The most common problem when it comes to storing ammo for a long period of time is corrosion.  Over time humidity can wreak havoc on your ammo causing them to either become unreliable or worse yet, dangerous to fire.

In most cases the paper boxes that your ammunition came is more than adequate when storing ammo in your house for a couple of years. If you plan on storing it for any longer than that you need to take a couple of precautions.

1. Vacuum Seal - Vacuum sealing your ammunition can help protect it from water, rusting or even burying it underground.
2. Rotation – Just like long term food storage, the key to successfully storing ammo is to rotate your ammunition as often as possible. Make sure you mark dates on your ammo cans so you use the oldest ammo first.
3. Humidity Kills – Humidity is probably one of the biggest things that you need to worry about. Try to keep your ammo in a low humidity location.
4. Periodic Checks – I usually look at my ammo every year or so for signs of corrosion. Doing periodic checks will make sure your stocks are ready when you need them.
5. Silica Packets – Those little silica gel packets that come in just about everything these days are a great way to keep your ammo in top notch condition. Silica Gel or desiccant packets should be placed in your ammo cans to help get rid of moisture.