Optimizing my Range Bag with Plastic Ammo Boxes

[Alllen Bundy]

Unfortunately there does not appear to be any such thing as a standard size ammo box. Every brand seems to be using a different size box. As such the ammo boxes do not fit nicely into my range bags. With the Sig 50 rd ammo boxes the most that would fit into my range bag was 300 rds. Besides actual ammo, I also carry a box of dummy rounds and another box with shell cases with primers for testing purposes.

I wanted a better way to store ammo in my range bag. I found these polypropylene ammo boxes made by MTM for .380 & 9x19 mm cartridges in 50 rd, 100 rd and 200 round boxes. I can store 500 rounds in these ammo boxes inside my range bag, which is a 200 round improvement over the factory cardboard boxes, and they make my range bag flatter.





Nowhere online could I find the correct dimensions, so I had to check them out in the store to see how well they would fit into my range bag.

The 50 rd box measures: 4-13/16" wide, 2-15/16" Deep, and 1-7/16" Thick"
$2.99 Sportsman's Warehouse

The 100 rd box measures: 4-13/16" wide, 5-1/4" deep, and 1-7/16" Thick" $4.99
$4.99 Sportsman's Warehouse

The 200 rd box measures: 9-5/16" wide, 5-1/4" deep, and 1-7/16" Thick"
$7.49 Sportsman's Warehouse

The boxes have real pivoting hinges instead of a cheap plastic flap that eventually breaks.

Two 100 round boxes next to each other take up about 0.3" more room than one 200 rd box. The 200 round boxes will fit into my range bag just a bit better. I think that I will buy another 200 rd box and relegate the 100 rd boxes to ammo storage on the shelf.

I'm a bit on the obsessive compulsive side and the way that these boxes fit into my range bag gives me the warm fuzzies.

I should probably add a desiccant pack or two to every ammo box.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Sweet!

Any show and tell pictures of the range box packed out?

My issue isn't quantity so much as it's weight. I pretty much stick with factory ammo boxes, but have used Ziploc freezer baggies at times. A standard 50 cal ammo can gets quite heavy with what I can pack in it for a trip to the range.

Of course, I don't have a reloading set up, where I might be more inclined to have boxes like what you're showing.

 

[kerreckt]

My problem with range bag load out is weight. Big bag big weight. Small bag big weight. No way around it! Best wishes!

 

[CapnMac]

MTM boxes have been the way to organize for decades.

Conveniently, many of the MTM boxes are exactly one metal ammo can "wide" or "long."

Using MTM boxes does mean you can dispose of the "from the store" at home, in a sensible manner and not count on the over-filled (or non-existent) trashcan(s) at the range, too.

Don't over look the the non-divided boxes, as those can be handy for storing all manner of odds & ends in the range bag. Also, for when you find ammo that is less-optimal for one (or all) of your firearms can be dumped into a non-divided box as a catch-all.

 

[Alllen Bundy]

My range bag appears to be a promo item from Nordic Naturals, which is a vitamin/food supplement company. It was a donation to a non-profit electronics recycling organization where I used to volunteer.

The top zippered compartment is very small, but just large enough to store ear plugs and safety glasses.



The next zippered compartment is where I store tools, spare parts, cleaner, & lube.



The next zippered compartment is where I store two steel lockboxes. One lockbox contains a P365 series pistol with 3 extra magazines, 3 bullets for manual chambering, a chamber flag, and a magazine loader that I made even smaller by cutting off the unused front and rear lips. At the muzzle end there are 4 layers of steel to prevent a self firing bullet from leaving the box. There is also another steel barrier at the rear of the slide to prevent it from cycling and reloading and self firing again, in a house fire or whatever.



The other lockbox contains extra magazines and another magazine loader. I keep a piece of foam between the lock boxes to keep them from banging against each other.

I typically ride to the gun range on my bicycle and carry this range bag inside a rear pannier. I have heavy duty racks on the front and rear of my bicycle. The steel cables for the lockboxes give me some protection against theft if I need to make a quick stop at a store along the way. I carry a second P365 series pistol in my fanny pack with a total of 3 - 14 rd magazines, and I have a 4th - 14 rd magazine in my rear pocket.

The next zippered compartment is where I store the ammo boxes. It used to have that stretchy netting like stuff to allow gloves, etc., to dry out. I cut out the netting, as it hung up on things. The weight of the ammo boxes is nothing compared to the loaded bag weight.



On the back side is a zippered compartment where I store the straps that I can use to convert the bag to a backpack. I also store the lock box security cables there. There are also two rings on the bag where a shoulder strap may be attached.



The loaded range bag dimensions are: 15-1/2" x 10-3/4" x 7"

The loaded range bag weight just under 29 lbs.

 

[Alllen Bundy]

I pull the cartridges from the factory box, measure the overall length, then put them into the plastic ammo boxes. So it really isn't any extra work to transfer the cartridges from the factory cardboard box to a plastic ammo box.

If the overall length of a cartridge appears to be overly short or overly long I weed it out, remove the bullet and powder, then use the empty shell case with intact primer for testing. I glue the unused bullets into spent shell cases and drill holes into the sides of the shell cases to make dummy rounds.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Quart and gallon ziplock bags work for me.