Boxes, Brass, and Holders

[vospertw]

I will reload someday... but family schedules and related rigamarole are keeping me from having enough dedicated time where I can concentrate and not blow myself up.

That said, for the last several years I've been keeping my brass, cartons, and plastic trays. I have a lot of Freedom Munitions brass mixed in there so will probably not use those for reloads (will send them back on their exchange program) but starting to separate out the factory brass from reman stuff. As far as the boxes/trays - are they something worth keeping for the future? I'm asking as I'm starting to have quite a collection!

Thanks as always for your time and advice.

[jericho89]

I found I prefer the plastic boxes to the ones sent with factory ammo. But if you think you like them then load the brass you keep in the boxes and store them together. That way to have enough boxes for the brass you have and get rid of the extras.

[Citadelgrad87]

I thought the same thing, but, honestly, have never put reloads in a factory tray or box. The plastic boxes are really cheap and seem to hold up well, and for volume, I just use ammo cans.

Those boxes take up a ton of space, too, not any more than the plastic boxes, but I don't use them for anything.

I vote toss them.

[Calguns77]

I would chuck the factory boxes, ita a lot of clutter. For any precision rifle you load its going to be in such small batches that you may as well invest in some quality mtm or similar containers. For high batch pistol or rifle ammo i find trays slow me down more than anything. I just use plastic buckets at home to store my dirty brass and store my brass loose in plastic containers at the range.

[Carcassonne]

I use the 100 round plastic boxes sold by Cabela's and Midway.

If you have some high precision or special target loads, than I suggest keeping a few boxes with Styrofoam inserts. I found that going off road with cartirdges in plastic boxes really takes a toll on them.



.

[mrbigsteel]

Some of the trays that come with factory ammo can be used as loading blocks when you get into reloading, but you only need a few.

[vospertw]

All, thanks very much. I received an MTM case for Christmas so can see the utility of that and some of their other products. Thanks again - you saved me a ton of room in my garage shelves. I hated to throw away something that might be useful in the future.

[Capybara]

Just re-doing garage and reloading bench, have a pretty good amount of saved factory ammo boxes but I too am going to just put the 9mm plinking loads into a Costco .50 cal can and the good stuff and rifle into plastic cases. Dumping all of the factory boxes, they are bulky and get in the way.

[tonyjr]

I prefer the plastic boxes . Different colors for different calibers .
I do save my old boxes and ones I have been given - Y - because I want to .
If you go to indoor range , shoot one of my calibers and toss the box - I will pick up your cases and put MT's in box [ yes , I ask 1st ]

[kmullins]

I reload a lot of .45 Auto and .223 Remington. I put them in plastic freezer bags with dessicant and throw that in a steel USGI .50 Caliber can.

[pacrat]

When getting "plastic" storage boxes. I greatly prefer the "slip top" variety. The hinged ones are a PIA. The bulky hinges in back and latches in front are not conducive to efficient stacking. And only serve to take up space.


JM2c

[tonyjr]

pacrat
I agree . I buy different colored plastic . I have more calibers than colors .
Clear = 22lr , 9 mm and 50 AE
red = 45
green = 25 acp and 357
yellow = 32 acp and 41
Black = 380 acp and 44
orange = 38 spl
I would have to look at the rifle ones but most have a label
I just don't reload enough to remember color / cailbers

[stilly]

I will reload someday... but family schedules and related rigamarole are keeping me from having enough dedicated time where I can concentrate and not blow myself up.

That said, for the last several years I've been keeping my brass, cartons, and plastic trays. I have a lot of Freedom Munitions brass mixed in there so will probably not use those for reloads (will send them back on their exchange program) but starting to separate out the factory brass from reman stuff. As far as the boxes/trays - are they something worth keeping for the future? I'm asking as I'm starting to have quite a collection!

Thanks as always for your time and advice.

Sure that aint rigmarole? I always wondered how to spell that word once the internet showed up. Huh. it IS real after all and not just something the older Italians said...

Yeah so boxes? Nah. Really it is up to you but I also prefer the plastic boxes over cardboard crap I get. Cardboard crap is misleading unless you put your own full box label over one side or the entire box or whatever.

Honestly though, I just put stuff into plastic bags and test them out. Then for longer storage, I will put stuff into the Rubbermaid TAKE ALONGS or whatever they are called, the plastic food storage containers that hold a few hundred rounds of each.

But really it is nothing to learn to reload. It is kinda like Beach Diving actually. You prepare yourself on how to do each of them, then when the time comes to go go go, you get your gear out, get it ready, and then enter the water/ set up dies, get past the surf zone/ get the charge/flare/seating and crimping sorted out for your recipes, then dive/ make ammo slowly but surely...

Then once your stuff is setup it is almost mindless, fill your dropper, test a few weights/cases and once it is all good, dive again/ make MORE ammo... (more like a boat dive the second time).

Easy peazy. Now if you are PADI certified then you learned to reload by watching you-tube videos. If you are NAUI or SSA certified, then you learned by reading a book or two, then proceeding with caution. After all, it is only your life...

Easy easy easy...

[tanks]

I will reload someday... but family schedules and related rigamarole are keeping me from having enough dedicated time where I can concentrate and not blow myself up...

Usually, I reload for fifteen minutes or so at a time, enough for 300 rounds. Most of the time when having my morning coffee. You do not need a huge amount of dedicated time to reload.

As far as boxes go, junk them. I put mine in ziplock bags, 200 per bag and affix a label for what it is and it goes into an ammo box.

[vospertw]

Usually, I reload for fifteen minutes or so at a time, enough for 300 rounds. Most of the time when having my morning coffee. You do not need a huge amount of dedicated time to reload.

As far as boxes go, junk them. I put mine in ziplock bags, 200 per bag and affix a label for what it is and it goes into an ammo box.

Thanks. I was thinking it wouldn't be efficient to do smaller batches. I need to start researching basic reloaders; I have a work bench in the garage that would work well but limited table space.

stilly - yes, I guess rigmarole... looks like I've been pronouncing it incorrectly as well!