[Q-gunner2]

OK guys... a guy at the show had 81mm ammo crates. Nice, big crates for storing ammo.

The questions:

1. Does anyone else use these? If so, what do you store in them and how do Commie sealed tins fit? I want to fit as much ammo in them as possible.

2. How do you refinish them? I want to paint them green and stencil the ammo type along the outside.

3. They are not water tight, I know, that does not bother me. I could make them so by welding up the holes and adding a seal, but it is not critical to me... I just want good looking, organized ammo storage.

 

[JoeMomma]

When I refinish boxes, I just spraypaint them OD green, then write ammo caliber, and amount on top with a sharpie.

 

[Robpiat]

A wise man once told me....

Ammo cans are the size, shape, gauge steel, etc for a reason. The military did alot of research into what was safe quantities, weight, flame resistance, etc.

I use the USGI cans and original crates mostly. I have a few of those cans you are talking about and they are kinda flimsy. They are good for parts and accessories etc.

 

[Rotdorn]

When I refinish boxes, I just spraypaint them OD green, then write ammo caliber, and amount on top with a sharpie.

+1, except I have access to a stencil machine, and I made stencils for each caliber.

 

[Slinger646]

When I refinish boxes, I just spraypaint them OD green, then write ammo caliber, and amount on top with a sharpie.

+1, except I have access to a stencil machine, and I made stencils for each caliber.

You could make a mint here on the board. I would be up for about a dozen different ones....

 

[k98k792]

A wise man once told me....

Ammo cans are the size, shape, gauge steel, etc for a reason. The military did alot of research into what was safe quantities, weight, flame resistance, etc.

I use the USGI cans and original crates mostly. I have a few of those cans you are talking about and they are kinda flimsy. They are good for parts and accessories etc.

Very good advice!

 

[Q-gunner2]

I don't have any with me to check... but... do .30/.50 cal cans fit upright inside of these things? And has anyone tried to fit in the commie ammo tins?


This is just how I like to store my ammo. Looks nice, its organized, and honestly the weight is not a problem. I am not trucking these things across battlefields, I just need to organize and arrange my ammo and make it easier to carry across the room.

 

[gundoc]

Q Except for the dovetail joints on the corners the commie ammo crates are not that difficult to make yourself.

 

[joedog]

Interesting new avatar, Q.

joedog

 

[Q-gunner2]

Interesting new avatar, Q.

joedog

If you think I'm an anarchist commie... check out the C&R rifle thread. It isn't serious, its a joke between me and a few friends of mine on this forum because I just bought a Carcano.


Outside of that...


I would rather just buy these ammo cans. They are cheap, they seem decently made and they provide a uniform look. But what will fit inside of them?

 

[COPE]

I don't have any with me to check... but... do .30/.50 cal cans fit upright inside of these things?

IIRC, nope. The support indentations from the 81mm cans prevent it from closing. The .30 and .50 cans are just under 7.5" tall when you take into consideration the handle. The 81's are under 8".

 

[prdtr86]

Q, you seem to be completely agaisnt building your own ammo crates that would be not only a nicer build but then you can make them as big as you want so that the ammo cans you want to put in there will be a really nice fit.....



do you have a hammer? an ak buttstock will work too... :mrgreen:
do you have nails??
how about something to cut wood with??

20 minutes with some scrap wood and you can have custom-sized ammo crates that look nice, are built better than any combloc crate ever was, and you get the personal satisfaction of building them yourself!!

just something to think about you know......

 

[Q-gunner2]

Q, you seem to be completely agaisnt building your own ammo crates that would be not only a nicer build but then you can make them as big as you want so that the ammo cans you want to put in there will be a really nice fit.....



do you have a hammer? an ak buttstock will work too... :mrgreen:
do you have nails??
how about something to cut wood with??

20 minutes with some scrap wood and you can have custom-sized ammo crates that look nice, are built better than any combloc crate ever was, and you get the personal satisfaction of building them yourself!!

just something to think about you know......

Because I would have to spend $40 in ply, paint, good screws, good hinges and a sealer and some way to round out the corners and edges of the cut to prevent wood splintering (or use solid wood, even more $$$) and then I'd have to worry about making 3, 4, 5, crates exactly the same. What I would end up with, is crates that are heavier than the metal ones and cost me more to make. Plus, being in college and overloading myself like a moron (19 credit hours over the summer) time= grades.

With some things, it is good to DIY... like building AKs, or metal work. But making crates out of wood... I used to do a LOT of woodwork including building sheds and I can't see it working out for me. Maybe if I had a way to stamp sheetmetal into the right shape it would work, as that would solve half the problems... but I don't think anyone would be willing to rig up a set of dies just so a 19 year old can make a few ammo crates.

 

[joedog]

Interesting new avatar, Q.

joedog

If you think I'm an anarchist commie...

Nope. Just thought it was interesting.

joedog

 

[Slinger646]

Because I would have to spend $40 in ply, paint, good screws, good hinges and a sealer and some way to round out the corners and edges of the cut to prevent wood splintering (or use solid wood, even more $$$) and then I'd have to worry about making 3, 4, 5, crates exactly the same. What I would end up with, is crates that are heavier than the metal ones and cost me more to make. Plus, being in college and overloading myself like a moron (19 credit hours over the summer) time= grades.

With some things, it is good to DIY... like building AKs, or metal work. But making crates out of wood... I used to do a LOT of woodwork including building sheds and I can't see it working out for me. Maybe if I had a way to stamp sheetmetal into the right shape it would work, as that would solve half the problems... but I don't think anyone would be willing to rig up a set of dies just so a 19 year old can make a few ammo crates.

Scrounge. Construction sites have tons of scrap lumber. I built an entire range out of the scrap from the JPJ Arena at UVA. You're in college, they are always building something

Hell, even the hardware is free, laborers dont pick up nails and screws.

 

[Q-gunner2]

Back in the burg! :dance:


The .30 cal cans fit PERFECTLY. The dimples in the steel do not prevent the lid from closing. I'm VERY happy with them!