Managing your stockpile in uncertain times

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As ridiculous as it sounds, I've quite frequently lately left very useable and desirable components on the shelves. Knowing the next guy in might buy them up and gouge someone's eyes out reselling, and now that I'm starting to load 9mm, I'd like to have more 115gr bullets instead of using the 124-125gr stuff I've accumulated for 38 Super. If I'd had the funds, I could have picked up a solid 4-5000 .355 and .356 bullets in the last 2 weeks in LGS.
 
My experience is backwards from most posters in this thread. Most all my ammo that are reloads are dated 1996 thru 2003. This ammo is stored in a cool, dry, controlled environment, some in military grade ammo cans and some in plastic boxes that seem to work very well. I have a decent supply of powder in 1# factory containers and in the last year I have managed to get a pound or two of the new popular powders. CFE223, Staball 6.5, Superformance, Longshot, Tac, along with my HS-6, H-110, H 414 ect. I have a good supply of 9mm and .400 bullets, .224's in various weights, .25, .270, 7mm, & .308's in a good variety of hunting and match bullets, new brass in calibers I no longer even have rifles for. Anybody know how long powder will last in the factory containers? So far it all still goes boom when I pull the trigger. I am just in the last 6 months getting back into shooting. Didn't realize how much I missed it. Love punching holes in paper a long way off and taking care of groundhogs for some friends with a .17HMR.
 
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I've been preparing for times like this for over 20 years. I store two years of supplies on hand so I don have to get gouged. I've not varied my shooting but getting a lane at the range is almost as difficult as finding primers.

I guess if there was a zombie apocalypse I'd horde.
 
I've been a reloader for several years and started looking into casting about 2 years ago. I didn't buy anything then and am having difficulty even finding molds now - at least with the cheaper LEE molds in anything popular. Some of their regular equipment is "able to backorder" at most locations also. You know it's bad when casting equipment is unavailable.
 
I've been a reloader for several years and started looking into casting about 2 years ago. I didn't buy anything then and am having difficulty even finding molds now - at least with the cheaper LEE molds in anything popular. Some of their regular equipment is "able to backorder" at most locations also. You know it's bad when casting equipment is unavailable.

Titan reloading is a master distributor for Lee and they will take backorders. I ordered a 6 banger lee mold for the 105 grain SWC 38 mold a few weeks ago and got a shipping confirmation on Thursday.
 
I still like going to the range, but i shoot 1/2 of what I would normally shoot in a month. One thing I always do is ask the range if they have ammo available. Of course, if they do, they limit how much one can purchase. While it is more expensive than when all this started, they are good about not price gouging. So, if they do have ammo (typically look for 9mm and 40 S&W), I'll buy a couple of boxes to supplement my shooting. The other thing I do, is once and awhile I'll venture out and look to see if there's any ammo on the shelves for sale. It's usually steel cased, and while I don't normally use it, it is definitely better than nothing.

I should probably store what I purchase, but I haven't started doing that yet. I think I have enough stockpile in supplies to continue my hobby. If however, I were to run out of the most critical part of reloading (primers), Rather than dig into my stores, I'd definitely stop going to the range.

Hopefully it won't come to that and supplies (primers) will eventually come back in stock.

CH
 
I actually haven't been shooting lately. I spent the summer shooting mostly black powder in the forest. Now I have curtailed such so as not to screw things up for hunters that have tags in that area. Haven't been to my range since March because it is indoors and I am avoiding people, but sooner or later I will mask up and go at a low volume time simply to scratch the itch. Thank God it is hunting season again.
 
I have built up a supply of reloading components to last me 5+ years at my normal pace. Covid slowed me down considerably and this extended my length of use. Still if things go wonky I'll slow or stop unnecessary shooting as required. Last time my 38SPL was cheaper than .22 to shoot and renewable as well so that was what I did.
 
I'm wondering how folks are managing the current panic?

I've developed a strategy over the last couple and am now forced to implement.

First is logistical chain. I've simplified my component choices in favor of versatility, and purchased needed items in quantity. Check, good to go.

Second is accumulating "random stuff" as I go. Have been able to add misc components useful to my needs quite cheaply over the years. "Old" looking stuff has been used/phased out. New, sealed stuff stockpiled.

Third is diversification. I have a lot of oddball metric military calibers with surplus ammo purchased very cheaply. I'm familiar with the concept of cost amortization in terms of purchase for long term storage, but this ammo is in containers engineered for such use, so price at the time is to me inconsequential when it guarantees an ammo supply for times such as these (within a reasonable time frame). This is my go-to for times when I cannot replace components for first line loads. Time to dig deep in the safe to itch my trigger finger, and experiment with some new loads from the "random stuff" pile.

I simply refuse to shoot less. I will concentrate on using up surplus components and ammo, and concentrate on calibers that are either expendable or replaceable until times improve or I am able to stock some first line stuff. That being said, my standard match and hunting ammo and components thereof are off limits except for zeroing, hunting and matches until further notice.
I've been a reloader for several years and started looking into casting about 2 years ago. I didn't buy anything then and am having difficulty even finding molds now - at least with the cheaper LEE molds in anything popular. Some of their regular equipment is "able to backorder" at most locations also. You know it's bad when casting equipment is unavailable.
If you're really hungry custom molds are always available and almost never on backorder. It is true that Lee is cheap and I would have to agree effective because I like My lee molds but if you have to wait a year for a die and can get a noe mold in 2 weeks what is the better choice
 
Got some fun in today. Dusted off the Gew 11 Swiss. Shooting some random 110 grain carbine bullets I found digging deep. I just ordered a replacement for these that I found in stock as I plan to do more of this kind of shooting as I have lots of LR primers and several .30 cal military rifles that need more love. Pushing them with 14gr Power pistol from my "random stuff" pile. Was a lot of fun dinging the ranging gong at 200m on the silhouette range, and satisfying to not be burning 42.5gr IMR4064 and a 155BTHP from my first line stash. 400m setting and significant Kentucky windage to connect with the 12" gong. Kinda like shooting GP11 at the same target 500m away!
 
I've been fortunate to have enough components to last a god long time. Like stated earlier, I refuse to shoot less....I'm in the process of reloading a number of pistol cartridges for both handguns and long guns....if things get real wonky, I can go back to casting my own bullets.
I have read a number of articles over the years about reusing primers..sounds like a lot of trouble but it's do-able.
Yeah, seen those too. Saving the caps and anvils. May be the new pennies and nickels one day. Capgun caps and matches were the only filles i saw so far (vids), but are there others?
 
My father is 87 years old; all of his life, he was confident that he knew what the future would bring. Sometimes he was correct and sometimes he was wrong but one thing was sure about all of his future predictions, they were nothing more than a guess. If I had the handle on the future like some profess, I would not be wasting my time investing in ammunition.
 
I get a chuckle from various forums and videos about people panicking that they can't find the ammo to continue their 1000+ round a month lifestyle running around playing wannabe Operator.

Heavens to Betsey, what will they do now???
 
I am well overstocked in most areas. Maybe not small pistol primers. Will shoot the .41 Mag instead of the .357 and the 9mm. I sorta liked buying components and have not gotten to shoot much in the last couple of years so I am ahead. Plus I have been able to get stuff. Found powder and primers yesterday. Had to wait a month to get brass from Starline but it came yesterday. Still waiting for Bayou Bullets but last month Acme had bullets in stock and shipped right away so the Bayou are future inventory. I do not see why the current situation with reloading supplies has two be a long term thing anyway. Ammo, maybe. Gun inventories will catch back up. Maybe a year. Probably less. I want another handgun and if I can find it I will probably buy it before the end of the year in case the Democrats get full control. Gun companies probably going to get hit hard.
 
A friend of mine and I used to volunteer to clean a public range for a few years, benefit being able to collect the brass. The range unexpectedly closed down and no more brass. He always felt that we always had access to all we wanted and there was no reason to hoard it. I was always like a squirrel and hoarded plenty. Fast forward to today and he can't find it anywhere in calibers he's looking for. I've given him some, but not letting my stockpile suffer because of his poor planning. I keep common brass for calibers I don't load in the event I end up with a gun to use it in, or to trade for something I can use. Try to keep assortment of powders that can be used in many different loads so as not to have dozens of powders for individual loads.
 
I have started to be conscious of how much ammo I use on each range trip. I like to shoot once a week and have kind of settled into a routine. 60 rounds of 9mm, 30 rounds of .45 and 30 rounds of .223 is a typical day. At that rate if I couldn't add anything to my stockpile I'd be good for about a year. I haven't been shooting my .22's as I can reload 9mm for about the same price as that ammo is going for now, and I don't have a real good stockpile of .22LR.

I buy components when I can afford them and can find them, but if current conditions continue or get worse I'll have to cut back even more on my shooting. Brass and powder hasn't been a problem but bullets when I can find them are expensive and of course primers are pretty much unavailable, unless you are willing to pay truly ridiculous prices.
 
Yup. Those are possibilities, plus you can get real serious and get a copy of the anarchist cookbook.
I was always concerned with some watchlist regarding the book and thus didn't ever justify looking into it. Haven't heard about it since high school, lol. So, they have entries on reloading components? Makes sense, just a surprise. Thought it was all potato guns and smoking bananna peels.
 
My father is 87 years old; all of his life, he was confident that he knew what the future would bring. Sometimes he was correct and sometimes he was wrong but one thing was sure about all of his future predictions, they were nothing more than a guess. If I had the handle on the future like some profess, I would not be wasting my time investing in ammunition.

Those who do not study history are condemned to repeat it. I am a student of History, the majority of US citizens are not. (THR members tend to be better than the average.) I know what is coming, I still hold hope against hope that it does not happen in my lifetime, but either way, I have prepared, trained, and equipped myself and my sons for a worst case scenario. My philosophy on shooting and loading and managing inventory is an at least 2:1 ratio of loading to shooting, and higher in times like this, basically shooting enough to keep the proficiency up, and that mostly with pistol. Rifle I am not worried about, nor shotgun, although I shot Trap leagues this year. I buy components out of almost every paycheck. My ongoing project is filling .50 cal cans with 840 rounds in bandolieers, and I usually get the brass at the range. I also bought cheap and stacked deep of surplus ammo for my milsurps. I bought ammo every paycheck at work, .223 Wolf or 7.62x39 Wolf until we stopped selling it, and on good checks (bonus, OT) some .22 LR.

And tea made from crushed Morning Glory seeds....

Groovy.....
 
I have started to be conscious of how much ammo I use on each range trip. I like to shoot once a week and have kind of settled into a routine. 60 rounds of 9mm, 30 rounds of .45 and 30 rounds of .223 is a typical day. At that rate if I couldn't add anything to my stockpile I'd be good for about a year. I haven't been shooting my .22's as I can reload 9mm for about the same price as that ammo is going for now, and I don't have a real good stockpile of .22LR.

I buy components when I can afford them and can find them, but if current conditions continue or get worse I'll have to cut back even more on my shooting. Brass and powder hasn't been a problem but bullets when I can find them are expensive and of course primers are pretty much unavailable, unless you are willing to pay truly ridiculous prices.

I wouldn't be able to shoot like that.

With every box of ammo I have, I assess it's value to me for another 3 mags worth of hole punching now or usefulness to my son or daughter in 20 or 30 years.
 
At my age I have enuf reloads & components to last my lifetime. You can tell this when you see me loading 38 spl. for something to do.
 
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Covid and kids daily tele-schooling have cut into on my bi-weekly range trips considerably so I haven’t been burning through primers like I was in the past.

That being said, I can see close to the bottom of my SPP well so I’m not going to shoot through 600-800 .38 and .357 a month like I was at this time last year.

The next couple of range trips will be a rimfire fest, I’m going to work on methodically practicing the fundamentals to try and stay sharp :).

Stay safe.
 
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