Plano Plastic Ammo Cans Caution

[TAROMAN]

Putting one away this morning.
Full of .357.
Handle came off.
Can dropped onto my foot.
Ouch. Top of foot took the hit.
I will be throwing these away and going back to GI .30 cal cans.

 

[bimmerland]

Can plastic ammo cans contain the explosive energy. I only use metal.

 

[Gunhacker]

The MTM plastic ammo cans are much better than the Plano ones.

I have mine packed with some pretty heavy stuff, no issues. My only complaint is the lids are bulkier/wider than the bottoms so they don't stack as nicely as the GI cans sitting side by side.

I don't know about this containing the explosive energy aspect... should something go off if/when the can is dropped, I want it to vent the pressure quickly and dissipate the energy before it has the chance to build up and turn the can into deadly shrapnel.

That's why the metal safety storage bins for smokeless powder are made with breakaway seams, to dissipate the pressure before it turns into some kind of pressure cooker bomb.

 

[patrickd]

Why waste $ on cheap plastic cans when there's millions of quality steel GI cans available?

 

[njl]

Anything can fail. I've got a USGI surplus .30cal can where one of the spot welds for the bit of sheet metal that holds the handle popped apart. I didn't even realize when it happened, but I know it wasn't like that when I got it. Since then, I'm hesitant to carry them over things that can't take a hit (like people or pets).

 

[chief38]

I agree - - STILL PLENTY of the USGI cans left around and most STILL in great condition. Just got two last week that a fellow Club member just gave me because he shot up the Lake City ammo that was in them. In pristine condition too

 

[AlHunt]

Why waste $ on cheap plastic cans when there's millions of quality steel GI cans available?

I don't know about you but every time I see surplus GI cans they're 15 or 20 bucks. Seems like too much, to me.

 

[Thomas15]

Anything can fail. I've got a USGI surplus .30cal can where one of the spot welds for the bit of sheet metal that holds the handle popped apart. I didn't even realize when it happened, but I know it wasn't like that when I got it. Since then, I'm hesitant to carry them over things that can't take a hit (like people or pets).

I have one also, same condition.

It took me time to get used to the plastic boxes since I'm a traditional kind of guy and appreciate the GI surplus cans but for about 5 bux you can pick up a plastic box at Walmart. There is starting to be a collection of these in my garage.

 

[TAROMAN]

I don't know about you but every time I see surplus GI cans they're 15 or 20 bucks. Seems like too much, to me.

More like $25 or so around here.

 

[DWalt]

I still see 7.62 NATO MG cans for $10 at gun shows. I prefer the M249 cans, but they are a little difficult to find.

 

[Ballistic147]

I've picked up quite a few of the GI surplus cans at the local gun show. I like the 40mm size and can get those for $15 each. I do have a couple of the MTM plastic cans which I only store primers in with a large desiccant bag. They work well for those since there's not much weight involved. For ammo, it's steel cans only.

 

[mikld]

$15.00 for a GI ammo can isn't too much. They are difficult to harm and last forever. Ever drop one of these on your foot? I did, mine had about 250 45 ACP rounds in it and I hobbled around for a month...

 

[Gunhacker]

Why waste $ on cheap plastic cans when there's millions of quality steel GI cans available?

I'd like to see some of those...

Availability and pricing of the GI ammo cans seems to be highly regional... where I'm at, the few local LGS's that do have them have prices on them like they are made out of gold. For many, Gun Shows are either too far away or non existent.

Buying them online is too expensive when shipping is added... not worth it to me if I have to add on an additional 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the cans for UPS to come visit.

The plastic ones sometimes are the only choice.. and the MTM ones are decent.

 

[BC38]

Why waste $ on cheap plastic cans when there's millions of quality steel GI cans available?

I can give you one good reason. Packing ammo for airline travel.

I packed about 600 rounds of 38sp, 357mag, 44sp, & 44mag in 50 round boxes into two of these plastic ammo cans and put the locked ammo cans in a checked bag when I flew down to my mom's place in AZ. They require that the ammo be in a locked bag and I figured that since metal cans wouldn't x-ray so well they'd tear my bag apart if I tried using the metal cans. So I used the plastic ones.

Due to the rough handling the airport employees gave the bag, one of them cracked on the bottom, but the bag went through x-ray and made to to the destination no problems....

 

[Alk8944]

Just by chance did you read the label on the Plano box? I suspect it may indicate a safe load limit for the box. A box full of .357? What were you thinking? It's only plastic for heck sake.

As gunhacker said, the MTM boxes are better than Plano! I will add much better! They will handle a full load of ammunition. Construction of the MTM is far superior to the Plano.

 

[rwsmith]

If the contents were to....

Can plastic ammo cans contain the explosive energy. I only use metal.

If the contents were to 'explode', neither plastic or metal would contain it. It is much more likely that ammo would 'cook off' in a fire where, in the case of plastic, the ammo would be firing from a puddle of plastic goo or in the case of metal, from within the metal can.

 

[eo1bart]

Call Plano. I had a handle break one time on my Plano tackle box, and they took care of it with no problem

 

[125JHP]

I won't buy plastic cans period.

A few years ago 30 cal cans were typically $3-4 and 50 cal were $5-8. I don't know how or exactly when but it seems during the shortage & gouging of 2010 prices skyrocketed. Now they want 15-20 for a 50 cal can.
Every now and then I see one at the flea market for 8-10 so I pick it up but not very often.

 

[mikld]

Well, the box store in my small town has new GI ammo cans on the shelf, a little higher than I paid for brand new cans at $19.00. I have purchased ammo cans on line for as low as $7.00 used and $15.00 new, and given the sturdiness and longevity, it's a deal. I haven't had any problems finding them when I just looked. I have only been using them for storage since mebbe '85, and none have ever failed, in any way (no plastic hinges to break, no stiff plastic from sitting in the sunlight, etc.).

 

[Ceapea]

I've got eight of the plastic ammo cans. Both small and large Plano's and small cans from Harbor Freight. I have used them for over 6 years, loaded to the gills. Never had a problem. Anything can break. I bet if you got a replacement, you'd never have a problem with it.