wood ammo boxes

My fellow rimfire shooters:

As a competitive
4 position small bore shooter, I have been using my trusty freeland ammo box for
years, unfortunately, dealing with the low capacity (50 rounds) and leaving the
center space (usually used for a unopened box of ammo) empty. Since my usual
match calls for 40 scoring shots and an unlimited number of sighters, a 50 round
wood ammo box did not have the capacity without reloading.

On a recent
rimfire central discussion thread, I came across Jared and his website:


http://www.2steinsordnance.blogspot.com/p/for-sale.html

I
asked Jared if there was any way he could manufacture a 75 round wood ammo box
which would fit my needs as a small bore shooter. Jared responded no problem,
and before long, I had a couple 75 round wood ammo boxes. Used them in my next
couple matches, a little bit more convenient, specialized for my needs, worked
out really good.


I immediately thought about how these would work
for my bullseye competitions. Now, I have used quite a few methods for ammo
organization at a bullseye match, from using old CCI SV ammo boxes to using
ornate wood bowls to hold my ammo as I load my magazines. The CCI plastic boxes
are a pain to load, work good until they break, which usually results in your
picking up your ammo off the floor as the whole box falls apart as your trying
to get five rounds into your magazine. The simple wood bowl works good most of
the time because most of the time you are able to get five rounds in your
magazine. When the simple wood bowl does not work is when you get interrupted
during loading and end up with four rounds in your magazine during timed or
rapid fire. The thing is, I have been looking for a system to load my bullseye
ammo that insures I get five rounds in a magazine without thinking about it,
keeping my mind on competition and is idiot proof, a highly desirable feature
when this competitor is involved.

Upon reviewing some of the ammunition
organization procedures used by my fellow competitors, it is apparent that I am
not the only bullseye shooter struggling to insure that I load 5 rounds into
every magazine. While most people use the good old CCI 22 plastic box, some of
the more experimental competitors show up with dozens of pre loaded magazines,
or make a bunch of 5 round piles of ammo, and even one guy that shows up with a
bunch of shot glasses and loads five rounds of ammo into each shot glass, all
designed to insure we load a mag with all five rounds required in a string of
fire. I am sure all the empty shot glasses come in handy at the end of the
match, especially if that competitor only got four rounds in a mag on the last
string of fire!

With that being said, I asked Jared if he would consider
making a 100 round wood boxes, seeing how a 100 round wood box would be perfect
for bullseye competition. Jared quickly stepped up to the plate, and produced
some 100 round boxes. After using them for a number of practice sessions, I can
say that they are the best thing since canned beer for the rimfire bullseye
competitor! As a matter of fact, they are so nice, I betcha these are the ammo
boxes that Queen Elizabeth uses when she shoots bullseye at the basement range
in Buckingham palace!

Check out the website, let me know what you think.



Please recognize that I have absolutely no financial interest in the
sale of these wood ammo boxes, they are awesome and a big help for the bullseye
shooter.

Regards,
Cranky

Really interesting.

Chip

Back in the early 70s, I made an oak block for 22 ammo with 5x20 holes. It was perfect for a 900 plus two refire strings which were seldom needed with old Remington green box and my trusty High Standard. The oak has apparently shrunk some as the holes are snug on the rounds nowadays.

I have changed to loading from a plastic bowl and counting followed by a visual check. I try to have three mags loaded prior to a T&R target.

ChipEck wrote:Really interesting.

Chip

....so interesting that I ordered one:-)

Chip

My case arrived.  Holds 100 22lr rounds.  It really is high quality and beautiful workmanship.  If I would have known the quality I would have had my name engraved on it.  Jered Johnson does great work.  He sent me a picture of it before he would accept payment to make sure I was happy with it.  Great to see that kind of customer service with that kind of craftsmanship.


Chip

Had my case for a little over three months.  Still in perfect shape.  Initially not sure how the hinges would hold up but you cannot tell the difference from new.  Averaged twice a week at the range(s).

Chip

Not as elegant, but certainly less expensive and functional.

http://store.smartreloader-usa.com/ammobox-22-long-rifle.aspx


Heavythumb

Heavythumb wrote:Not as elegant, but certainly less expensive and functional.

http://store.smartreloader-usa.com/ammobox-22-long-rifle.aspx


Heavythumb

Wow! The 2 star reviews aren't the best. I've never heard any high recommendations of Smartreloader products. I bought a Smartreloader primer tool. It was junk. I returned it. If the rest of their products are as low quality as that, I'll pass.

BE Mike:
Indeed, the Smart Reloader presses are junk also.  However, the ammo boxes are excellent; at least in MNSHO.  I got a couple of guys on the Bullseye team at the club using them and they like them too.

Look at the Amazon rating four and a half stars----
http://www.amazon.com/SmartReloader-100-Rounds-Ammo-Box/product-reviews/B0045HLTMW/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Likewise for Cheaper than dirt---
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/63952#Reviews

I have over a dozen for the .22 caliber and two dozen for the .45 caliber (fifty rounds).  I haven't had a problem and I've been using them and dropping them for over three years.  But what the hey, for $2.50 (Natchez http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=UYVBSR619&src=sim) or $2.10 if you can tolerate pink (Tactical Steel http://www.dealerease.net/catalog/product.asp?ret_id=1331359&pid=97575), how much of a risk are you taking?

Heck the wooden boxes are $69.

YMMV

Heavythumb

Ok, lets not let this decline into "my box is better than your box".  I have never found any problem with taking the ammo out of the factory packaging and punching holes with it.

Heavythumb wrote:BE Mike:
Indeed, the Smart Reloader presses are junk also.  However, the ammo boxes are excellent; at least in MNSHO.  I got a couple of guys on the Bullseye team at the club using them and they like them too.

Look at the Amazon rating four and a half stars----
http://www.amazon.com/SmartReloader-100-Rounds-Ammo-Box/product-reviews/B0045HLTMW/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Likewise for Cheaper than dirt---
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/63952#Reviews

I have over a dozen for the .22 caliber and two dozen for the .45 caliber (fifty rounds).  I haven't had a problem and I've been using them and dropping them for over three years.  But what the hey, for $2.50 (Natchez http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=UYVBSR619&src=sim) or $2.10 if you can tolerate pink (Tactical Steel http://www.dealerease.net/catalog/product.asp?ret_id=1331359&pid=97575), how much of a risk are you taking?

Heck the wooden boxes are $69.

YMMV

Heavythumb

Thanks for sharing more information. They look like they might be an option. The one thing I never liked about the MTM boxes is that the lids don't stay open. This is what I have been using for smallbore rifle and free pistol: http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/products/rifle/ammo-boxes-rifle-sb-200.html