My favorite part about going to the dentist as a kid was the Pirate’s Chest of toys my Brother and I got to sift through after the appointment. There were all kinds of little trinkets to choose from: bouncy balls, spinning tops, rubber figurines and little parachute men. Well, years later, I now keep a little chest of my own except it’s full of ammunition, knives, tools, first aid items and survival supplies. The two chests are alike in that they both make me happy but that about where the similarity ends.
My Tactical Dry Box
I picked up this chest (18″x12″x10″) at a local Gander Mountain. It’s got a latch and rubber gasket which makes it water proof – hence the phrase ‘dry box’. When sealed it also floats.
WHAT & WHY
The basic premise behind my keeping this box is to have a nice little compact ‘ready-to-grab’ box of ammunition in a variety of calibers. This box is rugged and keeps everything dry. Most of my ammo I keep hidden or locked up and I like the idea of having a few hundred rounds of mixed-lot ammunition at the ready. Even if it’s for a day at the range or plinking in the back yard, having a grab-n-go box of ammo has its advantages. Toss it in the truck and go. I also look at my dry box as my Bug Out Bag’s combat trained body guard.
So what’s in the box?
Well, not just ammo. I keep a variety of survival supplies in there. It’s almost like a survival kit that’s heavy on ammo. There is a secret compartment under the lid which is a work in progress. Now, I just have some cash, a ferro rod, a multi-tool and some wire.
There is a removable shelf once you open the lid. I keep an entire first aid kit on this shelf.
Then, in the main compartment I keep a headlamp, an emergency blanket, a pair of wool gloves, 100 foot of 550 paracord and 425 rounds of ammunition. This kit is still a work in progress and there is room for more items – I just haven’t decided what else to include just yet.
I hate cardboard ammo boxes!
I picked up a few of these plastic ammo organizers from a dealer at a gun show. The brand is Berry Mfg. and I love these things. Here is a link: http://www.berrysmfg.com/products.aspx?c=3 They were only a couple bucks each.
I leave the .22 rounds in the plastic containers they came in. Here’s my ammo breakdown:
- 9mm – 100 rounds
- 12 gauge shotgun – 25 mixed rounds
- .22 long rifle – 150 rounds
- .223 – 50 rounds
- .38 special – 50 rounds
- .357 – 50 rounds
SUMMARY
A nicely organized tactical dry box allows you to quickly grab a variety of ammo rounds – whether during a full on Bug Out, an afternoon hunt or just some plinking in the back yard. Everything is protected, dry and compactly stored in a durable, affordable and ready-to-go container… just enough, just in case.
This dry box in it’s current state weighs in at 17.25 lbs.
Remember, it’s not IF but WHEN,
Creek
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I love the look of the plastic ammunition organizers, very clean and useful for seeing while round is which BUT I can’t help to consider the usefulness of of the cardboard boxes that the rounds come in. With just the pile of boxes in your picture I could use to start numerous fires in a survival situation. However ugly they may be, an easy starting campfire is a beautiful thing
SO TRUE CORY!
You can take part of the box – specifically the part with ammunition info such as “147gr JHP” – off the endcaps and tape it into the lid of each ammo carrier. Not only does this remind you what is in that particular box, but in a true survival scenario, you can remove them and use in the manner Cory suggested.
Awesome Article Creek. Not many articles that touch on ammo storage. I like the concept of adding other items that can compliment the B.O.B.
Good info. Need to get a couple of those dry boxes. I agree on keeping the cardboard for the bugout bag, but not for long term storage. Just always rotate ammo to shoot out of the bag and replace with fresh and the acid in the cardboard won’t be an issue. The boxes will compact better too.
For the mixture ratio consider what I call “desperation priority.” If you are on the move in bad times the heavier calibers will be most precious at first. But you can only carry so much and that’s the big stuff. The 12GA takes up a lot of space and will be gone soon. And you can’t pack more without deleting other sizes. Plus you carry that separate heavy gun just for those few rounds? Bugging out in a vehicle? Keep both gun and ammo in there not in the box. The box is for last resort only — what you can grab in a hurry and hoof it. Therefore, use 12GA space for .22LR. Looks to free up space for 300+ ,22′s. The same dilemma exists for the other calibers, but it’s always a compromise between short term power and longer term endurance.
My ideal mix: 5.56,.357,9mm and .38 about the same as yours except .38+P since I have revolver and lever .357 that can fire both. And 1000 rounds of .22LR. If you get to where you need them you will really NEED them. And until then use them on lower priority targets (meat) to conserve combat capability.
Seeing the nature of the box, I’d ditch the .357 mag as it is redundant with .38.
Add a small gun cleaning kit. Add more fire making supplies-the original WMD. Maybe a road flare- multipurpose.
Maybe a camo compact. Perhaps a military bandolier to keep ammo or magazines in.
50 rnd berry or mtm boxes of 9mm or 40 would fit in the pockets, as do full AR magazines. If you need to fight you don’t want to lug the box around but need something not too bulky.
I’d add more .22 and .223 as I perceive them the most useable. I’d keep about 5 00 buck and 5 slugs, 5 various birdshot as I think it makes sense for a grab and go versatile kit, but agree it is heavy and bulky.
Invest in better ammo for a small amount. My similar kit gets old carry ammo as I rotate it out.