Opening a military spam can

[TN_shooter]

I got my 5.45 ammo today but I cant figure out how to open the spam can, ive tried cussing it, threatening to do nasty things to it but it wont surrender its contents of goodies, help!!

 

[foghornl]

If you don't have one of the super-duty can openers that sometimes come with bulk purchases, a carbide wheel in your drill is your friend.


DO NOT OPEN THE CAN WITH A TORCH!!!!!


You can use a hammer-n-chisel, but that takes a while...and a lot of caution.

 

[TN_shooter]

Well I dont have either

 

[Freddymac]

Those cans can be tough

Have you tried a Oxy-accetalyne cutting torch? It should have come with a big canopener that looks like a bent fork.

 

[Drysdale]

Send it to me... I'll open it, empty all that garbage out and send you a nice open can back...

 

[hso]

Freddymac is correct. You should have gotten a large blade can opener with it. If not, you can try a dremel or a hammer and chisel.

 

[Freddymac]

I wouldn't be beating on a metal can full of ammo

Go to the hardware store and get a pair of tin snips. They are basicly heavy duty sissors designed for cutting metal

 

[Sport45]

You could always file the top edge of the bead that runs around the top (or bottom) of the can. File it through the metal all the way around. Use the coarsest file you have or it will take a while...

 

[hso]

Freddymac is correct. You should have gotten a large blade can opener with it. If not, you can try a dremel or a hammer and chisel.

If you want you can come to West Knox and I should have an opener around somewhere we can use to break in to it.

 

[Firehand]

From what I've seen, if don't have the opener the easiest thing is hammer & chisel; only have to cut enough along the crimp to make a hole big enough to get the boxes out

 

[rayra]

Sad sad day when a human being - and a gun/tool-user no less - is defeated by a tin can.

(1) Screwdriver, Flat blade, Large
(1) Hammer, Any
(1) Pliers, Channel-Locks

Start near the upper bead, near a corner. Aiming away from the ammo contained inside, drive the screwdriver into and through the metal, and preferable through the outer sidewall.
Taking care to avoid mauling the ammo, use the leverage inherent to the Screwdriver, Flat blade, Large, and work it back and forth within the puncture until you have torn and raised a portion of the sheetmetal.
Withdraw the Screwdriver, Flat blade, Large and using the Pliers, Channel-Locks firmly grasp the protruding bit of metal and again with the leverage granted by this particular tool, commence winding said metal around the head of the pliers, tearing / enlarging the opening in the container as you go.

Once you've made the hole large enough, extract your prize.

/and before you make another bulk ammo purchase, spent the money on a basic set of tools, or turn in your Man card.

 

[rmgill]

Can't bayonets be used to open these?

 

[Onmilo]

By chance did you look on the bottom of the can?
Usually the can opening key is spot welded to the bottom of the can if it needs one.

Look for a tab portion on the side of the can.
This tab can be bent away from the can and then you can pull the strip free with a pair of channel locks.

If neither of those options are viable then you can use a hammer and a cold chisel.
Set the can on its side, set the cutting edge against the bottom of the can tops edge and start pecking away.
The tops are soft soldered and it won't take much impact to begin seperating the cans top. HTH

 

[Hemicuda]

Just shoot the darn thing open... (unless the only ammo you have is IN the can, then you're screwed...)

really, Like RayRa said... use your brains and your natural male destructive abilities!

 

[Cacique500]

(1) Screwdriver, Flat blade, Large
(1) Hammer, Any
(1) Pliers, Channel-Locks

Those are the high tech tools I use...

Be very careful when you pry the metal back...extremely sharp edges. A good glove is usually a good idea as well...

 

[ball3006]

Yep, as stated above.......

a cutting torch works just fine.......... I use a hammer and chisel. Just work around the top of the can like a can opener. You only need to do half then peel the top back and take out the ammo. I take the lid off completely as the can makes a nice parts cleaning or whatever container.......chris3

 

[Nashmack]

I used to do HVAC for a living. Standard operating procedure for us to cut a starting hole in a piece of sheet metal (which I'm assuming is what the can is made out of) is as follows: take man implements described elsewhere (screwdriver, flat, large; hammer, big enough, not so big as to cause you serious harm when you hit yourself), hold said screwdriver at a 45 degree angle to the surface, with the thin part of the blade resting on the steel, strike the blade of the screwdriver downwards with a sharp blow, thereby puncturing the steel. Proceed to repeat this procedure untill you have a slit about 1" in length in the steel, finish cutting with snips.


I dont know if this would be a good idea on the side of the can with the primers, or if it'll even help you, but I figured it was worth a shot.

 

[kfranz]

Can't bayonets be used to open these?

Yes, a CETME bayonet will work, but I'd advise another method.

Some cans open with the roller type tool, often attatched to the bottom. Others use what looks more like a deformed gigantic P38 can opener.

 

[Q-Lock]

You can get one of those openers from any gunshow...although I doubt you'll be so lucky as to have a gunshow in your area this weekend. A fella gave me one for free at the last gunshow I was at.

regards,