Throwback Thursday: 50 Survival Uses for Ammo Cans
The first and obvious use for these new and surplus metal and plastic ammo cans is storing your ammunition. However, there are limitless uses for ammo cans whether in a survival situation or not. Ammo cans are perfect for the garage and workshop; or camping, hunting, boating, cache, the shooting range; or a 72-hour bug out kit and extra storage in your vehicle. I have seen people make space heaters, barbeque grills, mailboxes, and even radios out of ammo cans. The gasket lids and o-ring seals create a water-resistant seal and are perfect for caching valuable items. The plastic ammo cans offer durability, the same water-resistant seal and are undetectable to metal detectors. Bury them along a fence line, as most treasure hunters will think the metal detected is part of the fencing system. Items in metal ammo cans can rust, so throw in a desiccant or store your gear in a waterproof bag first to prevent moisture damage to the contents.
Here is my list of 50 possibilities:
There are limitless uses for ammo cans.
- Fill with dirt or sand to fortify your shelter
- Ammo cache
- Pistol storage
- Animal trap
- First aid kit
- 72-hour bug out kit
- Use to wash clothes
- Take the lid off for use as a fire box or stove
- Field commode
- Faraday cage
- Foot stool
- Planter
- Food storage
- Cooler
- Heat water
- Safe
- Gather water
- Burial cache
- Boat storage
- Space, tent or shelter heater
- Oven
- Spare gun parts storage
- Spare car battery and jumper cables storage
Fill with dirt and use to throw off scavengers from your real cache.
- Car jack
- Ham radio and equipment storage
- Nails, screws and other small item container
- Kindling, tinder and matches container
- Flares, gun powder and other flammable item storage
- Emergency fishing kit and tackle box
- Grease, oil, lubrication and other liquids container
- Rain gear storage
- Waterproof document storage
- Precious metal and coins cache
- Toilet paper container
- Make a raft
- Anchor
- Make charcoal
- Make a field shower
- Emergency cooking supplies storage
- Stool or workbench support
- Fill with dirt and use to throw off scavengers from your real cache
- HAZ-MAT waste container
- Fill with dirt, sand or other material to add weight and use as a weapon
- Since they are thin and stackable use to store bug-in preps in an apartment
- Emergency repair kit—paracord, hammer, zip ties, superglue, patches, etc.—storage
- Injured leg support
- Game box
- Battery storage
- Butane and propane canister and lighter fluid storage
- Seed storage
For more ideas, visit our forums.
What other uses can you think for an ammo can? Tell us in the comment section.
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Tags: Cache Storage, Military Surplus, Preparedness, Survival
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Comments (26)
Mark
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If you use it for ammo storage, seat the lid using the latch, then undog the latch. If it engaged, the ammo can becomes an unintended bomb during a fire.
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Mark
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Apologies for the spelling errors
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Michael
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I use mine to store winching controls and accessories.
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Secundius
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IF you want the “Ammo Can” completely Water Tight, dip the ammo can in Wash Tub full of Mil-Std Mil-C-11796C Class 3 “Cosmoline”…
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william mccloskey
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Tool box for chain saw’s
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Charley Childers
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I do like the idea of filling the can with dirt to use as a “gift” for sticky fingered scum. An inexpensive padlock insures that they carry the whole bundle with them until they feel they’re far enough away to bust it open.
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HardCastHale
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How to test if it’s a faraday cage or EMP proof
Place cell phone in, close lid and call it. Try it for your self. You might rethink all the things you thought were factual.
Just saying, test before you rely
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HW Stone
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Real US ammo cans made after 1967 make metal contact at the hinge, at the clasp, and the overlap on the sides is both tight and blocks the signal– at least on testing with cellphones and walkie talkie pairs.
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wolf ryet
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Metal ammo cans do not work as faraday cage due to the rubber gasket. Place your cell phone in the container and call it with another phone. it will ring. For a faraday cage you need a metal container with a tight fitting lid. Christmas cookie tins or large popcorn tins with tight fitting lids work well. I have demonstrated this effect for local ham clubs. fine metal mesh like window screen will also work if there is metal contact all around the perimeter.
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Secundius
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@ wolf ryet.
So replacing the Rubberized Gasket with a “Spiral Wound Gasket” instead ISN’T an option…
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Roger Bainbridge
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It is my understanding that gaps smaller than 1/4″ are typically considered EMP safe. Some Faraday cages or rooms are just metal mesh.
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Bob
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I have an with emergency coffee setup – single burner, small percolator coffee pot, You could add a second can for butane and a few 12 oz. packs of favorite coffee.
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Ross
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Car jack? I’d love to see how you jack up a car with an ammo can.
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Braden Lynch
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I thought the same thing. I think maybe that they meant to use it to store a small car jack in it.
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AlexJay
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Use 2 .50 cal cans and made some saddlebags for my motorcycle.
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Secundius
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@ Ross.
You’re NOT using the Ammo Can to raise the Car, but using the Ammo Can as a Alternate Car Support Stand (i.e. Garage Support Stand/Jack)…
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