Is there any problem with storing ammo in the cold and letting it warm up for days prior to use? I was thinking in terms of a cold garage, then moving ammo into the basement a week or two before using. Then even putting it upstairs a few days before. Would there be a condensation problem or anything?

How cold is cold. I had a friend who was stationed in Alaska and he said they where told to dispose of some old ammo that had been stored in outside bunkers. He said they shot some of the .45 acp and it wouldn't penetrate a 2x4.

Probably not a problem in the rest of the 48.

I once read that if you store your ammo and powder at a temperature you'd be comfortable with then it will do fine. You'd probably do better with just taking it from storage to the range letting it warm up in the car and shooting it. Shouldn't be a condensation problem unless the cold and heat is done repeatedly since ammo is well sealed and generally water proof unless its left soaking.

Maybe it gets down to 10' sometimes. We hit minus 19' last Dec for a record low. For 2 days or so. I doubt this again. I can store in another basement room that gets not quite as cold then move in stages over week or so.

I'm going to guess how you store your ammo is more important than the temps encountered. Condensation should never be a problem inside ammo. Its sealed against the atmosphere pretty well. The outside of the cartridge and bullet are where the greatest risk is. You can see it, so you can judge from there.

The military long ago developed the ammo can. With good gaskets, they last a long time. The enemy of ammo is the moisture. If you can seal out fresh air, there is only going to be a very limited amount of water available. Not even enough to discolor the brass. Store your ammo in ammo cans. Store it indoors when possible, even if its in a basement or attic (I'd prefer the basement because its cooler.) Then don't worry about it. You have nothing to fear but fear itself!

Bringing a cold weapon into a warm space for storage is begging for RUST.

ergo

Bringing cold ammo into a warm area puts it at risk. Same thing is happening on the outside of your iced tea glass in warm weather. The coefficient of expansion (due to heat and cold variation/changes) for brass and lead do not match precisely. A gap big enough to seep water through by capillary action can open up between the case and the bullet.

Limit the moisture available by storing ammo in sealed containers, a desiccant bag thrown in for good measure is a good idea too.


a really poor idea is to try to dry it out in your oven................

I store mine in ammo cans in my bedroom closet...We keep the house at about 70 year round.