Do you consider packaging when buying ammo?

[ku4hx]

For center fire, I replace my carry fodder about every five years and for that certain things are important: cartridge designation, bullet grain weight, type bullet, nose configuration, the "P" designation and etc.. Over the years I have noted that generally Remington likes green, Hornady likes red, Winchester seems to like black and white and I forget the others. I could be wrong. The pretty boxes just get pitched anyway.

All my home brew stuff is very bulk and generally is stored in plain heavyweight shipping boxes of stuff I've received or Wal Mart $0.69 plain cardboard boxes. I do label my stuff with load specifics.

For .22 Long Rifle, I buy what I can when I can and try and stay away from the "junk" stuff. Packaging does help in that but some of the worst has pretty boxing too.

 

[bannockburn]

As far as packaging goes I do like the plastic trays and hate the styrofoam ones.

 

[Reloadron]

When I do buy ammo, I look for bulk in most cares. Only when I see a good deal because I want the brass. Packaging cost money and the more elaborate the packaging the higher the overall cost of the product going into the package.
Now for many, in the case of hunting ammunition for example the Federal (Think it's Federal) does come in the plastic shell holders and does include on those the slits for belt loops. Nice feature if you don't mind paying a few bucks more.

Ron

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Ammo and packaging

I find reusable packaging (especially plastic trays) handy when handloading ammo: I charge in batches of 20, 30 or 50 then visually inspect powder level before seating bullets. I used to buy my surplus 7.62x25mm pistol ammo from RSA in reusable red plastic boxes which have proven useful handloading 7,63 Mauser, .38 Spl and .357.

I also reuse the plastic Federal rifle cartridge "belt loops"--but not as carriers on belts. They usually end up in an ammo box, gear bag or pouch. I hope Federal keeps them. I use them.

I am prepping for the modern and vintage rifle and pistol matches this weekend, which means I'll be taking a minimum of 30 rounds each of 7.62x25, 7.62x39, .45 ACP and .30 M1 carbine. Also maybe 7.62x54R if I take a backup rifle. I like to use one ammo can for ammo and magazines. Compact 50 round boxes help (thank you Winchester and Prvi Partizan) but I am willing to repackage ammo in plain boxes. I can lay 30 rounds 7.62x39 in the yellow plastic boxes used by Speer to package .38 bullets (have a lot of those boxes and bought my 7.62x39 in ziplock bags of 100 for years).

At this point, I have enough convenient sized reusable packaging to be free to concentrate on quality and price. If good reusable storage boxes are free with ammo, it'a a win but not a deal breaker.

 

[joem1945]

I reload and my ammo is stored in military ammo boxes. Easy to carry, almost unbreakable and water proof. Large ones (.50 cal) can get too heavy if filled.

 

[Sav .250]

Never thought about it. They have what I need .........sold.

 

[JSH1]

Until recently I "stored" my ammo on the shelf at the store and I bought ammo only when I needed it. The only ammo that stayed in the house was 5 rounds of buck and a slug on the stock carrier of my Mossberg 500. With the ammo shortage a few years ago that had to change so I started buying in larger quantities online. Still a normal order for me is about 250 rounds, the largest has been 500 rounds.

Storage is also an issue. My wife and I are moving from a 1800 sq ft rental house to a 1000 sq ft house we are buying. All my firearms, ammo, and homebrew equipment (beer) will need to fit in a standard 6 ft x 2 ft closet.

Price per round and accuracy in my guns are still the biggest factors for me when purchasing ammo. However, when those factors are close, packaging comes into play. For reference the Fiocchi are not only the best packaged but also least expensive ($0.65 per round) while the Remington is the most expensive ($1.05 per round) The most expensive ammo I have ever purchased was also in the worst packaging. (20 rounds of Buffalo Bore 32 S&W Long that came in a box about the size of 25 rounds of 20 ga shotshells)

 

[anothernewb]

not so much for ammo, since I have my own ammo boxes. but certainly with primers. bench space is a premium.

 

[Jack.I]

Don't care about packaging ever. Some of my favorite ammo is Federal LE 9mm and it comes in a plain box with b&w print.

 

[JSH1]

Don't care about packaging ever. Some of my favorite ammo is Federal LE 9mm and it comes in a plain box with b&w print.

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about the printing on the box. I'm taking about the materials used and the amount of space it takes up. I don't care what is printed on the box either.

 

[TimSr]

I'm the reloader who picks those nice plasic trays out of the trash and used them as reloading trays.

 

[Jack.I]

In that case I prefer plastic inserts instead of foam or paper inside. I reload and reuse the trays.

 

[Clint M]

You can purchase ammo cases to store you ammo in MTM makes a nice ammo case 50 rounds and 100 rounds with a handle, and plastic divider inside that works great. I reload pretty much everything so I use these along with freezer type bag for my loaded ammo, and sometimes use factory boxes as well. I never worry about packaging when purchasing ammo (unless it's damaged) as for the foam type boxes with cardboard case they work well my cousin used them to hold his reloads winchester varmint white box 22-250 last him for years I was surprised.

 

[Sol]

Like a moth to a light.

I'll buy ammo in a shiny box.

I stay away from zombie and ninja themed ammo though.

I also like the boxes with the clear window that I can see product through.

The words "Law enforcement", "government" or "Law enforcment and government use only" are a good draw too. Government designations (M193, M855 etc) NAICS and NATO numbers are a selling point too.

 

[WestKentucky]

I'm the reloader who picks thos ice plasic trays out of the trash and used them as reloading trays.

Don't make me have to fight you over a trashcan full of packaging. Your stealing my gig dumpster diving for trays.

 

[herrwalther]

I'll buy ammo in virtually any package. I have bought factory ammo in a Ziploc back with a piece of the cardboard box in their to semi-prove they weren't reloads. Packaging has little impact on whether or not I buy ammo.

That being said if the packaging is overly frustrating, I will avoid that ammo. For example Hydra-Shok. If it takes me longer to get into a box than it does to shoot it, well I don't like it.

 

[Swing]

Do you consider packaging when buying ammo?

Nope, I couldn't care less. Though the one's with a zombie on it are spectacularly stupid.

You buy ammo? With the exception of .22lr I can't understand why anyone who likes to shoot (unless they have unlimited funds) doesn't reload. I see ads for ammo and the cost for some rounds is well over a dollar a round. Seriously, what gives?

Time vs. Funds. I've got more of the latter than the former, so I don't reload. If the situation was revered, I would. Nothing particularly mysterious about it.

 

[SwaneeSR]

No.

 

[JSH1]

The fiocchi tray is nice... sure.

But the popped primers and other over-pressure signs I saw shooting their .300 blackout keeps me away.

I shot the box of Fiocchi today. No signs of over-pressure and it grouped well in my rifle. I'm a happy camper. I'll likely buy some more for the trays and brass. I can't see paying $0.20-$0.30 each for brass when I can get a loaded ammo for $0.65 per round.

 

[sixguns]

Nope, I couldn't care less. Though the one's with a zombie on it are spectacularly stupid.





Time vs. Funds. I've got more of the latter than the former, so I don't reload. If the situation was revered, I would. Nothing particularly mysterious about it.

ZombieMAX is what I shoot in my AK-47 along with being very accurate.

 

[ohioshooter]

I don't buy factory rounds and haven't in about 3 years or more since I started reloading. G.I. can's that are labeled and that's about it. If I find some great deal at a gun show and do buy some I could care less how the look or what packaging they are in as long as they go boom.

 

[DeepSouth]

When buying ammo to hoard I like to buy it spam cans, other than that it makes no difference.

 

[anothernewb]

The Zombie max stuff I always thought was cool marketing. I ended up making a couple Christmas presents with them. I made little boxes with glass fronts that I had
"In Case Of Apocalypse Break Glass"
silk-screened onto them, and had a little brass hammer attached. They were a huge hit.

 

[sawdeanz]

I really like when the boxes have the ammo stats, some don't. I have the Winchester rifle boxes, it comes off like its a super premium round, even if its just NATO standard, and I don't want to pay the premium for the fancy styrofoam.

 

[wojownik]

Nope, I couldn't care less. Though the one's with a zombie on it are spectacularly stupid.

was originally going to say, no it doesn't matter. But the picture above provoked an immediate reaction ... no I would not touch that stuff ... kind of an "I want ammo, not toys" reaction.

Also, come to think of it, Old West style labelling for cowboy loads (.45 LC) tend get a little more of a favorable glance in that context. But other than that, a box is a box is a box.