notmetoo 41 Posted October 12, 2016 http://kitup.military.com/2016/10/marines-ditch-ammo-cans-push-get-lighter.html Stumbled across this article and thought it interesting. I actually prefer the plastic cans. I know they're not as durable, but for basic storage they do the job for me. As for logistics in the field, yeah ammo cans add a lot of weight that materials science can reduce. If anll they need is a way to cluster ammo together into lift-able cubes, shrink-wrap is durable enough to do the job. The article also addresses brass though not the elusive "careless ammunition" we keep hearing about. Discuss. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bhunted 887 Posted October 13, 2016 Hmmmm, we'll take all the cans away for free beings we paid for them and whatever happened to the studies being done for caseless ammo? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krdshrk 3,872 Posted October 13, 2016 Switch to plastic or aluminum? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bhunted 887 Posted October 13, 2016 Switch to plastic or aluminum? Use plastic would be best bet. Still lighter. Use recycled and submit for scrap plastic to be born again into an ammo can. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Indianajonze 379 Posted October 13, 2016 on the surface you read this and think hey it's a good idea, why not try to reduce weight? then something sinister creeps into the mind. why are they trying to reduce weight? is it because of the politically correct, gender-neutral philosophy these days? is it because new recruits can't handle the weight? is it because our military is being systematically weakened figuratively and now literally right before our eyes? good times... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bhunted 887 Posted October 13, 2016 Hmmm , putting on my pink tutu so I can hash this out. Ummmm, no. It involves a lot more than that. Less weight to be carried extends past that. Delivery methods, ie proper weight distribution on aircraft for instance. Less weight, more ammo to the proper places. Etc etc etc. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
10X 3,278 Posted October 13, 2016 Nothing sinister; the military is smart enough to know that if they are carrying less useless packaging weight, they can carry more ammo. It's not about being PC, or gender neutral. It's about not stupidly clinging to outdated and inferior solutions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DirtyHalfBreedModerate 5 Posted October 13, 2016 Nothing sinister; the military is smart enough to know that if they are carrying less useless packaging weight, they can carry more ammo. It's not about being PC, or gender neutral. It's about not stupidly clinging to outdated and inferior solutions. I concur. The JLTV alone is WAAAAYY heavier than any Humvee, but they still expect to fit the same amount onto a ship. They have to compensate somehow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sota 1,191 Posted October 13, 2016 I'm in for free ammo cans. I can even pick up. Any load up to 6000# and can fit on a open steel trailer. How many cans can I get and when can I come get them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackDaWack 2,894 Posted October 13, 2016 The only issue is durability. Try stacking those plastic cans and then have a plane take a hard landing, or a can drop off a truck...etc. aluminum might be an option but it's not gonna be light enough and be durable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DevsAdvocate 112 Posted October 14, 2016 I work at Picatinny, and in my experience, plastic ammunition containers simply cannot hold up across all the required conditions. Plastic is especially brittle in colder weather and loses structural integrity at hot weather. It also is very bad in fire as it tends to melt/burn, a big no-no on US Navy ships that might transport them. The last major plastic ammo container we used was a box for 25mm ammo for the M2 Bradley... even that was eventually replaced with metal. Aluminum is also iffy due to durability issue during drop testing... it deforms quite easily. The M2A1 Ammo Can is really tough to beat for what it does. I prefer the smaller .30mm can for ammo duties at home and at the range since boxes line up nicer in them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DirtyHalfBreedModerate 5 Posted October 14, 2016 I work at Picatinny, and in my experience, plastic ammunition containers simply cannot hold up across all the required conditions. Plastic is especially brittle in colder weather and loses structural integrity at hot weather. It also is very bad in fire as it tends to melt/burn, a big no-no on US Navy ships that might transport them. The last major plastic ammo container we used was a box for 25mm ammo for the M2 Bradley... even that was eventually replaced with metal. Aluminum is also iffy due to durability issue during drop testing... it deforms quite easily. The M2A1 Ammo Can is really tough to beat for what it does. I prefer the smaller .30mm can for ammo duties at home and at the range since boxes line up nicer in them. I am curious if the same polymer that Magpul uses can be used in this capacity. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krdshrk 3,872 Posted October 14, 2016 I work at Picatinny, and in my experience, plastic ammunition containers simply cannot hold up across all the required conditions. Plastic is especially brittle in colder weather and loses structural integrity at hot weather. It also is very bad in fire as it tends to melt/burn, a big no-no on US Navy ships that might transport them. The last major plastic ammo container we used was a box for 25mm ammo for the M2 Bradley... even that was eventually replaced with metal. Aluminum is also iffy due to durability issue during drop testing... it deforms quite easily. The M2A1 Ammo Can is really tough to beat for what it does. I prefer the smaller .30mm can for ammo duties at home and at the range since boxes line up nicer in them. That may preclude using lighter, stronger materials..... and more expensive... like Titanium. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DevsAdvocate 112 Posted October 14, 2016 That may preclude using lighter, stronger materials..... and more expensive... like Titanium. I mean, for the cost, what is lighter and stronger than steel? lol Plus, manufacturing of the M2A1 takes place at like 2 plants nationwide and it would be very expensive for the contractor to switch over to an alternative manufacturing method for a new material. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blake 50 Posted October 22, 2016 Having gone through a fire recently I will never use plastic ammo cans again. Everything in issue metal cans made it out A OK, everything in plastic cans was a melted cooked off mess. Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites