How much ammo?

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Warners

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I'm sure this has been asked before, but I'm curious to find out how much ammo (for each caliber) that folks generally consider keeping "in stock". Since I started reloading late last year, my goal is to have at least 1,000 rounds for each of the pistol calibers that I reload for (9x18, 9x19, .38, and .45acp), and at least 100 rounds for my 30-30 and 30-06 rifles. What do you guys keep around?

Let me know and thanks,

Warner
 
Enough to cover one year's shooting needs, even if you don't reload or buy any ammo.

Shortages have taught us this.

Or you could spend a year playing golf.

I have nineteen rounds of 7.65 Mauser for my Luger.
That should cover me for many years.

I have nineteen BOXES of 9mm ball ammo.
That may not be enough.

I have made the mistake of acquiring excess inventory for certain rounds.
At first it seems like "insurance."
Let me assure you, as the years pass, and that stuff doesn't get used, it aint "insurance." Its just a burden and liability.

Don't let the voices on the internet convince you that some oversize stockpile of ammo, that you will never shoot, is some kind of "investment."
Two pounds of gold is a way better investment than two THOUSAND pounds of ammo.
Moving-day comes for everybody. Stressful enough without adding a truckload of ammo.
Be wise in choosing your burdens.
 
It depends. How much shooting do you do and what are the possibilities of need according to the area you live? No need to have 10,000 gallons of gasoline if your only need for gas is a moped.....
 
Well, money is definitely in shorter supply than storage space.
All the more reason to buy a bunch when you find a good price.

I have never regretted stretching the budget to buy low price ammo. For instance I am still shooting $4.38 a box WWB 9mm ammo and $54/1,000 Wolf 7.62x39, $4.00 a box 30.06, etc.


As far as how much to have on hand?
I'd say for the average shooter, stock up what you will shoot in a year, plus at least a thousand rounds of every caliber you shoot.
To some a thousand rounds may sound lke a lot but it goes fast. Recently I put over a thousand 9mm through a new Ruger LC9 in eight days. (the gun functioned flawlessly)

Personally, I buy a bunch of factory ammo when I find a good deal, plus I reload, A LOT.
 
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Don't let the voices on the internet convince you that some oversize stockpile of ammo, that you will never shoot, is some kind of "investment."
Two pounds of gold is a way better investment than two THOUSAND pounds of ammo.


I strongly disagree with this statement. While gold has always have some value in society it has a lot of disadvantages such as being heavy to carry on your person and to transport and to use for small purchases. How do you pay for small puchase with solid gold and more importantly what do you get back has change? What other purpose gold serve? You cannot eat it, use it for fuel, clothing and food and it cannot be planted to grow food or as a hunting weapon.

With ammunition I don't need gold as I now have the means to take it from you. Also bullets are easily carried and transported and are in small units for use in purchases. Let's see Sir, you paid me with 10 30-06 rounds so your change is 5 9mm rounds. With fire, shelter and a means to kill game for meat I can survive for a long time.
 
To me, it's all situation dependent. I have the ammo that I practice with, which typically doesn't exceed 1500 rounds, depending on caliber(22 LR obviously is to cheap to not buy all you can, as is 7.62x39, for example) Then there's my "Uh-oh" supply. Not every caliber is stocked, just my main "fighting weapons". Despite the fact that I for one wouldn't be looking to get in a post apocalyptic TIC, and would be trying to lay low, I like the reassurance that when the lesser prepared meth addicted neighbors of mine show up to take my food, I have ammo to put up as best a fight as I can. I like 5000 for my AK, 1000 of .45 ACP, and then of course some rounds put back for the 45-70 to hunt with. Granted, I'm in a very remote area so I may have to much put back in that regards, but unlike my practice ammo, that stock doesn't get touched
 
14,080 rounds of 7.62x54R.

I can feed a lot of Mosin's with that, for a long time.

Here, you get a rifle.

The next 10 of you get ammo.

(Heheh)
 
Also, everyone and their brother has a Mosin at this point, it seems. So, makes sense to stock it as a bartering tool!

Not like it's going to go DOWN in value. All surplus ammo goes up in price. Period. No exceptions.
 
I don't keep an awful lot around, but I try to have components for several thousand more. That's one reason we started casting our own bullets, since that's the most expensive part usually.
 
I try to keep at least 1000 rounds in .45acp, 9mm, and .22LR, 500 rounds in .223 and .22-250, and 200 rounds in .308. I often have two or three times that on hand, especially 9mm and .22LR as that is what I (and the wife) shoot in the highest volume. Just had 1000 each of .45 and 9 delivered Monday.

I'm not especially worried about SHTF Days, Zombie Attacks, or Massive Riot Week, but I've found I save about 40% and a lot of time buying in bulk.
 
After the 1980s talk about taxing ammo at exorbitant rates "to control crime", I made a point of keeping a 5 year supply and rotating it (last in,first out) as I restocked.

Shooting in modern and vintage military matches, I have found that sometimes supplies of .30 Carbine and .45ACP FMJ can be seasonal, especially .30 carbine. I learned to stock this fall for next year's matches.

How much? A lot.
 
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I'm curious to find out how much ammo (for each caliber) that folks generally consider keeping "in stock". Since I started reloading late last year, my goal is to have at least 1,000 rounds for each of the pistol calibers that I reload for (9x18, 9x19, .38, and .45acp), and at least 100 rounds for my 30-30 and 30-06 rifles. What do you guys keep around?

Let me know and thanks,

Warner
You mean you don't "collect" ammo for a hobby ;) (that's the "PC" way to put it).

*Edited to add: Maybe I'm paranoid but I would not advocate IMO a 'round-count' on this in a public forum :uhoh:. But that's just me. I figure it's really 'difficult' relatively speaking to keep a lot of firearms information private, but at least we don't have to record ammo transactions quite yet...So I figure why not keep at least the ammo data kind of quiet?
 
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Not enough. But if I had 20ft box truck loaded to the max, it still wouldn't be enough. It doesn't matter why I have the ammo, if I can't use it all up I have friends and family that will. But right now I keep at least 100 7.62x54, 500 .223, 500 .45acp, 100 or so of various 12ga, and whatever else is laying around. No such thing as too much ammo if you have the money and storage space.
 
All but 1 of my handguns are 9mm. I currently have about 1000rds. I want to have around 2000rds on hand. I have 3 AR15's and 1 Arsenal ak chambered in 5.56. I currently have about 1000rds 5.56 and would like to get that to 2000rds as well. I have around 60rds 30-06 for my deer rifle and would like to have around 200rds. Lastly I have 2 22lr handguns and around 1000rds and would like to get that number to 5000+.
Oh yeah I got a .357 ruger gp100 with around 80rds and want to get that number to 250rds.
 
This thread started me thinking about how much ammo I have stashed. I really don't know. I need to take a rainy Saturday and do an inventory.
 
My primary handguns are 9mm...I have about 7k rounds on hand.

My primary Rifles are .223/5.56mm...I have about 5k rounds on hand.

Just buy as much as you can. If its something that you enjoy, and want to continue to enjoy, stocking up now will save you cash in the long run. I bought all my ammo before the price hikes and stored it well. In 5 -10 years you will thank yourself...inflation alone is crazy.

http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm
 
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