kev74
Member
File cabinets can hold a lot of weight and are available used for cheap.
Storage Problem - Bullets
- Thread starter AJ
- Start date
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I have two legal size, 4 drawer file cabinets that store:
Cabinet 1
Drawer 1: cleaning supplies
Drawer 2: Lee Loaders & 310 Loaders
Drawer 3: Dillon 550 accessories
Drawer 4: Casting supplies
Cabinet 2
Drawer 5: 7/8-14 dies (2 layers)
Drawer 6: Cap & Ball loading Equipment/ Tools
Drawer 7: Black Powder loading supplies
Drawer 8: All Brass Shot Shells
This doesn't include Bullets, Brass, Primers, or Powder!
Loaded ammo is in 65 military ammo cans stacked and labeled alone the walls of the garage. 50/50: 30 cal./50 cal. In addition to 8-20 mm cans.
Most bulk bullets are on the bottom shelf of 2'x4' commercial shelf unit using 2 layers of 3/4" CDX plywood. The bottom shelves are then supported by 5 support rail of 2x6 lumber against the floor 500 & 1000 count bags of cast bullets, and 500 & 1000 count boxes of jacketed bullets. Currently down to about 200,000 bullets. Cast bullets are cheapest by the 50,000 if you transport them yourself from the casting company!
Small quantities of bullets (less than 2000) are in a stationary drawer unit on top of filing Cabinets. 24 8.5" x 11" drawers.
One friend has a 65 gun safe that is full of discontinued Berger bullets. They dropped a design of bullet he used in 3 calibers. He called the factory and bought all remaining inventory. Around 10,000 bullets.
Ivan
Cabinet 1
Drawer 1: cleaning supplies
Drawer 2: Lee Loaders & 310 Loaders
Drawer 3: Dillon 550 accessories
Drawer 4: Casting supplies
Cabinet 2
Drawer 5: 7/8-14 dies (2 layers)
Drawer 6: Cap & Ball loading Equipment/ Tools
Drawer 7: Black Powder loading supplies
Drawer 8: All Brass Shot Shells
This doesn't include Bullets, Brass, Primers, or Powder!
Loaded ammo is in 65 military ammo cans stacked and labeled alone the walls of the garage. 50/50: 30 cal./50 cal. In addition to 8-20 mm cans.
Most bulk bullets are on the bottom shelf of 2'x4' commercial shelf unit using 2 layers of 3/4" CDX plywood. The bottom shelves are then supported by 5 support rail of 2x6 lumber against the floor 500 & 1000 count bags of cast bullets, and 500 & 1000 count boxes of jacketed bullets. Currently down to about 200,000 bullets. Cast bullets are cheapest by the 50,000 if you transport them yourself from the casting company!
Small quantities of bullets (less than 2000) are in a stationary drawer unit on top of filing Cabinets. 24 8.5" x 11" drawers.
One friend has a 65 gun safe that is full of discontinued Berger bullets. They dropped a design of bullet he used in 3 calibers. He called the factory and bought all remaining inventory. Around 10,000 bullets.
Ivan
OP
AJ
US Veteran
That is a Lyman Turret Press. I have five turrets that I can change out. Since I load strictly handgun, I get two calibers per turret. Changing calibers only takes a minute or so.
OP
AJ
US Veteran
I have a place for filing cabinets in my Gun/Reloading Room. However, they are for files, no room for more.
Attachments
OP
AJ
US Veteran
Only a Marine could organize that much "stuff" in that small of a place! AND the bench top is spit polished to a shine! My bench, but only half as much "stuff"!
I worked for the Navy Dept also!
jcelect
Noticed the wall phone. Have a friend that still has one in his workshop in Pa.
No room really left in my Gun/Reloading Room. Pictures will tell the story. As you can see it is not only for Reloading & guns, but also collectables. I have another room that is for computer/library/collectables also. These are blivets this means 2 pounds of **** in a one pound bag.
Attachments
OP
AJ
US Veteran
OP
AJ
US Veteran
A lot of that was picked up years ago at estate sales. We (a friend of mine that reloads) bought primers at $10.00 a brick, powder at $5.00 a pound, bullets at $15 for 500, plus odds and ends of equipment. I also cast bullets and that is a whole other area (outside in the garage with the door open and fans running).
Ivan the Butcher
Member
Get rid of stuff? NEVER!
About 10 years ago, we moved from the farm to a condo. It would be easier to get rid of one of the kids, at least one I was mad at! I had to give up several single stage, One turret, one progressive, and a couple of bullet sizers! I went from 17' of loading bench in a dedicated room to a 5' bench in the laundry room.
Ivan
USBP SW
Member
As others have mentioned, I use ammo cans. I have them labeled to indicate what's in them, they are strong, waterproof and stack very well. If I come into a windfall of bullets somewhere, I can label another can. They also do double duty as weights for gluing projects.
scattershot
Member
Lowe’s sells very sturdy slip togetherfree standing steel shelves that will hold a lot of weight.
OP
AJ
US Veteran
I use my ammo cans for cleaned brass. Have them stacked in my reloading room and in the garage.
I've got a hardened gun room in the basement, it wasn't large enough for commercial grade steel shelves. I ended up picking up a dozen of these wooden storage boxes, you see them at Home Depot or Michales for $9.99, cheaper with my Vet discount. I got a dozen or so and attached them together by screwing 1X4s to the sides, using anywhere from 3 or 4 or 5 I could customize them to the space I had available and it only took a few minutes to do.
Attachments
Green Frog
Member
Several years ago I purchased four units of steel lawyer type bookcases. I didn’t get the base or cap, but the shelves are ultra heavy duty and hold bunches of my bullets, moulds, etc.
Froggie
Froggie
gjgalligan
Member
For some of you I would suggest that you sit down and have a discussion with yourself about the ability to use up most of your supplies in YOUR lifetime.
I know my heirs would probably just complain about the mess I left them and then toss it all in the dumpster.
I am currently trying to burn up my supplies of components only buying what is need to get down to a very small stock.
After 2 heart attacks I have come to realize I ain't gonna live forever and the end can come anytime.
Probably sooner then later.
Now I just have to convince myself to sell off any gun I no longer have components to reload for.
I know my heirs would probably just complain about the mess I left them and then toss it all in the dumpster.
I am currently trying to burn up my supplies of components only buying what is need to get down to a very small stock.
After 2 heart attacks I have come to realize I ain't gonna live forever and the end can come anytime.
Probably sooner then later.
Now I just have to convince myself to sell off any gun I no longer have components to reload for.
Last edited:
OP
AJ
US Veteran
That is an option to use then like you did. I used them a couple of years ago for a rather good sized book shelf. In the first picture you can see what I originally planned. In the second picture you can see where I added a third tier of two crates on each end. Holds a ton of books.......may some of them should go?
Attachments
OP
AJ
US Veteran
Not sure what my Grandkids will want to do with my stuff. The two Grandsons will want the lion's share, and dole out some to their two sisters. Have taught them all to shoot.
Trying to get them into reloading. I am doing this by making them buy their own ammo (they all have jobs). What I have now and the small amounts that still buy from time to time should last beyond my years.
Also trying to teach them casting and powder coating.
You are correct, nobody is getting out of this vail of tears alive, We are not promised any certain amount. Knowing you expiration date could make planning easier. I want to be like a friend of mine says "When they call the line cold, so am I".
Last edited:
cmj8591
Member
These are great shelving units. A bit expensive but they have a 1500lb capacity.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...0-in-W-x-48-in-H-x-18-in-D-DXST4500/302361258
I tend to store bullets in the container they were shipped in. Whatever cardboard or plastic bag it is. These shelves also hold my ammo. Some in military ammo cans and some in factory cardboard cases. You can buy cheep shelves but you will end up picking stuff up off the floor at some point. Buy once, cry once.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...0-in-W-x-48-in-H-x-18-in-D-DXST4500/302361258
I tend to store bullets in the container they were shipped in. Whatever cardboard or plastic bag it is. These shelves also hold my ammo. Some in military ammo cans and some in factory cardboard cases. You can buy cheep shelves but you will end up picking stuff up off the floor at some point. Buy once, cry once.
cmj8591
Member
I've decided to keep as much as I can. In fact, I'm still making acquisitions. I have always, and still do, get a lot of satisfaction out of owning and caring for them. And, of course, shooting them. I have things that hold sentimental value to me but I'm not sure if they will ever hold any sentimental value to anyone else. So what happens to it after I'm gone, I really don't care. I joke with my shooting pals that if they see my obit in the paper, they better get to my house quick because there will be stuff going out the door at 10 cents on the dollar. I'm ok with that.
