A Contest for Free Ammunition

The three amigos, as James Dakin calls them, over at Total Survivalist Libertarian Rantfest are having a contest with Lucky Gunner, the newest bulk ammo retailer on the internet, about ammo cans. The prize is 500 rounds of either 45 ACP, 40 S&W, or 9 mm ammunition. If you would like to enter the contest, please see the details here.

So here is my entry.

Surplus military ammunition cans are versatile. Their use is limited by your imagination.

Exercise Equipment
Do you get tired of doing the same old thing in your workout day after day or are you on a long deployment without access to gym equipment. Well, ammo cans can (no pun intended) add variety and intensity to your workout.

Push-ups
Push-ups are an excellent exercise on their own. To make them more difficult, place an ammo can under your feet, slightly elevating your feet, and pump out a few push-ups to add intensity to your workout.

To really add intensity, form a triangle with three ammo cans. One can goes under your feet the other two cans go under each of your hands. Do a push-up like always, but now you can 'break the plane' go lower since your body is elevated.

Medicine Ball
Another method of adding variety and intensity to your workout is to create a 'medicine ball.' All you need is an ammo can that you fill with dirt or sand and use like a medicine ball.

Be careful; it'll hurt if you drop it on your head.

There are many great exercises that you can do on your own. If you have a partner, there are also a variety of exercises for you and your partner to do together.

Dumbbells
Just like the medicine ball, fill an ammo can with sand, gravel is too noisy, and start pumping iron (really, steel ammo can) just like the gym at home. All you need to do is add or remove sand to fit your current fitness level.


Cooking Equipment
Looking to cook a delicious meal after you have lost all of cooking gear in a disaster. Look no further then an ammo can to improvise a wonderful meal for friends and family.

Cooking Pot
To use as a cooking pot; remove the ammo can's gasket. (It's the black rubber thing inside the lid), rinse the can inside and out, fill with your food and add a little water for an excellent stoup. I have made chicken stoup using this method.

OK, it wasn't as fancy as Rachel Ray's chicken stoup, but we did use a chicken (no skin), carrots, potatoes, a little salt and pepper to taste. We then cooked it in a fire, that had burned down to coals, for 45 minutes. It was good.

Grill/Fire Pit
If you don't want to make a big fire, an ammo can is the perfect size. Just add your kindling, and light the fire. Add twigs and small branches for a manageable fire. What's nice about this technique is you can have a small fire for each of your dishes.


Gardening Equipment
So you're held by the "New World Order" in a secret interment camp and they won't give you any gardening equipment because they know you will try to dig to freedom. Well, you can ask for a few innocent looking ammo cans to start that long overdue gardening project ; - )

Shovel
You can use an ammo can as a shovel. To do that, remove the lid and use the long or short edge of the can to start digging.

You can also use an ammo can to pass dirt to a friend, as you tunnel your way to freedom.

Pot
Take off the lid, fill with dirt, and plant a seed. That's all you need to start your seedlings for next planting season (OK, you'll need a warm sunlit spot and a little water for the seedlings to grow)

For all you folks living in an apartment, you just substitute a versatile ammo can for those expensive store bought pots for your patio/balcony container garden, next year.


Furniture
Need a table for your survival pad. How about a chair or two for your friends when they come to crash, after the crash? Well, ammo cans are the answer to your problems.

Table
Take four ammo cans, a sheet of plywood, (any size will do), then place an ammo can at each corner of the plywood. If you want a taller table, add ammo cans until you have the prefect height for you and your friends to play cards or eat a meal together.

Chair
Just like the table, you are going to need some plywood to make a chair. Place two ammo cans side by side then stack two more on top. Add the plywood for a durable chair.

For you rugged folks, you don't need to add the plywood.

Bed
Friends tired of sleeping on the cold floor. Just make a variation of a table but larger. Cut a sheet of plywood to the desired length and width, place an ammo can under each corner, and add two ammo cans in the middle for additional support.

You or your friends might want to add some padding for a little comfort.


Entertainment
Man, nor Woman, can live on bread alone. No matter what happens, folks will need a break from the stress of living during the collapse. Ammo cans are the answer.

Washers
Two ammo cans and a few washers will make a game that few people can pass up. Go to the link to learn the rules for this great American game, Washers.

Building Blocks
Help your kids use their imagination and build their strength at the same time. Fill some ammo cans with dirt and let the kids build things with their 'blocks'

For the Kids
Ammo cans are a great way for your son and daughter to store their Barbies and G.I. Joes for fun after a disaster.


Storage Solutions
Do you have supplies that are critical to you and your family's survival then ammo cans are the key.

Books
Ammo cans will keep your critical books safe from the ravages of water and rodents.

Cleaning Supplies
Are you tired of looking for your weapon's cleaning supplies. Ammo cans allow you to consolidate all your cleaning supplies in one convenient spot.

First Aid Supplies
Paint a red cross on an ammo can and you have a rugged, easily carried first-aid kit for your car and home.


Important Files
Just like books, you can store your survival bible in ammo cans to keep it safe and dry before, during, and after a disaster. Plus, ammo cans can act as the final layer in creating an EMP-proof container for your important electronic files.


Matches and Other Flammables
Worried about fire? One way of reducing the threat of fire is to store your matches and other flammables in ammo cans. The small space of a metal ammo can won't allow a fire to grow or spread because of the limited oxygen in an ammo can.

Tool Boxes
Ammo cans make great impromptu tool boxes. All you need to do is choose your tools and throw them into an ammo can. I always place a rag soaked with a little oil in the ammo can to wipe the tools down, after use.

Ammunition Storage
Lastly, you can use ammo cans to store your ammo.


Miscellaneous

Caches
There has been a lot of talk recently about caches on the internet. Ammo cans are a great container for caches. They are strong, rugged, and waterproof.

I have personally recovered ammo cans that where buried, in a dry location, 50 years ago. Yes, there was some rust on the outside of the cans, but the contents were in serviceable condition.

Trade/Barter
Normally, I don't recommend storing trade/barter items, but ammo cans might be an exception. They are so versatile that you could possibly receive their weight in gold after a disaster ; - )

OK, that one's a stretch but surplus ammo cans are versatile, and their versatility is only limited by your imagination.


Link:
Total Survivalist Libertarian Rantfest - Home
http://tslrf.blogspot.com/

Lucky Gunner - Home
http://www.luckygunner.com/

Lucky Gunner - Ammo Cans
http://www.luckygunner.com/accessories/ammo-cans

About.com: Exercise - Medicine Ball Exercises
http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseworkouts/ss/medicineball.htm

Sport Fitness Advisor - Medicine Ball Exercises
http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/medicine-ball-exercises.html

Brian Mac: Sports Coach - Medicine Ball
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/medball.htm

Food Network - Rachel Ray: Chicken Provencal Stoup
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/chicken-provencal-stoup-recipe/index.html

Washers - Home
http://www.washers.org/