5 Easy DIY Ideas for Best Gun Magazine Storage

Gun magazine storage is a tricky process, with gun owners wanting quick accessibility in an emergency without sacrificing security. Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other, as many storage options exist that are not only easily accessible but also safe, secure, and  affordable.  

Did you know that the conditions in which magazines are stored can affect their condition and function? You don't want to risk damaging or losing your standard pistol magazines' storage.

Organizing your ammo closet and collection of pistol magazines can be fun, but it’s a hassle without a gun magazine organizer. Since every firearm collection is unique, take advantage of these DIY gun magazine storage solutions to bring order to the chaos without breaking the bank! Any gun enthusiast can safely and efficiently create a magazine storage system with some inspiration.

5 DIY Gun Magazine Storage Ideas You Can Build Today

With a bit of inspiration and some DIY skills, you can make your custom solution for your gun magazine holder needs. And you can probably do so with readily available materials like wood, metal sheets, simple fasteners, and other items you probably have lying around your home or workshop.

3-D Printed Magazine Mounts

If you’re looking for the  best pistol mag holders, AR-15 mag holders, or slots for your  metal magazines, investing in custom magazine mounts for your gun's magazines can make a huge difference to your shelf space.

Magazine mounts typically hold magazines by the base plate, allowing for safe but accessible organization. Many mounts are capable of efficiently holding multiple magazines. Many people prefer mounts over pouches due to their increased durability and security. 

Power Tool Style Wall Rack

Many core ideas behind DIY power tool wall storage racks can also apply to magazine storage. If you’re already familiar with, you can adapt the idea to your gun storage solutions magazine mount needs.

Start with a few pieces of wood. You don’t need anything fancier than plywood and some pieces of assorted 1 x 4 and 1x2 pine. But, you could use walnut, mahogany, or oak for better aesthetics.

First, you’ll want to fashion the back and sides using larger pieces of wood. If you’d like, you can use a jig saw to cut a custom profile in the side pieces. Then, fashion two shelves spanning the sides, affixing them with screws. You can make the shelves as far apart as you need to, accommodating magazines or other firearm accessories as needed.

Then, attach vertical wood sections to the bottom shelf by running screws down through the shelf. For the bottom piece, you can use your jig saw to cut out a custom-sized opening where you can hang bulkier items, just like how you would hang your power tools. Or, if you want, you can use individual pieces of wood and screw them all the vertical boards.

Each of the shelves and bottom compartments can be of any size you want, creating mounts and storage areas for various gun magazine sizes. Now, simply mount your new gun magazine organizer on the wall of your room or gun closet.

Just make sure that when you’re done, you have some design feature in mind that will secure your arsenal. Depending on how much security you need, you might consider:

• A tempered glass surround for your safe magazine storage unit
• A locking door on the shelves
• Securing the entire thing in an ammo room or closet
• Locking boxes for handgun magazines

Plastic Bins: Simple and Neat

You can easily store your magazines and various firearm accessories in a collection of plastic bins. Hard plastic boxes are very practical for handgun magazines. Use larger boxes and bins for standard-capacity rifle magazines and other accessories. Then label them neatly and consider how to keep them safe and secure.

Use Magnets: Cheap Magazine Storage

If your magazines are made from steel, you can use magnets to hold them in place. Sure, there are expensive ready-made mag storage systems, but you can buy disc magnets that are plenty strong for very little money.

To build a magnetic gun magazine storage unit, take a piece of wood, and drill holes in it that fit the size of your magnets. Then, lay a piece of thin plastic or tape over the bottom. Glue, screw, or nail that new magnetic organizer to the bottom of an existing shelf. Or, affix it to the wall next to your gun locker.

Now, simply stick your magazines to the magnets.

Repurpose Ammo Boxes: Recycle!

You can easily convert metal ammo boxes into rifle or handgun magazine storage. Recycle the containers that once held your bulk ammo orders and save yourself some money.

While you could stand the mags up inside the box, consider getting a piece of rigid foam to make things look a little nicer. First, cut the foam to size so it fits in the ammo box. Make sure to use a fairly thick piece. Then, trace the shape of your magazines into the foam.

Then, use a Dremel or sharp knife to cut halfway through the foam. Now, you can insert your magazines. You can customize this solution to all of your storage needs. Just make sure you keep safety in mind by securing the cans in a vault, locker, or ammo closet.

Protect and Organize Your Magazines with Storage Solutions 

Keeping your gun magazines organized and well-maintained is crucial for ensuring their longevity and functionality. Proper storage solutions not only protect your magazines from physical damage and environmental factors but also enhance safety by preventing unauthorized access. 

Effective magazine storage safeguards against temperature fluctuations, prolonged exposure, rust, and corrosion, ensuring your magazines are well-preserved. Keep in mind that extended storage can increase the risk of corrosion, rust, and spring degradation, highlighting the importance of choosing the right storage solutions for your needs.

Use magazine mounts: Many gun owners use magazine clips for storage. The problem with using magazine clips is that you can lose or misplace them easily. Consider buying mag mounts alongside your gun racks to save the hassle of losing them. Mag mounts can hold a large number of magazines and also keep them organized. This way, you can keep track of your magazines and save yourself the trouble of losing them.

Mag mounts such as rifle magazine mounts shotgun shell mounts universal pistol mounts make it easy to carry and store many magazines. They also allow you to categorize magazines according to type, caliber, or other attributes.

This categorization helps you quickly access the specific magazine you need. It can also help improve the organization of your collection, allowing you to access multiple magazines efficiently. Using this categorization, you can choose a pistol mag organizer, rifle magazine storage, and more.

Mag mounts are an essential part of high-capacity magazine storage. You need to store magazines in categories for quicker access.

Use magazine dividers, carriers, or storage bags to safely store magazines. These types of storage help keep the springs strong and stop them from losing their strength over time. As a result, the elasticity of the magazine is preserved, which allows for a smooth and effortless loading process.

Magazine springs are a vital part of the magazine, so you need to keep them in top condition. A magazine's springs are responsible for providing force when the magazine is loaded. With the spring weakened it is difficult to use.

Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to store your magazines to keep the springs strong. You can use a box, carrier, and magazine dividers to store your magazines in top condition away from moisture. Using these products, you can store magazines safely and protect the springs from damage. You can also replace springs if they are worn out.

It is crucial to keep magazines cool and dry when storing them. This condition helps prevent spring corrosion and dampness in the magazine. Always keep them in a secure location, protected from the elements. You should also avoid storing them in direct sunlight. Exposure to heat and light can cause your magazines to lose their elasticity.

What to Consider Before Creating a DIY Gun Magazine Storage

Proper firearm storage is essential for safety, but there are other factors to consider and be mindful of when creating DIY storage for guns and gun magazines. Here are some thoughts to keep in the back of your head.

Safety and Aesthetics

Since each household is different, and  firearm storage laws vary considerably by location, each gun owner must determine how to store their firearms safely. Similarly, any  DIY gun magazine storage should be part of your safety strategy.

While many gun owners enjoy displaying parts of their collections, having a loaded gun on a shelf or hanging on the wall is a recipe for disaster. Consider that an unsecured gun is an attractive target for thieves. Plus, they’ll tempt even the most well-behaved child to get their hands on the weapon.

For most owners, any display featuring guns or their magazines should only include empty magazines or be behind a locked door. Alternatively, you could utilize blank or dummy rounds to replicate full magazines before displaying your collection. Or, you could try finding gun storage solutions, magazine mounts, or other inaccessible gun display methods.

Security and Durability

Whether you’re storing guns and ammo for self-defense, display aesthetics, or just in case of the apocalypse, you need a secure and durable magazine storage system. Proper locking mechanisms and storage systems featuring durable materials are essential.

Design and Display Ideas

If you’re keen to display your collection of gun magazines, consider that you might be able to balance that desire with safety. With a gun storage solutions magazine mount, your collection of magazines can be part of an attractive design, displaying all the features you want to show off without compromising safety.

Consider a few simple strategies:

• Incorporating unbreakable transparent materials (Polycarbonate)
• Securing weapons and ammo separately
• Use an ammo closet (Spartan Blog: Gun Closet Ideas)

Purchase a gun magazine wall mount

How Gun Magazines Should Be Stored

Proper storage of gun magazines is essential, whether you're storing them for short stints or extended periods. For brief storage under 30 days, a cool and dry environment usually suffices without any special measures. 

However, if you're planning to store your standard pistol magazines for longer durations, it’s crucial to understand and implement specific storage practices to maintain their condition and functionality. Here’s what you need to do:

Prepare Your Magazines for Long-Term Storage

Lastly, if you’re going to be packing your mags away for a long, long time, we recommend a coating of grease on the springs, or on the entire magazine for steel mags. Oil can be used but tends to drip off or dry out over time. Grease stays in place and provides an extra layer of defense against rust.

Leave Magazines Unloaded

Do not keep  loaded magazines for longer than required. If you are unsure when to reload your magazine, it is better to be safe and run them to the range daily to check for issues.

Many people choose the best of both worlds, and partially fill their magazine, allowing them to have ammo at the ready, while also not compressing the spring completely.

This brings us to some of the variables that will help to answer your question and perhaps add a few more things to think about. Some ammunition manufacturers recommend rotating service-related ammunition as little as every six months. By following that guideline, magazines would remain fully loaded for a maximum of six months before being unloaded and reloaded.

Store Away From Direct Sunlight

It is crucial to keep magazines cool and dry when storing them. This condition helps prevent spring corrosion and dampness in the magazine. Always keep them in a secure location, protected from the elements. You should also avoid storing them in direct sunlight. Exposure to heat and light can cause your magazines to lose their elasticity.

Prevent Environmental Moisture 

For this reason, you’ll want to do some prep on your magazines before putting them away for more than a year. First and foremost, find a proper storage container. We recommend MIL SPEC ammo cans, but anything that seals out environmental moisture will do.

It doesn’t need to be waterproof—anything capable of keeping the moisture in the air away from your mags is fine. In a pinch, even a plastic bag will work for short-term storage, but that shouldn’t be more than a stopgap.

Elevate Your Storage with Easy-To-Assemble Gun Magazine Holders

Throughout our discussion on 9mm vs. 40 caliber ballistics, we've explored key differences in capacity, recoil, and stopping power, highlighting how each caliber offers unique benefits depending on your needs. 

Whether you prioritize 9mm for its lower recoil and higher capacity or choose .40 S&W for its enhanced stopping power, the choice depends on your specific shooting style and defense requirements. 

Continue to deepen your understanding of these popular calibers by exploring more detailed comparisons and educational content. For those passionate about firearms, discover the  best products and insights at  Spartan Mounts.

FAQs About Best Gun Magazine Storage

Let’s answer some common questions about gun storage solutions and magazine mount ideas.

What is best to store magazines in?

Storing magazines is easy with simple gun storage solutions and magazine mount equipment from Spartan Mounts. Or, you can go the DIY route.

Is it good to keep gun magazines loaded?

According to Aimingexpert.com, it's generally fine to keep magazines loaded without ruining them. This is the consensus among notable gun experts who've voiced opinions on this topic. In fact, one gun owner shared a story about testing a very old gun with a loaded magazine that hadn't been fired for at least a century.

Where do you keep extra magazines?

Magazine carry options fall into three broad categories: pocket, holster or carrier, and off-body, in a purse, pack, or even your vehicle.

How many magazines should I have per gun?

Whatever the reason, you should have a minimum of three standard-capacity magazines. Three magazines give you a dedicated home defense magazine and two spares for training and just-in-case scenarios. While three may work for most people, I suggest six as a personal minimum. Six is a standard combat load of magazines.

What is the best way to store magazines in the long term?

Lastly, if you’re going to be packing your mags away for a long, long time, we recommend a coating of grease on the springs, or on the entire magazine for steel mags. Oil can be used but tends to drip off or dry out over time. Grease stays in place and provides an extra layer of defense against rust.