.40 S&W Cal.: Best Reloader Ammo Boxes

[soldernut]

I'll soon be reloading .40 S&W caliber ammo, and would appreciate some opinions.

In the past I've used MTM, CaseGuard and Midway plastic cartrige boxes. 50 shells. These were for 9mm and .357 Mag.

I can't say there's really anything wrong with any of them - nor anything about one of them that especially jumps out as superior.

One thing I haven't tried are the bulk cardboard and styrofoam boxes offered by Midway, but I'm open to the idea.

In looking over the selections, everybody seems to lump 40 cal and 45 ACP together. Certainly case overall lengths will be similar, but it seems like 40 cal cartridges would be a pretty sloppy fit in boxes that also accommodate .45 ACP. I'd prefer a box in which my ammo wasn't "rattling around."

Has anybody identified a particular box that works especially well with .40 S&W caliber?

 

[mattsbox99]

I use the MTM ones for .45 ACP/10 MM, they work very well and my fat fingers have no problem fishing ammo out of them. They keep ammo pretty secure and clean.

Cardboard boxes are pretty much single use, they don't hold up to rough transport very well.

 

[GP100man]

I`m becomin partial to slip top ammo boxes .

 

[eric conrad]

I like 1qt. zip lock plastic bags. :lol: I use the plastic flip to for some special make up. Eric

 

[soldernut]

I`m becomin partial to slip top ammo boxes .

I haven't seen those. Do you have a link to where they can be purchased.

 

[soldernut]

I like 1qt. zip lock plastic bags. :lol: I use the plastic flip to for some special make up. Eric

I actually considered those!

But, when I'm working up loads, I sometimes like to put 25 or one in, 25 of another. I tape a label inside the box so I can tell which is which.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

I`m becomin partial to slip top ammo boxes .

I haven't seen those. Do you have a link to where they can be purchased.

I'd like to know, too.

I've been using MTM boxes (as well as reusing factory ammo boxes) but I'm just waiting for one of the "hinges" to let go, plastic being plastic and all.

-- Sam

 

[Silent Sam]

I believe the slip top boxes are available from Dillon. Also might find them at Cabelas.

 

[Rice-n-Beans]

I`m becomin partial to slip top ammo boxes .

I haven't seen those. Do you have a link to where they can be purchased.

I buy them CHEAP at Natchez, there having a great sale on them. 8)

Look in this sale catalog link page 61. http://www.natchezss.com/catalog.cfm


http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&src=iF07&prodID=MTE5045

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&src=iF07&prodID=MTP10045

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&src=iF07&prodID=MTP5045

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Those are the hinged ones, but thanks.

-- Sam

 

[dg101win]

MTM still has the slip top boxes on their web-site.
www.mtmcase-gard.com

 

[Rice-n-Beans]

Those are the hinged ones, but thanks.

-- Sam

The second link, is the slip top. You just have to find the 40 cal one.



MTM 45/44 50 RD SQ. Hole/SLPTP=slip top.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&src=iF07&prodID=MTE5045

 

[mattsbox99]

The slip tops are okay, just be sure to not let your friends pick them up, you'll have ammo or cases all over the place. I've got some of the MTM flip tops and I've been using them for many years, never even had a hinge even start to split. At <$2 each, I wouldn't be too bummed about it either.

 

[soldernut]

Ah. I see. By "slip top," people are referring to the ones where the top slides entirely off. I was hoping they'd be more like some CCI .22 boxes I've seen where the flat top is retained in grooves, but slides aside.

I have rifle-ammo boxes of the former type and don't care for them at all. As one guy says, don't let others handle them or you'll have ammo scattered everywhere.

Guess I'll stick to the snap-lock, flip-top style. They work pretty well. Was just hoping for something that fit the 40 a little snugger than when plopped into pockets sized for .45.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Those are the hinged ones, but thanks.

-- Sam

The second link, is the slip top. You just have to find the 40 cal one.



MTM 45/44 50 RD SQ. Hole/SLPTP=slip top.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&src=iF07&prodID=MTE5045

Thank you, sir! The lack of picture confused me. :oops:

BTW, welcome to the forum! :D

-- Sam

 

[GP100man]

These are the prefered for me , I see the 40s are harder to find & are for a larger calibers , seems as popular as the 40 is they would make ammo boxes for http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=641051 it ????

 

[Pal Val]

I have several slip top boxes I use for my longer cartridges. Word of warning- slip a thick rubber band over them, or else the first dumbo who picks it up will spill the contents all over the ground. Seen it too many times.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I have quite a few MTM flip top boxes, and they're usually the ones that go to the range. However, I've always been kinda partial to the slip tops as they store better in the ammo locker. It only took a few incidents such as Val mentions (I'm a slow learner!) to figure out a couple of pieces of Scotch tape work well, as long as you're gonna empty the box once it's opened. I'm not smart enough yet to put rubber bands on stuff... ;)

For storage at home, I started using the cardboard and foam boxes from Midway a couple of years ago cuz they're much cheaper'n the plastic boxes. They probably take up just a hair more space than the slip tops, but seem to have more room to put labels on, so one can ID 'em easily no matter how they're stacked. They last "long enough" in range use.

Rick C

 

[Rice-n-Beans]

Those are the hinged ones, but thanks.

-- Sam

The second link, is the slip top. You just have to find the 40 cal one.



MTM 45/44 50 RD SQ. Hole/SLPTP=slip top.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&src=iF07&prodID=MTE5045

Thank you, sir! The lack of picture confused me. :oops:

BTW, welcome to the forum! :D

-- Sam

Thank you. 8) This is a GREAT place.

 

[WANT A LCR 22LR]

Some of the MTM boxes ( atleast the 38 / 357 ones ) come in 2 versions. A live hinge and a pin hinge.

The live hinge ones are where the plastic is thin and bends. Easy to make but not easy to use as the hinge wants to kep closing. The actual hinge ones will fully open but are slightly larger in overall size.

I think the live hinge ones are older.

 

[soldernut]

Since originally posting this question, I bought some of the cardboard & styrofoam boxes from Midway.

Mind you, I aready had a fair supply of various plastic boxes for 9mm and 357. With the cardboard, I started out with the one listed for my newest pistol - a 40 cal.

I liked these "cheap" boxes so well that I turned around and ordered more for 9mm and 357.

What I like about them?

1: They are super-easy to label - and attractively. I just use Excel to lay out the label I want, then print it on ordinary white paper. The cool part is affixing the labels: I just cut them to size with a scissors, then use one of thos glue-sticks to fasten the labels.

Later, when I've emptied a box - and want to recycle it - all I have to do is moisten the label - and the glue stick gives up easily - but not before.

2: They are much easier to differentiate in my range gear. Every one can stand out lke a sore thumb.

3: They "inventory" nicely on the garage shelf intended to hold ammo.

Will I quit my plastic cases. Oh, probably not. I have a hunch they'll retain a place in my "tool kit."

 

[soldernut]

I just thought I'd' let everyone know my impression of the cardboard/styrofoam boxes. I bought some.

I like them; quite a lot. Here's why:

Labeling - Outside I use a spreadsheet program to make a nice box-top label with all my load data on it. I print on plain paper, cut it to size, and use a glue stick to affix it to the box. Same for box-end labels - with less data, of course.

This makes it easy to see, at a glance, just what I have.

The cool part is this: Those home-made paper lables come off easily without marring the boxes. Glue sticks are water-soluble, so all you do is moisten the lables, wait a few minutes for the moisture to get through the paper and into the glue and, zip! They peel right off.

Labeling - Inside Often, when working up loads, I'll load batches of 20 or 25, with a different charge in each. They're easy to identify in the styrofoam trays. Just affix a piece of masking tape to each long side of the tray, then use a Sharpie to label the rows as appropriate.

Don't even bother to try writing directly on the styrofoam; it's too rough, and it'll be permanent. The masking tape comes off easily.

The boxes are tough enough to be used over and over again - probably many times.