Best Ammo Can – 3 Picks for Bulk, Budget and Steel Storage

Best ammo can – quick answer and top picks

The best ammo can depends on where it lives: the MTM ACR8-72 for bulk boxed ammo on a closet shelf, the Plano Field Ammo Box on a budget, and the Solid Tactical steel can for long-term storage in a humid garage. None of them is a gun safe, and none makes any fire claim.

Here is the short list by job:

• Best for bulk storage: the MTM ACR8-72 Ammo Crate Utility Box, a stackable polypropylene crate with an O-ring seal.
• Best budget: the Plano Field Ammo Box, a light .30-caliber-size box that holds 6 to 8 boxes of ammo.
• Best steel for long-term storage: the Solid Tactical Metal Ammo Can, a new M2A1-style .50 cal can with a rubber gasket and desiccant pack.

This table compares the three picks on material, seal, interior size, lock point and what each one holds:

How we chose these ammo cans

An ammo can made this list only if at least two of the top-ten roundups recommend it and we could find owner reports on it. We read Gun University, Field & Stream and Rifle Configurator, then owner threads and reviews on The High Road, Reddit, Walmart and the makers’ own sites.

Three ammo storage containers cleared that bar. We have not bought or used these cans ourselves. Everything below comes from maker pages, retail listings, hands-on editorial reviews and owner posts, scored with our how we score rubric. Fire is left out of every score because none of these makes a fire claim, and an ammo can is not a fire safe.

Ammo can reviews

Each review covers what the maker states, how owners say it holds up, and who it suits.

MTM ACR8-72 Ammo Crate Utility Box: Best for bulk storage

3.2Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)4/10
• Access (speed and ease)7/10
• Capacity9/10
• Value8/10

No fire claim, so fire is omitted. Security is limited to plastic padlock tabs (Gun University found only one side needs unlocking); capacity is the largest of the three; access is two side latches.

How we score

Check price on Amazon

What we like

• Interior 14 x 13.5 x 7.25 in holds many boxes in one stack-ready unit (MTM)
• O-ring seal, two latches, double padlock tabs and four tie-down points
• Made in the USA from high-impact polypropylene

What we don't like

• Water-resistant, not submersible; some owners say the lid is too flexible to seal tightly
• Handles and plastic latches can crack if a heavily loaded crate is dropped or carried hard

What owners and reviewers say review themes from 11 owner reviews, plus 17 posts and reviews we read

Praised for

• Sturdy and well made for the price, stacks well for home storage
• Surprisingly large capacity; owners keep thousands of rounds or range gear in them
• O-ring seal plus desiccant works for closet storage

Common complaints

• Plastic handles, latches and body can crack or give way when dropped or carried heavily loaded
• Heavy and awkward to lift when full; some switched to storing mags or lighter gear
• Not fully airtight or submersible

Read on: The High Road, MTM ammo crate? (12 owners posting) · MTM Case-Gard ACR8-72 customer reviews (5 read of 11) (11 reviews) · Gun University ACR8-72 hands-on review

Who it's for: For someone keeping a few hundred to a couple thousand rounds of boxed rifle or pistol ammo organized in a closet or garage; the padlock tabs are plastic, so it deters casual access rather than theft, and a full crate is heavy to lift.

Think of this as a footlocker for boxed ammo. The ACR8-72 is a high-impact polypropylene crate from MTM Case-Gard, made in the USA. Its interior measures 14 x 13.5 x 7.25 inches and its exterior 19 x 15.75 x 8 inches, per MTM’s product page. The maker rates it to carry 85 lb on its two side handles. A tongue-and-groove O-ring seal, two latches, double padlock tabs, molded stacking ridges and four hook points round it out. MTM calls it water-resistant and non-submersible, so it suits a closet or shelf, not a boat deck.

Owners on The High Road like how sturdy it feels and how much it swallows; several keep thousands of rounds or a whole range kit in one. The recurring complaint there is that plastic handles and latches can crack when a heavily loaded crate is dropped or hauled hard. Some owners also found a full crate too heavy to lift and moved to lighter gear. Gun University’s reviewer notes that only one side needs unlocking, which tells you the tabs are a deterrent, not security.

Plano Field Ammo Box: Best budget

2.8Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)3/10
• Access (speed and ease)8/10
• Capacity4/10
• Value9/10

No fire claim, so fire is omitted. Cheap and quick to open, with one padlock tab on plastic; capacity is the smallest of the three.

How we score

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What we like

• Interior about 9.5 x 4.25 x 6.5 in holds 6 to 8 boxes of .30-caliber-size ammo (retail listings)
• Water-resistant O-ring seal, brass-bailed snap latch and a padlock tab
• Very light and stackable with a comfortable handle

What we don't like

• Plastic lid and walls can flex, so the seal is only water-resistant
• Small capacity and one padlock tab; it can be pried open

What owners and reviewers say review themes from 480 owner reviews, plus 9 posts and reviews we read

Praised for

• Great value; holds far more loose pistol rounds than it looks like it should
• Compact, stackable and light for range trips
• Rubber gasket and snap latch keep ammo dry in light rain

Common complaints

• Feels thin and flexible, with parts that range from solid to flimsy
• Not a long-term waterproof or security option

Read on: Walmart, Plano Field Ammo Box reviews (3 read; page shows 329 reviews) (329 reviews) · Plano site reviews, Element-Proof Field/Ammo Box (5 read of 13) (13 reviews) · Nosler Reloading Forum, Plano 1312 Field Boxes (1 owner) · Home Depot, Plano 131200 (138 reviews shown, text not read) (138 reviews)

Who it's for: For a new shooter or someone moving a few boxes of ammo to the range or a truck; it is plastic with a single padlock tab, so it is organization and moisture protection, not security, and it is small for bulk storage.

Small, light and cheap, this is the box most of us would toss in a truck for a range day. Plano sells it as the Element-Proof Field/Ammo Box, part 131200, often listed as the 1312. The maker gives exterior dimensions of 11.63 x 5.13 x 7.13 inches and describes a water-resistant O-ring seal. The lid snaps shut under a brass-bailed latch. A Walmart listing gives the interior as about 9.5 x 4.25 x 6.5 inches, and the retail listings say it holds 6 to 8 boxes of .30-caliber-size ammo. Plano lists a one-year warranty.

Reviewers on Walmart and Plano’s own site praise the value and say it holds far more loose pistol rounds than it looks like it should. They also say the gasket and snap latch kept ammo dry in light rain. The complaint that keeps coming up is a thin, flexible shell, with parts that range from solid to flimsy. It has a single plastic padlock tab, so treat it as organization and splash protection, not long-term or secure storage.

Solid Tactical Metal Ammo Can: Best steel for long-term storage

3.0Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)6/10
• Access (speed and ease)6/10
• Capacity6/10
• Value6/10

No fire claim, so fire is omitted. Steel and a welded loop beat plastic tabs, but the loop is cuttable and the lid is slow; the price is higher than other steel cans.

How we score

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What we like

• Steel body with a rubber gasket; maker says every can is tested for air and water tightness
• Welded loop takes a padlock with a shank up to 3/8 in
• Ships with a desiccant pack, brand new rather than surplus

What we don't like

• Padlock is not included and the welded loop can be cut with bolt cutters
• Heavy even when empty, and the lid takes effort to close

What owners and reviewers say review themes from 92 owner reviews, plus 83 posts and reviews we read

Praised for

• Seals well and feels sturdy; arrives brand new with a good powder-coat finish
• Desiccant pack and rubber gasket are a plus for storage
• Owners buy several and stack them

Common complaints

• Reviewers of the plain, non-locking version say it is not pre-drilled for a lock; the locking version's welded loop is cuttable
• Price is higher than surplus or Harbor Freight cans
• Some got the wrong color or finish, paint wear or an undersized desiccant pack

Read on: Solid Tactical product page customer reviews (92 shown, 83 read after skipping entries labeled Amazon Customer) (92 reviews) · Gun University Solid Tactical hands-on review

Who it's for: For someone storing sealed ammo or other valuables long term in a damp garage or basement; it has a welded padlock loop but a thin one that bolt cutters can cut, and the can is heavy.

Steel and a real gasket set this one apart. It is a new, unused copy of the M2A1 .50 cal can, the military-spec steel shape most metal picks follow. It has a powder-coat finish, a rubber lid gasket and a desiccant pack in the box. Solid Tactical says on its ammo can page that every can is tested for air and water tightness. Its welded lock loop takes a padlock with a shank up to 3/8 inch. Amazon lists a 30 lb maximum weight recommendation. We left out exterior dimensions because the maker does not publish them and the retail numbers did not add up.

Owners reviewing the plain Matte Black version on Solid Tactical’s product page say it seals well, arrives brand new and stacks neatly, and many bought several. Owners report fitting about 500 rounds of 7.62x39 loose. The complaints are a price above surplus and Harbor Freight cans, a few wrong colors, some paint wear and an undersized desiccant pack. The lid also takes effort to close. The plain version those owners reviewed is not pre-drilled for a lock; the locking version we link adds the maker’s welded loop, which reviewers say is thin enough for bolt cutters.

How to choose an ammo can

Choose an ammo can by where it will sit and how long: steel with a rubber gasket for damp, long-term storage, polymer for light, stackable organization indoors. Then match the size to the boxes you own.

Plastic vs steel

A polypropylene ammo box is light, stackable and never rusts, but its walls and lid can flex, which is why MTM and Plano call their seals water-resistant. A metal ammo can is heavier and can dent or rust at a chip in the paint, but a steel lid clamped onto a rubber gasket seals tighter. That is why steel is the better bet for a tight seal, though none of these makers publishes a submersion or waterproof rating. In a closet, plastic is plenty. In a humid garage, we would pick steel.

Water-resistant vs airtight seals

Every can here relies on a rubber gasket/O-ring seal, the soft ring that the lid presses into. Water-resistant means it shrugs off rain and splashes. Airtight means humid air cannot creep in over months, and a good seal is what makes a can watertight. Before trusting any can, check the seal like this:

1. Look for cracks, flat spots or grit on the gasket.
2. Close the latch on a strip of paper and pull; it should drag evenly all the way around.
3. Wipe the lip clean and keep oil and solvents off the rubber.

Size and capacity (.30 cal vs .50 cal)

The M19A1 .30 cal can is the smaller steel can and easier to carry; the .50 cal size holds more but gets heavy fast. Size the can to your boxes, not to a round count, since a 50-round pistol box and a 20-round rifle box use space very differently. Measure a few factory boxes against each interior figure in the table before you buy.

Locks and security limits

A padlock tab/welded lock loop keeps curious kids and guests out, and that is all it does. Plastic tabs can be pried, and owners and reviewers say the Solid Tactical loop can be cut. Anyone can carry a can away. For real protection, ammo belongs in a locked, bolted-down gun safe; our pistol safe guide covers small ones. Storage and transport rules for ammunition vary by state and city, so check your state’s rules rather than relying on a can.

New vs military surplus

A military surplus ammo can is a used, graded steel can, and it is the cheap alternative forum threads keep naming. Condition varies, so inspect the gasket before you rely on it. A new can like the Solid Tactical costs more but arrives with a fresh gasket and a desiccant packet.

From our notes: When we lined up the three spec sheets, the sizes turned out to be the hardest fact to pin down. MTM publishes both interior and exterior dimensions for the ACR8-72. Plano’s own page gives only the outside of the Field Ammo Box, so the interior figure in our table comes from a Walmart listing. Solid Tactical publishes no dimensions at all for its .50 cal can, and the retail numbers did not match a can of that size, so we left them out. That is why we tell readers to measure their own boxes.

Keeping ammo dry in an ammo can – problems owners run into, and the fix

Most ammo storage trouble is moisture, not age, and high humidity hurts ammo most in garages, cardboard boxes, saturated desiccant and cold surfaces that sweat. Each one has a simple fix.

Humid climates and garages

Whether a can alone keeps ammo dry in a humid climate or an unconditioned garage is one of the most common questions in r/Firearms and r/TexasGuns threads. In a Florida storage thread, one reply put it this way: “Moisture in metal containers is only a problem if the air can flow and the metal can sweat from condensation.” In an r/TexasGuns thread, another owner wrote: “any ammo can / box with a rubber gasket plus a small silica packet should be A Ok for garage storage.” For ammo kept in a garage, that is our fix too. Use a gasketed can, add a fresh desiccant packet, and keep the lid shut.

Steel-cased ammo, cardboard boxes and loose rounds

Fear that stored ammo will rust is a recurring worry in r/NoobGunOwners and r/guns threads. One r/NoobGunOwners reply warns that “steel cased ammunition can absolutely rust.” Cardboard is the other weak link, since it soaks up humidity and holds it against the brass or steel. The fix most owners give:

• Keep factory boxes only if the can stays sealed and dry; otherwise move rounds into plastic boxes or dump them loose.
• Label loose rounds by caliber and lot so nothing gets mixed up.
• Add a couple of desiccant packets per can, as an r/ar15 owner suggests for long storage.

Desiccant that stops working

Silica that saturates within weeks is a recurring complaint on The High Road and collectors’ forums. One reply in a collectors’ forum thread explains why: “Dessicant is not going to help unless the area it is protecting is air-tight.” That is good news for ammo can owners, because a sealed can is exactly that space. Use indicator silica, open the can only when you need to, and recharge or swap the packs when the beads change color.

Sweating metal cans and cold slabs or walls

Steel that is colder than the air around it collects condensation, and owners on AR15.com describe exactly that with safes against an exterior wall: “like dew on a toilet bowl.” The same physics applies to a metal ammo can on a bare concrete slab. Stack cans on a shelf or a wood pallet, keep them off exterior walls, and add a hygrometer to watch relative humidity in the room.

If you also store ammo in a gun safe

Guns rusting inside a safe even with silica packs and a dehumidifier is a recurring theme on The High Road, where one member in a rust thread advised: “Get rid of the gun socks, they attract moisture and don’t allow for air to move evaporating moisture.” For ammo, a sealed can inside the safe is a second barrier that keeps humid air off the rounds. To bring the safe itself under control, see our gun safe dehumidifier guide, and if you are shopping for a fire-rated safe, our fireproof safe guide explains who certifies those ratings.

Bottom line – which ammo can to buy

For that Gulf Coast garage with soft cardboard boxes, we would move the ammo into a gasketed steel can with fresh desiccant and set it on a shelf off the slab. The bulk overflow can live in a polymer crate indoors. Here is our pick by situation:

• Bulk boxed ammo in a closet: the MTM crate, for its size and stacking.
• Range trips and a tight budget: the Plano box, knowing it is splash protection only.
• Long-term storage in a damp space: the Solid Tactical steel can, with the gasket checked once a season.
• Real security: a locked gun safe, with the can inside.

Before you settle on a spot, check your state’s rules for storing and transporting ammunition, and your city’s too. We would rather you spend five minutes on the official state page than guess.