entropy
Member
Cat litter pails are great for large amounts of brass. I use the lockable clear food-type containers with the four locking tabs on the lid for smaller amounts.
Spent Brass Storage Containers?
- Thread starter OilyPablo
- Start date
- Status
Archie
Member
I do not like 'round' cans. They waste a lot of shelf space. (On the other hand, I like 'free'. Can't argue with 'free'.)
I found metal GI ammo cans at a gun show for a good buy, and I've scrounged up some other the years. I put computer printed labels on them for quick ID. The larger ones get heavy fast. (Not good for bullets
)
I store different head stamps in the same can, but in separate freezer bags. Marking is easy.
Square plastic boxes with lids from the Dollar Store have a place as well.
For sorting of brass and various things, I found an eighteen bin (three levels of six bins) screw and fastener keeper at the local big box hardware store. Great for segregating brass and head stamps.
I found metal GI ammo cans at a gun show for a good buy, and I've scrounged up some other the years. I put computer printed labels on them for quick ID. The larger ones get heavy fast. (Not good for bullets
)I store different head stamps in the same can, but in separate freezer bags. Marking is easy.
Square plastic boxes with lids from the Dollar Store have a place as well.
For sorting of brass and various things, I found an eighteen bin (three levels of six bins) screw and fastener keeper at the local big box hardware store. Great for segregating brass and head stamps.
medalguy
Member
I tumble the brass then store it in gallon freezer bags stacked inside big M548 ammo cans that once held 1500 rounds of 7.62mm linked ammo. Label the outside and stack them as high as I need to. Yeah they're heavy but they can be moved when necessary. I get 10,000 pieces of 9mm, about 6,000 pieces of .45, and 5,000 pieces of 5.56mm per can.
almostgem
Member
For me, I found that plastic shoe boxes are readily available, stackable and cheap. For handgun cartridges, they hold more than 1000 pieces. I keep them in 2 different areas. Those that have been shot by me as new or purchased as once fired, go in one area, and after reloading, go into a twice fired area. Once I go through all the once fired brass, those containers are then marked 3x fired, and the process starts over. In this way, I keep track of how many times cases have been reloaded, and keep my brass segregated. Even though see through, I mark the ends of the boxes with the sizes of the cartridges contained.
lightman
Member
Lots of good ideas here. I like how the guys that are frugal (cheap) like me recycle the containers from goods that they use often.
OP
OP
OilyPablo
Member
Indeed. While quite a few scrounger options are quite small containers even some of those are handy. I should take a picture of my current sorting bench tonight. Whatamess!
Candyman87
Member
Mine get dumped into a 5 gallon bucket from the range. When I have time I sort them by caliber into Coffee Mate creamer containers http://m.target.com/p/nestle-coffee-mate-creamer-35-3oz/-/A-14056736
I'll sort by headstamp and tumblr them later and move them into other Coffee Mate creamer containers for larger calibers and the large Chinese food soup containers for smaller calibers or smaller volume calibers like .32 ACP and .38 Special.
I'll sort by headstamp and tumblr them later and move them into other Coffee Mate creamer containers for larger calibers and the large Chinese food soup containers for smaller calibers or smaller volume calibers like .32 ACP and .38 Special.
weaselfire
Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2013
- Messages
- 56
Walmart.
Jeff
Jeff
Ditchtiger
Member
I use the wooden crate surplus ammo tins came in.
grubbylabs
Member
I by mine at wall mart. I buy the ones that are about the size of a shoe box. Cheap and easy, and see through. They stack up nice as well.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Agree Wally World has a excellent selection of sizes and shapes for good prices.
For smaller batches in between cleaning stages etc, I use old coffee cans.
Never realized I drank that much coffee before.
For smaller batches in between cleaning stages etc, I use old coffee cans.
Never realized I drank that much coffee before.
Tusker10mm
Member
A lot will depend on how much brass you have-- I have and use assorted stuff from4 1/2 gallon cat litter buckets to these from dog dental chews, before Costco stopped stocking them. Also, U-Line sells somenice 2 1/2 gallon buckets, lids can be had-- these have many uses around my reloading shop. Zip-Lock, Soup & Salad size containers have many uses as well. I am in the camp that ALL brass should be deprived & cleaned before storage, mine get a first polish as well.
I am in the camp that ALL brass should be deprived & cleaned before storage, mine get a first polish as well.
Tusker10mm
Member
Yeah, I graduated from coffee cans long ago- But I like containers without labels. Our old cat passed just about the time they stopped making the labels that would slip off. I also use the plastic one suger comes in, but have not figured out how to remove the label. Daughter says I need to get a life. I have found the 2 1/2 gallon buckets from 'U-LINE' to be very useful. Check them out on line. I ordered 7/ with lids one day and they were here in like two days, or the next day. I put a sticky label on them held on by a piece of clear shipping tape--- works for me.
But I like containers without labels. Our old cat passed just about the time they stopped making the labels that would slip off. I also use the plastic one suger comes in, but have not figured out how to remove the label. Daughter says I need to get a life. I have found the 2 1/2 gallon buckets from 'U-LINE' to be very useful. Check them out on line. I ordered 7/ with lids one day and they were here in like two days, or the next day. I put a sticky label on them held on by a piece of clear shipping tape--- works for me. 
Folgers cans, but every time I empty a new one from Sam's, I toss a smaller one. I have mostly the tall 3 lb containers by now. That can hold quite a bit of pistol brass. I only have one container for each caliber. Once it gets near full, I tumble them (and process rifle brass)
Most loaded rounds go in containers like this.
A sharp knife cuts a nice hole where the pour spout used to be so there is easy access and the handle makes moving them around easier. The plastic is thick and these hold up great.
Most loaded rounds go in containers like this.
A sharp knife cuts a nice hole where the pour spout used to be so there is easy access and the handle makes moving them around easier. The plastic is thick and these hold up great.
dragon813gt
Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2011
- Messages
- 1,137
Been down that road. Even w/ a pallet jack and pallets they are a pain to move around. Let along trying to get to brass that's at the bottom. Five gallon buckets stacked on pallets is the most convenient solution all around.
OP
OP
OilyPablo
Member
I happened across some new storage bins with lids. 6 of them. Look like they are strong enough and will stack nicely. Will fill, organize, label and photo over the weekend.
goldpelican
Member
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2015
- Messages
- 259
Harbor Freight often has their Bunker Hill brand plastic ammo boxes on sale for $5. Not sure if they're the same as Plano boxes or just an imitation, but they fill up with brass and stack nicely.
drec
Member
I use the Harbor Freight Bunker Hill ammo boxes too. They've been running sales on them the last couple of months for $4.99. The Harbor Freight #'s are 63135 and 61451. The Super Coupon # is 82740264; which is good until 3/31/16.
I can easily put 2000K 9mm cases in one. They stack well too.
I can easily put 2000K 9mm cases in one. They stack well too.
375supermag
Member
Hi...
I use the 5lb Folger coffee can system and Akro bins of various sizes.
Brass gets transported home from the range in Folger's cans, usually one can per caliber for pistol brass. Revolver brass usually stays in the plastic cartridge boxes except .38 and .357Mag which is shot in large enough quantities to justify a Folger's can.
Loaded rounds in pistol calibers(9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP and now 10mm) go to the range in metal or plastic ammo cans. Generic plinking/general purpose .38spl/.357Mag loaded rounds go to the range the same way.
Hunting/serious application(especially .44Spl. .44Mag and .45Colt) or test rounds in any caliber go to the range in plastic cartridge boxes.
.223 brass gets it own Folger's can...other rifle calibers have plastic cartridge boxes. Empty shotgun shells come home in the case count boxes we buy them in.
I tumble or wash fired brass by caliber and usually process and load in batches of 500 or more, unless I am developing new loads. Then I usually load in quantities of 20, although I do sometimes load handgun ammunition in larger test batches when I have multiple handguns to test in that caliber.
That cuts down on the number of trips to the gun club, although it does require taking more guns per trip. And spending more time at the club per trip.
I use the 5lb Folger coffee can system and Akro bins of various sizes.
Brass gets transported home from the range in Folger's cans, usually one can per caliber for pistol brass. Revolver brass usually stays in the plastic cartridge boxes except .38 and .357Mag which is shot in large enough quantities to justify a Folger's can.
Loaded rounds in pistol calibers(9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP and now 10mm) go to the range in metal or plastic ammo cans. Generic plinking/general purpose .38spl/.357Mag loaded rounds go to the range the same way.
Hunting/serious application(especially .44Spl. .44Mag and .45Colt) or test rounds in any caliber go to the range in plastic cartridge boxes.
.223 brass gets it own Folger's can...other rifle calibers have plastic cartridge boxes. Empty shotgun shells come home in the case count boxes we buy them in.
I tumble or wash fired brass by caliber and usually process and load in batches of 500 or more, unless I am developing new loads. Then I usually load in quantities of 20, although I do sometimes load handgun ammunition in larger test batches when I have multiple handguns to test in that caliber.
That cuts down on the number of trips to the gun club, although it does require taking more guns per trip. And spending more time at the club per trip.
- Status
