How do you store your ammo?

tynman · February 23, 2014, 12:08 AM

I am looking for different and or cheaper way to store my ammo. Right now I store mine in the safe and Im running out of room. So I would like to take it out of the safe to make some more room in there. I really cant afford a cheaper safe for just the ammo. So I would like your ideas on how I can store it.

Gunnels · February 23, 2014, 12:17 AM

Have you considered a fire proof filing cabinet? You can get them pretty cheap on Craigslist.

tynman · February 23, 2014, 12:30 AM

No I didn't even think they made them fire proof. But that's a great idea. Im going to check on craigslist right now to see what I can find in my area.

jrobin3360 · February 23, 2014, 12:31 AM

No more room in the safe.
Bought a few 50 cal & 30 cal ammo boxes, fill with ammo & put in closet.

Boatme98 · February 23, 2014, 12:50 AM

Steel ammo cans. Marked for each caliber.

SHE3PDOG · February 23, 2014, 02:41 AM

I have a couple of big old ammo crates that I keep most of it in, but I also have a bunch of the 50cal ammo cans that I store my less used ammo in.

Kreyzhorse · February 23, 2014, 09:58 AM

Ammo cans are a great, inexpensive option.

vkeith · February 23, 2014, 02:53 PM

Surplus ammo cans, but if the prices on them keep going up, I'll start buying the plastic ones.

Stevie-Ray · February 23, 2014, 02:56 PM

I have ammo cans, but they're in the safe, also. I need a safe dedicated to ammo, I guess.

(a small one) I'm really tired of not having any room in the safe.

Jacobie · February 23, 2014, 03:47 PM

Old deep freeze.

**44 AMP** · February 23, 2014, 04:06 PM

GI ammo cans, mostly. Used to use crates (3.5" rocket shipping crates), but threw my back out trying to move one, so now, a .50 cal can is the biggest container I use. I can still lift one of those, even if packed completely full.

FYI the usual GI .50 cal can will hold approx. 5,000rnds of .22LR in the regular 50rnd boxes.

And if you are security paranoid, I have even seen people weld a hasp & loop for a padlock on to ammo cans.

Never saw any point to putting them in a safe, they just take up room better used for guns.

LuvDog · February 23, 2014, 04:28 PM

Mostly stored in mags. The stash is in ammo cans marked for each caliber and then locked in a metal cabinet. Stupid state laws.

SocialAnarchist · February 23, 2014, 04:51 PM

Metal ammo cans for each caliber, the rest in magazines. Every magazine fed firearm has at least 2 magazines loaded at all times.

kilimanjaro · February 23, 2014, 07:06 PM

Standard metal office locker, with GI ammo cans inside on the shelves.

9mmfan · February 23, 2014, 09:43 PM

Most of mine is on a shelf in the Jack and Jill closet between my office and the guest room. Factory boxes. .45 Colt reloads are in plastic boxes, .38 reloads are in relabeled factory boxes. M2 ball is in ammo cans, loose or in clips.

The only ammo in the safe is stored in the guns themselves or extra magazines.

Sevens · February 24, 2014, 01:02 AM

Why would anyone store ammo in the safe?

Is this to protect the ammo against theft or nefarious use by children?
It seems like one of those locking sheet-metal gun cabinets might work for such needs at a -FAR- lower price point.

I keep my ammo in an antique piece of furniture -- I don't know what you'd call it. But it's go a door on it, two shelves and a big drawer and the dang thing must be a hundred years old or more. It's perfect for ammo... but if I didn't have it, I'd just pile the stuff up anywhere that's orderly and has a door over it so you can't see it through the window. Let's say a closet with a solid bunch of shelves. That's where I'd likely end up.

A gun safe is prime real estate and I definitely don't waste that precious space on a consumable commodity.

tynman · February 24, 2014, 08:31 AM

I would also keep loaded mags in the safe.
The reason I kept the ammo in the safe was due to kids and humidity.

I looked for those ammo cans and they are getting very pricey also. The plastic ones are up to $15 and up. I found a few bigger ones on eBay fairly priced but then they want an arm and a leg to ship it double the price of the can. So I'm still in the same boat.

overthere · February 24, 2014, 03:32 PM

Get a plastic footlocker at WalMart and put a padlock on it. Cheap, plenty of space and a padlock would keep the kids out. Throw some desiccant packs in it if you are concerned of humidity.

tynman · February 24, 2014, 04:44 PM

overthere that a good idea. Im looking into that to see what walmart by me has in stock.

tynman · February 25, 2014, 12:25 AM

Well thank you for all the good advice.

I went with the tool box for HD
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-37-...9261/203668066

It was big enough, it had wheels to make it easier to move if need be, and it even had a weather strip seal on the top to keep moister out. And it was under $60.
If I went with the ammo boxes I would only be able to get 3 or 4 for that price and then I would have to get 3 or 4 locks too and I wouldn't be able to fit all my ammo in 4 ammo boxes so it wouldn't have ended there.
But again thank you.

Primses · February 26, 2014, 07:01 AM

I store mine in two ammo cans that are hidden in the back of my closet. I am not to worried about it being stolen. The robber would have to know where it is and would have to have a lot of time to take it. I would be more concern about my guns and power tools than my small pile of ammo. Also I keep my ammo divided up in multiple places to prevent losing it all.

Don P · February 26, 2014, 11:39 AM

Ammo cans and then the boxes the bullets came in from my reloading adventures.

Stevie-Ray · February 26, 2014, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Why would anyone store ammo in the safe?

Is this to protect the ammo against theft or nefarious use by children?
It seems like one of those locking sheet-metal gun cabinets might work for such needs at a -FAR- lower price point.

I keep my ammo in an antique piece of furniture -- I don't know what you'd call it. But it's go a door on it, two shelves and a big drawer and the dang thing must be a hundred years old or more. It's perfect for ammo... but if I didn't have it, I'd just pile the stuff up anywhere that's orderly and has a door over it so you can't see it through the window. Let's say a closet with a solid bunch of shelves. That's where I'd likely end up.

A gun safe is prime real estate and I definitely don't waste that precious space on a consumable commodity.

Meh, at the time, I had the room, as I don't really have a metric ton of firearms. But it is now a bit crowded in there, with some added stuff, and I've been looking at the smaller safes and storage boxes, such as Sentry and Homak-just for ammo.

BWM · February 26, 2014, 04:36 PM

Am old icebox will work. Plus you can put a lock on it if you want!

bbqbob51 · February 28, 2014, 11:58 PM

Several hundred rounds of various calibers in my gun safes, most of the rest is in steel 30cal and 50cal ammo cans as well as some in an old brief case. I have it scattered around the house in different locations in case of a break in. My house has been broken into before (twice) and I want to make it as hard a possible for the scumbags to locate my stash.

February 23, 2014, 12:08 AM	#1
tynman Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 361	How do you store your ammo? I am looking for different and or cheaper way to store my ammo. Right now I store mine in the safe and Im running out of room. So I would like to take it out of the safe to make some more room in there. I really cant afford a cheaper safe for just the ammo. So I would like your ideas on how I can store it.

February 23, 2014, 09:58 AM	#7
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,464	Ammo cans are a great, inexpensive option. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

February 23, 2014, 02:56 PM	#9
Stevie-Ray Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: The shores of Lake Huron Posts: 4,783	I have ammo cans, but they're in the safe, also. I need a safe dedicated to ammo, I guess. (a small one) I'm really tired of not having any room in the safe. __________________ Stevie-Ray Join the NRA/ILA I am the weapon; my gun is a tool. It's regrettable that with some people those descriptors are reversed.

February 23, 2014, 04:06 PM	#11
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,486	GI ammo cans, mostly. Used to use crates (3.5" rocket shipping crates), but threw my back out trying to move one, so now, a .50 cal can is the biggest container I use. I can still lift one of those, even if packed completely full. FYI the usual GI .50 cal can will hold approx. 5,000rnds of .22LR in the regular 50rnd boxes. And if you are security paranoid, I have even seen people weld a hasp & loop for a padlock on to ammo cans. Never saw any point to putting them in a safe, they just take up room better used for guns. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 24, 2014, 01:02 AM	#16
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,775	Why would anyone store ammo in the safe? Is this to protect the ammo against theft or nefarious use by children? It seems like one of those locking sheet-metal gun cabinets might work for such needs at a -FAR- lower price point. I keep my ammo in an antique piece of furniture -- I don't know what you'd call it. But it's go a door on it, two shelves and a big drawer and the dang thing must be a hundred years old or more. It's perfect for ammo... but if I didn't have it, I'd just pile the stuff up anywhere that's orderly and has a door over it so you can't see it through the window. Let's say a closet with a solid bunch of shelves. That's where I'd likely end up. A gun safe is prime real estate and I definitely don't waste that precious space on a consumable commodity. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 23, 2014, 12:17 AM	#2
Gunnels Member Join Date: March 23, 2013 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 76	Have you considered a fire proof filing cabinet? You can get them pretty cheap on Craigslist.

February 23, 2014, 12:30 AM	#3
tynman Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 361	No I didn't even think they made them fire proof. But that's a great idea. Im going to check on craigslist right now to see what I can find in my area.

February 23, 2014, 12:31 AM	#4
jrobin3360 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2013 Location: Kentucky, near Ft Knox Posts: 153	No more room in the safe. Bought a few 50 cal & 30 cal ammo boxes, fill with ammo & put in closet.

February 23, 2014, 12:50 AM	#5
Boatme98 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2008 Location: Mid Tennessee Posts: 357	Steel ammo cans. Marked for each caliber.

February 23, 2014, 02:41 AM	#6
SHE3PDOG Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Posts: 988	I have a couple of big old ammo crates that I keep most of it in, but I also have a bunch of the 50cal ammo cans that I store my less used ammo in.

February 23, 2014, 02:53 PM	#8
vkeith Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2012 Posts: 108	Surplus ammo cans, but if the prices on them keep going up, I'll start buying the plastic ones.

February 23, 2014, 03:47 PM	#10
Jacobie Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2005 Location: Ky Posts: 325	Old deep freeze.

February 23, 2014, 04:28 PM	#12
LuvDog Junior Member Join Date: January 19, 2014 Posts: 6	Mostly stored in mags. The stash is in ammo cans marked for each caliber and then locked in a metal cabinet. Stupid state laws.

February 23, 2014, 04:51 PM	#13
SocialAnarchist Junior member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 508	Metal ammo cans for each caliber, the rest in magazines. Every magazine fed firearm has at least 2 magazines loaded at all times.

February 23, 2014, 07:06 PM	#14
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Standard metal office locker, with GI ammo cans inside on the shelves.

February 23, 2014, 09:43 PM	#15
9mmfan Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2012 Location: Weatherford, TX Posts: 301	Most of mine is on a shelf in the Jack and Jill closet between my office and the guest room. Factory boxes. .45 Colt reloads are in plastic boxes, .38 reloads are in relabeled factory boxes. M2 ball is in ammo cans, loose or in clips. The only ammo in the safe is stored in the guns themselves or extra magazines.

February 24, 2014, 08:31 AM	#17
tynman Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 361	I would also keep loaded mags in the safe. The reason I kept the ammo in the safe was due to kids and humidity. I looked for those ammo cans and they are getting very pricey also. The plastic ones are up to $15 and up. I found a few bigger ones on eBay fairly priced but then they want an arm and a leg to ship it double the price of the can. So I'm still in the same boat.

February 24, 2014, 03:32 PM	#18
overthere Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2012 Posts: 290	Get a plastic footlocker at WalMart and put a padlock on it. Cheap, plenty of space and a padlock would keep the kids out. Throw some desiccant packs in it if you are concerned of humidity.

February 24, 2014, 04:44 PM	#19
tynman Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 361	overthere that a good idea. Im looking into that to see what walmart by me has in stock.

February 25, 2014, 12:25 AM	#20
tynman Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 361	Well thank you for all the good advice. I went with the tool box for HD http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-37-...9261/203668066 It was big enough, it had wheels to make it easier to move if need be, and it even had a weather strip seal on the top to keep moister out. And it was under $60. If I went with the ammo boxes I would only be able to get 3 or 4 for that price and then I would have to get 3 or 4 locks too and I wouldn't be able to fit all my ammo in 4 ammo boxes so it wouldn't have ended there. But again thank you.

February 26, 2014, 07:01 AM	#21
Primses Junior Member Join Date: February 21, 2014 Posts: 10	I store mine in two ammo cans that are hidden in the back of my closet. I am not to worried about it being stolen. The robber would have to know where it is and would have to have a lot of time to take it. I would be more concern about my guns and power tools than my small pile of ammo. Also I keep my ammo divided up in multiple places to prevent losing it all.

February 26, 2014, 11:39 AM	#22
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,213	Ammo cans and then the boxes the bullets came in from my reloading adventures. __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

February 26, 2014, 04:36 PM	#24
BWM Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2013 Location: SW IN Posts: 438	Am old icebox will work. Plus you can put a lock on it if you want!

February 28, 2014, 11:58 PM	#25
bbqbob51 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2005 Posts: 775	Several hundred rounds of various calibers in my gun safes, most of the rest is in steel 30cal and 50cal ammo cans as well as some in an old brief case. I have it scattered around the house in different locations in case of a break in. My house has been broken into before (twice) and I want to make it as hard a possible for the scumbags to locate my stash.