Depends on the ammo and firearm.

For my .223/5.56, the AR ammo is loaded on strippers, inserted in the cardboard anti-rattle sleeves, and then carefully inserted in bandoleers which are folded and stored in 50 cal cans with a desiccant pack.

For my .223 bolt action, 20 round field ammo pouches (the elastic band type).

For my Chassis rifles, a couple of loaded magazines that go everywhere with the rifle and for range ammo I just use plastic ammo boxes that hold 50-100 rounds at a time.

For pistols, i load enough magazines for immediate use and the rest is bulk stored in 50 cal cans, again with a desiccant pack.

Factory ammo? It's been years since I've purchased any "assembled" ammo. I buy new components and assemble it myself when I want "New" ammo.

Each of my vehicles has "enough" ammo stored in it for any time I might need it. The rest is stored on nice shelves that are readily accessible. What good is it if you can't get your hands on it NOW?

Tagging to add my take

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Mostly ammo cans in the factory boxes. Cans are labeled 1-20, and a spread sheet that has what is in each can.

Shotgun ammo = in factory boxes and on 25-rd belts, in 60mm ammo cans

AR ammo = on stripper clips in cardboard sleeves, in "Fat 50" ammo cans

All other rifle and pistol ammo = in original factory packaging, in either .30-cal or .50-cal ammo cans (depending upon how much there is)

I do have a few loaded mags (both pistol and AR) ready for immediate use.

Everything but the shotgun ammo is stored in a safe. All ammo cans have magnetic green labels.

Scattered about.

Actually I don't store any ammo. I'm waiting until they outlaw online ammo ordering.



It's full.

Also have some ammo cans stacked about.

A decent amount in my safe as well.

Some may claim OCD, but I say that I just run my armory like an armory.

Mostly factory boxes in these boxes, each cartridge hand inspected and if a strange looking example is found a note is written on an index card and tucked inside with position of suspect cartridge marked.



This is the backup stash, M19 cans with post-it notes marking cartridges inside. Inside the lids are lined with painter`s plastic. desiccant packs are strewn throughout the cans and an index card with cartridge count sits atop it all.







In my emergency kit are found two charged AR mags (one loaded with M855, the other M193) and 50 rounds 9x19 147 grain FMJ. If I`m going out longer than I expect those plus another rifle mag to hold out I bring a gas mask case loaded with 7 more charged AR mags, M855 all.



The M2A1 cans stacked underneath my desk don`t all hold ammunition, some hold gun parts, accessories or assorted clutter like cloth scraps, a nautical compass, strips of velcro or several packs of Ticonderoga #2 pencils.



The Yugoslav M67 ammunition crate I use as a backdrop in most sales pics holds mostly ammunition as well as some odd-shaped tools.



The same is said for the USGI M2 Ball munitions crate underneath the DVDs.

I have heard bad things about storing ammo in a safe due to pressure issues during a fire. Anyone else have this concern?

It's the best way to destroy all the evidence.














Seriously though, I'd be more concerned about powder. Ammo doesn't worry me much.

I`ve not, however that sounds like the same sort of thing you can expect from someone who thinks keeping a mag loaded will wear out the spring.

It`s a spring, it`s designed to compress. Same as its being a safe - it`s designed to protect. Worst case scenario, call the manufacturer and get some specs.

If your house is burning down, your ammo is a pretty small concern.

Every 6 months I unload my mags, wait a day, and reload them, do I not have to do that?!? I fill up all my self defense mags for various weapons, store the rest in 30 and 50 cal containers, and some ammo in “tactical” zip lock bags for range trips. This would save me a lot of thought and effort to not do this for my mags, the internet seems divided. But I’m sure somebody who is as careful as some of the folks on this thread would know better :)

Just the way I see it. Besides, it`s a magazine - designed to be expendable. I`d imagine that it`s constant loading and unloading that would wear out a spring, and even then, only biannually? I`d not worry about it in the slightest.

Any modern spring will wear out from cycles of loading/unloading. Not static compression

Ammo in a fire, in a safe is not dangerous. Fire is dangerous as noted above. Having a round in the chamber in a very hot fire could get interesting. But that temperature. Inside a safe?

As for mag springs. Here we go. Well good. Rix nailed it.

Pretty interesting (and very expensive) test of ammo in a fire.

The test is geared towards firefighters concerns about entering a burning house with ammo inside, not the effects on ammo inside a safe.
My thought is that ammo in a safe is safer than ammo outside a safe. If enough ammo went off inside the safe at one time to bulge the door, pressure is released relatively slowly compared to a bomb.