Ammo Box Labels?

[Peter M. Eick]

I normally box up every 50 rounds into MTM boxes and then slap a Midway peel off label on the box. As I get older my writing is getting worse so I thought about getting one of those label making machines to print labels from the computer since I log ever round into my database for reloading anyway.

So, if you have one of those label makers post about it and please tell me the pro's and con's of the units.

Thanks!

 

[Arkie]

If you are at your computer already, why not just get a program to print them off of your printer.

The programs are cheap and you can get the labels anywhere. Sometimes the labels will have a CD with the program to use with there labels...

Just a thought.

 

[spencerhut]

Peter,

I use the labels generated the reloading.xls found on this site. print them on any printer and cut them out.

Spencer (in Maui just in time for the quake)

 

[Oldnamvet]

Go old tech

You can still use the Midway labels. Pick up an old typewriter (remember those?) at a garage sale or somewhere. If possible get one that has a spare ribbon. Then you can use any label you want, just type in your data. Even the old IBM Selectrics are going cheap anymore. You can keep the typewriter in the area of your reloading bench.

 

[snuffy]

http://www.glocktalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=78745

Go here, download significant's spread sheet for figuring out loading costs. It has a label spreadsheet at the bottom of the page where you enter the load data. You can them print labels using avery labels from your local 'puter store. It works real well for ID's on the plastic boxes.

 

[EddieCoyle]

I have a Dymo LabelWriter 330. I saved a template with fields for all my reloading info on it, I simply fill in the particulars when I print. It makes 2" x 3-1/2" labels that are easy to read. I highly recommend it.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Label makers are the way to go. You can do some pretty cool stuff with the better units, but my Brother P-touch works fine for me. I bought mine 4 years ago for $30; they are $45 now. It will use any 3/8" or 1/2" label reel and print in 5 sizes (only small for 2 lines).

Example:

10mm AUTO 180 gr. Sierra JHP
10.5 Grs. IMR 800x 1.245" COAL

 

[ReloaderFred]

I use the Works program on my computer and the "Mailing Labels" section. With Avery #18167 labels, you get 80 labels per sheet. These measure 1/2"x1 3/4", and there is plenty of room for the information required on 3 lines. I make some labels with the caliber, since I load so many different ones. Those are printed in larger font and I bold them all to make them easier to read.

When making loading labels, I use the smallest font and bold it. I make the first label and then copy and paste as many as I need for the boxes I've loaded. I make at least one extra copy to put in my data book, so the load data will have the same label as the actual boxes. My practice is to put one label on the top of the box, one on the front and one on the side, so no matter how I stack the boxes on the shelf, I can see exactly what's in the boxes. I sometimes make a few extra labels so I can put one on the magazine of a semi-auto pistol to tell me what the magazine is loaded with.

I've also made up a batch of the labels similar to what Midway and others sell so I can label small batches of test loads. It lists the caliber, bullet, powder, primer, OAL and date. Those go on the larger 1"x2 5/8" labels. These are Avery #6245 labels.

I have a Brothers P-Touch label maker, but the labels are too expensive. For what I pay for one roll of Brothers tape, I can buy a large pack of Avery labels and do about 5 times as many labels.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Ditchtiger]

I stopped using boxes when my reloading hit 1000 round batches at a time and I dumped it into ammo boxes with one label for all.

 

[taliv]

yeah, putting 10,000 rnds of ammo into 50 rnd boxes is suboptimal, but there are still plenty of calibers that get loaded in much smaller quantities with enough different components (powder weights/bullet sizes) that labels are still helpful.

peter, the easiest and cheapest thing to do is buy regular business envelope labels, and print them out using your word processor (Word or OpenOffice), then you can make them look any way you want (pictures/diagrams, colors, whatever)

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks.

I have tried the avery route with word and while it works, I was hoping for something more automated. I want to be able to put a counter on each label as I serial number every box for book keeping purposes. Thus the label sheet is not really that easy to work with. I will look at the label makers listed above and let you guys know what I figure out.

 

[taliv]

will label makers do serial numbers?

i'd think it would be pretty simple to do serial numbers with the avery sheets. heck, just mail-merge your labels with the serial numbers.

 

[trickyasafox]

i like using 50-100 round boxes just because its convient to grab a few for the range. granted, i never have more than a 1000 of any caliber loaded, so 50 and 100 round boxes still arent a hinderence at this point. over that and i'll probably start getting 30 cal ammo cans to dump into and dish out into the smaller boxes as necessary.

i like my system though i have all the presses set up in front of me and a shelf i got for 50 dollars that has 4 levels and is rated for 1000lbs. on the bottom shelf goes the brass 2nd is powder and bullets 3rd is reloaded ammo and 4th is rimfire ammo and primers. i realllllly am liking how my set up is evolving.