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Your Guide To

Ammo Can Dimensions

Learn about the different sizes of ammo cans and discover how much ammunition they hold. Not storing ammo? Use our size chart to find other uses for ammo cans, such as storage, tool boxes, general organization, and more.

Compact
30 Cal (M19A1)

30 Cal (M19A1)

A compact metal ammo can size for smaller kits, first aid supplies, tools, and light ammo storage.

Best For Small kits
Capacity ~350 rounds .308
Weight 3.7 lbs
Name 30 Cal (M19A1)
Outside Dimensions 10-3/4" x 3-3/4" x 7"
Inside/Available Dimensions 10" x 3-1/2" x 6-1/2"
Weight 3.7 lbs
How Much Hunting Ammo Can Fit?

Loose/Bulk: ~350 rounds of .308 / .30-06.

In Boxes: ~200 rounds (10 standard 20-round boxes) of .308.

Shotgun: ~60–75 loose 12-gauge shells (2-3/4").

Other Uses

Bulk ammo storage and transport. Good for boats.

Great for a weatherproof vehicle emergency kit, geocaching box, mobile electronics dry box, or camping spice/match box.

What Fits Inside

A standard 2-person first aid setup, 4–5 standard soup cans. It also perfectly fits a compact set of ratchets and screwdrivers.

View all ammo can sizes in one comparison table
Name 30 Cal (M19A1) 50 Cal (M2A1/M2A2) Fat 50 (PA108) 25mm (PA-125) 40mm (PA-120/BA30) 81mm (PA-156/CA43) 20mm (M548) 120mm PA-154 Mortar
Outside Dimensions 10-3/4" x 3-3/4" x 7" 11-3/4" x 6" x 7-1/2" 12-1/2" x 7-1/4" x 8-1/2" 13" x 5" x 13-1/2" 18-1/2" x 6-1/8" x 10" 14-1/4" x 5-5/8" x 22-7/8" 18-3/4" x 8-1/2" x 14-1/2" 12" x 6-1/2" x 32"
Inside/Available Dimensions 10" x 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" 11" x 5-1/2" x 7" 11-3/4" x 6-3/4" x 8-1/4" roughly 12-1/2" x 4-1/2" x 12-3/4" 17-1/4" x 5-1/2" x 9-1/2" 12-7/8" x 5" x 22-3/8" 17-1/4" x 7-1/2" x 14" 11" x 5-1/2" x 31-1/2"
Weight 3.7 lbs 5.2 lbs 6.6 lbs 14 lbs 14 lbs 17 lbs 19.8 lbs 22.5 lbs
How Much Hunting Ammo Can Fit?

Loose/Bulk: ~350 rounds of .308 / .30-06.

In Boxes: ~200 rounds (10 standard 20-round boxes) of .308.

Shotgun: ~60–75 loose 12-gauge shells (2-3/4").

Loose/Bulk: ~650–700 rounds of .308 / .30-06, or ~1,200 rounds of .223/5.56.

In Boxes: ~360–400 rounds (18–20 boxes) of .308.

Shotgun: ~125–150 loose 12-gauge shells (or 5 standard boxed 25-round packs).

Loose/Bulk: ~850 rounds of .308, or ~220 loose 12-gauge shotgun shells.

In Boxes: ~10–12 boxes of 12-gauge shotgun shells (250–300 rounds total).

Due to its tall, narrow shape (~13" tall), it is rarely used for loose rifle ammo, but it can comfortably stack roughly 12–14 boxes of standard rifle cartridges or about 8 boxes of shotgun shells vertically.

Loose/Bulk: ~1,500+ rounds of .308, or ~350–400 loose 12-gauge shotgun shells.

In Boxes: Easily fits 20+ boxes of 12-gauge shotgun shells.

Highly impractical for loose ammo due to its weight capacity when full, but it can hold roughly 30–40 retail boxes of hunting rifle ammunition or an entire flat (10 boxes) of shotgun shells with plenty of room to spare.

Loose/Bulk: ~3,000 rounds of .223, or ~1,500 rounds of loose .308.

In Boxes: ~40 boxes of rifle ammo.

This is a massive, long container. It can easily hold 3–4 full cases (1,000+ rounds) of boxed shotgun or rifle ammo.

Other Uses

Bulk ammo storage and transport. Good for boats.

Great for a weatherproof vehicle emergency kit, geocaching box, mobile electronics dry box, or camping spice/match box.

Active-duty servicemembers, veterans, and custom military gift boxes.

Portable tool chest, heavy-duty truck-bed safe, or an emergency food ration vault.

Versatile waterproof storage for larger objects while remaining lightweight. Good for picnics.

A "Go-Bag" station, a modular camp kitchen box (fits fuel canisters, and utensils), or a waterproof camera gear case.

Document storage, Standard 8.5" x 11" notebooks, vehicle service manuals, field guides, and topographic maps standing completely upright.

General purpose storage, shop organization, and dry storage for trailers/ATVs.

Heavy-duty trailer tongue box, under-seat truck storage, power tool garage organizer (drills, circular saws), or a rugged overland camp pantry.

Waterproof storage for large objects; features a thick rubber seal and lift-off lid.

Long-tool storage (axe, machete, breakdown shovels), scuba diving dry-box, or an impenetrable overland roof-rack locker.

Maximum capacity heavy-duty storage with dual handles and removable lid. Garage shelves/stack nicely.

A garage step-stool/tool-vault, or a mini generator/battery-bank enclosure.

Heavy duty, waterproof storage for longer objects with interlocking brackets for stacking.

Waterproof lockable firearm transport case (fits breakdown rifles or shotguns), truck-bed hardware vault, or long-term emergency cache buried or hidden.

What Fits Inside

A standard 2-person first aid setup, 4–5 standard soup cans. It also perfectly fits a compact set of ratchets and screwdrivers.

An emergency roadside kit (jumper cables, small tarp, flashlight), or a small iPad/tablet alongside a handgun and paperwork.

A full-sized DSLR camera with 2 lenses, or a portable single-burner camp stove plus 2 propane canisters.

Several standard 8.5" x 11" notebooks/folders standing vertically, a 3-pack of 1-quart motor oil bottles, or a full-sized 1.5-liter bottle of water.

Two full-sized cordless drills with a battery charger, a standard breakdown recovery tow strap with D-rings, camping meals to feed two people for a weekend.

A full-size breakdown camp shovel, a hatchet, a tarp, and 50 feet of paracord all packed together.

A complete motorcycle tire repair kit and rain gear, or a standard-sized car battery along with an inverter setup.

A standard breakdown hunting shotgun or hunting rifle (with the barrel detached), a couple of fishing rods (broken down), or long hardware like pry bars and breaker bars.

What Size of Ammo Can Do I need?

Ammo cans are often interchangeable for different uses. Below is some helpful guidance on choosing the best size. Keep in mind that if you're trying to fit a specific type of ammunition or other gear, you should use the interior dimensions as a guide. The gasket, lid construction, and wall thickness affect the interior dimensions.

Green metal ammunition box on a white background

.30-Cal | Compact Storage

  • Handgun ammo
  • Grab-and-go range kits
  • 2-person first aid setup
  • Small camping kits
  • 4–5 standard soup cans.
.50-Cal | Standard Storage

.50-Cal | Standard Storage

  • Bulk rifle ammo
  • Tools and equipment
  • Emergency roadside kit
  • Handgun
  • Paperwork and a tablet
Fat 50 | Ample Storage

Fat 50 | Ample Storage

  • Fully packed bandoliers
  • Larger tools and gear
  • Electronics
  • Camping kits
  • Ratchet straps & bungee cords

Ammo Can Size FAQ

How to Pack Ammo Like the Military

Knowing how much ammo fits in a .30-cal or .50-cal can is great, but how do you actually do it? We break down the process and make it easy so you can pack your ammo with the same precision as the military.

 
Load video: Packing ammo into an ammo can