Pelican Box Vs Ammo Can

[rusty_tlc]

I'm an ammo can guy. I love them, they are durable, inexpensive, come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and 100% dust and waterproof.

Why would anybody use anything else?

------------The score so far-------

Ammo Can:
Pro

• cheap and plentiful
• dust and waterproof
• durable
• "Camo" less attractive to thieves

Con

• Heavy
• Tall skinny form factor makes access hard.
• Hard for children to open
• Ugly, if you care about that kind of thing

Pelican Case
Pro

• Lightweight
• Better access to contents
• dust and waterproof
• You ain't got a thing if you ain't got that bling

Con

• Cost
• Hard for children to open

 

[rutbeer]

Because they dent and rust?
Dunno. I have both and like them both for different reasons. The pelican stays in my glovebox and the ammo cans are for toting chains and crap.

 

[hkeller]

Ammo can definately has a price advantage. Man, those pellican cases are high. However, ammo cans are seriously heavy. If money were no object, I'd go with the pellican cases.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Ammo can definately has a price advantage. Man, those pellican cases are high. However, ammo cans are seriously heavy. If money were no object, I'd go with the pellican cases.

Lets see compare two similar size cases

From a random surplus site;

Fat 20mm
Measures 15’’T x 10’W x 17"L. Weighs 22 lbs.

From Pelican site;

# Pelican 1430 TOP LOADER CASE Flip lid gives you easy access to your gear
# Watertight
# Fold-down rubber overmolded handle
# Easy open Double Throw Latches
# Steel reinforced lock hasp protector TEMPERATURE RATING: MINIMUM -10° F (-23° C) MAXIMUM +210° F (+99° C) DIMENSIONS: INSIDE: 14-3/16" L 6-3/8" W x 11-11/16" H (36 cm x 16.2 cm x 29.7 cm) OUTSIDE: 16-7/8" L X 10-7/8" W X 13" H ( 42.9 cm x 27.6 cm x 32.5 cm ) TOP INSIDE: 14-3/16" L x 6-3/8" W x 2.00" H (36 cm x 16.2 cm x 5.1 cm) BOTTOM INSIDE: 14-3/16" L x 6-3/8" W x 9-11/16” H (36 cm x 16.2 cm x 24.6 cm) BUOYANCY: Floats in salt water with 59 lbs (27.1 kg) load

WEIGHT of Case:
With Foam: 5.40 LBS
Without Foam: 4.90 LBS

That looks like one for Pelican.

 

[rutbeer]

"floats in water WITH a 59lb load"

Wow....I would say that's two.
My mom gave me the case I have, and she was a scuba diver at the time, so that makes sense. You need your crap dry, rust free in the salt environment, and float if it slides over board.

 

[craigwanderer]

Ammo cans are cooler and fewer people will want to steal them because they are cheap and plentiful.

I've got three in my vehicle, 2 x 20mm fat cans and a .50 can.

One of the 20mms has POL, a tool roll, snatch strap, shackles and some chain.

The .50 can has sockets, spanners and screwdrivers, pliers, etc.

The last one is outfitted with foam and carries my laptop and accessories plus HD vid camera and my DSLR when I'm on trips. When I'm not, it's empty. For day to day carriage of the DSLR I use a Pelican.

The ammo cans all have locks and they all look beat up and rusty on the outside for camouflage.

 

[Devilmans Hand]

I use pelican cases for firearms and electronics. I use ammo cans for tools and ammo.
The pelican cases absorb more shock it seems. If you move the cases around often, then the pelican case handles are far nicer on the hands. The big pelican cases come with wheels and stack nicely too. I like my cases short and fat v tall and skinny.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Ammo cans are cooler and fewer people will want to steal them because they are cheap and plentiful.

I've got three in my vehicle, 2 x 20mm fat cans and a .50 can.

One of the 20mms has POL, a tool roll, snatch strap, shackles and some chain.

The .50 can has sockets, spanners and screwdrivers, pliers, etc.

The last one is outfitted with foam and carries my laptop and accessories plus HD vid camera and my DSLR when I'm on trips. When I'm not, it's empty. For day to day carriage of the DSLR I use a Pelican.

The ammo cans all have locks and they all look beat up and rusty on the outside for camouflage.

Cheap and plentiful are definitely points for the ammo can. The camo aspect is also to be considered. People are a lot less likely to suspect an ammo can holds a nice DSLR and lenses than a fancy pelican case.

I use pelican cases for firearms and electronics. I use ammo cans for tools and ammo.
The pelican cases absorb more shock it seems. If you move the cases around often, then the pelican case handles are far nicer on the hands. The big pelican cases come with wheels and stack nicely too. I like my cases short and fat v tall and skinny.

With proper padding an ammo can could work well, and I suspect the pelican case would be more likely to crack when the ammo can would dent. I consider this a wash.

While you can find ammo cans that are more suitcase in shape I agree tall skinny is more typical and whatever you need is invariably on the bottom. So Pelican gets points for form factor.

 

[sirenmoses]

I've used, abused, and sold Pelican boxes for over 10yrs. Never had one returned due to cracks or breaks.

Been snagging mine from Mudbay these past few years, averages around $100/ea, nearly what I paid wholesale for my first Pelican 1450 over a decade ago.

Concur w/above poster that ammo boxes are a more natural fit for heavy greasy things: we use 'em to store chains for extrication on our pumpers, and they make for a nice chainsaw tool kit as well.

 

[NLXTACY]

Prefer Storm vs Pelican. In an emergency a small child can open a Storm case. Good luck opening a Pelican. How well would a small child open an ammo case? Again, in an emergency and a five year old girl has to open the case. Luckily I was not in that position but I know someone that was. The ammo can looks like it belongs in my 60s, not so much in my LX.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Prefer Storm vs Pelican. In an emergency a small child can open a Storm case. Good luck opening a Pelican. How well would a small child open an ammo case? Again, in an emergency and a five year old girl has to open the case. Luckily I was not in that position but I know someone that was. The ammo can looks like it belongs in my 60s, not so much in my LX.

duly noted

 

[greentruck]

Then there is the in between, compromise solution, the plastic ammo can. I have some in both "50cal" and "30cal" flavors that I bought 20 years ago someplace. Not sure if they're still available, but they were reasonably priced although not as cheap (or dingy) as surplus cans.

They have a rubber gasket and a similar bail-type locking mechanism, but I doubt they are as water tight as a steel ammo can. They aren't as heavy or noisy as a steel can, though, and still pretty rugged, and the handles are way more comfortable.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Then there is the in between, compromise solution, the plastic ammo can. I have some in both "50cal" and "30cal" flavors that I bought 20 years ago someplace. Not sure if they're still available, but they were reasonably priced although not as cheap (or dingy) as surplus cans.

They have a rubber gasket and a similar bail-type locking mechanism, but I doubt they are as water tight as a steel ammo can. They aren't as heavy or noisy as a steel can, though, and still pretty rugged, and the handles are way more comfortable.

Typically they also include an internal tray or two which helps keep stuff organized.

 

[sirenmoses]

and they come w/ammo, if you buy 'em in the right places.

which you'd hafta fire to use the free box, so off to the range we go.... such a hardship

 

[chappysfj40]

i have had both, love my pellican cases, but ammo cans have there use and place. love the duty proof water proof ness of pellicans. i have them set up for a mcgiver repair kit, another is my camping pots and pans and stuff, another os my fluke, and another is tools, or cordless drill.

i vote pellicans just because they dont rust on the inside

 

[rusty_tlc]

i have had both, love my pellican cases, but ammo cans have there use and place. love the duty proof water proof ness of pellicans. i have them set up for a mcgiver repair kit, another is my camping pots and pans and stuff, another os my fluke, and another is tools, or cordless drill.

i vote pellicans just because they dont rust on the inside

The rust thing could be an issue in some climates, not where I live. A few desiccant pouches do wonders and are probably a good idea for any container that seals as well as either an ammo can or Pelican case.