Weight limit of a 50 cal ammo can (for stacking purposes)?

[Jayne]

Tons of info on the net about how much a 50 cal can full of various ammo weighs, but what about the stacking limit of the cans when full?

If full cans of 9mm are 50 pounds, stacking 5 of them would put 200 pounds on the top of that bottom can and 250 pounds on the base of that bottom can. What's it take to crush a 50 cal can?

I guess there is also the rubber seal, it might give out before the can is actually crushed?


Asking for a friend that wants to stack cans as high as possible in his boat before going out onto the lake.

 

[beamernc]

I have them full stacked 5 high without any issues. That's all the room I have or they would be stacked higher.

 

[Don]

From an engineering perspective, the way the can is designed with the over lapping lid pretty much keeps the side walls from collapsing outward. And if the can is full of ammo they can't collapse inward either. All that being said, I've got no clue how high you could safely stack them.

 

[georgel]

Asking for a friend that wants to stack cans as high as possible in his boat before going out onto the lake.

He might want to check the capacity of the boat. Wouldn't want it to turn over or anything.

 

[NCFubar]

Just be aware of what you are stacking them on. On a concrete floor in a shop, garage or basement ... no prbloem. However if you have them in say a closet be careful of the weight on the flooring, joists and such ... 5 cans high at 50lbs per (with a footprint of 6"X11") will give you over 500lbs/sq ft.

 

[Jayne]

Just be aware of what you are stacking them on. On a concrete floor in a shop, garage or basement ... no prbloem. However if you have them in say a closet be careful of the weight on the flooring, joists and such ... 5 cans high at 50lbs per (with a footprint of 6"X11") will give you over 500lbs/sq ft.

Yea, I never thought I would have to consider "ammo density" in my closet organizing.

 

[Mirac]

I don't think you could stack anything heavy enough to worry about crushing one... Even if you drove your fully weighted down truck on it.

 

[trcubed]

Just be aware of what you are stacking them on. On a concrete floor in a shop, garage or basement ... no prbloem. However if you have them in say a closet be careful of the weight on the flooring, joists and such ... 5 cans high at 50lbs per (with a footprint of 6"X11") will give you over 500lbs/sq ft.

Perzactly.

I don't think you could stack anything heavy enough to worry about crushing one... Even if you drove your fully weighted down truck on it.

This sounds a lot like a challenge.

 

[Mirac]

Challenge set and accepted.
I've got a Motorhome, empty 50's and some wood/ blocks ramps. I'll try it next time I run it.

 

[trcubed]

Challenge set and accepted.
I've got a Motorhome, empty 50's and some wood/ blocks ramps. I'll try it next time I run it.

Photos and video required, of course.

 

[Johnboy]

I am afraid your friend is going to have a boaing accident like I had. I don't have any guns or ammo anymore! After that boating accident and I can't afford to buy any more. My wife did give me a $2.00 harbor freight knife.

 

[BigWaylon]

Just be aware of what you are stacking them on. On a concrete floor in a shop, garage or basement ... no prbloem. However if you have them in say a closet be careful of the weight on the flooring, joists and such ... 5 cans high at 50lbs per (with a footprint of 6"X11") will give you over 500lbs/sq ft.

Which isn't much different than a lot of us standing on one foot.

 

[GymB]

I would say that the limit is stability rather than strength. Once you get past 5 the column gets a little wobbly, especially if you have a few of those aftermarket cans where the bottom relief isn't quite deep enough (I use those for brass when I get them, they kinda suck).

 

[11B CIB]

I have never seen crush ratings for steel ammo cans, because combined with the lid and latched correctly, I think it is an extraordinarily high number