Quick Answer: The Solid Tactical 50 Cal Metal Ammo Can ($35-$50) is the best overall ammo can — new-production steel with a welded locking kit instead of the stamped hardware on older surplus boxes. Budget buyers should get a Grade 1 US military-surplus M2A1 steel can ($16-$18 each from a surplus dealer like Ammo Can Man), which is genuinely watertight despite the lower price. The MTM AC50C-40 polymer .50 caliber can ($14-$18) never rusts and weighs a third as much as steel, and the smaller MTM AC30C-11 ($16-$20) is sized for rifle and pistol ammo instead of bulk .50 cal capacity.
A steel ammo can has stayed the standard for dry ammunition storage since World War II for a simple reason: according to Ammo Can Man’s own grading guide, a genuine military-surplus M2A1 can still holds a watertight seal decades after manufacture, as long as the rubber gasket hasn’t dried out. We compared new-production steel, surplus steel, and polymer cans on seal quality, capacity, weight, and price so you can pick the right one for a shelf inside a safe, a truck bed, or long-term storage in a shed.
Ammo cans compared
| Product | Material | Capacity | Best for | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Tactical 50 Cal Metal Can | New steel, welded lock kit | ~800 rounds 5.56/7.62 | Best overall | ~$35-$50 | ★★★★★ |
| Surplus M2A1 (Grade 1) | US military-surplus steel | ~800 rounds 5.56/7.62 | Best budget | ~$16-$18 | ★★★★ |
| MTM AC50C-40 | Polypropylene plastic | ~800 rounds 5.56/7.62 | Best rust-proof | ~$14-$18 | ★★★★ |
| MTM AC30C-11 | Polypropylene plastic | Smaller — rifle/pistol sizes | Best compact | ~$16-$20 | ★★★★ |
Solid Tactical 50 Cal Metal Ammo Can
- Ships new rather than surplus, so there's no cosmetic wear or uncertain history — every can is individually seal-tested at the factory instead of relying on decades-old surplus gaskets.
- The welded locking kit is a step up from the stamped latch hardware on most surplus and budget steel cans, giving the lid a tighter, more consistent close.
- Sold in matte black, OD green, and FDE brown, so it can match a truck bed, safe shelf, or range bag without standing out.
Buying a new safe and a stack of ammo cans to fill it at the same time means waiting on two separate deliveries — try Amazon Prime free for 30 days so both ship free in two days and your storage setup is done before the weekend.
Surplus M2A1 Ammo Can (Grade 1, US Military Surplus)
- Grade 1 condition means only minor corrosion at contact or pivot points, an interior free of corrosion, and a seal that's used but still in excellent condition, per surplus dealers' own grading standards.
- The same rubber gasket seal used on new cans, tested by decades of actual field use rather than a lab spec sheet.
- Priced by the case — buying multiple at once (commonly sold in 6-packs) brings the per-can cost down further than a single-unit purchase.
MTM AC50C-40 Ammo Can
- Never rusts and needs no gasket replacement, unlike steel cans left in a humid garage or unheated shed for years.
- MTM's tongue-and-groove O-ring seal system matches the water resistance of a steel gasket without the weight — roughly a third as heavy as an equivalent steel can.
- Heavy-duty dual latching system holds the lid shut even when the can is fully loaded and carried by the handle.
MTM AC30C-11 Ammo Can
- Smaller footprint than the .50 cal cans on this list, sized for rifle and pistol ammo that doesn't need bulk .50 BMG-style capacity.
- Easier to carry fully loaded than a .50 cal can — the reduced size keeps the loaded weight manageable for a single trip to the range.
- Same O-ring seal and dual-latch design as MTM's larger polymer cans, just scaled down.
How to choose an ammo can
Start with material: steel is more crush- and impact-resistant, which matters if the can will get stacked under other gear or bounced around in a truck bed, while plastic never rusts and is the better choice for long-term storage somewhere humid. From there, match the size to what you’re actually storing — a full .50 cal can holds around 800-850 rounds of 5.56 or 7.62, which is overkill if you’re just organizing range ammo for a single pistol, in which case a .30 cal can like the MTM AC30C-11 is easier to carry loaded. If the can is going to live on a shelf inside a safe rather than a truck bed, our best gun safe organizer guide covers a sealed utility crate built specifically for that use case. And if you’re still shopping for the safe itself, see our best gun safe pillar page or the best gun safe accessories guide for dehumidifiers and anchoring kits.
The bottom line
For most buyers, the Solid Tactical 50 Cal Metal Ammo Can is worth the premium over surplus — new-production steel with a tested seal and no unknown history. Budget shoppers should go with a Grade 1 surplus M2A1, which is still genuinely watertight at a fraction of the price. Anyone storing cans somewhere humid should pick the MTM AC50C-40 polymer can instead, and shooters who only need rifle or pistol capacity should size down to the MTM AC30C-11.