2009, 09:51
I know of no laws/ordinances in CO that limit the amount of ammo you can store in your home.
Ammo is also very safe in the unlikely event of a fire, relatively speaking, when compared to many other things you store in your house or garage. I wouldn't worry about it.
iamhunter
12-14-2009, 10:13
You do realize that the whole "ammo shooting in a fire" thing is complete, hollywood made BS.
Next time your at a campfire, take a bullet and throw it in to the flame, watch what happens.
It'll just pop apart.
The "firing" of a bullet is dependent upon the pressure created by the containment of the bullet in the champer, and the expansion of gas in the barrel.
Withouth these factors, a bullet is pretty much useless.
If a box of your ammo were to catch on fire, you'd find nothing but a bunch of seperated bullets/casings.
that is completely illegal. Lucky for you I have a storage facility at my home that has been approved and I will store it for you for only 20% of the ammo per month.
[ROFL1] just kidding, you are good to go.
Thanks for the info guys. Sniper7, thanks for the 'offer', but I think I'll manage. =)
Since I'm planning to acquire as much ammo as I can afford over time, I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any govt intrusion, err I mean laws, over my possession of large amounts of ammo. And it's good to know it doesn't pose any more danger than the explosive stuff I store in my garage.
Just remember, a ranch becomes a "compound" just about the time the FBI or ATF decide that you have too much ammo, too many guns, or have funny religious practices.....[Bang]
However, it IS a good idea to put said ammo in some sort of safe. Not good to have it laying around in case of burgalry, fire, kids, etc.
BTW, half of us are jealous, at least I am. I find my wallet screaming over just a few hundred rounds. The more ammo, the merrier! Have fun.
iamhunter
12-14-2009, 11:37
However, it IS a good idea to put said ammo in some sort of safe. Not good to have it laying around in case of burgalry, fire, kids, etc.
It is a good idea to keep ammo in a safe if you have the room available... although not completely necessary. even if a child got a hold of your ammo they'd be hard pressed to hurt themselves with it aside from swallowing it.
And like i said, in a hot fire, ammo will ignite, but not with enough force to cause any damage. The ammo will simply pop apart.
So if you don't have the safe room, put it in a closet or a basement and don't worry about it. It'll be fine. If your house catches on fire, the worst you're looking at is buying some new ammunition.
That being said, loaded weapons can be extremely dangerous in the event of a fire. So be sure that anything aside from your bedside gun is either unloaded or kept in a safe...
It is a good idea to keep ammo in a safe if you have the room available... although not completely necessary. even if a child got a hold of your ammo they'd be hard pressed to hurt themselves with it aside from swallowing it.
And like i said, in a hot fire, ammo will ignite, but not with enough force to cause any damage. The ammo will simply pop apart.
So if you don't have the safe room, put it in a closet or a basement and don't worry about it. It'll be fine. If your house catches on fire, the worst you're looking at is buying some new ammunition.
That being said, loaded weapons can be extremely dangerous in the event of a fire. So be sure that anything aside from your bedside gun is either unloaded or kept in a safe...
and remember to keep it pointed away from you while you are sleeping.
and don't worry you are only at the beginning of your ammo whoring! ask me how I know[Coffee]
even if a child got a hold of your ammo they'd be hard pressed to hurt themselves with it aside from swallowing it.
And like i said, in a hot fire, ammo will ignite, but not with enough force to cause any damage.
That being said, loaded weapons can be extremely dangerous in the event of a fire. So be sure that anything aside from your bedside gun is either unloaded or kept in a safe...
Point one: I've seen kids do some strange things.. I'd rather they not hold/touch until they are properly taught.
Point Two: Firemen will feel more secure and act a lot quicker if ammo is in some sort of restraint instead of laying about the house. Cops will actually file a report on theft instead of saying "You should've locked it up".... lol, ask me how I know. HAHAHA.
Point Three: Totally agree with third statement.
Point Four: Merry Christmas ALL!!!
I've got it all in locked 50 cal ammo cans for now. It's enough to keep my kids out of it which is my primary concern. Not a huge anti-theft deterrent but I'm not concerned about that as much as safety. Thanks for the advice guys and have a great Christmas.
Only 5k? Pfffttt, neophyte! [Tooth]
newracer
12-14-2009, 17:09
I have all mine in a metal shelved cabinet that locks.
7.62x39(4)life
12-14-2009, 17:11
http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/5e0/e86/5e0e86b6-7c72-4e33-a170-3f558c7d1ae9
I would store my ammo in a "job box" you can lock it and if it is full of ammo it can't be moved. also they usually have recessed padlocks that you can't get to, to cut them off.
you could line it with a fiber board type insulation to make it more fire resistant
I would have 3/4 of the box be for ammo, and then i would have 1/4 of the space for powder with a custom plywood box on the inside to hold the powder.
also would be sweet for loaded magazine storage
or accessories that are somewhat valuable
heck bolt that thing to the floor in the basement
the picture is amazing and so is the rest of the photo album it is part of
I don't even have 5 % of the ammo this guy does
"buy it cheap and stack it deep"
I just roll up 10 rounds in each pair of socks.
http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/5e0/e86/5e0e86b6-7c72-4e33-a170-3f558c7d1ae9
I would store my ammo in a "job box" you can lock it and if it is full of ammo it can't be moved. also they usually have recessed padlocks that you can't get to, to cut them off.
you could line it with a fiber board type insulation to make it more fire resistant
I would have 3/4 of the box be for ammo, and then i would have 1/4 of the space for powder with a custom plywood box on the inside to hold the powder.
also would be sweet for loaded magazine storage
or accessories that are somewhat valuable
heck bolt that to the floor in the basement
the picture is amazing and so is the rest of the photo album it is part of
I don't even have 5 % of the ammo this guy does
"buy it cheap and stack it deep"
I'd thought of that before too, glad to see someone did it! Once I'd bought a bunch of .30 and .50 steel surplus ammo cans to put my stuff in, that kinda killed the toolbox idea, I'd have to have a HUGE one. I'm leaning now towards building a locking cabinet in the garage to keep it in. That way, when I want to go shooting, I'll just grab the ammo cans that I want and go. I won't have to tote them up from the basement, that gets to be a real drag when you wanna go shoot 10 different calibers.
MichiganMilitia
12-14-2009, 17:56
I won't have to tote them up from the basement, that gets to be a real drag when you wanna go shoot 10 different calibers.
You have TEN different calibers??? [Eek2]
I only have three!
DD977GM2
12-14-2009, 18:15
Like all the others have said, no laws or ordinances about sotring ammo. I built a wooden shelving for my ammo and also I have my SHTF grab buckets of ammo all in ammo cans for easy grab and go if I have to head to the mountains. Those totes hold around 5k rounds each. If I have ot head to the mountains due to zombies or Russians, I will have 10k rounds of all my ammo for hunting and defense. [Beer]
Pics of my ammo cabinet to come when I get home[UZI][M2][AR15][MG][Sniper][Ban3]
How come no one has suggested "However much your wife says is okay!" yet?
http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/5e0/e86/5e0e86b6-7c72-4e33-a170-3f558c7d1ae9
I would store my ammo in a "job box" you can lock it and if it is full of ammo it can't be moved. also they usually have recessed padlocks that you can't get to, to cut them off.
you could line it with a fiber board type insulation to make it more fire resistant
I would have 3/4 of the box be for ammo, and then i would have 1/4 of the space for powder with a custom plywood box on the inside to hold the powder.
also would be sweet for loaded magazine storage
or accessories that are somewhat valuable
heck bolt that thing to the floor in the basement
the picture is amazing and so is the rest of the photo album it is part of
I don't even have 5 % of the ammo this guy does
"buy it cheap and stack it deep"
Unfortunatly,, I actually have tools in mine... [Bang]
Driftwood
12-14-2009, 18:59
How come no one has suggested "However much your wife says is okay!" yet?
Because we're all men!
[Peep]
[Coffee] [Alrigh]
You have TEN different calibers??? [Eek2]
I only have three!
Um, lessee....
.22lr
.380acp
9x18Mak
9x19Luger
.38Special
.40S&W
.44Magnum
.45acp
.30Carbine
.30-06
.303British
7.62x54R
Guess that's actually 12. [Tooth]
Oh, forgot the shotguns....
.410
20 guage
16 guage
Still have some room to grow.
There is a limit on gun powder it self 50lbs I believe. If you have more than 20lbs you are required to keep said powder in a fire proof safe or wooden box with 1 in thick walls.
I would not recommend throwing live ammo in a fire, when I was 16 my friend zack through about 20 .22lr rounds in the fire while we where camping one of them put a hole in the tip of his nose.
SA Friday
12-14-2009, 20:04
There is a limit on gun powder it self 50lbs I believe. If you have more than 20lbs you are required to keep said powder in a fire proof safe or wooden box with 1 in thick walls.
Do you have a reference for the law that requires this? I would be very interested in reading it.
Smokeless powder is an ORM-D hazardous substance, not an explosive. Black powder is considered a 1.4 explosive even not loaded. Loaded (smokeless) ammo is a class 1.4 explosive at worst. In some cases, it's classified as a 1.6 explosive. Primers are also ORM-D's unloaded, although they are much more dangerous than 50 lbs of bulk smokeless powder as they are impact sensitive.
It's been a while since I dealt with hazardous materials for a living. Back then, ORM-D's and 1.4 Explosives didn't require placcarding when transported or stored in quantities under 10,000 lbs bulk. Storing ammo in ammo boxes and components in a fire cabinet isn't a bad idea, but requiring it in a private residence is a bit of overkill for 20 lbs of smokeless powder. A cap of 50 lbs? That doesn't make any sense either. You can have more than that shipped to a residental address. 50 lbs of powder really isn't that much...
Do you have a reference for the law that requires this?
Local Fire Code.
I plead ignorance as I am over in so many ways, even with a big fire locker.
http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/5e0/e86/5e0e86b6-7c72-4e33-a170-3f558c7d1ae9
I would store my ammo in a "job box" you can lock it and if it is full of ammo it can't be moved. also they usually have recessed padlocks that you can't get to, to cut them off.
you could line it with a fiber board type insulation to make it more fire resistant
I would have 3/4 of the box be for ammo, and then i would have 1/4 of the space for powder with a custom plywood box on the inside to hold the powder.
also would be sweet for loaded magazine storage
or accessories that are somewhat valuable
heck bolt that thing to the floor in the basement
the picture is amazing and so is the rest of the photo album it is part of
I don't even have 5 % of the ammo this guy does
"buy it cheap and stack it deep"
Oh, I like that setup. I'll have to look into something like that eventually. I take it I can find something like that at Lowes or Home Depot?
Only 5k? Pfffttt, neophyte! [Tooth]
I'm working on it. [Weight]
I just recently re-discovered my hobby after a very long absence so I have a lot of learning and buying to do.
ryanek9freak
12-14-2009, 21:07
Local Fire Code.
I plead ignorance as I am over in so many ways, even with a big fire locker.
Yeah, i guess I'm fucked. Say, is this too much reloading stuff just sitting out?.......
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t268/ryanwolfe911/Moregunroomandchewy006.jpghttp://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t268/ryanwolfe911/Moregunroomandchewy008.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t268/ryanwolfe911/Moregunroomandchewy004.jpg
Yea..on second thougt, I could care less. I'll just be sure to tell the firemen to run like hell. I've probably got over 100 lbs total lying around.
all I have is a short semi truck box full.
Do you have a reference for the law that requires this? I would be very interested in reading it.
Smokeless powder is an ORM-D hazardous substance, not an explosive. Black powder is considered a 1.4 explosive even not loaded. Loaded (smokeless) ammo is a class 1.4 explosive at worst. In some cases, it's classified as a 1.6 explosive. Primers are also ORM-D's unloaded, although they are much more dangerous than 50 lbs of bulk smokeless powder as they are impact sensitive.
It's been a while since I dealt with hazardous materials for a living. Back then, ORM-D's and 1.4 Explosives didn't require placcarding when transported or stored in quantities under 10,000 lbs bulk. Storing ammo in ammo boxes and components in a fire cabinet isn't a bad idea, but requiring it in a private residence is a bit of overkill for 20 lbs of smokeless powder. A cap of 50 lbs? That doesn't make any sense either. You can have more than that shipped to a residental address. 50 lbs of powder really isn't that much...
13-3.7 Smokeless propellants intended for personal use in quantities not exceeding 20 lb (9.1 kg) shall be permitted to be stored in original containers in residences. Quantities exceeding 20 lb (9.1 kg), but not exceeding 50 lb (22.7 kg), shall be permitted to be stored in residences where kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) nominal thickness.
this is from the National Fire Protection Association;Explosives Material Code
I dont make this stuff up LOL.
another fun fact:
11-5.3 No more than 25,000 small arms primers may be transported in a private vehicle.
11-5.4 No more than 10,000 small arms primers may be stored in residences.
MichiganMilitia
12-14-2009, 22:45
Um, lessee....
.22lr
.380acp
9x18Mak
9x19Luger
.38Special
.40S&W
.44Magnum
.45acp
.30Carbine
.30-06
.303British
7.62x54R
Guess that's actually 12. [Tooth]
Oh, forgot the shotguns....
.410
20 guage
16 guage
Still have some room to grow.
Oh I forgot one! I have
5.56
6.8x43
.30-30
12 gauge
I forgot the .30-30 because it's in storage right now.
I have lots of room to grow! [Beer]
theGinsue
12-14-2009, 22:48
How come no one has suggested "However much your wife says is okay!" yet?
'Cuz I just got around to reading this thread.
Of course, availability is better now than 6 months ago, but I think my wife would "allow" considerably more than I've been able to acquire.
SA Friday
12-14-2009, 22:54
13-3.7 Smokeless propellants intended for personal use in quantities not exceeding 20 lb (9.1 kg) shall be permitted to be stored in original containers in residences. Quantities exceeding 20 lb (9.1 kg), but not exceeding 50 lb (22.7 kg), shall be permitted to be stored in residences where kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) nominal thickness.
this is from the National Fire Protection Association;Explosives Material Code
I dont make this stuff up LOL.
another fun fact:
11-5.3 No more than 25,000 small arms primers may be transported in a private vehicle.
11-5.4 No more than 10,000 small arms primers may be stored in residences.
[ROFL1]
I read this to my wife and she asked what idiot wrote this code.
Troublco
12-14-2009, 22:58
I don't need no stinkin' badge. Uh, I mean permission. Fortunately for me, my wife has known of my hobby/obsession from the beginning and doesn't mind aiding and abetting my pursuit of it. In fact, I knew she was a keeper when she bought me a 1911 our first Christmas together.[Alrigh]
I find that since I outgrew the safe I dedicated to ammo storage that the best thing to do is use a P-Touch label machine to label ammo cans so I can keep track of what's in them. If you label the front and the top, you can pull a can off if it's stacked on top of one and still know what's in it. A spreadsheet can help with inventory purposes.
What?
MichiganMilitia
12-14-2009, 23:14
I don't need no stinkin' badge.
Nice Blazing Saddles reference... [Tooth]
I just have a few .50cal cans in good shape that I keep all my ammo in. it keeps my ammo airtight, (there's lots of moisture around) and easy to organize. I've found efficient ways to stack boxes or magazines in different size cans for example, the width of a Winchester .30-30 ammo box (20 rds) is the same width as a standard .50cal can.
And a have a few cans filled with once fired 5.56 and 6.8 brass. Someday I hope to start reloading...
I have two ammo cans about a quarter full. I set them on top of the little potty bench my 2 year-old has so she can better reach the sink. I should take a picture of it some time.
ryanek9freak
12-15-2009, 06:55
11-5.3 No more than 25,000 small arms primers may be transported in a private vehicle.
11-5.4 No more than 10,000 small arms primers may be stored in residences.
Uh, whoops. Cuff me officer. LOL
Great-Kazoo
12-15-2009, 07:10
How come no one has suggested "However much your wife says is okay!" yet?
because she has her own ammo storage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Troublco
I don't need no stinkin' badge.
Nice Blazing Saddles reference...
that originally is from High Sierra (We don't need no Steenkin badges) brooks utilized a parody of it as he did in all his movies (vague factoid # 867)
scratchy
12-15-2009, 07:14
Oh I forgot one! I have
5.56
6.8x43
.30-30
12 gauge
I forgot the .30-30 because it's in storage right now.
I have lots of room to grow! [Beer]
Lessee:
17hmr
22lr
9mm
40 SW
223/556
6.8 spc
243 win
30-40 krag
Looking to add 308 and then I'm done. (well, maybe a 45 acp)
newracer
12-15-2009, 10:59
22lr
17hm2 ( I don't even own a firearm to shoot them)
17hmr
.38
9mm
40SW
.223/5.56
.204 Ruger
30-06
7.5 Swiss
300 Win Mag
12 ga
Troublco
12-16-2009, 20:53
that originally is from High Sierra (We don't need no Steenkin badges) brooks utilized a parody of it as he did in all his movies (vague factoid # 867)
I have that scene burned in my memory, although for the life of me I don't know why. And I thought it was Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Classic Bogart, either way. That and the Maltese Falcon.
Aloha_Shooter
12-19-2009, 01:49
Damn, I better build a locking cabinet around my ammo given all you vultures out there ...
Troublco
12-19-2009, 11:41
Damn, I better build a locking cabinet around my ammo given all you vultures out there ...
I have a better idea. I have a locking steel cabinet that you could put it in, and store it right in my basement. That way, you don't have to worry about one of the ne'er-do-wells here relieving you of it...[ROFL1]
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