Filling ammo boxes

[tooltech]

Here's a question from left field: How do you fill your ammo boxes?

The one aspect of reloading that I find to be a chore is filling the box. I've tried bulk packing in a surplus ammo can, but just don't like it. I frequently ride my bike to the range, and all the vibration and bouncing around bothers me.

If loaded into 50 or 100 round boxes, it seems much more secure.

But filling the box is a pain. Especially 500-600 rounds at a session.

I usually dump a bunch over the box, and help the rounds drop in nose first. This seems to be the fastest method I've found.

It occurred to me that maybe a Lee case feeder and collator could be adapted to use?

I figure with a group like we have here, someone must have built a better mouse trap.

 

[GLShooter]

I just put them on a towel and run my hands up against them kind of flipping them up. The bullets go tip down then I grab a handful by the back and pour them tip down into the box.

It doesn't seem to take long. I then use a big tipped magic marker and color the case heads so I can sort my brass out if I get range pick ups or if they have a different load in them.

I'm afraid a case feeder/collator would be over thinking it for me.

Greg

BTW my usual loading session is rarely less than 500 rounds.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

good quality ammo boxes are pricey. I've seem 'em from poor quality, fragile up to excellent and pricey.
myself I just discovered at an office supply extra thick zip-lock bags that hold 25 .357Mag cartridges for .40c apiece. that's what i've been useing lately for handloads from .32acp up to .45acp and about everything in between I just place 25 cartridges in each one along with a data note on the load. sealed up tightly they will actually float I've tryed it.

 

[GLShooter]

I use these: http://www.jandjproducts.com/ or the Dillon boxes.

I always felt that the MTM were to pricey for what you got. I even have a bunch of the old Hodgdon slip fit 50 rounders for 45 ACP's I use for "special" rarely shot stuff.

Greg

 

[MMCSRET]

There are boxing tools out there, they look like a fork with 11 tines so you can scoop into a pile of loose cartridges and pick up 10 at a time. All right side up and easily dropped into the tray.
I prefer to do it by hand as it is a final inspection for right side up primers, etc.

 

[Blackrock]

I load into plastic 50 round boxes for all my rifle cartridges and either 50 or 100 roundboxes for my handgun ammo. I have many different brands. I store most of these in the drawers of my big Crafsman workbench. I do have some stored in 50cal ammo cans and some in those nice heay carboard boxes the my 8# jugs of powder come in.
I have somewhere around 6K rounds packed away. I will probably go through 4K in South Dakota this June.

 

[Shadow 7D]

I just raid the trash can at the range, Last I looked there where HUNDREDS of perfectly good ammo boxes and holder there.

 

[1SOW]

Shadow7D +1

When I pick up range brass, I also go to the trash can and find all the 9mm WIN White Boxes that are also "once used". I have "A LOT" of once, twice and 10X used WWB 'boxes'. I also have some MTM 100 rd boxes.

 

[tooltech]

I've got both 50 and 100 round boxes, as well as a ton of range pick-ups. I'm looking for a better way of filling them

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, one of the joys of progressives. Tons of ammunition to process and store.

Before long there will be $1000 accessory that will stuff the ammunition in storage boxes, 500 rounds per hour at least. Of course, grade change parts to another cartridge will be $400.

I package my ammunition in 50 round boxes and the process puts a serious dent in my production rate. When I run out of boxes, I use Zip Loc(r) bags. I just cannot bring myself to dump the rounds loose in an ammo can.

 

[glockky]

i get my cases from berrys when i buy bullets they are really cheap and they ship for free if your order is over 50 bucks

 

[Walkalong]

I use Ammo cans, First Aid cans, (Same seal as ammo cans) Midway boxes, Berrys boxes, and various plastic 50 & 100 round ammo boxes. (Berrys, J&J, Frankford, MTM) Anything that holds ammo securely.

 

[rcmodel]

I take the opportunity to final inspect & case guage each round as I put it in the box.

It is one of the few reloading steps I can do safely while watching TV or something in the evening.

rc

 

[FROGO207]

I sort and inspect each one as a last step and count/drop into a HD quart Freezer bag of whatever brand was on sale last. Date, load info, and qty.After use I put the empties back in bag to store till reloaded again. I store loaded ammo bags in Ammo cans. No problems with moisture or corrosion--Just squeeze the air out before sealing and the bags act as round counters/cushions with a full box not rattling much IMHO. Now you know those 40MM cans can get reaaallly heavy when stuffed full.

 

[kennedy]

using my lee turret I just take the finished cartridge and put it in the box, what is the big mystery? each box has a number on it that corresponds to an entry in my reloading log that identifies the load.

 

[paralaska]

I got a lot of little plastic zip lock bags about 4"x4". Each bag will hold 30ea. .223/5.56. Then toss them into my ammo can. The bag provides a little padding and I've got one full mag worth in each bag, so when reloading the mags, it's one bag each. Just grab a bag and load . . . and the bags are reusable. If I can get 20ea .308 into each bag (haven't tried it yet, may have to get a little larger bag), I'll do the same.

 

[bloominonion]

I put the tray/box into a tupperware container and just dump a few handfuls of ammo across it, shake it in, and repeat. For pistol rounds, it works most of the time.

 

[blarby]

I too salvage ammo boxes from the range.

Flip 'em inside out, tape and label, and on to the shelf !

My version of winnie white box- blarbys brown box ( I'd say the contents are probably of a little better quality though )

I personally like boxing the loads- lets you count your accomplishments

Also, as many have stated- gives you one last chance to check for errors.

 

[ultralightbackpacker]

Hehehe. Thats a great one. When I load more than 100 rounds, I get my 7 year old to package them in mtm cases (100 round). He thinks it's better than playing his nintendo ds.

 

[straitnate14]

I like to load my .223 in the white boxes from midway that you get for shotgun shells, I have found that when I take a Ziploc bag and fill it up with 100 rounds and put it in a shotguns shell box It fits 100 perfectly then I just right what they are on the top flap. I started doing this with my 38 special ammo as well.