You just saved me so much time, between buying bolts and the drilling. Just ordering some long neck locks. You’re the man!

A great example of the KISS principle. Thank you for taking the time to put this out there, and reminding us that true genius lies in not over thinking some things.

Mounted a couple of these on my motorbike as "side bags"...this is exactly the information I needed on how to secure them. Thanks.

You sir, are the common sense hero I needed today!

Im new to the gun world and here I am sitting outside a gun shop on a sunday waiting to pick up a cable for my ammo box and here it is that I can use a regular lock saved me soo much time im off to Wal-Mart thanks boss Sometimes you over think things that are too damn simple Good Lesson on common sense!

You are brilliant, not stupid! Thanks for the great idea, I have been struggling trying to lock these things and didn’t want to drill holes (not great with tools). Bought the locks you suggested and it worked perfectly.

I put an ammo box on my motorcycle as a saddlebag. This was great and easiest solution to lock it up. Sometimes the easiest solutions are the best. Thanks for the vid

This is perfect for what I need to do. I'm building a geocache that needs to lock but I don't have a drill or other tools to install locks like those I've seen on other ammo cans. This is so simple! Thanks!

I wish i had found your video earlier, i just watch several videos where drilling was required and wasted an hour of my life, all i wanted was to lock my ammo for safety reasons . this is a common sense in action thank you.

Thank you! I knew there had to be a way to lock these and had something to do with that hole, as there is literally no other reason for that hole to be there. Best way to keep your ammo secure from little hands is to lock it up. Consider it a second safety factor to a gun or trigger lock. Any child wanting to 'play' with your firearm would have to defeat two separate locks before they become dangerous.

Makes perfect sense.. the integrity of the box is not compromised and it's locked securely unless someone uses bolt cutters..lol. good stuff!👍

Just went and bought me a ammo can and tried this, works like a charm, thanks for sharing.

That’s pretty slick there, brother. You just saved me time, labor, money, and especially AGGRAVATION.

Thank you so much for this idea. Simple. Yet fully effective.

I laughed while you did that, i was gonna drill holes. No Sir, you are a smart man. Thanks! John

by far the best way I've seen to lock your ammo boxes

I can drill holes in the bottom and attach it to the floor of my rv and keep cash etc in it. Cheap safe, just did not know until now how to lock it. Thanks

Some of the smartest brightest minds are common sense thinkers. This fella is a common sense guy. Thank you sir.

Smiling: I watched a lot of videos on how to lock a ammo can and yours wins hands down. I want to mount one in my Jeep for when the top and doors are off just in case I need to secure something. I must admit I had already thought of it and some of the others, guess because I like to keep it simple. Going to bolt it to the floor and throw the lock in the box if I need it. God is good to me and mine!

Brilliant, easy and NO BS solution. Thank you!!

it's so funny. I just got one of these cans and i hadn't had one before. I started thinking how the heck do i lock these. I was thinking...did I just get a cheap one and then i noticed it would flip up and hook on the bar, and thought it might lock this way. your youtube confirmed my thinking....thanks!

Thank you. I have been looking at this thing thinking there has got to be a way to lock it. But I wasn't about to still no hole in my can and destroy it too put a bolt through it. Thank you sir.

As useful as simple. Handy videos like this are hard to find this days.

you are now one of my heroes for this simple solution (of course I now feel like an idiot because I didn't know that. But in my defense, I was navy and we didn't have ammo boxes). but hey, Thanks for posting...

Just locked 6 cans thanks to this video. Locking an ammo can is not gonna stop theft. Heck its got a handle on it. You can carry it anywhere. THOUGH IT DOES KEEP HONEST PEOPLE HONEST

I use a steel Brinks 4 tumbler combo lock with 2" hasp, upside down so it comes up through the closure mechanism. That way I can do the combination without turning the can upside down. And there's less play inside the hasp.

i was so dumb and this video enlightened me ... thanks!

not only do you need a long shank, you need a wide base. I've tried a few already to come to that conclusion, about 1.5" spread on the shackles

cool video. Unfortunately, the lock doesn't just need to be a long shackle. The more common problem looking at locks to replace the one I bought that won't work is the space between the 2 sides of the shackle needs to be large enough. If the shackle is a thin enough gauge, obviously you can just increase the angle to decrease the width needed; unfortunately the nice padlock i bought to lock the ammo can only had an inch of space and was thick enough not to allow a deep enough angle while inserting the shackle in the hole.

Another perfect example of a good video. Since YT disabled the don't like counter it got harder to find the simple solution easily. Thank you!

You solved a riddle for me in an easy way, thank you!

I watched this video mutiple times just to hear him chuckle😂

DUde YOU JUST SAVED ME SOME MONEY THANKS SO MUCH YOU AT BRILLIANT BROTHER

Thank You, Brother for posting this video. I've always locked mine in this fashion, but never thought to make it public. Great video, and I appreciate your "Common Sense".

Use a ratcheting lock then the little metal hasp wouldn't even be able to drop

Using an aftermarket lock where you have to drill a hole thru the ammo can will destroy the waterproof properties of the ammo can.

most ammo cans I have seen the bottom bar that you are putting the lock around is not a welded loop. it is week enough that you can spread the end apart with out any tools. once spread, you can open the can.

Thanks. I was wondering how ammo cans were SUPPOSED to be locked. Nice job on the video.

It will take a while to cut through that lock. However, it will take mere seconds to hacksaw through the bottom metal bracket wire. This will only work to keep honest people out. btw: THE CLUB that they sell for cars, to lock up the steering wheel; it takes hours to hacksaw through the club. Again, it would only take a few seconds to hacksaw through one section of the steering wheel and pull the club out. I saw this done on TV back in the 90's.

I KNEW there was a way we did it!! I just could not remember! Thanks

The way you're doing it it has always been the correct way

That can be opened. You just have to remove the wire side handle by pulling it and forcing from the side until it bends. That handle is just a bent wire.

I do it the exact same way what's a long shackle Master locks. Works perfect

There you go using common sense again:)

Brillian!. So glad I watched this first. Almost like I'm the first one to over-think everything!

That will work. I've done it often. It Deppends on the application. I did a 5.56 as a hard saddle bag for my sporty, I used the bolt method for it just for a cleaner look.

You just saved me taking a power drill to my ammo can! Cheers buddy!

Great and inexpensive way to secure your ammo can. Dude your handle fits you perfect thanks Ammohead I will be using this method to lock up my ammo.

Brilliant! I just bought one of these boxes today, and was wondering how to lock it up. Thanks much!

lol great idea. i see all these kits and all this extra drilling effor. great hack!

Yes. A good common sense lockup method. Though the thin bar or wire that holds the over-centre plate in place, can be struck out of place and pried open. A striker and pry are not hard to improvise.

I actually used to do just that until i was walking to the range with a full can and tripped. The lid popped open breaking the wire handle on its way up spilling my ammo to the ground where an unbalanced me soon joined it. Good times.

Just brilliant....So glad I came across this video.

I was wondering how to do this. I bolted one of these to the back of my motorcycle to use for storage, and it worked great. Couldn't figure out how to lock it though. Thanks!

I just got an ammo can thought of this exact was to lock it but came to confirm can’t believe people don’t think of this first

How the hell did I not figure this out on my own? Thanks man!

Thanks! I had no idea! I’ve been usi;g those Plano cans since I started a few years ago, and saw that harbor freight has these or $14.00. I got it home and had no idea. I only have smaller locks on hand,but I guess I can go get a longer one! Thanks!

Most simple! Greatest tip of all time!

You didnt feed me fish today you tought me how to fish

I say, you're a genius sir :)

Thank you. You are not stupid. I got my box and lock and it works.

Yeah, after years of leaving them unlocked, I played with the damn thing until I came up with the same solution. The smaller box on the left (with the bigger hole), can use a small lock where the shaft doesn't need to be so long. I'm not sure if that is the originally intended design (seems kinda klunky) and in a combat situation, I can't image you'd want people fumbling for keys. One idea I had was on stacking them and then running a locking bar vertically through all the wire loops. Not really that motivated. As people point out, the whole thing is portable and has a handle, so a lock on it is just to keep out prying eyes and maybe a toddler. It's kind of like having a lock on a lady's purse or a briefcase.

Thats cool.. I want to get a couple of ammo can and use them as panniers on my Royal Enfield.. And now I can see they're lockable.. 👍

So glad I found this video, the military must be thinking finally someone figured out what that hole is for

Sir you are a GENIUS!!! Why didn’t I think about that.

Absolute legend, thanks

See, now you're just making sense!.....

What's the length of the steel bar on that padlock? What size padlock

You sir are a scholar.

This is probably the best idea I have seen but the box itself is a flawed design, power cutters are a norm these days, a couple of cuts to the thin pipes at both ends and game over.

You sir prolly could put a man on Jupiter !

Good thinking, great idea. I've just bought a couple to convert as motorbike panniers. 👍

Thanks a bunch. I was going crazy trying to figure it out.😂😂

I know this is an old post but thanks! I am putting the Xbox controllers in one to limit the kids time on it and was looking up how to lock it and everyone was about drilling holes. A quick run to the dollar store for a long hasp lock and I'm done. Common sense rules!

well done buddy, pretty damn simple but i bet no one thought to use them like that.

Thank you for the video. Very simple and easy

Thank you I live in California just bought one of these

The definition of K.I.S.S. THANK YOU , Sir.

You sir deserve a beer!!!!

Smart man. Thank you sir!

The difference between you and the other youtubers are you got common sense!

take a bolt cutter to the metal wire or whatever that holds the latch to the lid and it won't matter how big your lock is.

You're not stupid but I think everybody else is for doing it the other way.

K.I.S.S. , you are the man Sir!

You are not stupid! I'm guessing that is the way an ammo box was meant to be locked. The only question I have is does having the handle in that position in any way compromise the integrity of the seal on the box? nvm, I just watched the video again and answered my own question. I think that is genius!

Great solution 👌

You sir, are a genius 👍

Great idea to secure ammo! Thanks!

Anyone know the exact size of this lock? Or have a link to some they use for .50 cal cans?

Lol not gana lie I'm only 30 and first time I bought an ammo box that's exactly what I saw and I assumed it was intended for by manufacturer

definitely not stupid! great job and thanks

It's because my friend, that you possess something that is almost unheard of today. Kids aren't born with it anymore and most parents, either don't have it in them already or can't figure out how to pass it on to/instill it within their children or just don't for whatever reasons. I've even seen grown people who use to have it, totally loose it as well. That thing, which now seems abandoned, is "Common Sense". You've got it, I've got it and people here and there still have it. Sadly though, it's disappearing unlike when we came up. I guess there will soon be "an app for that", Lol. The lock you've got there should be plenty. You can cut that rod/round stock on the can already easier than the lock.

Use to use small chain, but this is easier. Be nice to use thicker lock. Good idea ammohead..

Brilliant. Works perfectly.

They were not meant to be padlocked so no keys can be lost. The cam latch is supposed to be closed all the way down and flush with the side. If someone wants to get into it, they would just destroy the weak spots, the wireframe handle or the hinges.

I'm using one as a lunch box for school and this helps

You Sir, are GENIUS!

Stuff they should be teaching in school...

I always wondered what that bottom one was for, and how to lock it. But I never fathomed that it was for locking. DUH! Thanks.

Damn. How did I not think of this lol.. Thanks