Ammo storage/stockpile question

[Ledgehammer]

OK, I've got a couple hundred rounds of ammo that I keep for each caliber gun I own, but my question is do you guys store JHP defense ammo or just FMJ stuff? I personally just keep enough JHP for a couple magazines in each gun. Obviously this is because of the price, but I also think if the SHTF I cold make do with fmj and not be as worried about over penetration as I am currently. Your thoughts...

Also IMO 230 grain .45 fmj is big enough to do the job quite well.

 

[Cosmoline]

The point of stockpiling ammo is to take advantage of bargains and have a stock of it for the range. It's not really going to be of much use in a disaster, except perhaps as currency. It's too heavy to tote and you can't eat it.

 

[Strahley]

I stock both. Trying to prevent over-penetration isn't the only reason we use JHP

 

[Dogguy]

If I find a good price on a favored JHP, I'll buy as much as I can afford and store it for future use and rotation. I shoot a lot of FMJ at the range so I keep a good bit of it on hand for every caliber.

I'm not really into all the SHTF and TEOTWAWKI survival preparation stuff.

 

[Ledgehammer]

I stock both. Trying to prevent over-penetration isn't the only reason we use JHP

I understand that it's not the only reason we use it. To me it's just the biggest drawback to fmj in a civillian self defense situation. I know FMJ will get the job done if you hit accurately.

I shoot a lot of FMJ at the range so I keep a good bit of it on hand for every caliber.

Same here. I try to have enough so I don't have to purchase ammo every time I go to the range. It can make the difference between a $15 dollar range and a $50.

 

[Shadow 7D]

The point of stockpiling ammo is to take advantage of bargains and have a stock of it for the range. It's not really going to be of much use in a disaster, except perhaps as currency. It's too heavy to tote and you can't eat it.

You can trade bullets for beans, but a wise man would say, you should keep the bullets and grow your beans... As for currency, the nasty fact is having lots of it tends to attract unwanted attention. Why do bank reside in substantial buildings with big vaults?

but I also think if the SHTF I cold make do with fmj

We don't play that game here (hint hint READ THE FORUM RULES)

And like Cosmo said, have you ever LUGGED ammo around, its VERY heavy, Consider a soldier has 210 rounds loaded in magazine, then more in his ruck, but then, a machinegunner, or AG, or worse, ammo bearer will have 80% of the weight in his ruck being JUST ammo.

 

[Ledgehammer]

I think this thread is going in the wrong direction. Let me try and clarify.

To the people who stock pile ammo. Do you store FMJ or JHP? The reason I ask is because JHP can be considerably more expensive. It can add up to thousands of dollars just sitting on your shelf. Don't make a lot of sense to me that's all.

 

[VP]

For handguns, JHP.... and the reason goes with what Cosmoline said. I try to get good buys on JHP. That way I shoot one round all the time. I like doing this because then I see how the ammo reacts in my weapons consistently (instead of just running a box and carrying it). I did occasionally buy Magtech, Federal, or Winchester Whitebox paper punchers for just that. I actually shot 200rds of paper punchers today.

 

[catnphx]

I store both but the FMJ outweighs my JHP ammo by about 5:1 (as of today). Of course, that ratio changes based on my usage from week to week and deals that I find.

 

[seed]

I look for deals on FMJ and then order 500-1000 rounds of whatever caliber it is. I then piggyback one to two boxes of the same caliber JHP rounds that I like that the site has available, on the same order. Over time, I end up with enough of both types and it makes sense in terms of shipping costs.

 

[psyshack]

I reload the heck out of ammo. So yes I have my share put up. And all of it is JHP.

 

[Dr.Rob]

There is some hard to get hunting ammo for my 44 that I like to keep a new boxes of around.

9mm Winchester silvertips aren't that easy to find anymore so when I find them I buy a few boxes.

 

[Frozen North]

I don't pile up JHP because it is expensive, plain and simple. I have a select round that I use for carry, I shoot a couple boxes a year to insure reliability. After I know what the recoil feels like and know it will cycle in my gun, I will rarely keep more than 200 rounds on the shelf. The 200 rounds will usually be bought when someone has a sale or free shipping offer.

The amount of FMJ I have on hand depends on how great of a deal I can get on it and how closely the great deals occur. I am buying 9mm 100rds a pop at the LGS right now because I am broke and have not seen a great bulk deal lately.

As far as SHTF, I would put my money in a water treatment system and MRE's.

I have a big pile of 7,62x54r for angry hoards of hot water heaters and refrigerators though!!! Got me a deal on spam cans!

 

[Byrd666]

In my own assessment of this situation I have come to this conclusion. Buy what you'll need to have in bulk when available. Buy what you're going to practice with in bulk when available. Buy your preferred ammunition in bulk when available. An unloaded weapon/sidearm/firearm is nothing but a very good looking and expensive paperweight.

Side note - My last ammo. purchase was 500 rounds of Remington SJHP 125 grn. .357 Mag. just because I was down to my last 200+- rnds. left. My next order will/is 1000 rnds of Hornady Critical Defense for my 9's. I know it's a pain to move/lug around but, I'd rather have more than I need than not enough. And if you get the right deal, you might as well save the cash now.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

As for defensive rounds (be it hunting or self-defense), I typically keep on the order of 100, maybe 200 rounds, unless I see a great deal. The only exception is my 30-30 lever action as the only thing I really shoot through it is hunting ammo.

I do keep a larger amount of range plinking ammo as it often costs less and gets used much more frequently and in larger volumes since it's waht I mostly take to the range.

 

[Frozen North]

And if you get the right deal, you might as well save the cash now.

And me thinks ammo will only be getting more expensive just like everything else! Ammo has quite a long shelf life if the opportunity presented itself to buy a large quantity at a super deal....

 

[JohnBiltz]

I buy everything bulk anymore. 500 rounds of self defense ammo lasts for years but ammo never gets cheaper.

 

[mgmorden]

When I "stockpile" I tend to do so in reloading components rather than loaded ammo. Not only is the cost - even loaded from scratch - often about the same or cheaper, but powder and primers can be used across just about any of my handguns. Several calibers also can use the same bullets as each other too. Better to stock up on just the parts so that if I decide I want to shoot one gun over the other for a while (because realistically my "stockpile" mostly gets used up at the range), I can use those components where I want rather than having my assets locked up into ammo for a specific gun.

 

[towboat_er]

I have a CZ82 and the ammo (Silver Bear Hollow point)is very reasonably priced at the moment. Therefor I want to keep lots on hand.

 

[doc.lonestar]

I am a firm believer in shooting what you carry - so I tend to stock up on jhp. I can not afford to stock up on 500 rounds of corbon or golden saber for each of my firearms, so I shoot and carry whitebox jhp or usaammo jhp of .38, .40 and .45acp. Like to keep stock of 500 rounds of each, with maybe a tendency to have an extra 150-200 of 45acp (I got way too low during the shortages of 45acp to let it get low again).

On occassion I run across a deal on fmj and will grab what I can, but this is more the odd occassion vs grabbing jhp.

 

[bigfatdave]

To the people who stock pile ammo. Do you store FMJ or JHP?

Both, but the ratio is heavily skewed towards range ammo.
I have a few year's worth of seasonal magazine reloadings on hand for expanding ammo in calibers I actually carry regularly.

Let's not even try to calculate how much .22lr ammo I have on hand, I'll just say that I buy .22 whenever I buy anything else, generally a 500+ round pack.

 

[oneounceload]

I used to but .22 by the case - that's 6250 rounds per case - used to get it for $95OTD at gun shows...not any more.

"Stock piling" has different meaning to different folks - personally, I do not consider 200 rounds "stockpiling". Start adding a zero or three, now you're stockpiling

 

[SFsc616171]

In this day of this sitting President, having more than 'one charge each' of all your magazines, speedloaders, speedstrips, leather slapboards (cowboy shooters know this one), shotgun bandoleros, or ball/patch boards can hold combined, is no sin. It is prudent.

 

[mrmeangenes]

" In this day of this sitting President, having more than 'one charge each' of all your magazines, speedloaders, speedstrips, leather slapboards (cowboy shooters know this one), shotgun bandoleros, or ball/patch boards can hold combined, is no sin. It is prudent. "

Yes, and you can never have enough mortar rounds . You DO keep a mortar tube or two in your SUV or pickup, I hope !

 

[bigfatdave]

In this day of this sitting President

Snerk.
You mean the guy who signed in carry in national parks?