How do you store reloads (aka Joining the "zip-lock baggie" club)

[sparkyv]

Whew! That's an optical conclusion.

LOL sorry folks. Yes, the primers are there, and yes, they're inserted the right way. I mark them all with a black sharpie so they're easier to distinguish as my reloads

I use the MTM cases, OEM boxes rescued from the dumpster, poly ammo cans, zip baggies, animal cracker jugs,and also canisters like these:

 

[waldens]

Mostly plastic 30cal ammo cans. Bulk loads just loose in the can. Test loads or short-run loads in baggies in the can. Made my own laser printed labels for load data. Stick on baggies, then cover that with a piece of clear shipping tape (labels don’t stick all that well).

A bit in plastic pencil boxes, Walmart, $1 each. A bit in various small plastic canisters, say pint size. Clear pint ice cream containers are really good. Also have a precious few of the really small coffee cans, about pint sized.

Surprised no one has mentioned plastic coffee cans. I use just a few, for stuff I’m just hanging onto and want out of main circulation.

Least favorite is anything cardboard, and the MTM-type boxes with cells. Cardboard absorbs humidity in my garage. And I don’t like having to “load” ammo to store it. (Admittedly, not a precision long-distance shooter or hunter. YMMV.)

 

[AJC1]

Mostly plastic 30cal ammo cans. Bulk loads just loose in the can. Test loads or short-run loads in baggies in the can. Made my own laser printed labels for load data. Stick on baggies, then cover that with a piece of clear shipping tape (labels don’t stick all that well).

A bit in plastic pencil boxes, Walmart, $1 each. A bit in various small plastic canisters, say pint size. Clear pint ice cream containers are really good. Also have a precious few of the really small coffee cans, about pint sized.

Surprised no one has mentioned plastic coffee cans. I use just a few, for stuff I’m just hanging onto and want out of main circulation.

Least favorite is anything cardboard, and the MTM-type boxes with cells. Cardboard absorbs humidity in my garage. And I don’t like having to “load” ammo to store it. (Admittedly, not a precision long-distance shooter or hunter. YMMV.)

I love me some plastic folgers cans for brass. You use them for loads.

 

[entropy]

View attachment 941791

Walmart sells small bins like these. I have several that I use to store brass in and to keep some loaded rounds. Cost is $2-$4 each depending on size. I like the locking lids and they are stackable if you buy all the same size.

That's how I store my primed brass.

 

[Skgreen]

,,,peanut butter jars to take some to the range or small batches.

Darn right!
And you know what they say,,,,,,
Choosy shooters choose JIF!

 

[midland man]

yep i use zip lock baggies all the time to store my reloads!

 

[Demi-human]

Whew! That's an optical conclusion.

If you’ve got a bunch a 5 gallon bucket works. Holds a lot more than an ammo can, not as easy to move around though.

View attachment 941715

Buckets go with belts.
And belts do go with suspenders. My Grandpa, the first tactical suspension rig wearer!

I always thought those MTM boxes were neat, but in reality they make it hard for me to load magazines. Even loading the cartridges upside down so I can grab the rim and extract them is a pain. I end up dumping them out to load magazines, Neanderthal style.
Though, I like being able to write in them with a Sharpie and it wipe right off with alcohol. Low round count guns are good with these. Or big rounds like 50AE.

Like @AJC1, those dishwashing bins are useful for smaller numbers, they’re big enough I can get my hand in them, and stack. Brass and utensils go in 3 gallon square Cut Fruit buckets.
I like square buckets. Especially free ones!

 

[AJC1]

Buckets go with belts.
And belts do go with suspenders. My Grandpa, the first tactical suspension rig wearer!

I always thought those MTM boxes were neat, but in reality they make it hard for me to load magazines. Even loading the cartridges upside down so I can grab the rim and extract them is a pain. I end up dumping them out to load magazines, Neanderthal style.
Though, I like being able to write in them with a Sharpie and it wipe right off with alcohol. Low round count guns are good with these. Or big rounds like 50AE.

Like @AJC1, those dishwashing bins are useful for smaller numbers, they’re big enough I can get my hand in them, and stack. Brass and utensils go in 3 gallon square Cut Fruit buckets.
I like square buckets. Especially free ones!

Just because curious minds want to know exactly how much does a 3 gallon bucket full of loaded ammunition weigh I'm not trying to get a hernia here.

 

[ballman6711]

I usually use an ammo box to store mine. I do use baggies from time to time, but usually just for my empty brass.

chris

 

[Walkalong]

These smaller cans are much easier on my shoulders and back.

Amen brother.

 

[Wildbillz]

For years I used baggies. Counted out 100 rounds and bagged them up with all the info on a card. Now a days I just put them all in a USGI ammo can and one card with the info in the can. When I go to the range I just fill a small container with the ammo I want and move out.

WB

 

[mmb617]

Definitely loving the harbor freight ammo cans at 2.99 and grab a few when I’m close to the store. I make labels for the cans and check off each step as it gets completed so I know where I’m at with each can. I load on a single stage and do everything in batches. View attachment 941746

I use a similar system for reloads in process except I keep the stages in separate containers. I don't need anything too big as I generally reload my brass as I shoot it rather than letting it pile up much.

I've got some fifty caliber ammo cans filled with ammunition that are difficult to move around.

I bought some Plano cans on Amazon and ordered the bigger ones without noticing how big they actually were. I consigned them to storage duty in the basement as they are too big to haul back and forth to the range.

The one on the far left is full of .45 acp and weighs in at 67 lbs.

Just because curious minds want to know exactly how much does a 3 gallon bucket full of loaded ammunition weigh I'm not trying to get a hernia here.

I'm not sure of the volume of the can shown above but it's certainly less than 3 gallons. I'd have to say a 3 gallon bucket full of loaded ammo would weigh well in excess of 100 lbs. Hope you ate your Wheaties!

 

[rkittine]

I re-box all my reloads to keep them from getting beat up. Takes some time but easy to mark and have ready for a trip to the range with how many I want.

 

[Demi-human]

Just because curious minds want to know exactly how much does a 3 gallon bucket full of loaded ammunition weigh I'm not trying to get a hernia here.

Hehehe... move them?
Oh, yeah. Um, like slide them?
45 Auto is heavier than 223Rem... that’s all I know!

I use the smaller ones for the range and fill the big ones under the bench. An ammo can is more than I go through in a trip.

After drilling 168 1 7/8” holes 18” deep into the concrete footings for a new building yesterday, with a fifteen pound rotary hammer, I probably can’t lift my Buckmark at the moment!

 

[bersaguy]

OCD....(obsessive compulsive disorder)........haven't gotten to the point of having custom private labeled packaging yet, so it's possible I still possess a small amount of sanity.

View attachment 941811


View attachment 941812

View attachment 941813

Haven't quite got to having custom labels printed...but that didn't stop me from running some mailing labels through the inkjet
The label wraps around to the bottom of the box where I printed the load info and assembly date

 

[Charlie98]

I found the typical Ziplock sammich bag will hold 100rds of 5.56mm. When I buy bulk boxes of 5.56mm, I divvy them up in 100rd bags... but that's the only place I use them.

I use smaller cardboard parts boxes I get from my work... most are small enough to still fit down inside a 50cal ammo can, which is how I transport them. I have bigger boxes for some cartridges (like .308/7.62mm) but they are strong enough to secure with box tape.

Handgun ammo typically goes in 50rd plastic ammo boxes; I have a few 100rd boxes... I do NOT like them... they are too heavy, too flimsy, and they don't fit down inside said 50cal ammo can.

As far as component storage, I like the Rubbermaid 9-cup flat/square food containers with lid, or the bigger cardboard component boxes I get.

 

[cfullgraf]

I bought some Plano cans on Amazon and ordered the bigger ones without noticing how big they actually were. I consigned them to storage duty in the basement as they are too big to haul back and forth to the range.

The one on the far left is full of .45 acp and weighs in at 67 lbs.

View attachment 941940

My ammo cans do not leave the basement also as they do get too heavy. I just pull out the rounds that I want to shoot that day.

Generally, I do not use the 50 cal cans for handgun ammunition. The percentage of the space occupied by lead inside the can is much greater than with rifle cartridges.

 

[Chuck R.]

I use MTM 100rd boxes, have been buying them for years:



Empty brass for the high volume ammo (pistol & .223) resides in kitty litter containers. Rifle brass Including .223 precision stuff resides in MTM 100rd boxes also, segregated by "lot" so I can keep track of times loaded and how it's prepped.

My 3Gun and practice .223 get's loaded in 20GA shotshell boxes as 100rds fits. I use a MEC shell box loader and stagger them tip to base, like the old 50rd count .22 boxes.

 

[Thomasss]

Sandwhich bags work great. But I do check the garbage cans at the range. My buddy was looking for .45 ACP boxes. Now he has more than he knows what to do with. I also have a good supply of 9mm and .357 boxes Computer labels keeps track of loads in each box. I also find targets that were never used.

 

[armoredman]

Baggies for everything except 9mm - have a lot of MTM and Berry's plastic boxes for that.

 

[3% outdoorsman]

Yep all mine are in zip lock bags.except some of my more precision rifle stuff goes in mtm plastic range boxes

 

[entropy]

Haven't quite got to having custom labels printed...but that didn't stop me from running some mailing labels through the inkjet
The label wraps around to the bottom of the box where I printed the load info and assembly date
View attachment 941941

Careful the 82nd Airborne doesn't 'drop in' to recover their ammo. Your boxes clearly have their division insignia on them......

 

[bersaguy]

Careful the 82nd Airborne doesn't 'drop in' to recover their ammo. Your boxes clearly have their division insignia on them......

Couldn't think of a better "AA" logo, it was either that or the Alcoholics Anonymous logo, figured the 82nd carried a little more weight and more appropriate for a box of ammo

 

[JDeere]

I bought cases of those Midway ammo boxes back in the day. Still going strong. I saved all of my range ammo boxes with the plastic trays and reuse them for pistol ammo. 50 Cal cans that I picked up for cheap to store it all. Those little harbor freight cans at 3 bucks a piece come in handy as well.

 

[fotheringill]

Pretzel containers work, as well. I use them for my brass.