Alternative safes

[bobbyfairbanks]

So I have been thinking about using a job box anchored off to my garage floor as a safe for my ammo. Never heard of any one using these besides for tools. Is there any other types of boxes well suited for ammo storage?

Link for what I have been thinking of.

http://www.toolup.com/jobox_1-658990_steel-chest-72-x-24-2775.aspx

[colocowboy01]

I like your idea. I think it would work well.

[Marlin]

I have too many tools in mine..

[spyder]

I don't see why it wouldn't work. The only down sides I see are they those are not lined with anything which you could take care of, and that it is not a horizontal opening which means all of your stuff will be laying down and under odd shelving if you put some in. You could take off the legs and stand it up though I guess.

[rondog]

I thought of that before too, and I think it work work swell. Not for me though, because...

A. Don't have the space to put one.
B. Have too damn much ammo/ammo cans for one. One of those boxes would be great for STORING large quantities for long periods, but I have way too many different calibers and loads. I'd be shuffling them around all the time to get at what I wanted.
C. My back said "Bending over and lifting up heavy-ass .50 cal. cans full of ammo out of a big steel box? Oh HELL no!"

So, I'm just planning to build some sturdy wooden shelves and enclose them with 3/4" plywood to build a big cabinet. I can put a LOT of ammo cans on a 12"x60" wooden shelf, and I'll have probably 5-6 shelves when done. I can quickly see what the cans are when on shelves (have labels on the cans), and can easily pull out the cans I want. When I get that side of the garage insulated and sheetrocked, that is.

Like this only lots bigger.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSCN3126-1.jpg

[bobbyfairbanks]

Nice use of space. Right now my ammo just sits on a pallet in my garage. It always turns into a mess with ammo cans always moving all over the place.

[rondog]

Think about the shelves, they're super easy to build and cheap. I use plain old pine/fir 2x2's and build a basic frame, 12"x60", with four or five stringers between the front and back pieces, all assembled with deck screws. Make as many as needed.

Mount these directly to wall studs with deck screws, allow enough space between shelves to get an ammo can with your hand holding the top handle. You can use a shorter space just tall enough for the cans, but you'll appreciate the extra height, trust me.

Cut 3/8" particle board to put on the frames for a shelf, add upright 2x2's on the corners and one in the center for supports, and you're done. Box it in with plywood and make hinged doors if you wish. Takes up 1ft.x5ft. of floor space, but you need a clear wall.

Might also consider a back of some sort, to keep ammo cans from sliding back too far. I plan to sheetrock the wall first, so that'll be my back to the shelves. These simple shelves will hold a shitload of weight.

[SAnd]

Good idea but keep looking. Jobox and Knaak and others all make cabinets that would work better that a chest. The cabinets are just as strong and secure as the chest.

Be careful with shelf material. Wood will hold moisture and rust out ammo cans. It's not much problem around here with the low humidity but some places it can cause problems in a short time. Concrete is porous and passes moisture that can cause rust also.

[jerrymrc]

I have a large wire shelf that I just have a few 1/4" cables I run through the handles. The older surplus I just ran a cable through the loops to tie them all together. The pic was taken when we were rearranging the place.

It will not stop someone from stealing it but at least they just can't grab the cans and go. The only ones I do not have secured are the oval tins of 54r. All my mags/powder/primers are in locked cabinets that are pretty tough.

[gnihcraes]

I use some WWII government file cabinets I purchased cheap off craigslist. Good and Heavy with nice drawer slides. Repainted them a modern color and they work well. Just depends on how much ammo you're trying to store.