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4/29/2013 4:14:26 AM EDT
I searched the FAQ and found nothing on ammo storage, did I miss it some where?  



Since I have been heavily investing in my ammo cash I wanted to store it the best way possible instead of just having it sit on a shelf in the basement.  I was about to buy 50 cal ammo cans, but they don't give those away for $7 anymore so before I bought 10 of those, I thought that I would ask, what is the preferred method these days?



For a tech type question, what is the best can available, the 50 cal or the Fat 50 (if you can find them)?  Would love something to store a loaded AR mag in.  What about the plastic MTM type of field boxes?  They have a gasket and are tall enough to take a 30 round mag easily.



Finally can you push me in the right direction of where to spend my money?  Instead of posting in the thread,(by the time I get home from work they will all be sold), a pm is just fine.  After I order I will post the link if you wish.  



Thanks for a push in the right direction.
4/29/2013 4:55:14 AM EDT
[#1]
Any size metal ammo can with a good rubber gasket.  So basically 50 cal 30 cal or any military surplus container that falls into said category.
4/29/2013 4:59:28 AM EDT
[#2]
I have a large ammo can that I scored during my USMC career. It's in perfect condition and has all the markings painted over. I can store some of my ammo in it but not even half. I also keep a dessiccant packet in there in case there's any moisture trapped from opening and closing. I keep this can in my Browning safe, which also has a can of SafeDry on the top shelf. I'm slowly running out of room in the safe though.
4/29/2013 7:16:23 AM EDT
[#3]
20mm cans if you dont move them, 50 or 30s if you do.
4/29/2013 7:46:49 AM EDT
[#4]
I use .50 size cans.

also fat 50's and .30's
4/29/2013 8:01:50 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
I use .50 size cans.
http://imageshack.us/a/img140/2770/ammocans.jpg
also fat 50's and .30's


Nice!
4/29/2013 4:12:30 PM EDT
[#6]
The 50s do stack nicely.  Thanks for the push in the right direction.  





Wonderful picture of the cache by the way!





So what's a good (today) price on a 50 cal can?  I saw one place that gave you a $1.50 off per can if you bought 12.
4/29/2013 8:29:59 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
The 50s do stack nicely.  Thanks for the push in the right direction.  

Wonderful picture of the cache by the way!

So what's a good (today) price on a 50 cal can?  I saw one place that gave you a $1.50 off per can if you bought 12.


Might try any local gun shows before ordering online. UPS and FedEx both charge on the "volume" of a shipment, as in the amount those cubic inches COULD weigh, as opposed to what the actual weight is. Any savings might be negated by the shipping charges. And then some.

Most of my ammo I store in a metal cabinet in the packaging they came in. My .30 cal cans hold 9 30 rounders and 2 20's easily.
4/30/2013 2:34:51 PM EDT
[#8]
I have probably 10 of the 50 cal cans and 3 of the 30 cal cans. Before I got ahold of the 50 cal ones i used the plastic ones with a seal from walmart, $3 isnt bad for something the same size. I never really moved them so i wasnt afraid of them breaking or cracking.
4/30/2013 2:55:26 PM EDT
[#9]
I placed an order for cans from Axx, best price I could find online, but after shipping I could buy them locally and sort / pick through the cans that I wanted to buy vs. not knowing what would show up.  



I ended up going to Gander Mountain and asking if I buy 10 at a time would they give me a discount.  They gave me a small discount, I didn't have to worry about the product in shipment, and I have instant gratification.  Now I just need the ammo to fill them all up.  
4/30/2013 3:19:08 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
20mm cans if you dont move them, 50 or 30s if you do.


this

most people miss the whole 'have to move them' part

be sure to label them

always pick up one of whatever size you decide on at the gunshow
5/1/2013 7:24:14 PM EDT
[#11]
.50cal and .30cal for ammo and fat 50's and 40mm for mags
5/1/2013 8:57:29 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
I placed an order for cans from Axx, best price I could find online, but after shipping I could buy them locally and sort / pick through the cans that I wanted to buy vs. not knowing what would show up.  

I ended up going to Gander Mountain and asking if I buy 10 at a time would they give me a discount.  They gave me a small discount, I didn't have to worry about the product in shipment, and I have instant gratification.  Now I just need the ammo to fill them all up.  


I haven't heard of Axx - do you have a link?

Thanks,

-Warren-


5/2/2013 5:54:55 PM EDT
[#13]
Check out Mills Fleet and Farm.  They are new.  One of these stores may be close to you.  I bought several at a local farm and home for $18.  Saved shipping and I could inspect the cans. You can always haggle.  'No' is the worst that can happen.

50 cal ammo cans
5/3/2013 6:34:29 AM EDT
[#14]
I was able to score some Pelican Hardigg cases fairly cheep.



But I also use .50 cal cans.
They both work great.  I have the Hardigg cases at my final destination because you need a fork truck to move it when they are full.
5/3/2013 6:43:04 AM EDT
[#15]
.50cal and .30cal cans
5/3/2013 9:23:13 AM EDT
[#16]
I use 50 and fat 50s.

SGammo got in Fat 50s a couple days ago and they are sold out already but restock pretty regularly if your interested. Other than that Ammocan man always has good stock.
5/3/2013 12:58:39 PM EDT
[#17]
I store all of my stuff in  the following manner:

1. Put boxes in heat seal bag with silicone packs.
2. Vacuum Seal
3. Put in water-tight carry container that has fresh seal (I usually lube seal)

I will eventually buy another fire resistant safe to store the ammo, which is worth almost as much as my guns...if not more.

Like my guns, my ammo safes will be small, so I can have more than each end of my house and each level will have one safe.  Thieves are likely to stop once they found the first one and think there are no more.  And usually only one level of a house will burn if you are in suburbia and your FDP is competent.
5/4/2013 9:13:00 AM EDT
[#18]
Rifle ammo = .50 can
Handgun ammo in 30 cal. cans

5/4/2013 2:50:22 PM EDT
[#19]
Mostly 50's & some 30's. The blacked-out sections are people's names - I keep some ammunition on hand for potential handout use to a few specific people, often in calibers I don't even shoot:


That's just cans simply stacked in a storage room, but one of the better ways I've come to use is in a Jobox type box; the kind used on jobsites to store tools & such. Can be had at home depot, lowes, etc, for $200-$400 depending on size and work quite well. Not nearly as good as an actual safe, but the way the padlocks are recessed, it provides more security than might be expected at that price. Painted gray to cover up the bright orange original color, and leave junk stacked on it to make it look unimportant in the back of the shop. (Junk removed to open it for a pic of the inside):




This is looking down into it with the top opened. (Crappy cell-phone pic; sorry):
5/4/2013 3:35:05 PM EDT
[#20]
Quoted:
20mm cans if you dont move them, 50 or 30s if you do.


5/5/2013 6:13:02 PM EDT
[#21]
I have some 50 cal ammo cans and want to fill them with 20 round boxes of 5.56 ammo. I'm not sure where to buy the desiccant packets, also how many packets should I put in each can? I live in the Pacific NW with high humidity.
5/5/2013 6:38:12 PM EDT
[#22]
For desiccant packs, I use www.sorbentsystems.com. They have recommendations for size and quantity to use. Be sure they're fresh ('charged') or follow the instructions on low-oven-temp refreshing them before using them.
5/6/2013 5:03:46 PM EDT
[#23]
Tried to send you a PM Warren, but your inbox is full.  When you delete somethings and want a response, just pm me.  Thanks




Quoted:



Quoted:

I placed an order for cans from Axx, best price I could find online, but after shipping I could buy them locally and sort / pick through the cans that I wanted to buy vs. not knowing what would show up.  



I ended up going to Gander Mountain and asking if I buy 10 at a time would they give me a discount.  They gave me a small discount, I didn't have to worry about the product in shipment, and I have instant gratification.  Now I just need the ammo to fill them all up.  




I haven't heard of Axx - do you have a link?



Thanks,



-Warren-











 
5/8/2013 2:29:29 PM EDT
[#24]
As empty brass.
5/8/2013 2:44:51 PM EDT
[#25]
Unissued .50 cans
5/9/2013 7:01:21 AM EDT
[#26]
5.56/.50cal cans, stored on racks that allow you to adjust the height between shelves for optimal space utilization.  I can fit one row right in front of the other, and some shelves have them stacked two high while others are only a single row.  All adjustable depending on your needs.

And labels are a huge consideration.  I use labels that not only tell what caliber the contents are, but are also color coded for type (white for rifle, gold for handgun, blue for shotgun).  

5/11/2013 8:34:56 AM EDT
[#27]


Comes out to about $22 shipped for me, is that a good price for a new can?
5/11/2013 1:52:10 PM EDT
[#28]



Quoted:







Comes out to about $22 shipped for me, is that a good price for a new can?


I bought them locally for less than that and was able to hand select which exact cans that I took home.  Shipping just kills ordering these online for me.  If you can't find things locally, that might be a good option for you.



 
5/11/2013 2:14:59 PM EDT
[#29]
Quoted:


Comes out to about $22 shipped for me, is that a good price for a new can?


Not too bad. Locally here for the surplus the .50 run about $18... Shipping one for be comes to close to $30 but only $1.07 more for 2. So if you got 2 it would put it into a good price point I would assume.
5/14/2013 6:47:36 PM EDT
[#30]
I have a combo of Fat50, 50 and 30

And one 20mm that I store reloading stuff in lol
5/15/2013 6:32:54 AM EDT
[#31]
In terms of corrosion, etc., should I be concerned about storing ammo in a cardboard box in an indoor closet?
5/15/2013 7:26:23 AM EDT
[#32]
Loose ammo in 30 cans (loose ammo in 50 cans just weighs too much)
Packaged ammo in 50 cans
Loaded mags in 50 cans
Empty mags in 50 cans

Dessicant packs in everything.  Contents labeled directly on the can with a sharpie (the permanent marker will come off easily with a scotch brite pad if you need to re-label a can).
5/15/2013 7:27:43 AM EDT
[#33]
Quoted:
In terms of corrosion, etc., should I be concerned about storing ammo in a cardboard box in an indoor closet?


Yes, if for some odd reason it gets wet, your ammo can corrode quite easily.  Unless the can is sealed, I prefer ammo not to be touching paper products.
5/16/2013 8:05:07 PM EDT
[#34]
I used to use 50 cal cans but soon discovered fat 50s, they are the absolute best imho, they can store more than a regular 50 can but if you fill them up you dont need a fork lift like the 20mm cans, only bad thing is they are kinda hard to find
5/17/2013 7:54:14 PM EDT
[#35]
I use .50 cal cans.
5/18/2013 4:37:16 PM EDT
[#36]
I use fat 50 cans
5/18/2013 9:23:47 PM EDT
[#37]
50, fat 50 and 30 cal cans. Ammo in 50 cal cans is on strippers. I can get 1240 rounds in a 50 cal can. Ammo in mags is in fat 50 cans. 30 cal cans hold pistol and rimfire ammo. All my cans are in a two "job boxes" and it would take a fork lift to move them.  I will try and get some pics in the next day or two.
5/19/2013 10:06:25 AM EDT
[#38]
What do you guys think about the plastic ammo can's like the ones they sell at bass pro and cabelas?

They very light and have a rubber seal,  also stack easy.
5/19/2013 3:07:21 PM EDT
[#39]
Quoted:
What do you guys think about the plastic ammo can's like the ones they sell at bass pro and cabelas?

They very light and have a rubber seal,  also stack easy.


not near as good as metal GI cans.
5/20/2013 11:30:46 PM EDT
[#40]
.50 cal ammo cans.
5/21/2013 2:19:13 AM EDT
[#41]
Quoted:
I use .50 size cans.
http://imageshack.us/a/img140/2770/ammocans.jpg
also fat 50's and .30's


This is pretty much what I do...I also throw a silica gel pack in each one.
5/22/2013 6:11:14 PM EDT
[#42]
Quoted:
I have some 50 cal ammo cans and want to fill them with 20 round boxes of 5.56 ammo. I'm not sure where to buy the desiccant packets, also how many packets should I put in each can? I live in the Pacific NW with high humidity.


Old Grouch surplus (arfcom sight sponser goes by Grand Shooter) has the larger desiccant packs .
5/23/2013 1:53:26 AM EDT
[#43]
Quoted:


Comes out to about $22 shipped for me, is that a good price for a new can?


They range from from $12.00 to just under $20.00 in LGS's and gun shows...there is tax on top of that.

$22.00 shipped is high, but reasonable if you combine other items you want with that order.
5/23/2013 5:46:15 AM EDT
[#44]
Quoted:


Comes out to about $22 shipped for me, is that a good price for a new can?


Its high if you order it alone. The cans from Aim are amazing and pristine. I usually add one whenever I order ammo from them so it keeps the shipping reasonable since they can put things in the can when they ship it.
5/23/2013 5:59:16 AM EDT
[#45]
I just use ammo cans and throw some type of dessicant in there with them.
5/25/2013 5:39:52 PM EDT
[#46]
Mostly 50's but some SAW cans.
5/25/2013 9:43:39 PM EDT
[#47]
Quoted:
Quoted:


Comes out to about $22 shipped for me, is that a good price for a new can?


They range from from $12.00 to just under $20.00 in LGS's and gun shows...there is tax on top of that.

$22.00 shipped is high, but reasonable if you combine other items you want with that order.


Army surplus store or gun shows.  $3 for .30 cal     $5 for .50 cal    $8 for tall .50 cal

I never paid more, and I open and go through each one: good gasket and absolutely no rust inside and minimal or no rust on exterior!

Internet prices are insane!

Shop older shops in larger cities and try outlying smaller cities and towns.

Search yellow page listings on the Net and call before traveling.  

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