Quantity of components to keep on hand for hunting?

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Scout21

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Not sure whether to post this here or in Hunting. I've got enough components to load a couple hundred rounds of deer/hog ammo. I'm wondering how much ya'll keep on hand for your hunting firearms. I'm particularly interested in big game, but small game and varmints would be cool to hear about, as well.
 
Not sure whether to post this here or in Hunting. I've got enough components to load a couple hundred rounds of deer/hog ammo. I'm wondering how much ya'll keep on hand for your hunting firearms. I'm particularly interested in big game, but small game and varmints would be cool to hear about, as well.
I keep a ridiculous amount. But calculate your target shooting round count for session prep. Add that to 6l the amount you use per season. Then multiply that times 5.
It would get you through the lean times.
 
Rocks, bottles, vermin, varmints, paper targets and such get cheap stuff. Food critters get the good stuff and that stuff is expen$ive so I only buy when it's on sale. I think I have enough .30 and .35 cal bullets for 2 or 3 more seasons. Brass isn't going to be a problem for at least 4 seasons. I have a lifetime supply of large rifle primers. I may need more IMR 4064 and 3031 next year.
 
I have at least 100 factory rounds on hand. When Norma whitetail was 24.99 a box I bought 6 boxes. Should I need to hunt they are ready. In a one shot one kill hunting 100 is a lot of meat. Most places have take limits. Take the number of tags you can get multiply by 4, the years of a term and have at least that many.
 
For hunting medium animals, I keep a box 20 rounds and a magazine full of 30-30 down at the farm for guests. The first box lasted years, about half way through the 2nd. Doesn’t take much if all you are doing is killing.

Here at the house I think I am “out” and time to reorder if I open the last case (5000) of a particular primer but that’s for uses outside hunting.
 
Not sure whether to post this here or in Hunting. I've got enough components to load a couple hundred rounds of deer/hog ammo. I'm wondering how much ya'll keep on hand for your hunting firearms. I'm particularly interested in big game, but small game and varmints would be cool to hear about, as well.
don’t forget to diversify!
 
Not sure whether to post this here or in Hunting. I've got enough components to load a couple hundred rounds of deer/hog ammo. I'm wondering how much ya'll keep on hand for your hunting firearms. I'm particularly interested in big game, but small game and varmints would be cool to hear about, as well.

If asking about yourself, which seems to be the only relevant thing that matters, you have to make a few calls on some things. The first one is if you believe ammo and/or components will continue to be available into the foreseeable future. Cyclical perhaps, but available. If you think that, then a 5 year supply, consisting of all ammo fired. Targets and hunting.

I went one step further. I asked myself what would happen if the chronic shortages of components became permanent? So I fixed it........I won't run out ever. But it helps that my annual fire rate is on the low end of what most consider average. So my lifetime duration stash is on the low end for many around here. And being old enough to be on Medicare, the lifetime duration I have to worry about is also less than most. Good news is my descendants won't be wanting for ammo for a while either......unless they sell it, in which case that will be their fault.
 
I really like to have 40-60 hunting rounds loaded per gun. And enough components for a minimum of another 200 rounds when I need to stock the bullet holder back up.

That said, I apply the wife in 4 states each year and I apply in 7-8. Only had 1 tag last year and only 1 this year. And this year’s is a Muzzy tag.

Last year I shot 1 4 shot group at the range with the gun I took, then 3 shots during the season. So they last a very long time. That said, I have right at 40 rounds loaded for my 7 mag, and only 109 bullets to load. It’s been a weekly search to find another 100.

My wife’s gun I have more loaded because that’s her only center fire rifle.

I have a California rifle, 2 out of state rifles and a couple of coyote rifles. Then I have numerous semiautomatic rifles that I load generously for. But I don’t hunt with any of those.

So I guess my answer is 40-60 rounds on hand, components for 200 more.
 
I have about 600 bullets suitable for loading in .30-30 & .308, plus about 200 for .35 Remington, and around 200 for .458 Win Mag (Not my plinkers), so for hunting I am set for life.

Varmints? Well, can anyone have a lifetime supply?
 
The first one is if you believe ammo and/or components will continue to be available into the foreseeable future. Cyclical perhaps, but available. If you think that, then a 5 year supply, consisting of all ammo fired. Targets and hunting.
This is what I was thinking. I shoot about 50-100 rounds of centerfire a year, both shooting paper and hunting. I'm new to reloading, so I can see that number doubling, at least. I'm thinking eight years worth would be nice to comfortably weather the most turbulent climates. I could always slow down on my use if it seems that the situation isn't getting better.

I'm thinking about 2000 rounds worth of components to keep handy. Will certainly take time to work up to that though. Definitely will have to watch for sales.
 
I've gotten around the logistics issues lately by streamlining my supply chain. IMR 4604? Check. 150 gr Speer? Check. I can load all things 30 cal with effective hunting loads up to 2000 rounds. I bought a fair amount when available. This powder also serves my target and competitive needs. I also substitute random buys for practice and plinker ammo, saving my first line stock for special purposes. For my 280 rem, which I do load for peak performance, I keep a rolling inventory of around 100 - 200 rounds worth, replacing when I hit the 100 mark.
 
BTW, if my short history lesson has taught me anything......it is if you need to be long on any one component......it best be primers. Powder next and bullets last. That seems to be the reverse order things started showing up. That and if you take care of it, just about all of it stores well. Lone exceptions might be plastic shot shell wads and perhaps lead shot (oxidizes). But even those will last longer than it matters for me.
 
I try to keep 100 rounds loaded with best loads using premimum bullets for each firearm I own. I also maintain at least 1000 components to load with for each as well. Then a few K more primers for a minimum. Then add in all the other shooting I do for the heck of it just for fun. I always buy on sale when possible and feel buying when cheap is nothimg more than a hedge against inflation or supply issues. I have yet to change my shooting habits for the last 3 years and don't need to restock anything at this rate for the next six or more years before I might need to slow down any.
My biggest problem is keeping track of primers and propellant in three seperate locations to satisfy insurance requirements and maintain them from extreme enviroments.
 
BTW, if my short history lesson has taught me anything......it is if you need to be long on any one component......it best be primers. Powder next and bullets last. That seems to be the reverse order things started showing up. That and if you take care of it, just about all of it stores well. Lone exceptions might be plastic shot shell wads and perhaps lead shot (oxidizes). But even those will last longer than it matters for me.
I'm using wads and shot from the 80s.
A friend's grandfather-in-law died and he was given all the gun stuff. He gave all the non rifle stuff to be.
It definitely has a long shelf life.
 
I don't believe I have a tremendous excess of hunting ammo / components but at age 72, I wonder how long I'll be able to continue.
If I can squeeze another 10 plus, that would be cool.

Now, I just loaded 50 rounds of 30-30 with enough stuff on the shelf to load at least a few hundred more. ( varget, speer deep curls).
My 760 pump 06 has about 50 loaded and stuff for a few hundred more ( Barnes ttsxx / I 4064).

My National Ordnance 1903A3 is right there at 50 plus ready and parts for 3 or 400 more.

My Rem 700 7mm mag has 150 or better ( some factory some Nosler Balistic tips and I 4350 ).

My Tikka T3x in .300 wm is in load developement stage. I have about 60 or 70 Hammer Hunter 160s and a few pounds of RL23. A box of 165 Nosler accubonds is coming and I have another 50 on the shelf.

My Savage 111 in .300 WM has 40 loaded ( 180gr Accubonds and I 4350.

The new Henry in .44 is also in load developement with the latest being XTPs and Lilgun. The H110/ W296 just haven't grouped as well as I'd like with .429s or XTPs. I don't have 2400 yet.

I'd say Im.Ok on hunt ammo.

Now, even though my state does not allow semi rifles for deer, I've worked a deer load with Sierra Gamechangers and I4064 in case it ever becomes legal. My PA10 would like a chance.

I don't believe I'd try using an AR for deer. Not that it won't do the job.

The revolvers in .44, 41 and 357 all have a few hundred rounds ready.

With all that ready, I've been shooting more deer with my cross bow.

Maybe from some else's perspective maybe that's excess.

I should shoot more.
 
I still have 2 bricks of Fed LRP and load up from my two boys and myself, Each person has 50 rounds to take for site-in and hunting. And we don't go through them as quickly now as before the plague. I'm not too worried, there seems to be lots of .270 and 30,06 store ammo now. I also have a brick of cap-lock caps and several pounds black powder. I was happy to stumble upon an estate sale in 2018 that included lots of LRP primers selling at 40% off old pricing.
 
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