The CFT ammunition lift uses a 30-pound ammo can (13.6 kg), measured as the can’s total weight on a scale.
If you’re practicing for the Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test (CFT), you don’t need to guess the ammo can weight. The standard is simple: the can you lift is set to 30 pounds total.
Wondering how much do ammo cans weigh for cft? Set the closed can to 30 pounds.
Home practice trips people up: empty cans, wrong size, shifting filler, or a bad scale. This page lays out what the 30 pounds means, how it’s used on test day, and how to build a practice can that matches it.
Ammo Can Weights Used In Cft Events
The CFT has three events. Only two involve ammo cans: the Ammunition Lift and a carry segment inside Maneuver Under Fire. Both use the same target weight: 30 pounds per can.
| CFT Item Or Scenario | Target Weight | What “30 Pounds” Refers To |
|---|---|---|
| Ammunition Lift test can | 30 lb (13.6 kg) | Total can weight on a scale, including the container |
| Maneuver Under Fire ammo-can carry (each can) | 30 lb (13.6 kg) | Total can weight for each hand carry |
| Standard can type commonly used | 30 lb (13.6 kg) | Often an M2A1 5.56 mm can loaded or filled to spec |
| Empty M2A1-style can (training reference) | Varies by manufacturer | Empty can weight counts toward the 30 lb total |
| Homemade filler (sand, gravel, plates) | Set to reach 30 lb | Use stable filler so the total stays consistent |
| Water-filled can | Not recommended | Water shifts and can leak, changing the total weight |
| Scale check before training | 30.0 lb shown | Weigh the closed can; re-check after travel or storage |
| Metric conversion | 13.6 kg | 30 lb converted for gyms that label plates in kilograms |
How Much Do Ammo Cans Weigh For Cft? Official Standard
For the Ammunition Lift, the official order describes the event as repeated lifts of a 30-pound ammunition can from shoulder height to overhead during a two-minute time cap.
That “30-pound” line is the rule that matters. It means the full object weighs 30 pounds, not “30 pounds of filler inside a can.” If your empty can weighs 3–5 pounds, your filler needs to make up the rest so the scale reads 30.
What “30 Pounds” Means In Real Training
On test day, the can is a fixed piece of gear. You don’t negotiate brand, dents, or how it was packed. In training, you want the same feel so your reps match the cadence you’ll use on the clock.
Use this simple check: close the lid, wipe off grit, put the whole can on a scale, and read the number. If it does not read 30.0 lb, adjust the filler and weigh again.
Why You See Conflicting Answers Online
People mix up “ammo can lift” in the CFT with other fitness tests and with ruck or carry drills. They also mix up empty can weight with the required test weight. The order resolves the confusion: the CFT can is 30 pounds total.
Some write “two 30-pound cans” because the Maneuver Under Fire segment includes carrying two cans. That is still 30 pounds per can, not a single 60-pound box.
Pick The Right Ammo Can For Cft Practice
You can train with an issued-style can, a surplus can, or a solid substitute with good handles. What matters is the grip and the total weight. The more your setup matches the test gear, the less surprise you’ll feel when it counts.
Common CFT Practice Options
Marine Corps CFT descriptions often reference the 30-pound can used for the Ammunition Lift. That can is usually the M2A1-style 5.56 mm can seen in many gyms and supply rooms.
If you can’t get that exact can, pick a substitute that meets three checks: it is easy to hold overhead, it does not pinch your fingers, and it can be set to 30 pounds without shifting filler.
Handle Feel And Lid Lock Matter
Thin suitcase handles can dig into your palms. A loose lid can rattle and distract you. A good ammo can handle is wide, stiff, and lets you keep a neutral wrist as you drive the can up.
Don’t Chase Extra Weight
Training with a heavier can can make you feel tough, then it can wreck your pace, your elbows, and your recovery. The lift is two minutes long. Your job is fast, clean reps with full lockout, not grinding singles.
How To Weigh And Set Up A 30-Pound Cft Ammo Can
This setup takes ten minutes with a scale and basic filler. Once it’s done, label the can so you know it stays at 30 pounds.
Step-By-Step Setup
- Find a scale you trust. A digital bathroom scale works. A gym shipping scale works too.
- Weigh the empty can with the lid closed. Write the number on painter’s tape.
- Add dense filler in sealed bags. Sand in double bags works. Small plates wrapped in a towel work too.
- Close the lid, then weigh again. Keep adjusting until the scale reads 30.0 lb.
- Pack the filler tight so it can’t shift. Use foam or a folded towel to lock it in place.
- Mark the can “CFT 30 LB” with tape or paint pen.
- Re-weigh after a week. If the number drifts, replace bags or re-pack.
Quick Math For Kilogram Plates
If your gym uses kilograms, set your target to 13.6 kg total. If your can and filler land at 13.5 kg, you are close, yet a scale that reads in 0.1 kg steps can still hide a gap. Add small washers or taped coins until you hit the mark on your scale.
Form Checks That Save Reps In The Ammunition Lift
The Ammunition Lift is a shoulder-to-overhead press for time. Points come from clean repetitions. Sloppy reps cost time because a counter can call “no rep” if you skip lockout.
Start Position That Makes The First 20 Reps Easy
- Set your feet under your hips and squeeze your glutes.
- Rest one edge of the can on your upper chest, not on your collarbone.
- Keep elbows slightly forward so you can drive straight up.
- Pick a breathing rhythm you can hold for two minutes.
Lockout Standard And Common Misses
At the top, your elbows should straighten and the can should settle overhead. A soft elbow, a tilted can, or a head that never comes through can trigger a missed rep.
Pacing That Matches The Clock
Most people start too hot. A steadier pace wins. Try a target cadence you can keep for 60 seconds, then push in the final 30 seconds if your shoulders still feel stable.
Ammo Can Carry In Maneuver Under Fire
The carry segment is short and fast. Grip and footwork matter more than brute strength. If you train it right, it becomes “free time” compared with the crawls and the drag.
Carry two cans at your sides with shoulders down and chest tall. Don’t let the cans swing. Short steps keep you in control through the cones.
Train The Carry Without Beating Up Your Hands
Calluses help, yet torn skin ruins training. Chalk is fine in the gym. On the field, tape hot spots before they rip. Keep the handles smooth and free of burrs.
Common Problems When Your Practice Can Doesn’t Match Test Day
Most “my training didn’t transfer” stories come down to the can, the scale, or the rep standard. Fix those and your work pays off.
| Problem You Notice | Likely Cause | Fix That Sticks |
|---|---|---|
| Your can feels light at home, heavy at the unit gym | Home can is under 30 lb | Weigh the closed can and set it to 30.0 lb |
| Reps feel shaky overhead | Loose filler shifting inside | Pack filler tight; add foam to stop movement |
| Forearms burn early | Handle is thin or sharp | Use a real ammo can or wrap handle with tape |
| Counter calls “no rep” on test day | Lockout is short | Practice full elbows straight; pause one beat overhead |
| Shoulders flare up after training | Too much heavy pressing | Use 30 lb can for volume; add light accessory work |
| Grip fails in the carry segment | Not enough carries in training | Add short farmer carries with two 30 lb cans |
| Scale readings jump around | Scale on soft floor or low battery | Place on hard floor; change batteries; re-check |
Simple Training Block Built Around The 30-Pound Ammo Can
You don’t need fancy programming. You need repeatable reps, enough rest to stay healthy, and a bit of speed work so the two-minute window feels normal.
Two Days Per Week Template
- Day 1: Ammunition Lift intervals. 6 rounds of 20 seconds on, 40 seconds off. Count clean reps each round.
- Day 2: Mixed work. 3 rounds: 200-yard run, 25 ammo can lifts, 50-yard carry with two cans, then rest two minutes.
What To Track So You Know It’s Working
Write down three numbers: your best two-minute lift count, your best 880-yard time, and your Maneuver Under Fire time. If your lift count rises while your times hold steady, you’re moving the right direction.
Quick Answers You Can Use Before You Train
Here’s the clean takeaway for your gear check. The CFT ammo can is 30 pounds total. Weigh the closed can. Lock the filler in place. Train the same object you’ll lift.
If you still find yourself asking how much do ammo cans weigh for cft?, treat it like a checklist item. Set the can once, then stop thinking about it and put your energy into reps, lockout, and pacing.