MTM and Plano ammos boxes compared

[Tech Ninja]

Sure you can put your reloads in a baggy. Or an old sock. But I like ammo boxes.

How do MTM and Plano boxes compare?

On the front the Plano has two latches and a hole for securing the box. Probably with a zip tie. The MTM has one latch.

The MTM is easier to open and can be opened with one hand. Opening the Plano is a bit more fussy and requires two hands.

The lid on the MTM has a solid hinge and stays open in the halfway position. The Plano has a hinge with pins and opens all the way.

The Plano is made in China and the MTM is made in the USA.

The MTM costs about 2.19 and the Plano about 2.29.

The MTM is available in four colors, the Plano only comes in one.

The latches on the Plano bug me as they are harder to open. But if you need a more secured box you can zip tie it closed.

All things considered I prefer the way the MTM functions. Being made in the USA is a bonus to me.

 

[rcmodel]

Nice write-up!!

Myself?
I buy a no-name brand similiar to the MTM at gunshows some guy sells for .99 cents.

Probably not as good.

But the ones I have had for years will probably last longer then I will need them to last.

rc

 

[BYJO4]

I've been using my MTM ammo boxes for 35 years and they still look like new. I assume their quality is as good now as when I bought mine.

 

[rcmodel]

On the other hand, I had a bunch of old MTM boxes bite the big one recently when the thin hinge sections finally started breaking.

Duck Tape will get you by for another trip to the range or three.
But then it's time to toss them.

rc

 

[Nanook]

It's unfortunate Plano has sent that work to China. Most of Plano's other items are made in the USA. A midwest big box hardware store carries a lot of Plano stuff, and most of it is made in the USA. Menard's for those of you in the midwest, not sure how far they go around the country.

 

[HOWARD J]

Here is the new hinge on the MTM series 50 for medium cartridges--- in time all their cases will have these---I have 8 of these--I really like them

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[harvester]

I much prefer boxes with hinges like the plano that lay open and I really dislike the ones that the tops slip on and off.

 

[saitek]

box preferance

mtm all the way ! i havwe used them for years. i love the new hinged boxes .

 

[Tech Ninja]

Those new hinges are even better!

 

[Krogen]

I've tried other brands several times over the years, but I always come back to MTM. Always some irritation with other brands.

 

[1SOW]

For 9mm, I much prefer the MTM boxes with "hinges". Reloading out of the flip top can be a problem when it's down to 20-30 rds left in it: Mag and Uplula in left hand, trying to hold open the lid and pull cartridges with the right = a PITA, ESPECIALLY when sharing limited table space with a number of other shooters.

The hinged boxes are much harder to find for 9mm. They offer a "black and green" model that's slightly different than the few "red" hinged boxes I have.

 

[Hondo 60]

Tech Ninja - Nice write up!
So many times you see a contributor post their opinion, but no reason as to WHY they think that way.

I too, prefer MTM boxes.
(thanks for makin me look smart!)

 

[GLOOB]

The MTM is available in four colors, the Plano only comes in one.

You can snap the lids on/off the MTM's and mix and match the tops and bottoms. So you can get 16 combinations. And if you snap the lid off, the pistol cases work great for rifle loading blocks. 9mm for 223 and 45ACP for 308 or 30-06 based cases.

 

[mgmorden]

I prefer the Plano boxes out of these myself. I just like the actual hinge rather than the "flex-hinge". MTM seemingly has went to the same design on the 100-round pistol cases and all their rifle stuff, but I'm mostly still seeing the flex hinge on the 50-round pistol boxes. I've also noticed that on the 9mm boxes I have, a few of the slots on the outer edges are tight - the rounds won't dump out when the box is inverted but rather have to be pulled out.

I've also used a lot of the "Smart Reloader" boxes which is a mix of both. It has the single latch up front like the MTM but has hinges like the Plano. Caught these on sale for $0.99 once and stocked up. Between all the different brand I think I have like 30-35 boxes for 9mm and another 8 or so for .38 Special.

 

[highlander 5]

Oddly enough I just bought a Plano 50 rd box marked 44 Mag/45 Colt and was hopeing it would take 454 loaded rounds and they do. Anything that's made by MTM has a lifetime warrantee so don't throw them away,send them back for replacement. I drove over a 50 rd MTM box,sent it back they replaced it no questions asked.

 

[rsrocket1]

I usually get my ammo boxes with the plastic inserts out of the trash can and after wearing out the outer box, make one myself by cutting up and folding a used cereal box (inside out of course, I don't want my ammo box showing Tony the Tiger or Toucan Sam). But now that I am sometimes shooting 200 rounds a couple of times a week, I am seriously considering Tupperware as my official ammo box.

reduce reuse recycle reload

 

[wardor]

Another good ammo box (and cheap) is the Dillon ammo boxes. I think if you buy 10+ at a time you can get them under $2

 

[dickttx]

I have some CaseGard boxes closing in on 50 years old. Some of them had nearly 40 year old ammo in them, and all went bang.
The flex hinge on the older ones don't particuliarly bother me, but the two snaps on the Plano do.
I like to have all my boxes for the same caliber the same color. Helps me not mix up things like 9mm and 38 Super.

 

[mxjunky78]

I prefer the Plano boxes out of these myself. I just like the actual hinge rather than the "flex-hinge". MTM seemingly has went to the same design on the 100-round pistol cases and all their rifle stuff, but I'm mostly still seeing the flex hinge on the 50-round pistol boxes. I've also noticed that on the 9mm boxes I have, a few of the slots on the outer edges are tight - the rounds won't dump out when the box is inverted but rather have to be pulled out.

I've also used a lot of the "Smart Reloader" boxes which is a mix of both. It has the single latch up front like the MTM but has hinges like the Plano. Caught these on sale for $0.99 once and stocked up. Between all the different brand I think I have like 30-35 boxes for 9mm and another 8 or so for .38 Special.

I hate that too! I have both style MTM hinges though. Maybe the hinges will separate and I can get a free replacement of the new style.

 

[JRWhit]

I have the Plano and a MTM in 100 rd 45 acp. My biggest gripe is with the MTM because it's deeper and makes it a little hard to get a grip on the cartridge at times.

 

[oneounceload]

The Plano is made in China and the MTM is made in the USA.

Regardless of past preferences, this makes the difference for me now

 

[1SOW]

Ditto!

 

[OldMac]

I actually like the design of the plano better, and apparently mtm did too, but i will always choose the made in usa if two products are even remotely close in function.

 

[dragon813gt]

I had both at one point. I hated the snaps on the Plano. I also could not find them locally for any other size besides 9mm. So I switched to the MTM. I rarely use them anymore. Ammo cans and baggies it is for me.


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[1KPerDay]

BTW berry's boxes are also good. Dunno where they're made but they work. Some ebay listings say they're made in the USA but I dont' know for sure. They seem identical to MTMs to me; I use both the 50 and 100 round boxes for handgun ammo with success.