How Much Ammo Do You Really Need?

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DeepSouth said:
Think of it more like saving money for the times you are unemployed.
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THIS.

I know that savings are up right now, due mostly to our having deliberately shuttered our economy as a reaction to the virus (and I'm not interested in discussing the wisdom of that policy), but historically, most Americans have less than a month's wages in immediately available savings. For people who don't even save cash for hard times, saving ammo (widely viewed as a luxury not a necessity) is beyond comprehension.
 
if you think they aren't coming for "squirrel and bird guns" you may want to consider that the AR has become the universal GO-TO firearm for varmint, small game, ranching in the US. So yes, they very much are coming for the nations squirrel rifle... maybe not yours but most of the nations.
 
BTW, I shot 700 rounds of .38 SPL from my revolver, in ONE range session this year. Yes, really. It was fun, lasted all day, friends shot it too.
Before the huge ammo price jumps around 2006, me and friends would have shooting parties. After that it got smaller, but we still did it. Its not uncommon for me to give 100 rounds to someone to celebrate a new rifle, or 200 to a new shooter. I will occasionally blow 1000 rounds on a group shoot.

For me, this means 50 rounds is not enough. Having 10K in different cals can make lifelong shooters get their initial addiction. I don't think I would be hoarding in this case.

I am not the only one I know who does this. This, I believe, is how we keep the sport alive. I have started many gun nuts, target shooters and hunters who bought into the only TRUELY all inclusive community I have ever seen. I am in NW Washington state, so maybe its not as welcoming everywhere, but here it really is a all accepting community. We aren't keeping the sport alive with confederate flags and cummins's.
Inviting everyone, giving them what they need to get started and making it fun is a political agenda form many, and yea, we are a major part of the shortage.
 
I buy what I feel I need, which includes a reserve for shortages. When shortages occur, then I stop buying because prices rise, start shooting mostly air guns, and wait for the shortage to end.

This cycle started as soon a I became a gun owner 30 years ago. Right after I bought by first gun and started hand loading, there was a primer shortage and there have been shortages of ammo and/or primers on a regular basis ever since.

For new gun owners and those who couldn't afford to build ammo reserves, I sympathize.
 
Let's see: and keep in mind I'm a lower ranked competitor

indoor leagues a month - 400
Monthly practice - 900
Regular monthly matches - 400

Plus yearly events:
IRC - 400
Revo Nat - 500
GSSF - 400
SIG EDC - 400

So all told about 20,000/yr split between several calibers.

I NEED MORE AMMO
 
I'm in a rather odd position. I have about 20,000 rounds of various calibers in my basement 5.56, 7.62X39, 30-06, 22s, 12 gauge shotgun (Buckshot mostly) and NONE of it is mine!!! :( It belongs to a friend who has fled the Golden Bear state. When he completes his move to S.C. he will come and get it I have enough ammo for myself to shoot a bit, now and then. I'm happy.
 
TheBruce said:
These posts from those who failed to adequately prepare when the gettin' was good are quite entertaining, and interesting. OP, is this your first panic? If so, hopefully you learn your lesson the first time. If this is not the first panic you've lived through, why didn't you learn before?

As far as "how much is enough?" How about as much as I damn well choose to buy and have on hand. It's not our fault you fell asleep at the wheel. Statements which start with "who really needs..." really cheese me off. Sounds a lot like "who really NEEDS an AR-15?" Need has nothing to do with it.
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Indeed. Otherwise it would be a Bill of Needs.
 
Simple math. For most people, it is nothing to shoot 100 rounds of one caliber per range trip. So a 1,000 rounds will only last for 10 trips to the range.

I like to go to the range as often as I can so 1,000 rounds of just one caliber won't last me very long. Especially if I go to the range once a week. I also like taking more than just one gun to the range when I go. So that 100 rounds per trip increases by the number of guns I want to shoot that day. Most double stack pistols have a magazine capacity of 15 rounds or more. At 15 rounds, that is only 6 full and 1 partial magazine through each pistol.

I have actually been leaving my Kel-Tec CP33, CMR30, and PMR30 at home more often since you can go through 90 rounds really quick with just 3 magazine loads per gun.

And there are others that are into competition shooting and they will normally go through more than 100 rounds per range trip.

For the people that only have one or two centerfire rifles that they use for deer hunting only, then a box of 20 rounds will last them a year or more if all they do is fire a couple of rounds to check zero then go hunting.

Different strokes for different folks. The occasional shooter/hunter should not be upset or wonder why others need so much ammo.
 
There is plenty of ammo for sale on the net; one has to spend a lot more dollars to get it now but, it is there for the purchase - pages and pages of GB scalpers - maybe you are complaining about the wrong category of the ammo availability conversation - maybe the problem is that which is always at the core of our problems - our fellow citizens.
 
If I could only shoot 100 rounds a week I guess I could live with that, so let's round off to 5k/year. Actuarial tables say I'll be lucky to last 10 more years so 50k rounds would be a lifetime supply. I think that would be enough.
 
mmb617 said:
If I could only shoot 100 rounds a week I guess I could live with that, so let's round off to 5k/year. Actuarial tables say I'll be lucky to last 10 more years so 50k rounds would be a lifetime supply. I think that would be enough.
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Some people shoot a lot less than that while others (during normal times) shoot way more than that.

Under normal circumstances, that 100 rounds per range trip is just one caliber. If I take a couple of handguns, a centerfire rifle and a 22lr, that is 400 rounds per range trip. And I don't even compete anymore. I do believe in keeping my skills up.
 
OP strikes me as someone who doesn't get out to shoot much, has never gone through any formal firearms training and doesn't practice often. No offense intended.

In just the training courses I've attended on my own dime in the past couple of years, I've probably gone through at least four thousand rounds of 9mm and 2500 rounds of 5.56mm. That doesn't include my twice a month shooting at my local indoor range or gun club.

Many have taken to .22 conversions of their defensive weapons and are shooting comparable amounts of .22 -- not just using it for squirrels. Shucks, I can go through 1000 rounds of .22 just plinking with my daughters on a weekend...

We have our two largest cities up here that have decided to tax every round of ammo sold in these cities. Coming soon to a city near you. Then there's the California model.

How much ammo do I need (with no need to invoke the name of my Savior)? Enough to last the rest of my life if I can't buy one single additional cartridge in .38 SPL...
 
FlippinHippie said:
It started with the Obama administration. It continues today. I can't find any .22 or 12 gauge ammo (other than light bird loads) anywhere. I've heard all the explanations as to why there is no ammo to be had, but really? I have several old .22 pistols that I have been plinking with for decades. Now they languish in the safe unused. I don't dare use the ammo I have squirreled away as there are no signs I can replace it anytime soon...if ever.

I can kind of understand the shortage on certain semi-auto ammunition. I share the concerns of many that an ammo ban would be more practical than banning guns already out there in the eyes of government. EVERYONE is hoarding ammunition. But Jesus Tap Dancing Christ, how much is enough? If you carry a revolver for self defense and only use it in self defense situations, a single 50 round box is a lifetime supply if you reload it every five years. Why would anyone need ten thousand rounds of .38 special??? How many firefights do you expect to survive?

But what about the .22s and 12 gauges? THEY are not coming for our squirrel and bird guns. But everyone is buying up all the supply as soon as it hits the shelves. The prices have doubled and doubled again. I had to bum buck shot from a neighbor to hunt with this year as there was none to be had anywhere at any price. This shows no sigh of abating as people continue to pay ridiculous prices. Do people actually believe that .22 ammunition is going to be the new coin of the realm? I just want to shoot empty cans in the back yard. This simple pleasure I have enjoyed my entire life is now gone. When will this madness end?

Perhaps it's due to the fact I live in Arkansas. We do seem to have a surplus of crazy, paranoid, stupid people here. And they're armed...
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I am going to cut you some slack, as you seem new here. Perhaps this is also your first shortage. So let this sink in, if, things return to normal, it will only be for a short time. Save what ammo you can, and save some money. When things get stocked up at close to normal prices. Buy, buy buy. If you need a thousand, buy 2000 and stash half. Rinse repeat. We have all at one time faced a shortage. Most here learned from it and will not be caught short again.

You have reacted incorrectly to what is happening, and some have been much harsher than I am. We old folks get testy when someone thinks we did them wrong. Good luck, and plan accordingly.
 
The OP probably doesn't realize he's spouting socialism, most likely educated in the public school system. Expects everyone to have the same ammo needs and allotment, why it wouldn't be fair to have more than another comrade. Perhaps ammo rationing is the answer....;)
 
FlippinHippie said:
It started with the Obama administration. It continues today. I can't find any .22 or 12 gauge ammo (other than light bird loads) anywhere. I've heard all the explanations as to why there is no ammo to be had, but really? I have several old .22 pistols that I have been plinking with for decades. Now they languish in the safe unused. I don't dare use the ammo I have squirreled away as there are no signs I can replace it anytime soon...if ever.

I can kind of understand the shortage on certain semi-auto ammunition. I share the concerns of many that an ammo ban would be more practical than banning guns already out there in the eyes of government. EVERYONE is hoarding ammunition. But Jesus Tap Dancing Christ, how much is enough? If you carry a revolver for self defense and only use it in self defense situations, a single 50 round box is a lifetime supply if you reload it every five years. Why would anyone need ten thousand rounds of .38 special??? How many firefights do you expect to survive?

But what about the .22s and 12 gauges? THEY are not coming for our squirrel and bird guns. But everyone is buying up all the supply as soon as it hits the shelves. The prices have doubled and doubled again. I had to bum buck shot from a neighbor to hunt with this year as there was none to be had anywhere at any price. This shows no sigh of abating as people continue to pay ridiculous prices. Do people actually believe that .22 ammunition is going to be the new coin of the realm? I just want to shoot empty cans in the back yard. This simple pleasure I have enjoyed my entire life is now gone. When will this madness end?

Perhaps it's due to the fact I live in Arkansas. We do seem to have a surplus of crazy, paranoid, stupid people here. And they're armed...
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If you were local I'd help you out with a few boxes and be happy to do it.

I can only speak for myself as to why I buy lots of ammo, not necessarily right now, moreso when it was normal, but it's because I shoot a fair bit. I'm kind of a homebody, sometimes the range and work is the only thing that can get me up and out of the house.

I think alot of people are buying in fear, but for different reasons, but I tend not to pass judgment or begrudge those that buy in quantity now, back in like 2012ish, I found myself in your boat, bunch of guns and no ammo. I didn't like it and if I had found quantity that was priced in my range, I'd have bought all I could afford. Things are pretty whack right now so I get it.

Some people are just scalping though, I don't look favorably on those types....
 
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