Praxis: 25mm boxes -- what experiences have you had with long term storage using them?
I've never used these Bushmaster 25mm ammo boxes for long-term storage and I'm wondering how many uses folks have found for these air-tight, water-tight containers?
Here, a fellow using them for panniers on his bike.
Here, a post discusses the use of 25mm M791 Ammo Boxes as Flashlight Storage.
They are, it seems to me, heavier than metal ammo cans of similar volume. Still, does anyone have experience using them tactically, or for long-term storage?
10 comments:
This past weekend the Sam's Club we shop at had brand new .50 cal ammo boxes on sale a 2-pack for about $35 (if memory serves). The boxes seemed to have all the proper mil markings stencilled on them. Looked like a good deal to me. I know that it was as good as if not better deal than at the surplus store accross the street from housing at Ft. Sam Houston plus these are supposed to be brand new. Thought I'd pass it along.
They tend to warp badly over time as they do not seem to have ever been meant for LTS. That and the silicon rubber seals SUCK, as do the latches. Fill one up with nut & bolts some time and drop it off a tailgate; Its an eye opener.
I had a couple of them - they are rugged as f**k and will take a beating. They are heavy for plastic cans, but the wall thickness is pretty wide. I don't like them that much - I bought them cheap, but what I didn't like about them was the inside of the cans were somewhat molded for the original task of holding belts of 25mm ammunition, so the inside walls aren't exactly flat, they are notched for two plastic plates inside to keep the 25mm chain gun ammo from moving around too much. You can remove the plastic plates easy enough, but the notches are still there, which makes storing anything like boxes of ammo, or books, a little complicated. You can store more in a similar sized metal ammo can with smooth interior walls.
If you plan on storing lots of small things, or soft items like clothing, they will do fine. But still, I'd avoid them unless you are getting them for a steal. I think I paid $5 a piece for them at Knob Creek in 1997 or so.
I bought a pkg of 4 back in the 80's. The insides are contoured/moulded/shaped specifically for the 25mm rds. It is not feasible to store package/ boxes/containers/ bandoleers of stuff in them. I just store loose ammo in them from reloading.
They appear to be reasonably airtight & waterproof, but are too heavy for any real use. They can take a real banging around. I thought I was buying a can similar to the 20mm can. I should have ponied up the extra $$ for the metal 20's.
If you fill them with ammo (regular rifle/pistol calibers) they get VERY heavy....
I've used them for bulk storage of reloaded 45 ACP and 45 Colt, and used them to load ammo boxes for competition and the range. For that they were good. They are hard to pack with boxed ammo, but I still used them for that.
I found the seals and latches very good. For long term storage I stick a couple of the little boot warmers that react with oxygen to the lids of my ammo cans, and these held the resultant "vacuum" for over 2 years.
YMMV
I have used them for packaged X39 and 556 and this works well. the interior moldings cut down storage space. The latches and seals have held for a decade or more but then I do not throw them from the back of trucks
some people are mounting radios in the for "go kits"
Dr.D
Cosby, Tn
Consider the electrical properties of plastic, and noise--plastic makes different, softer noises in some situations than metal. While it sounds like they're not optimal for general use, they might have niche purposes they become well suited for.
And consider you can cut and drill plastic easier than metal.
I use then for .22 long rifle storage. Even with the funky shape of the insides. I can get about 3 thousand in original packaging in one of these boxes. Little square .45 auto boxes fit nicely too. I've used mine with no problems after 5 or 6 years now.
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