- Status
Chuck R.
Member
The set aside just in case stuff resides in ammo cans. I really don't keep that much defensive ammo on hand. The practice and training stuff is packages in 100rd boxes and color coded.
Ammo cabinets:
It all resides in a climate controlled safe room.
Ammo cabinets:
It all resides in a climate controlled safe room.
Riomouse911
Member
Individual cams, boxes etc. It would be really tough to separate ammo out of community boxes once you get a large enough stash.
Stay safe.
Stay safe.
mstreddy
Member
OP, that's probably not the best place to store your ammo. A safe may retain too much pressure from rounds cooking off possibly resulting in a larger kaboom.
As to how I store ammo, one caliber per container. I use ammo cans for ammo to store, MTM boxes, recycled ammo boxes, and zip lock bags for my reloads. All the ammo cans sit on shelves, the reloads and some other range ammo in above containers sits in an old lateral file cabinet.
Last edited:
I use mostly .50 cal ammo cans that store boxes by the 50, 100, or 500. I also have a few 40 mm cans that I use to store full cases of 9 mm or .45. Ammo cans keep stuff dry, organized, and stack easily. I generally keep the same ammo type in a can, and I’ve got a master spreadsheet that keeps track of which ammo is where. I periodically print off the spreadsheet, so it’s easy to mark off boxes from the spreadsheet when I use them.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Ammo cans wth dessicant packs. Seperated by caliber, but only full boxes go in the cans. Opened boxes get dumped into zip-loc bags and go in my "Loose Rounds" can. These get shot up first on the next range trip.
I recently moved most of the ammo out of the armory proper and into a nearby "magazine" closet. The space saved allowed me to better organize and access the guns.
I recently moved most of the ammo out of the armory proper and into a nearby "magazine" closet. The space saved allowed me to better organize and access the guns.
ColtPythonElite
Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 10,477
Much of it goes in gallon ziplock bags.
GunnyUSMC
Member
I keep just about everything in ammo cans.
VoodooMountain
Member
Ammo cans work. Throw in a silica packet lube the seal and call it a day.
And I have to say, we just moved and hauling 35-50 cans loaded with ammo isn't bad.
All of my components in heavy duty plastic tubs was terrible by comparison. As was the safe. As were the cardboard boxes and most every other storage system.
Ammo cans. They work.
And I have to say, we just moved and hauling 35-50 cans loaded with ammo isn't bad.
All of my components in heavy duty plastic tubs was terrible by comparison. As was the safe. As were the cardboard boxes and most every other storage system.
Ammo cans. They work.
Alex Clayton
Member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2020
- Messages
- 789
As much as I have room sits in the safe's. The rest sits in a cabinet.Just kept in the original containers. For range day I normally will dump ammo am taking with me into plastic containers with a screw on lid just to make it easier to deal with at the range. As long as it's kept in the home it will out live the buyer. If you want to store it outside in a shed or unheated garage or such ammo cans are a good idea.
Dunross
Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2018
- Messages
- 994
The only time I keep mixed ammo in a container is when I'm taking it to the range or if I just got home with it and have stashed it until I can put it away properly.
Otherwise it all goes into ammo cans - one caliber per - and *should* be properly labeled. I really need to run off a sheet of labels!
Otherwise it all goes into ammo cans - one caliber per - and *should* be properly labeled. I really need to run off a sheet of labels!
GunnyUSMC
Member
When it flooded down here in 2016, 80% or more of the home in my hometown were flooded. Homes that had never flooded before got up to four feet of water. It took almost three days for the water to go down.
I was lucky and didn’t flooded, but many of my friends did. Many of them lost thousands of rounds of ammunition. The ones that had their ammo in military ammo cans, their ammo survived, even after being under water for over two days.
One of my friends had switched from military ammo cans to the plastic ones not long before the flood. He said that the metal cans were to heavy. He lost all of his ammo. Every plastic can was full of water.
I have well over 100 ammo cans and still need more.
I was lucky and didn’t flooded, but many of my friends did. Many of them lost thousands of rounds of ammunition. The ones that had their ammo in military ammo cans, their ammo survived, even after being under water for over two days.
One of my friends had switched from military ammo cans to the plastic ones not long before the flood. He said that the metal cans were to heavy. He lost all of his ammo. Every plastic can was full of water.
I have well over 100 ammo cans and still need more.
GBExpat
Member
OUCH!
My ammo is mostly found in (mentally counting) 5 locations around my basement. None of it is secured as, in my circumstances, none of it needs to be. Most is milsurp in the original cases, but a lot is in USGI ammo cans.
I have a bit more than 100 of those ammo cans (mostly .50cal, but also a healthy number of .30cal and several 20mm) that I use to store some of it, especially when in I break open another sealed milsurp spamcan, battlepack or case.
The 96"x32" reloading bench (I originally built it as a reloading/gunbench, but have since added a separate 48"x34" gunbench) benefits from the WEIGHT(!) of the original, filled-with-ammunition 50 ammo cans (35/15 .50cal/.30cal) on the single, re-enforced lower shelf. That is one rock-solid bench!
My reloaded and non-case-lot factory ammo is mostly centrally located (in caliber-specific lidded plastic storage containers) on the shelves under my gun bench.
George P
member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2018
- Messages
- 7,772
Those green ammo cans are more likely to build up great pressure than that green thin cabinet. I have been transitioning to the Plano plastic versions of the green cans - lighter, cheaper, rustproof, and in a fire will melt and let rounds cook off without pressure build up.OP, that's probably not the best place to store your ammo. A safe may retain too much pressure from rounds cooking off possibly resulting in a larger kaboom.
As to how I store ammo, one caliber per container. I use ammo cans for ammo to store, MTM boxes, recycled ammo boxes, and zip lock bags for my reloads. All the ammo cans sit on shelves, the reloads and some other range ammo in above containers sits in an old lateral file cabinet.
As to the OP - only one type of ammo per can. I have several types of 9mm, for example, each gets its own can and is labeled on the outside.
One comment said the plastic cans leaked in a flood.
Dunross
Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2018
- Messages
- 994
The military (and commercial) ammo cans that I know of are only able to see airtight because of a rubber gasket in their lids.
In a fire hot enough to cook off the ammunition inside it is also hot enough to first soften, then melt, the rubber gasket which would allow pressure to escape.
mstreddy
Member
George, my comment on the cookoffs was to the OP storing ammo in a safe, not Chuck's storage in the green cabinet. Actually, Chuck's would be good storage. I like how he reinforced the middle of the shelves with the 1x boards.
I live in SE Fla and I don't have an issue with the ammo cans rusting. As long as I get them in good condition to begin with, they will last a very long time.
Thankfully, through my participation in the Uncle Sam's Weekend Warriors Club I can get some nearly brand new ammo cans when I need them. And for $Free. So, I can't complain.
Maybe I have enough already? This is the other side of the shelf, or more accurately, the other shelf. When I first built this one, I had a mix of the 30 and 50 cal cans. So, I figured out that by varying the middle support I could get one side to hold two 50s and one side to hold a 50 and two 30s. I reversed as I went up as I wanted to screw in the support fully on top and bottom. I didn't want to "toe nail" or angle in.
mstreddy
Member
Gunny, I love all your ammo cans, but I'd hate to play tetris in trying to get to one of the bottom cans.
George P
member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2018
- Messages
- 7,772
I'd sure hate to have to bend ALL the way over to get from the bottom or reach ALL the way to grab one from the top though!George, my comment on the cookoffs was to the OP storing ammo in a safe, not Chuck's storage in the green cabinet. Actually, Chuck's would be good storage. I like how he reinforced the middle of the shelves with the 1x boards.
I live in SE Fla and I don't have an issue with the ammo cans rusting. As long as I get them in good condition to begin with, they will last a very long time.
Thankfully, through my participation in the Uncle Sam's Weekend Warriors Club I can get some nearly brand new ammo cans when I need them. And for $Free. So, I can't complain.
Maybe I have enough already? This is the other side of the shelf, or more accurately, the other shelf. When I first built this one, I had a mix of the 30 and 50 cal cans. So, I figured out that by varying the middle support I could get one side to hold two 50s and one side to hold a 50 and two 30s. I reversed as I went up as I wanted to screw in the support fully on top and bottom. I didn't want to "toe nail" or angle in.
mstreddy
Member
George, and I'm a short guy, so getting the ones on top can be challenging. I have actually moved some around to more convenient/ergonomic heights in the shelves based on weight. One of those 50s full of loose 45 ACP is HEAVY!
John Joseph
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
- Messages
- 1,441
Short answer:
Ammo cans. Standard size .50s(some aren't marked for .50, but they are the same size) Not Fat .50s.
One can for .45s, one can for .38s and one can for .22s and all kept secure in a locking metal filing cabinet. Not a safe.
Answer 2.0:
Add one can for clean, sized and primed brass for reloading and one can for reloaded rounds for every caliber you hand load for(I batch load)
Charlie98
Member
Some is in USGI ammo cans (primarily 7.62mm and 5.56mm bulk ammos,) some are in bulk in cardboard boxes (primarily handgun blasting ammo,) and some are in cartridge-specific plastic 50rd ammo boxes (target ammo, specific pistol or rifle ammo.)
GunnyUSMC
Member
I have them stacked by caliber now. The ones on the bottom have duplicates on the top. I did move all the pistol and 22 ammo to another room . I only have 72 cans of rifle and shotgun ammo in there now.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
