Waxing Reloaded Rounds For Storage

J

JeepHammer

Moderator
What do you all use for wax (if anything) for semi-long term storage?

I don't get corrosion, but I do get dulling of the cases (Oxidation) over time.

What do you all use to prevent this?
 
Nothing , but if I were going to it would be either case lube like used for sizing or bullet lube like used on cast bullets . Iv seen some kind of protectant used on imported Mil surp ammo that looked like clear laquer that would build up in the chamber of firearms that fired alot of it .
 
are just use airtight containers, usually my used powder containers for pistol rounds with a silica pack inside. I have pulled some out of the jar after a year and still look shiny new
 
I vibe tumble the finished cartridges in walnut with some polish for about 15 minutes before packing them up. The polish cleans, but also leaves the finest coat of protection that lasts for years. I then vac seal them with a desiccant packet and this is very effective for keeping ammo looking clean and bright for at least 5 years.
 
Dont use anything and I was bear hunting last year with ammo I loaded for my .44 magnum more then 20 years ago. It still looks just fine.
 
If you wet tumble your brass, and use Dawn, replace it with Armour All Wash & Wax.

After I size and trim, I throw the brass into the wet tumbler for an hour to remove the lube, shavings, etc.. Then I stick the brass in my wife's food dehydrator for 30 minutes to dry. Prime (if desired) and into ziplock bags for storage.

It is being reported that many reloaders who use rotary's are switching to Wash & Wax since it leaves a protective coating on the brass (just like your car) to help prevent tarnishing.
 
I read on this forum that some of you use car wax or something like,
I was wondering...

The tumbler I purchased said you could tumble wax bars (they sell) in the tumbler until they were gone,
Then tumble the loaded rounds to 'Seal Coat' them against corrosion.

I use cardboard boxes with styrofoam trays.
The brass/copper does dull over time while factory rounds stay shiny and new looking much longer,
I was wondering how they did it.

I don't have a moisture issue, they just dull, not corrode as long as I keep my hands off them once they get final cleaning... (Hate those blue gloves! :mad:)

Since I'm running the next years worth of ammo, looks like I'd better throw the desiccant packs in the oven this morning...
 
Gravedigger, vacuum packing just popped into my head reading your post!
Wonder if the vacuum packer would give me long term, corrosion free storage?

This is one of those 'Stay Tuned' situations....
But it would take 3 years to know if it works well or not!

'Wash & Wax' is what I saw suggested several times.
I'm an old dog, but I'm always out to learn...
I know a good idea when I steal it! :rolleyes:
 
I never did anything special my old reloads look the same as my old factory ammo no corrosion. If you want them to still look shiny a few decades from now reload and shoot your brass ammo and reload and store nickel plated cases.
 
I want nothing between my case and chamber but air, clean air. I do not load ahead, I can always managed to make it to the range without reloading. I have components.

Removing anything from a case can get complicate after time. I have used alcohol to remove case lube, 3M green pads and steel wool while spinning just to get the case close to the chamber. I do not have access to the rifles, if I did I would pull down a few cases to check components then go to the range. As it is, I have no choice but to pull down all the loaded ammo and change the components.

F. Guffey
 
Depends on what you call "long term". If I was saving ammo for 50 years, I would look for sumpin'. I have some ammo I reloaded in '90, .44 Magnum in 50 round plastic box (I decided I didn't wanna shoot any more jacketed bullets in my .44s, so it just sat around since). The brass is no longer bright, but definitely not tarnished. Sometimes I put a little (very little) auto polish in my cob media and that leaves a light film of protection, but never tried to "seal" any ammo. Playing around once a good time ago, I dropped a almond sized chunk of carnauba wax in the tumbler with the media, and I think I just got some gloppy balls of media all stuck together with wax...:p
 
My pistol brass is wet tumbled w/sst pins then sized using Imperal Sizing Wax, sorted by headstamp and stored in Ziploc bags. Later, when the rounds are constructed, I just leave the wax on the case. I think final tumbling of finished cartridges with Nu-Finish or some other wax type product would have the same effect. Personally, I'm not bothered by wax on the outside on the case, but don't like the idea of wax inside the case.
 
You can remove the oxygen, with vacuum sealed bags and do that, but I have to warn you.......don't try to load that in your baggage in an airline or you will lose it.

Seems airlines have a policy......ammo in original containers or plastic (like MTM) commercial containers only. Have a friend who's brother arrived for a hunt in Africa only to find that he had no ammo. It was confiscated before it left the U.S. in a baggage frisk. Ammo was extremely expensive in Africa, he said.:rolleyes:
 
Another Forum member ask a good question. How long do you intend to store the ammunition? Are you storing in a climate control situation or in lesser conditions?

I have shotgun and center fire rifle ammunition, both new and reloads, from the mid-1970's which have been stored in my various homes in cardboard boxes inside military ammo cans. They all still look good and still shoot just fine.

If you decide to pull them out and put them on display after a hundred years, then just polish them up with some simichrome, wenol or brasso and place them next to the jar containing your dentures and family photos. :)
 
I was heading for a hunt in Alaska a few years back,
And my gear kept going through the x-ray machine...
Over and over again...

Finally, they let the luggage through and it hit the plane.

When I was unpacking, I found 6 rounds in a wallet in the toe of my cold weather boots I didn't know was there.
I wonder if they were seeing that on x-ray and running it over and over again,
Or it was something else.

I had dried the liners, just shoved them back in the boots,
The wallet was between boot shell and liner
Couldn't tell it was there unless you stood on it, which I did...

I usually ship my rifle, I don't fly with it anymore, just too much hassle, and I don't want to wind up on one of those "No Fly, And give this guy as much trouble as possible" Lists...

One tip if you hunt or shoot where you need to fly,
Ship the rifle and/or the ammo.
Have the receiver of the rifle (usually a gun shop or hunting lodge with a friendly or resident FFL holder),
And have that guy on the other end order some factory ammo for your rifle if it's some odd chambering...

Some of us don't care for factory ammo,
But it's better than sitting at the lodge/hotel watching "Married... With Children" reruns,
or using the 'House' rifle in some chambering you aren't familiar with...
(Why do those rifles always smell like axle grease and stale beer?)

-----

Storage usually means 1-3 years for me.
If I haven't fired it after 3 years, it usually means I sold the firearm it was for so I get rid of it.

Conditions range from a shelf in the 'Gun Room' to hauled around in the back of the Jeep for 2 years...
Lots of humidity, outright moisture, vibration, temperature changes, ect.

Ammo cans and dry packs are OK at home on the shelf,
But conditions in the vehicle SUCK for ammo (and everything else!)
Rust and corrosion are a constant problem in a 'Farm & Field' vehicle that is 30 years old, leaks and sometimes gets into water that laps over the hood...

I sealed some 10 round packs up with the vacuum packer,
Just to throw in the Jeep tool box,
And the rest of it is vacuum packed in boxes so far,
I just thought some of you might have some ideas...

I saw several do the 'Wash & Wax' and commented about it, wondered how it worked...

I NEVER touch the loaded ammo after final cleaning,
But that doesn't matter in the vehicle, or when it gets thrown in an unheated garage...
It still draws moisture and corrodes.
 
Lamarw,
I have BRI (Ballistic Research Industries) Sabot shotgun slugs from the VERY early 80s (maybe late 70s?), before Winchester bought them out and everyone in the world started making Sabot slugs...

Just the fingering on the high brass has corroded them, even though I try to keep that to a minimum.

I have piles of old military rounds people have dragged in here and dumped off...
They all look like crap, even though they were in original ammo cans,
Guys taking the lid off to 'Look' and finger the rounds has killed the dry pack and they just look like crap now...

I won't shoot them, and when I try to sell them CHEAP everyone thinks there is something wrong with them...
It would be good 'Plinking' ammo if you don't mind corrosive primers and vairing bullet weights/manufacturers,
But the crowd I hang with are all pretty much accuracy shooters and they simply don't want military production.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top