Creating a stash of ammunition in common calibers

Status
Not open for further replies.

Warp

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2008
Messages
9,655
Location
Georgia
Edited: Please do not make assumptions when you respond. If something specific, such as whether or not I have non perishable food, is important to your response, ASK, don't just assume to know what I have.

I have a plastic ammo can a little larger than a .50 where I am collecting small amounts of various calibers. The idea is to have a 'usable' quantity...hopefully enough to completely fill a gun/magazine at least once...in as many of the most commonly encountered calibers possible. This way if I acquire a new-to-me caliber, have a family member or friend or neighbor or whoever with a gun but no ammo (amazing how often this happens to people...), etc I will have something. A general "just in case" collection.

*As a specific example, because people generally don't 'get it'...I used to have a neighbor who was a former marine and was licensed to carry. He even had several firearms at his place. But he didn't have any ammunition. Not a single round. If something happened, an emergency for him/them, SHTF, etc, I would rather have ammunition that would work in his guns, than not.


So far this is what I have. I am obviously lacking quite a bit.....what would you put at the top of the list? What that I havn't mentioned?


Pistol
.25 auto
.32 auto
.380 auto
9mm Makarov
9mm Luger
.40 S&W
.45 ACP
10mm
.38spl
.44spl


Rifle
.223
7.62x39
7.62x54R
30-06 Springfield
7mm Remington Mag
.243 WIN
.270 WIN
30-30 WIN
.308 WIN


Shotgun
.410 gauge
20 gauge
12 gauge


Rimfire
.22lr
.17 HMR



At the top of my list to acquire:

32 S&W short
.357 sig
.45 GAP

16 gauge
10 gauge

300 Winchester mag
6.8mm Remington SPC
.45-70 govt
5.45x39
7mm-08
.30 carbine
FN 5.7x28

.22mag

Edit: And milsurp type calibers

7.5 French
7.5x55 Swiss
6.5x55 Swede
7x57
8x57
6.5 Jap
7.62 Nagant revolver
7.62x25
 
Last edited:
Reminds me of a non-smoker buying cigarettes just in case somebody needs a smoke.

You'll need something larger than a 50 cal ammo box.
 
Reminds me of a non-smoker buying cigarettes just in case somebody needs a smoke.

You'll need something larger than a 50 cal ammo box.

Except that cigs go bad. The ammo will not. :D

If cigarettes stored as well as ammo then, yes, I would have a couple packs in the closet. And not only do I not smoke, but not one single family member does either.

You would be amazed how much fits into the ammo can. I generally select the most compact packaging possible for the given round count/caliber, and there is some empty space even with everything from my first post already in there. I'm sure it will expand to a second can before terribly long.
 
6.5x55
303 British
22-250
8mm Mouser

These are not Walmart buys, but Academy carries them.

45 colt (will work in 454 and 460 in a pinch)
 
I'm not sure I agree with your premise, I would put having my own ammo supply above having ammo for other people. Its expensive enough stocking ammo for your own weapons that you'll actually use.

But, to answer your question, the ammo I would choose to stock is

Pistol
.380
9x19
.38 Special
.40 S&W
.45 ACP

Rifle
.223
7.62x39
.270
.308
.30-06

Shotgun
20ga
12ga

Rimfire
.22 lr

I would say those are the most likely calibers someone would ask for. Stocking some of the more "special" types of ammo seems like it would be a waste of space. After all, we're talking about supplying a mag of ammo for a non-gun guy (as someone who likes to shoot should at least have a mag o two of ammo available already). Those non-gun people are unlikely to have a need for .45 GAP, 5.7x28, or 7.62x38R ammo.
 
You have .25 Auto and .32 Auto, but no .357 Mag or .44 Mag?

I'd add those two big boys to the list if you're dead-set on stocking common calibers. Frankly though, I agree with Telekinesis' post fully - in that I don't necessarily agree, but if I did, I'd stick to the common calibers he mentioned (though I'd add .357 Mag to the handgun calibers).
 
No .357 mag or .44 mag because I anticipate being able to fire .38spl or .44 spl in a firearm that takes the magnum rounds. The object isn't to optimally load the gun, but rather to load it with something it will shoot.

That siad I have .357 mag of my own for my GP100. ;) And some of it is pretty fun stuff.

Also realize that a lot of the listed calibers are my own and work in my guns, and some of the others I intend to have guns for at some point in the future. Multiples of them are calibers I used to own guns for, before selling them.

e0bb2379.gif

7329d523.gif


I like pictures, in case nobody noticed.
 
I got rid of calibers I didn't have firearms for.. as they were making me want to go out and buy guns to shoot them in.

I'd agree that 44mag and 357 are a lot more useful in that box than 44 special.

Milsurp 8mm is drying up but a 15 round box of that 80's production Yugo stuff is still under $10, be aware it's corrosive as many military rounds will be.
 
I have more .22 Mag and .32 H&R Mag, than I do 9mm and .45 but hey I shoot them more. Do I have some of each on hand because they are more common calibers than mine, of course I do. Having a small supply of one or two boxes of each common caliber is prudent. They can be traded or used in time of need.
Same goes for rifle, I have 200-500 of .223, 30-30, 308, and 30-06 set aside. Although the .22 Mag and 30-06 are the only two that see the majority of hunting time, so I keep at least 2500 of those two on hand at all times.
I stick with what I use. If I suddenly got into 30-30 again it would move up to the front of the reload list and it would get the 2500 treatment.

I would not however collect non-common calibers to just have some.
 
Just me but I would get a case of 17 HMR!!! That is the ultimate rimfire in my opinion, I have a Marlin with the bull barrel and I was blowing up water bottles at 250 yards on a day with mild winds!!! To me that is one of the most fun to shoot rifles I have ever had maybe a close tie with the 10/22! But the 10/22 will not repeatedly bust water bottles like that, squirrels and other small game when the stuff hits the fan!!!
 
Seems like a waste of money, time and space for a vague "what if."

With 27 calibers of my own to support, that money would goes towards my own supply.
 
writeinmo said:
One ammo can of various calibers? I have a full ammo can of each of the ones I use.

I'm sure you do. As do I. But that isn't the point of the box, of this thread. ;)

Here is a sample of my 9x19 ammo cans. You can get just about 1,200 loose rounds into each .30 can.

48f0096e.gif
 
...I'm not sure I agree with your premise, I would put having my own ammo supply above having ammo for other people. Its expensive enough stocking ammo for your own weapons that you'll actually use...


This ^^^^^^^^

Nothing left to say really other than I'm not in the habit of running around helping out other people too dumb to handle their own business like adults.
Especially in a SHTF scenario as you put it.

"WHY" would I want to support somebody who has a whole house full of guns yet no ammo?
That sounds exactly like the totally silly kind of person I would "NOT" want anywhere in the world near me in a SHTF type circumstance at all.
The situation may be more than difficult enough as it is just to care for me and mine, without trying to save every idiot that comes along.
 
SabbathWolf said:
"WHY" would I want to support somebody who has a whole house full of guns yet no ammo?
That sounds exactly like the totally silly kind of person I would "NOT" want anywhere in the world near me in a SHTF type circumstance at all.
The situation may be more than difficult enough as it is just to care for me and mine, without trying to save every idiot that comes along.

So my neighbor, who was fresh out of the Marine Corp (honorable discharge, of course, former Marine not ex), who was licensed to carry, who was from Texas and had brought his guns with him when he moved to GA but had not brought any ammo, and had not bothered to buy any ammo since moving...why would I "NOT" want him anywhere near me in a SHTF type circumstance?

Then you have the people who go to the range, shoot all of their ammo, plan to buy more at Walmart later ('cause it's cheaper), then manage to not want to spend the money OR get super unlucky and crap happens before they get their Walmart run completed.

Please don't try to tell me that a person without ammunition for their guns is automatically and necessarily an idiot that is not trustworthy enough to be armed. Blanket statements like that are generally a bad idea.

BTW: I have no idea where you got the "whole house full of guns" part from. Most likely the person with a gun but no ammo for it (or not enough ammo for it...) won't have a "house full" of guns, but rather one or two. In my experience, of course.
 
Last edited:
Do you handload?
How many rounds per week are you shooting?

I have dedicated 38 and 44 Special revolvers, but I shoot handloaded 357/44mag to stay in shape along with several other service calibers.
 
Seriously, people spend way too much time on this whole "hit the fan" stuff (who puts enough stuff in a fan to come up with that phrase anyhow?:neener:)

However, if I were to prep for that remote kind of possibility, I would buy a spare gun and stock some ammo etc... for it. Then if I needed to give it to someone, i could hand them both the gun and the ammo, and they would practically owe me their soul in return. This avoids the confusion of a box of random ammo, plus I would have another gun to shoot in the meantime.

As for those people who have a gun already but no ammo, usually (at least in my area and family) they are in common calibers like 12 gauge, .22, and .30-06, all of which I have ammo for anyway. My uncle had a .22 rifle in his closet for almost 30 years with not so much as a round to put in it....
 
Seriously, people spend way too much time on this whole "hit the fan" stuff (who puts enough stuff in a fan to come up with that phrase anyhow?:neener:)

However, if I were to prep for that remote kind of possibility, I would buy a spare gun and stock some ammo etc... for it. Then if I needed to give it to someone, i could hand them both the gun and the ammo, and they would practically owe me their soul in return. This avoids the confusion of a box of random ammo, plus I would have another gun to shoot in the meantime.

As for those people who have a gun already but no ammo, usually (at least in my area and family) they are in common calibers like 12 gauge, .22, and .30-06, all of which I have ammo for anyway. My uncle had a .22 rifle in his closet for almost 30 years with not so much as a round to put in it....
+1

Nice common sense approach, kinda hard to shoot ammo you don't have guns for. Plus, if you buy ammo you don't have guns for, how do you test for reliability?
 
2zulu1 said:
Do you handload?
How many rounds per week are you shooting?

I have dedicated 38 and 44 Special revolvers, but I shoot handloaded 357/44mag to stay in shape along with several other service calibers.

I do not reload. Yet.

Not enough.


crazyjennyblack said:
Seriously, people spend way too much time on this whole "hit the fan" stuff (who puts enough stuff in a fan to come up with that phrase anyhow?)

However, if I were to prep for that remote kind of possibility, I would buy a spare gun and stock some ammo etc... for it. Then if I needed to give it to someone, i could hand them both the gun and the ammo, and they would practically owe me their soul in return. This avoids the confusion of a box of random ammo, plus I would have another gun to shoot in the meantime.

As for those people who have a gun already but no ammo, usually (at least in my area and family) they are in common calibers like 12 gauge, .22, and .30-06, all of which I have ammo for anyway. My uncle had a .22 rifle in his closet for almost 30 years with not so much as a round to put in it....

That is a great point, and part of my future plans. I could even give out a gun or two right now, if they were really deserving. Just milsurp rifles though. However, spare firearms that are not craptacular cost a LOT more than some extra boxes of ammunition...and they hurt the wallet (even if psychological) a lot more than adding a box of a different caliber to every 2nd or 3rd sizeable ammunition purchase.

I do believe I am already approaching the point of diminishing returns where the most common and likely calibers are covered. A few more rifle calibers, maybe .357sig, .22 mag and I might be at that point.

If I could buy very good/excellent condition Yugo 59/66 SKSs for $130 shipped, which is what I paid for mine, I would just buy a couple of those. I also consider a handgun or two, something inexpensive that still works, for the future. Maybe a simple inexpensive .38spl revolver. I also consider a ~$250 range 12 gauge pump.
 
So my neighbor, who was fresh out of the Marine Corp (honorable discharge, of course, former Marine not ex), who was licensed to carry, who was from Texas and had brought his guns with him when he moved to GA but had not brought any ammo, and had not bothered to buy any ammo since moving...why would I "NOT" want him anywhere near me in a SHTF type circumstance?

Then you have the people who go to the range, shoot all of their ammo, plan to buy more at Walmart later ('cause it's cheaper), then manage to not want to spend the money OR get super unlucky and crap happens before they get their Walmart run completed.

Please don't try to tell me that a person without ammunition for their guns is automatically and necessarily an idiot that is not trustworthy enough to be armed. Blanket statements like that are generally a bad idea.

BTW: I have no idea where you got the "whole house full of guns" part from. Most likely the person with a gun but no ammo for it (or not enough ammo for it...) won't have a "house full" of guns, but rather one or two. In my experience, of course.


Someone elses ammo supply is not your problem. Period.
You can take that any way you want to.
If I went to the range and shot up all my ammo, then that would be "MY" fault...not yours.
I'd not be expecting somebody else to refill my stock for me.
In fact, I'd never have shot up "all" my ammo in the first place.
Your friend is silly and you're a rube.
That's how I see it anyways.
Don't care if you agree with me or not.
I'll NEVER place myself in his position or yours either.
 
You would be better off buying batteries, flashlights, first aid supplies, potable water, nonperishable food items, etc instead of stocking up on weird obsolete military ammo.

If you want to start an ammo collection, start an ammo collection.

If you want to prepare for disaster, prepare for disaster instead of obsessing about corner cases and buying 7.65 Longue and .310 shotshells for your neighbors.
 
It's not a bad idea, in theory. But I would limit it to the really common calibers.
I mean, you've got to have an excuse for the wife when you buy something in a new caliber, right?
 
If I were to stock extra ammo for use by others (family and friends wanting to go shooting, etc.), it would only be in calibers for guns that I own. Probably in the following calibers/gauges:

.22LR
.380
.38 Special
9X19
.45ACP

.223
7.62X39
7.62X51
.30-06
.30-30

12GA
20GA
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top