My counterpart is fussing over all my current ammo storage solution which simply consists of 50 cal ammo boxes for some stuff and wooden crates for others. She wants em squared away in a footlocker or something that can be locked so small curious prying fingers dont find em and run off with em. You can imagine the trouble if little AE Jr. showed up for school with a pocketful of .22 shells. I think this is a reasonable concern and I intend to accomodate.

So what I need is some kind of cheap footlocker with plenty of space for a few cases of ammo which can be parked in the garage/basement. (Needless to say that there is a gun safe but it certainly doesnt have any room in it. LOL)

anyhow here is something I looked up off the net, does anybody have any better suggestions?

http://antique-storage-steamer-trunks.com/tuftruncol.html

specs are:
roomy,
cheap,
and have to be able to put a padlock on it (pryable tongue and groove locks not good enough).

Whatchasay mes amis?

About 10 years ago I was tearing down a building and found two military antenna cases buried. They were about 2 feet wide by 4 feet long and about 8 inches deep. They are made similar to 50 cal cans in quality and color of course. I found them buried and empty. The inside was in mint condition. I brought them home and cleaned them up like new. I lost them and after 5 years found them in water, still in mint condition and they didn’t leak. I brought them back and lost them in a flood. I managed to find them again last month buried in mud. Again they are in mint condition and there is no rust whatsoever. They are sturdy have handles on them and open like a chest. They have locks on them also.

I understand many Army/navy stores carry them for about $30-50. I think purchasing one of these would solve your problems. They can hold shells and have inserts for antennas that can be cut to hold long guns. They are water proof and very durable. They are the perfect size to slide under your bed and can be locked. Also if you need to bury them for 10 years that I can couch for you can without them leaking.

I found these half buried in mud in an old building and they have been sitting outside in the weather, mud and a flood and are still in mint condition. I would highly recommend you look into purchasing one of these. Even at $50 (which seems expensive) they are an extreme bargain. Also if you plan to store 22 shells in them they would be great in case of a fire because I think they are sturdy enough that a 22 round wouldn’t shoot through one of them. I haven’t tried it yet.

Another thing even though mine have been sitting out in the rain for a decade and who knows how long before that, the hinges don’t even creak and work very smooth.

I don’t know about where you live but here 50 cal ammo cans are $25 dollars now. I used to be able to buy them 3 for $10 about 6 years ago. Hopefully if they do something about this Iraq mess the price for the surplus ones will drop to a dollar or two.

I looked yesterday at 50 cal ammo cans and I thought I saw cabellas selling them for 25 for 5. so that's the same price they've been selling for at least a decade out here in flyover at gun shows.

I will keep an eye out for that antenna case thing, thanks, prolly just grab this footlocker meanwhiles

If you are interested in locking your 50 cal cans here is how. In the opening lever there is a hole. Get a bolt that can hold a cotter pin or a screw and drill a hole through the side as close to the end as possible. The bolt or screw needs to be about an inch long. Thos will give you enough room to put a lock through it but not to long to prevent you from opening your can. If you simply want the kids out, get some metal epoxy and put a bit on the end and push the head of the screw or bolt through the hole and allow it to stick. Let it set and it will last for about 5 years, a child will have to take a hammer and beat the thing off. If they do that they could get a lock off also so it would be strong enough.

If you want a permanent solution to keep the bad guys out you can have it tack welded, a competent welder will do this for about a dollar a can as it will take about 15 seconds to do each can.

Here is a couple of pics of my case. Remember this thing is probably 50 years old and has been outside in the weather (rain, snow, flood, heat) all the time. I salvaged this thing from a junkyard behind a building I was tearing down. The open thing on the lid on the inside closes and locks tight. It has holes that would fit arrows. You could do all kinds of things with them. At the bottom that thing could be used with some strong foam to accommodate long guns. I have never used mine for anything, it has been sitting out buried in mud. I hosed it off a bit, but it has places for locks and handles. Should do everything you want to do.

Just a couple of tips in case you want to use them for the future.

http://tinypic.com/54t1tf

http://tinypic.com/54t1t2

I looked yesterday at 50 cal ammo cans and I thought I saw cabellas selling them for 25 for 5. so that's the same price they've been selling for at least a decade out here in flyover at gun shows.

I will keep an eye out for that antenna case thing, thanks, prolly just grab this footlocker meanwhiles
I keep my shotgun shells in 50 caliber ammo cans. If you arrange the boxes right, they stack real neat. :)