+cheetahspots Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Late last night, I caught the ebay bug and purchased a Plano Ammo Can, Model 131250. We are relatively new cachers, and have been planning our first hide for a while now (we're moving soon, thus the procrastination.) I plan on giving it for Christmas, filled with other geo-realted items to my caching/life partner. My question is, in my haste, I didn't think through whether to get a plastic or metal one. Is there a big difference, for the long term health of the cache? We live in Virginia, USA. Temperatures range from 9F - 95F, and humidity is often above 50%, if that information helps. Honestly, I've never paid too much attention to the type of ammo cans we find, and it wasn't until my dad asked me this morning whether it was plastic or metal, that I even considered it. Thank you in advance for any input! Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 You may have luck with 'em, but we've yet to see a plastic "ammo can" last any time outdoors without issues. Our ammo cans are metal, military surplus. Quote Link to comment
Blue Square Thing Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Metal ones here (the UK) seem to last for ages - especially if any rust is dealt with. Anything plastic appears more likely to have problems sooner - but (assuming you didn't spend too much on it...) it's the thought that counts more as a present, surely? :-) Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 it's the thought that counts more as a present, surely? :-) +1 Quote Link to comment
+NanCycle Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 I've never found any plastic ammo boxes as caches. Quote Link to comment
+Manville Possum Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 I'm seeing a few of the Plano Ammo Cans here in SW VA & NE TN, but they are just not keeping things dry like the metal ammo cans. I am having good luck with the Plano brand fishing tackle boxes with the lock n locks. Nothing seems to beat the 7.62 or .50 cal cans for long term geocache containers. Quote Link to comment
+cheetahspots Posted December 2, 2014 Author Share Posted December 2, 2014 Thanks for the advice. I may trade out the plastic with my dad's metal, as he uses them for actual ammo, in a dry house. Really, I had no idea people did that! Quote Link to comment
+Chief301 Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 I would also recommend a metal military surplus ammo can...they are the gold standard of cache containers. I've never come across any of the Plano style plastic cans in the wild either. That said, in the right location, somewhere fairly sheltered and not prone to flooding (where the can would be completely submerged for extended periods), it would probably do OK. Quote Link to comment
+T.D.M.22 Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 I have found and used both types. The real ones (metal) are by far the best. There's a reason they go for more. As for the plastic ones it's hit and miss- they're not designed to be sitting out in the elements for more than a day at the time. Quote Link to comment
Mr.Yuck Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Late last night, I caught the ebay bug and purchased a Plano Ammo Can, Model 131250. We are relatively new cachers, and have been planning our first hide for a while now (we're moving soon, thus the procrastination.) I plan on giving it for Christmas, filled with other geo-realted items to my caching/life partner. My question is, in my haste, I didn't think through whether to get a plastic or metal one. Is there a big difference, for the long term health of the cache? We live in Virginia, USA. Temperatures range from 9F - 95F, and humidity is often above 50%, if that information helps. Honestly, I've never paid too much attention to the type of ammo cans we find, and it wasn't until my dad asked me this morning whether it was plastic or metal, that I even considered it. Thank you in advance for any input! I'll be the first to sort of defend Plano ammo boxes. If it has to be plastic, they seem to be the best ones out there. For example, you could buy a brandless one from Harbor Freight Tools. I've only found 5 or 6 plastic ammo boxes over the years, with the last one being about 2 months ago. I think we're going to start seeing a lot more of them, since the price of military surplus ammo boxes have been sort of outrageous for years. When I started, you could get them for $4 online, or under $10 at your local Army Surplus store. There is no denying welded sheet metal military surplus ammo cans with mil spec gasketing are not far superior to Plano plastic ammo cans though. Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 I would also recommend a metal military surplus ammo can...they are the gold standard of cache containers. -snip- That said, in the right location... -snip- CJ reminded me that I found a no-gasket huge fishing-tackle box once in a cave (placed in '05, found in '10). It was dry and packed fulla books! Looking at it now, everything seemed good until we notice pics showing the container no longer in the same spot. So yeah, as Chief said, in the right location... Quote Link to comment
+RTechS Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 The plastic ammo cans I have feature a rubber seal on the lid, just like the metal ones. If a Tupperware container can survive in the wild, I'm not sure why a plastic ammo can with a rubber sealed lid can't... I haven't put any of my plastic ones out yet due to lack of a good location, but as soon as I find some good areas I will be placing them. Quote Link to comment
+T.D.M.22 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 The plastic ammo cans I have feature a rubber seal on the lid, just like the metal ones. If a Tupperware container can survive in the wild, I'm not sure why a plastic ammo can with a rubber sealed lid can't... I haven't put any of my plastic ones out yet due to lack of a good location, but as soon as I find some good areas I will be placing them. Not saying they all suck. It's just that Lock and Locks are better than Tupperware- just like real ammo cans are better than plastic ones. In the end it doesn't matter why one particular container is better or worse, it just matters (hopefully) that its better. These aren't made up, it's based on the experiences of people. These people, and myself, have found these types of caches. If you don't believe it try it for yourself- yes there are bad ammo cans made of metal, I haven't found one, but they're there. But there are more good ones, than there are more good plastic ones. By all means try them for yourself. You might be right, and it may last 5 years. But it may also only last 5 days- just don't be surprised if it does happen. Quote Link to comment
Mr.Yuck Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 The plastic ammo cans I have feature a rubber seal on the lid, just like the metal ones. If a Tupperware container can survive in the wild, I'm not sure why a plastic ammo can with a rubber sealed lid can't... I haven't put any of my plastic ones out yet due to lack of a good location, but as soon as I find some good areas I will be placing them. Not saying they all suck. It's just that Lock and Locks are better than Tupperware- just like real ammo cans are better than plastic ones. In the end it doesn't matter why one particular container is better or worse, it just matters (hopefully) that its better. These aren't made up, it's based on the experiences of people. These people, and myself, have found these types of caches. If you don't believe it try it for yourself- yes there are bad ammo cans made of metal, I haven't found one, but they're there. But there are more good ones, than there are more good plastic ones. By all means try them for yourself. You might be right, and it may last 5 years. But it may also only last 5 days- just don't be surprised if it does happen. Perfect example comparing Tupperware to Lock-n-Lock's versus plastic ammo boxes to military surplus. The plastic ones are indeed gasketed. They're not total garbage regular sized containers like metal coffee cans with the cheesy plastic lids, or cookie tins. Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 The plastic ammo cans I have feature a rubber seal on the lid, just like the metal ones. If a Tupperware container can survive in the wild, I'm not sure why a plastic ammo can with a rubber sealed lid can't... I haven't put any of my plastic ones out yet due to lack of a good location, but as soon as I find some good areas I will be placing them. Not saying they all suck. It's just that Lock and Locks are better than Tupperware- just like real ammo cans are better than plastic ones. In the end it doesn't matter why one particular container is better or worse, it just matters (hopefully) that its better. These aren't made up, it's based on the experiences of people. These people, and myself, have found these types of caches. If you don't believe it try it for yourself- yes there are bad ammo cans made of metal, I haven't found one, but they're there. But there are more good ones, than there are more good plastic ones. By all means try them for yourself. You might be right, and it may last 5 years. But it may also only last 5 days- just don't be surprised if it does happen. Perfect example comparing Tupperware to Lock-n-Lock's versus plastic ammo boxes to military surplus. The plastic ones are indeed gasketed. They're not total garbage regular sized containers like metal coffee cans with the cheesy plastic lids, or cookie tins. Someone's still finding Tupperware in '14? We haven't seen any since '09. Quote Link to comment
+Chief301 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 I would also recommend a metal military surplus ammo can...they are the gold standard of cache containers. -snip- That said, in the right location... -snip- CJ reminded me that I found a no-gasket huge fishing-tackle box once in a cave (placed in '05, found in '10). It was dry and packed fulla books! Looking at it now, everything seemed good until we notice pics showing the container no longer in the same spot. So yeah, as Chief said, in the right location... I also recently found a cache that was in an ordinary, cheap, non-gasketed fishing tackle box that has been in place for several years and was perfectly intact and dry inside. It was under the front porch of the gift shop of a plantation house not far from here and thus well protected from the weather. So like I said, with the right location... Quote Link to comment
+cheetahspots Posted December 4, 2014 Author Share Posted December 4, 2014 Great comparison with the tupperware, thanks! We've found plenty of those around here, and they actually hold up fine, and some are several years old. There have been a couple of metal ones we've found that have been beyond disgusting inside, like watery mush. So guess we'll just make the location good, hopefully protected a bit, and see how it goes. Being our first, it shouldn't be hard to keep up with. I checked with a local surplus shop, and they have plenty for $19, and craigslist has some for as little as $8, so, next time we'll go that route. Thanks for all the opinions, they're appreciated! Quote Link to comment
+terrkan78 Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 If you get a craigslist ammo can, check it well before buying. Even some of the surplus cans don't shut/seal very well. If it doesn't seal, then it'll let water in even if it's a metal can. I had a plastic Cabellas ammo can hanging in a tree for a couple of years. It stayed dry inside (big bushy evergreen tree so there was some protection from the elements there, but not much). It was definitely not a water tight container but it was water resistant enough to survive where I had it. Quote Link to comment
+SwineFlew Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 I visit a travel bug hotel the other day and its now a plastic ammo can. I am seeing more plastic ones in the last while. Quote Link to comment
+PlantAKiss Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Hi CheetahSpots!! ::waving:: I've never heard of a plastic ammo can. But I sure love the regular ammo cans. They hold up soooo well! When I checked on my archived cache, the can had shifted a bit but all the contents inside were dry as a bone and in perfect shape as the last time I checked and it had been like 2 years. I think ammo cans are the top of the line water proof container. My second choice is the BRAND Lock 'n' Lock containers. They have great seals too. Almost anything else I've seen get wet. You really need to have a gasket type seal. Will be looking forward to your first cache. :-) --PAK Quote Link to comment
+39chevy Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 I had a plastic ammo can out for 1 1/2 years with no problems. It was still be good enough to be stolen. Quote Link to comment
+BigLinc16 Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 I honestly use Army surplus metal ammo cans for most of my hides that don't require an uncommon container and they work awesome. Stay dry and I have to say finding an ammo can always is a little more fun than an old coffee can or old, soggy prescription pill bottle that got listed as a small. Quote Link to comment
+AKACRider Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 In MY case, i use only 50 cal,and 30 cal metal ones, plastic ones come to pieces when you try to open them at 40 degrees below zero. Quote Link to comment
+cheetahspots Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 Hi Plant A Kiss! We love your caches, looking forward to more, hopefully! Thanks everyone, think I have a game plan together now on how this one will be used. Next time, we'll know what to get. Live and learn Quote Link to comment
+hzoi Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 (edited) I won't profess to have the market cornered on finding plastic or metal ammo cans. But I can think of several plastic ones I've found that were wet inside, even though they hadn't been hidden outside that long. Whereas I can think of two metal ammo cans offhand that were wet inside. One had a bad rubber gasket that got singed after a forest fire and wouldn't seal properly. The other...OK, it wasn't wet yet, but it was going to be, as it was slightly more than singed: Even this very rusty ammo can was dry, at least when we found it. Though apparently it rusted to the point of leaking a couple years later. Edited December 13, 2014 by hzoi Quote Link to comment
+BikeBill Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I was at a Harbor Freight the other day and they had a big pile of their plastic ammo boxes for about $5. http://www.harborfreight.com/ammo-box-61451.html I looked at them closely, and though they had a seal in the lid, it looked like it didn't compress well on the hinge end. So I pulled a piece of paper out of my pocket, closed the lid on it toward the hinge and pulled. It pulled out with no resistance, telling me the lid seal wasn't contacting the box. Unless you would be placing one of these in a protected environment, I wouldn't use them. On the other hand, I have a 50 cal metal ammo can next to a stream that floods with some regularity. I secured it to a tree with a sturdy rope. It had survived several serious floods without even a drop of water getting in. Quote Link to comment
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