Ammo storage. Plastic or Metal cans?

When I get a good deal on ammo, like the dozen-odd boxes of S&B 115gr FMJ 9mm picked up at Cabela's Door Buster weekend sale yesterday here in TX, I empty all the round into their own plastic dry box I've had for years. I used to buy .223 and .308 bulk from Cabela's in PA years ago for the cheap price and the free dry boxes, before ammo went through the roof.

I mark the boxes with blue painters tape and write the make, type of bullet, load of the round and the date I bought it. Helps me remember how fast I go through it.

I have one box dedicated to random stuff; leftover ammo from friends in odd calibers, a big tupperware style container of mixed .22LR, MTM cases of 25 rounds of 12 gauge each, etc.

Metal or plastic, it's the seal that matters!
 
I've only used steel ammo cans. Thought about the plastic ones but started to think about taking them outside and the rough treatment they would get in the field. This image came to mind:
Cold, unloading full, plastic ammo can out of the car, dropping the can on a rock accidentally, cracking the can. I know. A bit extreme but Murphy's Law always seems to bite me so I choose not to tempt.:D

I keep all my ammo in the boxes they come in, in the ammo cans. Except for what I have loaded on stripper clips. Easier for me to keep track of in case GF goes shooting and forgets to mark down what she took.
 
I gut the ammo cans from Fleet Farm or such. Get a big bag of desiccant (where i work i get 2 lb bags) put it in can with ammo and store.
 
I have some ammo cans, but boxed ammo keeps perfectly well on a shelf in the house for 10 or 20 years. Maybe longer, but I tend to shoot the stuff to make room.

I say on the shelf, but I've run out of room. For instance, the three cases of 9mm I bought recently are under the bed in the shipping box they came in.

John
 
I keep em in ammo cans because up here in the north our basements are notorious for being wet, humid and flooding. Buddy of mine lost 2000 rounds of 5.56 he had in the basement on a pallet. lost power to the sump pump and walked into 16" of standing water after being gone for 5 days! He didn't feel safe shooting them after that. He also got a battery back up for the pump:D
 
I store my best brass and loaded ammo in GI ammo cans. The 50 caliber can is what I use the most, though I load loose 45ACP ammunition in the 30 caliber cans.

A 50 caliber ammo can full of 230 grain 45 ACP must weigh 50 pounds. Way too heavy.
 
I prefer steel ammo cans and I distrust all plastics for long term or hard use. That said, I see that prices for steel ammo cans his at least doubled since I bought me last batch, and they're getting beyond my reach.
 
I have 3 metal cans,

1 .30 cal
1 .50 cal
1 60mm.

The 60mm is what I like best. I should of bought more when I had the chance. I keep my bulk ammo in there then transfer it to either the 30 or 50 or both when i head to the range.

I need to find about 5 more so I can really start stocking up.:cool:
 
Ammo to go has new ones for about $13. If I get a good size order, I get one can as well. That said, flea markets have great used ones around here usually for around $7, $10 for .50 cal and $14 for 60mm. i make sure the seal is new of they sell new ones at the stall.
 
I think all they have are .50 cal or .30 cal. The 60mm price was at the flea market. Sorry if I didn't clarify that:(
 
oh no prob, I just got all excited for a minute haha.

IIRC i paid $20 for the 60mm at the last gun show. At first i thought of it as almost a novelity just becuase its so huge. But man is it useful.
 
I like to keep a bit of all my calibers in their original packaging in two metal 50 cal cans. Then all the other just sits in the safe. I like the two cans for grab and go if needed. I don't have the space or money to stock up as much as some of the guys on here. I definitely don't trust the plastic cans though.

At the gunshows my cousin gets factory reload stuff loose in bulk in the metal cans. Seems like a good set up, but he has more money to spend on guns with no kids.
 
I store all my ammo in steel 30 & 50 cal.cans,whether it's factory boxed ammo or my own reloads.

Steel cans are more durable and have a better sealing lids. Good for long term storage.

Be sure to put some silica gel desiccant packs in your cans.
 
As mentioned, it's the seal that really matters. But from my experience working on cars, I have a lot more faith in the longevity of metal objects than plastic ones.
 
I use plastic peanut butter jars. The 3 pounders will hold a lot of .45 acp rounds. Though my girlfriend still seems to burn through a whole jar in a range session.:eek:

If moisture is a concearn for you drop in some silica packets to absord the moistue. I can not comment on longevity of them. I have as of yet to have them sit on the shelf longer than a couple of weeks.
 
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