How to Store Ammo Properly - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

jorgelito · 06-22-2007, 04:08 PM

So, I have some "souvenirs" that came back with me from my trip to the Middle East last summer, including 4 live rounds. I am not sure of the caliber but I am certain they are not from hand guns. It's about 2 5/8" long and a 5/8" diameter. I realize I should measure in metric but I don't have one handy at the moment.

My question is, as interesting as they are, how can I store or display them safely. Up to now, all my souvenirs have been shells which are presumably safe. At the moment, they are loose in a drawer and one sits on my desk, pointing up. Still, I am not a firearms expert so I want to learn how to handle them properly.

Any suggestions?

ziadel · 06-22-2007, 06:00 PM

um....

as long as you dont throw them into a fire, or whack the primer with a hammer and nail or something....

I'd just put them up on a shelf or something, theres really no special steps you have to take.

jorgelito · 06-22-2007, 06:15 PM

Thanks man. Yeah, I don't plan on taking a hammer to it. But it can get a little hot where I live (Southern California).

I think I will try and post a pic of it if I get a chance this weekend.

Plan9 · 06-22-2007, 08:24 PM

The rounds will outlast you.

Fob_Magi · 06-22-2007, 10:03 PM

If your house is hot enough to set off ammo, I doubt you'd be alive for long anyways. The auto-ignition point is over 500 degrees F for almost all powders, even the crappiest stuff ever invented probably won't ignite under 200 degrees F. So that means you just have to avoid crushing it (i.e. hammer) or hitting the primer hard with a pointed object. If you don't have kids then just don't keep them in the oven or blender and your probably alright. If you do have kids or your really anal, mount them in a shadowbox if you want them displayed or just store them anywhere your kids can't reach. Ammo by itself is pretty damn safe... a kitchen knife is much more dangerous. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket and your extremely paranoid you can have somebody empty the powder, dud the primer and reassemble it, or buy a pre-dudded round off ebay (the only kind they sale).

As for what ammo they are the most common military rounds near that size are .308 (7.62mm Nato) and 7.62x54R but depending on where you got them and how old they are your dimensions could make them almost anything. 2-5/8" (66mm) is too long to be 7.62x39 or .223. The best way to identify them is to measure properly. The best way to identify it is to measure it correctly. Measure it as AxB where A is the diameter of the bullet (in mm) where it enters the casing. B is the length of the casing from rim to neck (not including the bullet length). Make the measurements as accurate as possible to the closest 1/16" (<2mm), also the writing (if any) on the rim of the case.

ziadel · 06-23-2007, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fob_Magi

If your house is hot enough to set off ammo, I doubt you'd be alive for long anyways.

exactly, I've left ammo in the trunk of my car on 100 degree days.

Never had a problem.

jorgelito · 06-23-2007, 01:43 PM

Ha ha, fair enough, thanks for the tips, no need to worry about heat then. Incidentally, I had similar concerns about flares stored in car trunks.

So I got a metric ruler and tried to measure it.

When measuring the shell/casing part of the round:
Length 45mm
Diameter of bottom 10mm (approx)

When measuring with the "bullet" part:
Length 57mm
Diameter of where the bullet enters the casing 6mm(approx)

Writing on the bottom (clockwise starting from 12 oclock):

INI 9 02 1

Looks like this

INI
1 9
02

The round is from Israel, approximately no more than 2 years old (assumption)

Fob_Magi · 06-23-2007, 03:45 PM

From your measurements I'd almost guarantee its a 5.56x45 NATO round. It's the round used in the M-16 / AR-15 and is probably the second most common rifle round in existence. If it is from Israel it is most likely from the Israeli Defense Force and not from any local combatants as they most commonly use 7.62x39 (AK ammo). The Israelis have many common issue weapons chambered in 5.56 NATO including the Galil assault rifle and the Negev light machine gun.

The letters in the headstamp are probably indicating the manufacturer but I cannot find anything about INI, are you sure it is not IMI (Israeli Military Industries)? The 02 probably indicates it was made in 2002, the 1 and 9 might indicate the specific arsenal/production line.

jorgelito · 06-23-2007, 04:48 PM

Oops, you are correct, it is IMI.

Thanks again for all the info. Now I have some background for my souvenir.

JStrider · 06-26-2007, 10:56 AM

you may be able to remove the powder by pulling the bullet out gently with a pair of pliars, I did that with .22 shells as a kid. you would still have the primer tho, might be able to put the unloaded bullet in a gun and shoot it detonate the primer, then put the bullet back in the now empty shell.

prolly not the safest way to do it... but I never had any probs when I was a kid doing it with the .22s... but they were a lot smaller then the .223

telekinetic · 06-26-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JStrider

you may be able to remove the powder by pulling the bullet out gently with a pair of pliars, I did that with .22 shells as a kid. you would still have the primer tho, might be able to put the unloaded bullet in a gun and shoot it detonate the primer, then put the bullet back in the now empty shell.

prolly not the safest way to do it... but I never had any probs when I was a kid doing it with the .22s... but they were a lot smaller then the .223

please don't do this

Plan9 · 06-26-2007, 03:50 PM

YIKES!

Do not do that. Leave the round as it is... it is not dangerous outside of a weapon.

Kpax · 07-01-2007, 09:53 AM

LOL I thought I was the only person that worried about ignition of ammo on a hot day! I have 50 rounds of normal .38s, and 8 hollow-points (.38).

I stored them pointing in a neutral direction, in case summer got really hot, but I'm relieved now.

I must ask, though, since a fire would obviously set bullets off: Has there ever been a case where a house caught on fire, and bullets started to miscellaneously shoot out? I'm sure the firefighters wouldn't be too happy about that.

Fob_Magi · 07-01-2007, 01:08 PM

This is discussed in the 'how to dispose of live ammo" thread.

Bullets are not very dangerous unless the whole round is contained. Small rounds are like overgrown firecrackers without the gun. You need the receiver to hold the casing still so it doesn't go flying. You need the barrel to keep the expanding gases behind the bullet long enough to transfer kinetic energy to it. Outside a the firearm a small arms cartridge is less dangerous than a aerosol can, however at very close range it could prob still put your eye out and cause hearing loss.

speaking of aerosol cans few people realize that they have dozens of mini pipe bombs in their houses.

http://chemaxx.com/aerosol2.htm

Slims · 07-01-2007, 09:23 PM

Wow,

The bullets are harmless unless they are placed in a firearm and fired. I have only seen one round fire outside of a weapon and it was a fluke...we were handling tens of thousands of rounds of linked 7.62, roughly, and I guess one of the primers somehow got struck. Nobody was hurt, though it did blow the case apart. The brass case is just too weak for real dangerous pressures to develop.

Your rounds are probably stamped IMI, as they are/were one of the major suppliers of military ammunition. If the tip of the bullet is not painted green then I am willing to bet that the 1 and 9 represent the twist rate of the barrel that the ammunition is designed for. When we switched from 55gr. bullets to 62gr. bullets we had to increase the rate of twist from 1 in 14 to 1 in 9 to stabilize the longer, heavier rounds. To avoid confusion we started painting the tips of the newer rounds green, but not all countries do this since it isn't really necessary, especially if you don't have older 1 in 14 twist weapons in your arsenal. The marking on the case may just be to make sure there is no confusion.

debaser · 07-03-2007, 05:48 AM

The M16-A1 twist rate was 1:12.

Slims · 07-03-2007, 07:18 AM

06-22-2007, 04:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	How to Store Ammo Properly So, I have some "souvenirs" that came back with me from my trip to the Middle East last summer, including 4 live rounds. I am not sure of the caliber but I am certain they are not from hand guns. It's about 2 5/8" long and a 5/8" diameter. I realize I should measure in metric but I don't have one handy at the moment. My question is, as interesting as they are, how can I store or display them safely. Up to now, all my souvenirs have been shells which are presumably safe. At the moment, they are loose in a drawer and one sits on my desk, pointing up. Still, I am not a firearms expert so I want to learn how to handle them properly. Any suggestions?

06-22-2007, 06:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
ziadel Myrmidon Location: In the twilight and mist.	um.... as long as you dont throw them into a fire, or whack the primer with a hammer and nail or something.... I'd just put them up on a shelf or something, theres really no special steps you have to take. __________________ Ron Paul '08 Vote for Freedom Go ahead and google Dr. Ron Paul. You'll like what you read.

06-22-2007, 08:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	The rounds will outlast you. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

06-22-2007, 10:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fob_Magi Psycho Location: Texas	If your house is hot enough to set off ammo, I doubt you'd be alive for long anyways. The auto-ignition point is over 500 degrees F for almost all powders, even the crappiest stuff ever invented probably won't ignite under 200 degrees F. So that means you just have to avoid crushing it (i.e. hammer) or hitting the primer hard with a pointed object. If you don't have kids then just don't keep them in the oven or blender and your probably alright. If you do have kids or your really anal, mount them in a shadowbox if you want them displayed or just store them anywhere your kids can't reach. Ammo by itself is pretty damn safe... a kitchen knife is much more dangerous. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket and your extremely paranoid you can have somebody empty the powder, dud the primer and reassemble it, or buy a pre-dudded round off ebay (the only kind they sale). As for what ammo they are the most common military rounds near that size are .308 (7.62mm Nato) and 7.62x54R but depending on where you got them and how old they are your dimensions could make them almost anything. 2-5/8" (66mm) is too long to be 7.62x39 or .223. The best way to identify them is to measure properly. The best way to identify it is to measure it correctly. Measure it as AxB where A is the diameter of the bullet (in mm) where it enters the casing. B is the length of the casing from rim to neck (not including the bullet length). Make the measurements as accurate as possible to the closest 1/16" (<2mm), also the writing (if any) on the rim of the case. __________________ Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, "If I live I will kill you, if I die you are forgiven". Such is the Rule of Honor.

06-23-2007, 03:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Fob_Magi Psycho Location: Texas	From your measurements I'd almost guarantee its a 5.56x45 NATO round. It's the round used in the M-16 / AR-15 and is probably the second most common rifle round in existence. If it is from Israel it is most likely from the Israeli Defense Force and not from any local combatants as they most commonly use 7.62x39 (AK ammo). The Israelis have many common issue weapons chambered in 5.56 NATO including the Galil assault rifle and the Negev light machine gun. The letters in the headstamp are probably indicating the manufacturer but I cannot find anything about INI, are you sure it is not IMI (Israeli Military Industries)? The 02 probably indicates it was made in 2002, the 1 and 9 might indicate the specific arsenal/production line. __________________ Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, "If I live I will kill you, if I die you are forgiven". Such is the Rule of Honor.

06-22-2007, 06:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Thanks man. Yeah, I don't plan on taking a hammer to it. But it can get a little hot where I live (Southern California). I think I will try and post a pic of it if I get a chance this weekend.

06-23-2007, 01:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Ha ha, fair enough, thanks for the tips, no need to worry about heat then. Incidentally, I had similar concerns about flares stored in car trunks. So I got a metric ruler and tried to measure it. When measuring the shell/casing part of the round: Length 45mm Diameter of bottom 10mm (approx) When measuring with the "bullet" part: Length 57mm Diameter of where the bullet enters the casing 6mm(approx) Writing on the bottom (clockwise starting from 12 oclock): INI 9 02 1 Looks like this INI 1 9 02 The round is from Israel, approximately no more than 2 years old (assumption)

06-23-2007, 04:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Oops, you are correct, it is IMI. Thanks again for all the info. Now I have some background for my souvenir.

06-26-2007, 10:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	you may be able to remove the powder by pulling the bullet out gently with a pair of pliars, I did that with .22 shells as a kid. you would still have the primer tho, might be able to put the unloaded bullet in a gun and shoot it detonate the primer, then put the bullet back in the now empty shell. prolly not the safest way to do it... but I never had any probs when I was a kid doing it with the .22s... but they were a lot smaller then the .223 __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

06-26-2007, 03:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	YIKES! Do not do that. Leave the round as it is... it is not dangerous outside of a weapon. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

07-01-2007, 09:53 AM	#13 (permalink)
Kpax Crazy Location: Washington	LOL I thought I was the only person that worried about ignition of ammo on a hot day! I have 50 rounds of normal .38s, and 8 hollow-points (.38). I stored them pointing in a neutral direction, in case summer got really hot, but I'm relieved now. I must ask, though, since a fire would obviously set bullets off: Has there ever been a case where a house caught on fire, and bullets started to miscellaneously shoot out? I'm sure the firefighters wouldn't be too happy about that.

07-01-2007, 01:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
Fob_Magi Psycho Location: Texas	This is discussed in the 'how to dispose of live ammo" thread. Bullets are not very dangerous unless the whole round is contained. Small rounds are like overgrown firecrackers without the gun. You need the receiver to hold the casing still so it doesn't go flying. You need the barrel to keep the expanding gases behind the bullet long enough to transfer kinetic energy to it. Outside a the firearm a small arms cartridge is less dangerous than a aerosol can, however at very close range it could prob still put your eye out and cause hearing loss. speaking of aerosol cans few people realize that they have dozens of mini pipe bombs in their houses. http://chemaxx.com/aerosol2.htm __________________ Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, "If I live I will kill you, if I die you are forgiven". Such is the Rule of Honor.

07-01-2007, 09:23 PM	#15 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	Wow, The bullets are harmless unless they are placed in a firearm and fired. I have only seen one round fire outside of a weapon and it was a fluke...we were handling tens of thousands of rounds of linked 7.62, roughly, and I guess one of the primers somehow got struck. Nobody was hurt, though it did blow the case apart. The brass case is just too weak for real dangerous pressures to develop. Your rounds are probably stamped IMI, as they are/were one of the major suppliers of military ammunition. If the tip of the bullet is not painted green then I am willing to bet that the 1 and 9 represent the twist rate of the barrel that the ammunition is designed for. When we switched from 55gr. bullets to 62gr. bullets we had to increase the rate of twist from 1 in 14 to 1 in 9 to stabilize the longer, heavier rounds. To avoid confusion we started painting the tips of the newer rounds green, but not all countries do this since it isn't really necessary, especially if you don't have older 1 in 14 twist weapons in your arsenal. The marking on the case may just be to make sure there is no confusion. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence

07-03-2007, 05:48 AM	#16 (permalink)
debaser Sir, I have a plan... Location: 38S NC20943324	The M16-A1 twist rate was 1:12. __________________ Fortunato became immured to the sound of the trowel after a while.

07-03-2007, 07:18 AM	#17 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	oops __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence