An Imperfect Investigation of U.S. Military Ammo Cans

Recently, a friend discovered some old U.S. Military ammo cans in a garage he was cleaning out, prompting him to ask me, "Isaac, are old metal ammo boxes worth anything?" Indeed, they are. But don't quit your day job...the value in these "boxes" (yes, they are boxes, not cans...but more on that later) is in their universal utility, durability and watertight construction, rather than how much you can get for them on eBay.

Basic Definitions

First off, technically, these are ammo boxes. Let's get that out of the way.

Popular convention compels me to refer to them as cans, as this is what they are mostly called on the Internet.

But a can, by most definitions, is disposable.

The fact these cans are instead fully reusable has allowed them to become one of the most popular, indeed one of the most stable, reliable products available for purchase in the military surplus world.

Note: I've been told that these are unequivocally cans, not boxes. But I don't know, they still seem like boxes to me. I think the rest of the world will just have to be wrong on this one.

Structure of an Ammo Can

The modern ammo can was perfected at the beginning of the Cold War, as NATO forces looked for better ways to protect and transport large amounts of ammo in case of conventional war with the looming Soviet Empire.

Today's modern overall design eliminates many of the problems encountered with the older riveted steel cans used previously during WWII, and makes each can into a practical redoubt against wear and tear in the storehouse or on the battlefield.

The top is flat and relatively featureless to prevent the build-up of moisture, which could eventually cause corrosion over years of storage. All seams are welded to provide a strong water and air-tight seal. No matter the model of Can, most identical models can be stacked on top of each other thanks to indentations on the top and bottom. Finally, the lid of the can latches shut securely, with a rubber gasket to prevent air and moisture movement in or out.

The Use and Abuse of Military Ammo Cans

Most true Military Surplus Ammo Cans are used. And they are really used.

These probably were full of ammo and may have been packed full of other things and then retired in a dusty, dirty storehouse for a decade or more.

All are coated in a thick layer of mummy dust from sitting around in less-than-ideal storage conditions. I should also note that all are just as dirty on the inside. While each has a rubber gasket to keep out water and dust, ammo cans are often stored for long periods with the lids disassembled, exposing the interior of the can to whatever conditions are present overall. Once we get the cans, they are re-assembled into their present condition. But the dirt often remains.

How Durable is an Ammo Can?

In your daily life, an ammo can should be relatively indestructible. You can knock them together. Drop them. Stand on them. They are designed to hold up to regular stuff.

The .30 cal can I found had a mild cosmetic ding that had unfortunately allowed a little rust to form. But not that big of a deal.

You will also find a lot of spray paint. Especially with larger cans such as the 40mm shown above, ammo cans are often repurposed even in the military for the storage of tools and equipment. The covered-over orange diamond indicates there were once explosives in this box, most probably 40mm grenades. But since then, it has been used to store something else. It's anyone's guess what, as the 40mm can is an exceptionally handy size for the storage of shop materials, perhaps welding rods.

Cleaning Ammo Cans

The only thing you really need to remove dirt and grime from most ammo cans is soapy water.

And because ammo cans are watertight, you can actually use a dirty can as its own cleaning bucket. How's that for value?

This also illustrates one of the many practical uses for an ammo can in an emergency: in an environment without a lot of easy water storage solutions, an ammo can can hold water for washing (but not for drinking).

Once you've toweled off your can, you should have a dirt-free can ready to use for all sorts of storage tasks.

A good ammo can has 1,001 uses. It's a favorite of survivalists and preppers (and other smart people) for the storage of not just ammo but also emergency supplies, fire-starting equipment and medical gear.

Some further ideas on what to do with ammo cans:

Sensible Prepper's Youtube Video

For storage of supplies

Instructables ammo can projects