Built around how you train.
Every kit includes SCUSA Polymer Clips. Choose the system that fits your round count and range habits.
900 Rounds Ready
- 90 Polymer Stripper Clips
- Color-Coded System included
- SLB™ Loading Block
StripLULA
- 90 SCUSA Polymer Clips
- SLB™ Loading Block
- StripLULA® Speed Loader
- Full color-coded system
Organized
- 450 Polymer Clips total
- Full armory-scale system
- 2x SLB@ Loading Block
- 20x MIL-SPEC Desiccant packs included
- StripLULA®
Best Ammo Cans for Long-Term 5.56 Storage: The Complete Buyer's Guide
MTM AC50C vs USGI steel vs Pelican vs generic plastic — which ammo can actually wins for long-term 5.56 storage? Real specs, real weight, honest comparison.
The Right Can Determines How Long Your Ammo Lasts
5.56 NATO and .223 Remington ammunition stored correctly lasts 50+ years. Stored incorrectly — in the wrong container, without desiccant, with degraded seals — it degrades in as little as 2–5 years. The container you choose is the single most important variable in long-term ammo storage.
This guide covers every realistic option for 5.56 ammo can storage — their real specs, honest tradeoffs, and which one wins for serious long-term civilian use.
For 5.56 / .223 on stripper clips, the MTM AC50C wins on every metric that matters for civilian long-term storage: price, weight, seal reliability, corrosion resistance, and round capacity. The only scenario where steel wins is extreme physical abuse — which is not your storage shelf.
The Complete Comparison
| Can | Price | Empty Weight | 5.56 Capacity (clips) | Seal | Floats | Rust Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTM AC50C | ~$15 | ~1.5 lbs | ~1,400 rounds | ✅ New O-ring | ✅ Yes | ✅ None |
| USGI M2A2 Steel | ~$22.49 surplus | ~5 lbs | ~1,200 rounds | ⚠️ Aged surplus | ❌ Sinks | ❌ High |
| Pelican 1650 | ~$180–220 | ~13 lbs | Very high | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Yes | ✅ None |
| Generic plastic bins | ~$5–15 | ~0.5–1 lb | Varies | ❌ None — not airtight | Varies | ✅ None |
| MTM Survivor | ~$20–25 | ~1.5 lbs | Moderate | ✅ O-ring | ✅ Yes | ✅ None |
MTM AC50C — The Best Choice for 5.56 on Stripper Clips
The MTM AC50C is purpose-built for 5.56 / .223 ammunition storage. Its internal dimensions are optimized for stacking loaded stripper clips in aligned rows — you get approximately 1,400 rounds per can on SCUSA polymer clips, vs approximately 1,000 loose. It seals with a new O-ring gasket, stacks with molded feet, and at ~$15 new it costs less than a used surplus steel can.
Price: ~$15 new
Empty weight: ~1.5 lbs
5.56 capacity on SCUSA clips: ~1,400 rounds
Seal: New O-ring gasket
Floats when sealed: Yes
Rust risk: None — polymer construction
One underrated advantage: the AC50C floats when sealed. For shooters in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and other flood-prone states, this is not a minor detail. A sealed AC50C full of 5.56 survives rising water. A sealed M2A2 steel can sinks — and so does everything inside it.
USGI M2A2 Steel Can — The Legacy Option
The USGI M2A2 is the military standard. It's what you see at gun shows, what grandfathers stored ammo in, and what surplus dealers sell by the pallet. It's proven, it's tough, and it has genuine mil-spec credentials.
It also weighs 5 lbs empty, costs more than a new AC50C, has an aged gasket of unknown reliability, and rusts. For a civilian storage shelf in a house — not a combat vehicle — none of the M2A2's advantages are relevant, and all of its disadvantages are.
Surplus M2A2 cans are 20–40 years old. The rubber gasket has been compressed and dried out. "Grade 1 like new" means the exterior looks good — it says nothing about the gasket. Press your finger firmly into any surplus gasket and check: if it doesn't spring back immediately, it no longer seals reliably.
Pelican Cases — Overkill for Most Shooters
Pelican cases are exceptional. The 1650 is airtight, crush-proof, and has a pressure equalization valve. It also costs $180–220 and weighs 13 lbs empty. For a traveling shooter who needs to protect optics and ammo in transit, a Pelican makes sense. For a home storage shelf — it's extreme overkill at 10–15x the price of an AC50C with no meaningful storage benefit.
Generic Plastic Bins — Not for Long-Term Storage
Tupperware, Rubbermaid, and generic ammo boxes are not airtight. They have no gasket seal. They keep dust out — they do not keep humidity out. For anything beyond short-term range day organization, they are not a viable long-term storage solution. Humidity will find its way in and primer degradation will follow.
The Complete Storage System
The best ammo can is only part of the equation. The complete SCUSA long-term storage system pairs the AC50C with polymer stripper clips and Desiccare desiccant — the only consumable in the system — for sealed, color-coded, corrosion-proof 5.56 storage that outperforms any alternative.
SLB Gen2 + 30 clips. Start building your storage system today.
Shop CORE Kit →SLB Gen2, StripLULA, all three clip colors, desiccants, and AC50C ammo can. The full system in one order.
Shop ARMORY MAX →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best ammo can for long-term 5.56 storage?
The MTM AC50C is the best ammo can for long-term civilian 5.56 / .223 storage. It's airtight with a new O-ring gasket, holds ~1,400 rounds on stripper clips, weighs ~1.5 lbs empty, floats when sealed, costs ~$15, and has no rust risk. It outperforms surplus USGI steel cans on every metric relevant to civilian storage.
How many rounds of 5.56 fit in an MTM AC50C?
Approximately 1,400 rounds on 10-round stripper clips stacked in aligned rows, or approximately 1,000 rounds loose. Loading on SCUSA polymer stripper clips gives you 40% more rounds in the same container.
Are USGI steel ammo cans still worth buying?
For civilian long-term 5.56 storage — no. Surplus M2A2 cans cost more ($22.49), weigh more (5 lbs empty), hold fewer rounds on clips (~1,200), have aged gaskets of unknown reliability, and rust. The AC50C beats them on every relevant metric at a lower price.
Do I need desiccant in my ammo cans?
Yes — even in an airtight sealed can, some residual humidity is sealed inside at the time of closing. Desiccare desiccant packs absorb that residual moisture and maintain a dry internal environment. One pack per can, replaced every 2–3 years. It's the only maintenance the system requires.
Can I store different calibers in the same ammo can?
You can — but for a color-coded SCUSA system, one load type per can is the rule. The AC50C is sized for 5.56 / .223 on stripper clips. Mixing calibers or load types in the same can defeats the instant-retrieval benefit of the color-coded system.
How do I know if my ammo can seal is still good?
Press firmly on the gasket with your finger. It should feel supple and spring back immediately. If it feels hard, cracked, or permanently compressed — the seal is compromised. New AC50C cans come with new O-ring gaskets. Surplus steel cans require inspection before use.
180 color-coded clips + dual SLB loading blocks + StripLULA® + 20× MIL-SPEC desiccants.
Load faster.
Organize smarter.
SCUSA polymer stripper clips, loading blocks, and MIL-SPEC desiccants. Everything you need in one kit.
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