ammo cans. are they water/fire proof/resistant?

MAURICE

MAURICE

Joined
Jul 14, 2000
Messages
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im looking to get a couple of these and stashing some just in case goodies in em, and chunk the whole deal behind the seat/in the trunk or in the bed (depending on what vehicle i buy) without having to worry about them being destroyed
also-any ideas of what to put in em? and can you lock the boxes?
 
I have one that I rigged into a army surplus rucksak for use as a first aid kit. The rubber washer makes them waterproof, but I don't know if it would float. Fire ? beats me.
 
Try guns shows always see someone selling them.Also catalogs like the Sportsmans Guide carry them.They are strong and have a rubber seal,but I've never put them under water to test the water tightness of them.Fire proof,no way.

If you want fire proof,go to a home depo type store and look at the small fire boxes.I like ones made by Sentry Group.They are the largest and first manufacture of fire safes(and my wife works there).Also they are the best and have the UL label to back that up.They make some just a little larger than an ammo can,but it is heavyer and will have less room inside,but it locks and is fire proof.

hope this helps you out.
 
They're totally waterproof, and are the storage method of choice for many, perhaps most, professional river rafting guides.
 
Ahhh, the ubiquitous ammo can.

My Scout does not lock and I need to carry tools and emergency gear. Solution: I got the normal size ammo can (M-60?) well, you know that good all-around size. I bolted one of these guys inside my engine compartment (lots of room on the Scout). The handle/latch mechanism has a hole in it - drill a hole in the body of the box "through" the hole in the latch; take a big bolt about 3" long (or other piece of metal the size of your hole) and grind a flat spot on it opposite the head of the bolt - drill a hole thru the bolt at the flat spot (the flat spot just keeps the drill from spinning off the surface. You can now insert the bolt from the inside of the box, close the latch (a little tricky but not bad) and put a padlock thru the hole in the bolt. The waterproofness is compromised to the degree that there is space around your bolt, but unless you are submerging the truck, this is no prob.

Take a much bigger box that has a different type lid (the lid has lips that extend past the top of the box) - cinch the lid down tight - drill thru both the lid and the box at the center point of the lid (halfway down the length??); do this twice, on directly opposite sides width-wise. Take an old tire tool (not a 4-way, the kind with a pointy end and a socket end) that is a little longer than the lid is wide, again grind a flat spot and drill a hole thru the tool. The tire tool goes thru the lid and box, and comes out the other side (wifth ways, not lengthwise); padlock and you are good to go.


One more hint: If you bolt these to the vehicle, try to bolt from the underside so the nuts are locked inside the box. Then either loctite or just booger up the threads. Also get some fender washers (large O.D.) and use on both sides.

These things are solid and in such cramped spaces in my Scout that the only way to rip off my stuff is to either have a grinder handy or somehow chain the boxes to a truck and rip them out (and you better hope I can't sight in on you with the '06 from my deer stand)
smile.gif


Sorry for the long post, but I have been waiting for the opportunity to share this.
Good day.
 
No they will rush right through, and expose to too much heat in case of a fire they will set off your ammo. My suggestion is to use one of those portable air safe boxes that you can pick up at home depot. they are fire proof, and moisture proof. However if you plan to store a ton of amo and guns. I would go out and buy a plastic oil drum, put a plastic liner in it fill it with DRY sand or something that has no moisture in it and will absorb moisture. I knew a guy that would dip the ammo in wax. But that gets expensive if you ask me. tie it up seal up the drum and heat sink the lid. That should keep it air tight as well as moisture free. As for guns get a drum fill it with oil nd dip your guns in it and heat sink the lid.
 
If you want genuine issue military ammo cans that are water and "bomb" proff, you might want to try The Sportsman Guide. They have 3-4 different magazines sent out regularly, and their HQ magazine ( Head Quarters for Gov't. Surplus ) lists several different kinds. I purchased the following cans and have been quite pleased with them. Think strong, water proof and genuine used American military ammo cans : 4-pack of 25mm cans made of high impact fiberglass measuring 13 1/4 x14 1/2 x5 1/4". Weighs 11 1/2 Lbs. ( all 4 cans ) I paid $ 26.97. 4-PACK OF 20MM flat ammo cans measuring 13 1/4 x 8 1/4 x 3 1/4". They weigh about 1 lb each. Cost $ 19.97 for 4. They have handles on each side and one on the top and seal tight. They also have 4 packs of used WW11 .50-cal. ammo cans. Some are, of course, slightly rusted and some are in perfect condition. Often they will have Mortar storage tubes, steel first-aid cans and one of my favorites is the genuine issue 120mm round ammo containers with pressurized , waterproof, o-ring sealed top..measures 44 1/2 long x 7" diameter. They weigh 20 lbs. What you can put into this bad boy is limited only by your imagination and the space available.

These cans are not always available at every issue of HQ, so if interested you might want to hop on them. They go fast. www.sportsmanguide.com
 
20MM ammo can's work, but I really prefer the 40MM MK19 grenade launcher ammo cans. You can store books, clothes, and lots of gear in them. Major problem, however, is that IIRC the entire lid comes off - you have to do some serious modification if you want to lock it down. One solution is to make a bracket system for it, but that could be a lot of work...

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Hi Spark: My fingers are crossed. Do you remember where you purchased the 40mm MK-19 ammo cans? They are probably my all-time fa vorite, but I have not been successful in locationg them yet.
 
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