Ammo Stacking

[Spyder]

Quarter bore. That's awesome. And, actually, useful. Thank you!

[billped]

Quarter bore. That's awesome. And, actually, useful. Thank you!

+1. My first thought was ... "WTF?" Second thought was ... "that's AWESOME!"

[QuarterBoreGunner]

+1. My first thought was ... "WTF?" Second thought was ... "that's AWESOME!"

I had to calculate this all out when I starting storing my bulk ammo in a lockable storage cabinet like below; the specs say that the shelves are good for ~150 Lbs. so I had to math it up.

[packnrat]

i have run across a great deal on vg ammo cans some brand new US made to correct mil spec and some used grade A. but sad all back on the east coast. shipping kills the deal as only sold by the pallet load.


if i had the cash would buy a truck load and then resell here (CA) for profit and would be able to sell for less then any shop does. (even on line + shipping).


.

[SP101]

Good info, QuarterBore. I'm planning to stock up on some different calibers, and this will help me figure out what kind of storage space I need.

[Guns and guitars]

I buy 50 cal ammo boxes, then take all ammo out of packaging leaving just the cover of the box for grain or make of ammo in box with desiccants..

50 Cal boxes will hold
-1000 Rds of 556
-1000 Rds of 545
-2000 Rds of 9mm
-900 Rds of 7.62x39
-6000 Rds of 22Lr
-500 Rds of 308
-200 Rds of 12 gauge.
-1000 Rds of 45 auto

Purchase a label maker. Mark all ammo cans. Stack to the roof if you want.

[Calico1404]

For future reference if you're curious:

Bulk Ammo Weight

Pistol Calibers

.380
Rounds per pound: 47.06
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 2.13

9mm Luger
Hornady 115gr JHP/XTP
Rounds per pound: 38.10
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 2.63

.38 Special
Rounds per pound: 34.78
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 2.88

.357Mag.
Remington UMC 125gr SJHP
Rounds per pound: 30.77
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 3.25

.357Mag.
Handload 158gr JHP
Rounds per pound: 28.07
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 3.56

40S&W
Rounds per pound: 28.07
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 3.56

.44magnum
200gr Hornady XTP HP
Rounds per pound: 22
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 4.57

.44magnum
240gr LSWC Bullet
Rounds per pound: 19.7
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 5.07

.45ACP
230gr Winchester Ball
Rounds per pound: 21.33
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 4.69





Rifle Calibers

.22 LR
Remington Golden 36gr PHP
Rounds per pound: 133.33
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 0.75

.223/5.56X45
(milsurp) British Radway Green SS109 63gr
Rounds per pound: 37.21
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 2.69

NOTE: 420 rounds XM193 55gr on stripper clips in a standard .30 ammo can
Weight (lbs): 15

30-30 Winchester (a.k.a. .30WCF)
Winchester Silvertip 170gr flat nose
Rounds per pound: 20.28
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 4.92

.243 Winchester
75gr Hornady V-max Handloads
Rounds per pound: 22.22
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 4.5

.308 Winchester
Remington UMC 150gr FMJ
Rounds per pound: 19.05
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 5.25

.308 Winchester
168gr BTHP Match Bullet
Rounds per pound: 18.67
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 5.35

7mm Remington Magnum
Winchester 175gr Power Point
Rounds per pound:14.68
Weight per 100 rounds(lbs): 6.81

7.62X39
Wolf Steel Case 122gr FMJ
Rounds per pound:27.59
Weight per 100 rounds(lbs): 3.63


Shotgun Calibers

12GA 2 3/4" Slug
Federal HI-Shok Slug
Rounds per pound: 10.53
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 9.50

12GA 2 3/4" #4 Shot
Remington Express 4BK
Rounds per pound: 9.30
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 10.75

12GA 2 3/4" #7 1/2 Shot
Federal #7 1/2 Shot
Rounds per pound: 10.53
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 9.75

12GA 2 3/4"00 Buckshot
Federal Express 9 Pellet
Rounds per pound: 9.76
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 10.25

12GA 3" Slug
Federal 3" Rifled Slug
Rounds per pound: 8.89
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 11.25

Ammo Can Weights and Quantities

To start, different weights of ammo cans and common ammo. For reference, I've gathered information from different sites and from personal knowledge weighing some ammo cans myself. Below is a list of how much various types of ammunition weighs along with the average amount of ammo can fit in both .50 cal and .30 ammo cans. These are rough estimates and of course varies with the bullet weight of each round. For most calibers, the difference in weight between different bullet weights in less than a pound or two per 1000 rounds.


The weight of empty ammo cans

.30Cal Ammo Cans (~10"x3-1/2"x7")
Metal Can ~ 4lbs
Plastic Can ~ 1.5lbs

.50Cal Ammo Cans (~10"x5-1/2"x7")
Metal Can ~ 5lbs
Plastic Can ~ 2lbs


AMOUNT PER CAN IS BASED ON LOOSE ROUNDS

.22LR:
Average .22LR round:
Rounds per pound ~ 136lbs
Weight per 100 rounds ~ 0.74lbs
Amount of .22LR per .30 can ~ 3400rds
Amount of 9mm per .50 can ~ 6000rds
Weight of 1200 rounds ~ 25lbs
Weight of 2200 rounds ~ 44lbs

9MM:
Average 9mm Luger round:
Rounds per pound ~ 38.10rds
Weight per 100 rounds ~ 2.63lbs
Amount of 9mm per .30 can ~ 1200rds
Amount of 9mm per .50 can ~ 2200rds
Weight of 1200 rounds ~ 28lbs
Weight of 2200 rounds ~ 53lbs

.40cal
Average .40S&W round:
Rounds per pound ~ 28.07rds
Weight per 100 rounds ~ 3.56lbs
Amount per .30 can ~ 1000rds
Amount per .50 can ~ 1750rds
Weight of 1000 rounds ~ 36lbs
Weight of 1750 rounds ~ 63lbs

.45cal
Average .45ACP round:
Rounds per pound ~ 21.33rds
Weight per 100 rounds ~ 5.07lbs
Amount per .30 can ~ 800rds
Amount per .50 can ~ 1300rds
Weight of 800 rounds ~ 41lbs
Weight of 1300 rounds ~ 77bs

.223/5.56
Average .223/5.56 round:
Rounds per pound ~ 37.21rds
Weight per 100 rounds ~ 2.69lbs
Amount per .30 can ~ 600rds
Amount per .50 can ~ 1200rds
Weight of 600 rounds ~ 16lbs
Weight of 1200 rounds ~ 33lbs


.308/7.62x51
Average .308/7.62x51 round:
Rounds per pound ~ 19.05rds
Weight per 100 rounds ~ 5.25lbs
Amount per .30 can ~ 320rds
Amount per .50 can ~ 640rds
Weight of 320 rounds ~ 17lbs
Weight of 640 rounds ~ 35lbs

12GA 00Buck:
Average 12GA 00Buck 2-3/4" shell:
Rounds per pound ~ 9.76 Shells
Weight per 100 rounds ~ 10.25lbs
Amount of 12GA per .30 can ~ 140 Shells
Amount of 12GA per .50 can ~ 250 Shells
Weight of 140 rounds ~ 15lbs
Weight of 250 rounds ~ 26lbs

Very informative. Thank you...

[CandG]

Somewhere, a while back, I also found a table of how many rounds of different calibers fit inside the standard ammo can sizes, I'll try to dig that up and post it here if/when I can

ETA: Here it is:


1200 rds of 5.56 will fit in to a 50 cal ammo can.
600rds of 5.56 will fit in to a 30cal ammo can.
1750rds of .40SW will fit in to a 50cal ammo can.
1000rds of .40SW will fit in to a 30cal ammo can.
140rds of 12ga 2.75 will fit in to a 30cal ammo can.
250rds of 12ga 2.75 will fit in to a 50cal ammo can.
640rds of .308 will fit in to a 50cal ammo can.
320rds of .308 will fit in to a 30cal ammo can.
1300rds of .45ACP will fit in to a 50cal ammo can.
770rds of .45ACP will fit in to a 30cal ammo can.
2200rds of 9mm will fit in to a 50cal ammo can.
1200rds of 9mm will fit in to a 30cal ammo can.
300rds of 7.62x54r will fit in to a 30cal ammo can.

From my experience, those numbers seem about right, when storing as loose ammo. Stored in the cardboard boxes, I'm sure that number is reduced by some amount. I'd also pull a few rounds out to make room for a desiccant packet as well.

Back to the OP, I would think you can easily stack like-typed, full ammo cans at least 5 tall without any problem. Where things get shaky (literally and figuratively) is if you have a mix of ammo cans in the stack that aren't designed to the same specs. They might not mate to each other and distribute their weight properly.

I would also make sure each can isn't stuffed with so much ammo that the lid is pushing down on the ammo inside. In other words, if you had to sit on the ammo can to get the latch to close, you might wanna redistribute the ammo a little bit (or go shoot some of it )

[MaHoTex]

So, how many 22LR will fit into 30 cal and 50 cal cans.

Looks like about 6K rounds in a 50 Cal. Talk about heavy...

[CandG]

So, how many 22LR will fit into 30 cal and 50 cal cans.

Looks like about 6K rounds in a 50 Cal. Talk about heavy...

I've got about 3k rounds stuffed into a 50cal can, but they are boxed, not loose. So 6k sounds about right!

[BigPimping]

Good info. I am stacking now.

[Custom ii]

I don't buy anymore ammo since I lost all of my weapons in a terrible boating accident.

[baggss]