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How to preserve collectible ammunition?
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cberghuis
Michigan
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January 1, 2019 - 1:19 am
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Does anyone have any suggestions of what I can use to preserve live ammo with brass cases without destroying the cardboard box the rounds are in?

rounds will be in long term storage. I appreciate any info anyone has to help me out.

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1873man
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January 1, 2019 - 1:53 am
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The best way is to keep them in a dry environment. If you don’t have a room with dehumidifier I would put them in a sealed container with a desiccant like a ammo can. Most of my old ammo is just shrink wrapped and in a display case. The house is air conditioned so the humidity is kept close to 50%.  If they are opened boxes you could remove the shells and display the boxes, just don’t clean the shells.

Bob

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Researching the Winchester 1873's

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win4575
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January 3, 2019 - 1:23 am
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When I got hooked on boxed ammo many years ago, I bought a heat gun and a roll of shrink wrap, which also protects against UV light.   I have around 200 boxes all in shrink wrap.  In addition to this, air tight containers would probably be necessary.  Since we don’t know your area or the situation, these are only suggestions.

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Chuck
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January 3, 2019 - 5:38 pm
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I don’t shrink wrap.  I just use saran wrap and wrap it tight just like a Christmas present.  A little practice and some patience it will come out nice.  I have seen boxes crushed from being shrink wrapped.  

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win4575
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January 3, 2019 - 6:05 pm
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Years ago, I wrapped my cartridge boxes with Seran Wrap which worked well, but it was a pain in the hind end and seemed to always have wrinkles in it.  I use the 3 mil shrink wrap.  Not nearly strong enough to crush a cartridge box, even if it’s empty.  All of my ammo boxes are displayed in my gun room.  Indoor lighting and indirect sunlight can destroy the color of a box label, in just a few months.  The UV protection offered by the shrink wrap is well worth it in my opinion.

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Chuck
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January 4, 2019 - 5:45 pm
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win4575 said
Years ago, I wrapped my cartridge boxes with Seran Wrap which worked well, but it was a pain in the hind end and seemed to always have wrinkles in it.  I use the 3 mil shrink wrap.  Not nearly strong enough to crush a cartridge box, even if it’s empty.  All of my ammo boxes are displayed in my gun room.  Indoor lighting and indirect sunlight can destroy the color of a box label, in just a few months.  The UV protection offered by the shrink wrap is well worth it in my opinion.  

How do you shrink the wrap?  Where can you buy the product?

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Gregory
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January 4, 2019 - 7:30 pm
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I purchased a roll of 3 mil wrap at the local craft store.

Uline also carries a wrap I have used with great results….

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1873man
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January 4, 2019 - 11:32 pm
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What I did was buy a 3M window insulator kit or the film for it from the hardware store and then just wrap it like your wrapping a Christmas present using scotch tape and then shrink it with a hair dryer.

3m windows insulation kit

Bob

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TR
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January 4, 2019 - 11:40 pm
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1873man said
What I did was buy a 3M window insulator kit or the film for it from the hardware store and then just wrap it like your wrapping a Christmas present using scotch tape and then shrink it with a hair dryer.

3m windows insulation kit

Bob  

 That’s what I do, works good, cheap, and easy. T/R

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win4575
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January 5, 2019 - 2:56 am
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Chuck,

I have a heat gun, but a good hair dryer that puts out some real heat, will also work.  The shrink wrap I purchased from a company in Dallas.  Company name was Cartwright Packaging.  No idea whether they are still in business or not.  Many companies offer the stuff.  Call Ray Giles at Antique and Collectable Ammo.  He can point you in the right direction.

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Gregory
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January 5, 2019 - 1:41 pm
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Thank you for the tip on the 3M product.

I just ordered two kits for the price of the last roll of wrap I purchased.

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Kevin Jones
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January 6, 2019 - 6:45 pm
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Yep, I have my daughter wrap them with 3m (she’s a great present wrapper), then shrink them tight with a 1800w hair dryer, works GREAT! 

IMG_0805-Copy-Copy-Copy.JPG

Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886

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cberghuis
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January 6, 2019 - 10:49 pm
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Thank you everyone for all the helpful tips. I’ll get right on it.

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