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Posted: 5/31/2020 8:17:13 PM EDT
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Ok, so Ive been organizing ammo and mags, and thought id share some stuff i wish I had known going into this project. Id like others to add to this thread, but would like it to be about solutions that have proper fit, obviously anything can fit in a container thats larger than the item. This is about solutions where the items fit nicely in certain containers Ammo. Im a huge proponent of usgi bandoliers and stripper clips, and recommend that anyone with the resources, pack their ammo that way, if it ever does need to be used, it is wonderful to have it packed right, whereas one person cant carry more than 2 ammo cans, and when doing so they have no hands free, one person can easily carry over 2k rounds on bandoliers and still have hands. For 5.56 ive found that 1440 rounds fits perfect in fat 50 cans In bandoliers, packed properly, and with a spoon in last pocket of each bando. 6 rows of 4 pocket bandoliers, 2 levels high. They are tight to put in, but pull out very easily.  I have noticed however that the cardboard silencers come in varying thickness, using all thick silencers the can gets tight, works best with thinner cardboard, the thinnest ones i can find are new production for retail, and are noticably thinner than mil surp that comes with repack kits. I like this packing much better than the standard 840 rds per .50 cal can, wastes a lot less space. For 5.45 1080 rounds fits perfect in .50 cal cans. 6 strippers per pocket in usgi 4 pocket bandos with white string pulled, 3 bandoliers per can  For 7.62x39 the 7 pocket usgi bandoliers work well, and hold 420 rounds in a .30 cal can. 3 strippers per pocket. The strippers must all be oriented the same and the bandoliers accordioned into a stack, 2 stacks will just barely fit, lid is tight to close but works and seals.  Even better for 7.62x39 is 6 of the 4 pocket bandoliers, 3 strippers per pocket in a .50 cal can.  for pmags, Im using 40mm ammo cans. They hold 44 pmags each, 2 rows of 18 standing vertical(every other one flipped) with 8 laid on flat on top(2 layers of 4). These are a more effecient fit than the fat 50s most use, and will take up far less space especially if you have lots of mags. Failry heavy when loaded, but not too heavy to carry.  Another option for ar15 mags in 40mm cans, is 24 of them in mag bandoliers. I picked up some cheap surplus usgi magazine bandoliers and added 1.5" snap extensions so they would hold 6 pmags each. I like this setup a bit better, as the mags could be carried and used right out of can.  For ak74 mags im using surplus pouches, and 20mm ammo cans, can fit one row of 6 pouches standing up, then 2 layers of 2 pouches laying down, total of 10 4 cell pouches. Again fairly heavy loaded, but not too heavy. These do not work as well for ak47 magazines, as the top 2 layers laying flat, you can only get one in each level they are just a tad too tall to fit 2 per layer. These also work well for many other magazines in pouches, but really depends on the style of pouch.   Ak47 or vz58 mags in pouches work well in fat 25mm cans. These cans are a little rarer and more expensive, but work perfectly.  Fal mags fit 28 perfect in fat 50 can, 4 per layer laid flat 7 layers  I am still adding info to this post be nice to see info for other mags/ammo added. |
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https://www.ar15.com/forums/General/How-do-you-post-pictures-/169-1395341/?page=1 And this gizmo helps load 5.56 onto stripper clips pretty darned well. http://uniquetek.com/product/T1701 |
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Availability is spotty, as with all surplus, but i bought a 75 pack of the repack kits from ebay for a little under $3 each. Most aurplus stores have them from time to time. Search for usgi ammo repack kits, they have a bandolier a spoon 4 cardoards and 12 strippers each. This is where i got them, theyve gone up a little bit ,but still just a little over $3 each https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-CASE-OF-75-BANDOLEER-REPACK-KITS-USGI-COMPLETE-ORIGINAL-4-POCKET-OD-223-5-56/133411265531?hash=item1f0fee5bfb:g:cBsAAOSw5VFWQpul More,than enough to do 6 fat 50 cans, for a total of 8640 rds in 6 cans |
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Nice post, op. Excellent suggestion for the 40mm cans. I just picked up 4 of them from https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/us-military-surplus-pa120-40mm-ammo-can-used?a=1586611 $17 / can Thanks again! |
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Quoted: Tag for info. @Throwsabender Some very good information in this thread....excellent storage ideas. I mainly use 50 cal cans for storage, but these large cans will be a big help One question, when you say Tag for info, can you please explain to me what this means? Is it a way to search and come back for this thread? I see this a lot, and while I have been on this forum for many years, I do not know all of the short cuts and search helps. Thanks, Bronc |
For my FAL, M1A and G-3 mags I use .30 cal ammo cans. Standing them on end with the feed lips up the can holds 8 mags. Cardboard on the underside of the lid protects the feed lips if the can is dropped. Easy for even the kids to carry and the .30 cal cans are cheap and easy to store. YMMV The MULE |
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Quoted: Ok, so Ive been organizing ammo and mags, and thought id share some stuff i wish I had known going into this project. Id like others to add to this thread, but would like it to be about solutions that have proper fit, obviously anything can fit in a container thats larger than the item. This is about solutions where the items fit nicely in certain containers Ammo. Im a huge proponent of usgi bandoliers and stripper clips, and recommend that anyone with the resources, pack their ammo that way, if it ever does need to be used, it is wonderful to have it packed right, whereas one person cant carry more than 2 ammo cans, and when doing so they have no hands free, one person can easily carry over 2k rounds on bandoliers and still have hands. For 5.56 ive found that 1440 rounds fits perfect in fat 50 cans In bandoliers, packed properly, and with a spoon in last pocket of each bando. 6 rows of 4 pocket bandoliers, 2 levels high. They are tight to put in, but pull out very easily. https://i.imgur.com/GeBEzbq.jpg I have noticed however that the cardboard silencers come in varying thickness, using all thick silencers the can gets tight, works best with thinner cardboard, the thinnest ones i can find are new production for retail, and are noticably thinner than mil surp that comes with repack kits. I like this packing much better than the standard 840 rds per .50 cal can, wastes a lot less space. For 5.45 1080 rounds fits perfect in .50 cal cans. 6 strippers per pocket in usgi 4 pocket bandos with white string pulled, 3 bandoliers per canhttps://i.imgur.com/twUQxsI.jpg For 7.62x39 the 7 pocket usgi bandoliers work well, and hold 420 rounds in a .30 cal can. 3 strippers per pocket. The strippers must all be oriented the same and the bandoliers accordioned into a stack, 2 stacks will just barely fit, lid is tight to close but works and seals. https://i.imgur.com/CvQJKQl.jpg Even better for 7.62x39 is 6 of the 4 pocket bandoliers, 3 strippers per pocket in a .50 cal can. https://i.imgur.com/CBDF2Xm.jpg for pmags, Im using 40mm ammo cans. They hold 44 pmags each, 2 rows of 18 standing vertical(every other one flipped) with 8 laid on flat on top(2 layers of 4). These are a more effecient fit than the fat 50s most use, and will take up far less space especially if you have lots of mags. Failry heavy when loaded, but not too heavy to carry. https://i.imgur.com/NW7fjBm.jpg Another option for ar15 mags in 40mm cans, is 24 of them in mag bandoliers. I picked up some cheap surplus usgi magazine bandoliers and added 1.5" snap extensions so they would hold 6 pmags each. I like this setup a bit better, as the mags could be carried and used right out of can. https://i.imgur.com/n5WU7H4.jpg For ak74 mags im using surplus pouches, and 20mm ammo cans, can fit one row of 6 pouches standing up, then 2 layers of 2 pouches laying down, total of 10 4 cell pouches. Again fairly heavy loaded, but not too heavy. These do not work as well for ak47 magazines, as the top 2 layers laying flat, you can only get one in each level they are just a tad too tall to fit 2 per layer. These also work well for many other magazines in pouches, but really depends on the style of pouch. https://i.imgur.com/J4kCw9m.jpg https://i.imgur.com/wP5yFVh.jpg Ak47 or vz58 mags in pouches work well in fat 25mm cans. These cans are a little rarer and more expensive, but work perfectly. https://i.imgur.com/2IUPFIp.jpg Fal mags fit 28 perfect in fat 50 can, 4 per layer laid flat 7 layers https://i.imgur.com/n8NrEbx.jpg I am still adding info to this post be nice to see info for other mags/ammo added. Next step is color coding those cans to caliber. |
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Quoted: Next step is color coding those cans to caliber. --------------------------------------------------- I use Avery peel and stick labels, the Avery #5263 Shipping Labels. I run them through my printer and put one each on the end, top and side of the can. Ammo that is put back for emergencies in stripper clips, links or magazines are "sealed" with a small zip tie so as not to be accidently taken to the range and shot. The small zip ties break easily when the lid is "popped".  YMMV The MULE |
| They make a label material referred to as "dispersion adhesion" labels. They are intended to be non-permanent. I have printed a bunch for my ammo cans, stick them, two years later pulled them off and stuck them on different cans. If you remove them and restick them a couple of times then they start to lose their ability to stick but to me, it is way niced then getting out the goo-gone every time that I want to consolodate ammo cans. |
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Quoted: They make a label material referred to as "dispersion adhesion" labels. They are intended to be non-permanent. I have printed a bunch for my ammo cans, stick them, two years later pulled them off and stuck them on different cans. If you remove them and restick them a couple of times then they start to lose their ability to stick but to me, it is way niced then getting out the goo-gone every time that I want to consolodate ammo cans. ---------------------------------------- Do you have a source? Thanks! The MULE |
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Quoted: ---------------------------------------- Do you have a source? Thanks! The MULE I was thinking these? https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00007M5KZ/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 |
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Quoted: I was thinking these? https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00007M5KZ/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 ----------------------------------------------- Yeah, those are great, but they don't have them in the 2x4" size that I personally like. But thanks for finding those, I'll look at the local Staples now that I know what to look for. The MULE |
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My source may not be helpful to most people. I was just trying to point out that the technology exists and is useful. I am sure that others sell the same style label in different formats as ELSD99 pointed out. The labels that I use are procured from Peak-Ryzek, they measure 2" by 2.75" and we buy them by the roll for $60.00. Actually I think that they sell them by the case but I think that is because we buy a custom size. Our standard order is 18 rolls at a time. Most of the time I will print them on my wife's UPS Label printer but if I just need one then I will stick brother labels onto a dispersion label and apply that to the ammo can. Sample: 
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I use these: 
For nearly everything. These stack very well; they're designed for it. They will take: 5x AR10 25 round PMAGS 9x G3/CETME 20 round mags Mags (these actually pack very nicely) 8x AR15 30 round PMAGS with room for a single 20 round mag 8x AR15 30 round USGI mags with room for 2x 20's (PMAGs or USGI) I didn't dig out the AK mag boxes (they're down the stack a bit) but they don't pack as well because of the curve. My guess is 5x30's. And of course, pistol mags, stripper clips, loose ammo... all pack very nicely, but it's hard to say 'how' well. I do have some USGI 50 can cans - mostly because some stuff comes packed in them - and I use the MTM trays for those also, though I'm less pleased. The MTM 50 trays work great with new, unmolested, unrefinished US cans. Anything else gets progressively more iffy; there just isn't a lot of room for out-of-tolerance cans, and they can get hard to stack. ETA: There's usually a little 'space' at the top of the cans. I don't attempt to use this (usually), and none of the above counts use that. But usually you can get a little extra something in up there. The top is not flat like it is with a USGI ammo can. |
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Quoted: I use these: www.amazon.com/dp/B01MU6ZAPG For nearly everything. These stack very well; they're designed for it. They will take: 5x AR10 25 round PMAGS 9x G3/CETME 20 round mags Mags (these actually pack very nicely) 8x AR15 30 round PMAGS with room for a single 20 round mag 8x AR15 30 round USGI mags with room for 2x 20's (PMAGs or USGI) I didn't dig out the AK mag boxes (they're down the stack a bit) but they don't pack as well because of the curve. My guess is 5x30's. And of course, pistol mags, stripper clips, loose ammo... all pack very nicely, but it's hard to say 'how' well. I do have some USGI 50 can cans - mostly because some stuff comes packed in them - and I use the MTM trays for those also, though I'm less pleased. The MTM 50 trays work great with new, unmolested, unrefinished US cans. Anything else gets progressively more iffy; there just isn't a lot of room for out-of-tolerance cans, and they can get hard to stack. ETA: There's usually a little 'space' at the top of the cans. I don't attempt to use this (usually), and none of the above counts use that. But usually you can get a little extra something in up there. The top is not flat like it is with a USGI ammo can. I like these and the 50 cal version |
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