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I have seen twenty year old ammo function as well as new, but I thought this would be a good new topic to share our knowledge on. Considering how most of us are piling up ammo, it's important to think about.

I have mine stored in the original boxes, in G.I. ammo boxes. These are on a closet floor (My two lonesome handguns are in a good pistol box setup. A good safe for everything is in the future.)

Does anyone have definitive info on how long ammo stays safe and functional? I'm sure it needs to be kept dry and at a decent temperature, but what else helps?

And what does modern ammo do in, say, a house fire? Black powder is a definite explosive and should not be kept in a dwelling. I know there are some laws about it. What about modern smokeless ammo in a fire?

Black powder and it's combustion products are hygroscopic. If not kept air tight it will pickup up water and not only not work too well, it will become corrosive.

Modern powders are not hygroscopic, but the nitrocellulose base will deteriorate with time. The powders are made with stabilizers to prevent this. I can't find anything that says "shelf-life" is X for any powder and they do sell old military ammo that seems to work pretty well. If the casings don't show any corrosion or bulging, old bullets will work. Whether they will work as well as when loaded new, is a question.

I've never tried to burn bullets, but I have no reason to believe that they wouldn't cook off in a fire. Modern powder in bulk will burn hotter than black powder, so you get more fire per pound than with black powder.

The only powder I've ever burned is artillery propellant, which is mostly nitrocellulose. If you put bags 8" in diameter and 2-4" high edge to edge the flames will be in the range of 20' high. Cuttng the bags open and spreading the powder out so you have a trail about 12" wide will keep the flames under 10 feet. I don't think the local fie department would be thrilled if I tested flame heights on my reloading powder.