Gear Review: MTM Tactical Mag Cans

Gone are the days of throwing loaded AR, AK, and pistol mags into the bottom of your shooting bag.  No longer do loaded mags have to take up space in your safe.  MTM Case Gard, the company known for ammo cans and reloading shell boxes, has an answer. MTM’s full lineup of Tactical Mag Cans offer safe, secure storage and transportation of firearms magazines.

Common features of the Tactical Mag Can line

Though sizes and styles of the cans vary, they are all have molded stacking ridges on the corners and flat-folding handles allowing slip-free piling.  Ridged pre-cut foam padding ensures that each magazine has its own snug, individual, slot to prevent bumping, sliding and scratching.  The slots allow mags to be placed bullets-up, making it quick and easy to grab exactly what you need.

All of the cans, regardless of size, wear an o-ring seal and snap-lock latches.  Built of molded polypropylene plastic in common colors of dark earth and black, each can also has a pair of molded padlock tabs for extra security.  MTM markets the cans as water resistant but non-submersible.  Though we didn’t purposely submerge these, the seal does have a firm hold upon opening the can.

And the best part with all MTM products is they are made in the USA.

The Lineup

In the end, if you don’t want to use any these as a “mag can,” you can remove the tightly-fitted foam insert and still have a quality ammo can.

TMC15 Tactical Mag Can

While all the other styles are new for 2016, this Tactical Mag Can is the original from a year ago.

Coming in a dark earth color and measuring 9.3” x 15.3” x 8.8”(H), this bad boy holds fifteen .223/5.56 AR-15 magazines in snug foam slots and has three padlock tabs should you choose to lock it up. The AR slots were designed for Magpul PMAG 30 AR/M4 magazines without dust covers, as dust covers would not be necessary in an O-ring sealed can.  MTM does state on their website that this particular can “will hold only 4 Magpul PMAG 30 AR/M4 with Ranger Plates & dust covers installed because they don’t fit under the handle indentation on the lid when closed.”

They are not, however, designed for .308 mags.  Perhaps that is yet to come?  As I don’t have 15 mags to tote around, I find myself with half the can filled with mags and the other half free for a couple boxes of ammo, shooting glasses, and my multitool.

TMC1911 Tactical Mag Can 1911

Aficionados of the venerable 1911 platform, rejoice.  MTM has a can for you too and this one holds sixteen 1911-style handgun 45 ACP magazines or, of course, any that are similarly sized.  It works well with mags from many of the older military single stack handguns as well. Standard magazines can be put in bullet up to easily see how many are loaded and with what type of bullet.

Measuring 5″ x 11.3″ x 7.2″(H), this is one of the smaller boxes in the family and comes in dark earth with a single latch.  Even if you’re not hauling full mags to the range, this is a nice way to organize extra mags instead of letting them rattle around in a cardboard box.  Has anybody looked at the price of buying replacement mags for collectible handguns? If you have, you’ll recognize the importance of keeping them in tip-top condition.

The small-footprint 1911 box is a nice protection tool and carries an MSRP of $19.99.

TMCHG Tactical Mag Can Handgun

Like the 1911 version, the Handgun Can also has foam homes, but this time for up to ten double-stack pistol mags. We tested both Glock and Springfield dual-stackers with equal success.  Single stack mags fit as well, but have some wiggle room and won’t be held snug.  As long as you don’t invert the can, that will work just fine.  MTM also notes on their website that it’s possible to fit two .22LR pistol mags per slot.

With outside dimensions of 5″ x 11.3″ x 7.2″(H), the handgun-specific cans are smaller and require only a single latch point.

TMCAK Tactical Mag Can AK

The AK-specific can in dark earth is designed to hold nine 20 or 30 round AK rifle mags in an alternating pattern.  The shapely nature of AK mags take up more space requiring a larger, more cumbersome can, but it’s nonetheless a clean, safe option for keeping your mags and leaves room for some extra gear as well.

Exterior dimensions are: 17.2″ x 10.7″ x 9.2″(H).  The locking latches are mounted on the sides of the AK can for easier carry.

TMCLE Tactical Mag Can Multi Mag

Drawing inspiration from law enforcement feedback, the Multi Mag can is perhaps the most innovative of the bunch.  With precut foam designed to hold both 10 AR-15 mags and 10 double-stack pistol mags, it excels for multi-gun shooters and 3-gun competitors.

The black can has double latches and measures 9.3 x 15.3” x 8.8”(H).  Like the Tactical Mag Can, the AR slots in this one are also built for use without dust covers.  This is my favorite of all the cans, as I often find myself taking multiple guns to the range, and this is a perfect way to keep the magazines in order.

MSRP on this multi-tasker of ammo cans is $28.99, though it’s available at common online retailers for just over $21.  In fact, all the mag cans can be found in the $14.99-$22.99 price range on the web.

Conclusion

While I don’t condone storing mags loaded for extended periods and compressing the springs, I love the idea of having not only a safe way to transport and store them, but also to organize the unloaded mags and gear between trips.  In addition, unless you’re a hoarder of mags, the cans also allow enough room to pack in a little extra ammo, earplugs, gloves, a multitool and the like.  As always, MTM’s Tactical Mag Cans are well built, in the USA, and they get the job done.

 

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