Creating a stash of ammunition in common calibers

[shiftyer1]

Sometimes when I buy a gun it comes with ammo, when I sell the gun I keep the ammo. I've also ended up with some extra calibers i've never owned....not sure how. I don't stock up ammo I can't shoot or food I won't eat. If I end up with it somehow, i'll save it, mostly cuz I forget about it.

 

[GLOOB]

So you have 3600+ rounds of 9mm. And you wanna stock up on "at least a magful" of oddball pistol calibers just in case a neighbor needs it in an emergency? Why not buy an SV-9, a P-95, and a Hi Point. Then you don't have to guess what the "neighbor in distress" might need. Hand him one of your truck guns and a bucket o bullets.

Now rifle ammo, I guess I can see the point of carrying a few common hunting calibers.

 

[Warp]

Gloob: Read the thread, your question has already been answered, I think more than once.

 

[readyeddy]

What I meant was to stock more rounds of the common calibers. So for example maybe 50 rounds of 25 ACP and 200 rounds of 9mm.

 

[Warp]

Ah, I see. Reasonable strategy to be sure.

Most of the handgun calibers are 50 round boxes. Exceptions include 10mm and .44spl. Rifle calibers are all 20 round boxes, I think. Shotgun is only 5-10 shells.

 

[FROGO207]

As I see how it will play out, your heirs will have an excellent ammo collection to sell after you no longer have a need for it. That is the most probable outcome IMHO. +1 for wanting to cover all bases when the unthinkable does happen however.

 

[BADUNAME37]

There could be a time when so many bullets may be swapped for a loaf of bread and maybe a fish or two.

 

[Sgt_R]

Wow, this thread has gotten interesting. I had no idea this would be such a hot topic.

You didn't buy ammo before leaving the area that you knew where the "ammo stores" were, then traveled 1/2 way across the country and didn't see a single Wal-Mart??

I had everything I owned (literally) loaded into my car; I wasn't about to let it out of my sight for more than 5 minutes, especially not in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Besides which, having ammo wouldn't have done me any good on that drive. There are only so many ways to fit a Pelican case into a mid-90's compact sedan, and none of them are easily accessible in an emergency.

The next step of this...what type of round would be best? I have avoided anything +P in case the gun is old, etc, and not rated for +P. I have also tried to stick to round nose FMJ for all of the semi autos, especially the pistols, for the most reliable feeding possible.

That sounds like good thinking to me.

R

 

[David E]

I had everything I owned (literally) loaded into my car; I wasn't about to let it out of my sight for more than 5 minutes, especially not in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

A little forethought would've bought that ammo before packing the car. But at least you realized that Wal-Mart sells ammunition.

 

[danez71]

Cant stop critcising. Must get last word in.

Excercise self control. Let THR return.

 

[David E]

Interestingly, I've recently been going thru my stuff, rechecking/confirming how much ammo I have on hand for each of the various guns. Got more 30-30 than I thought, but not enough 30-06.

I've previously made a couple "kits" that may come in handy.

Buying ammo for calibers I don't have doesn't make as much sense to me as buying more 30-06 or .35 Remington, etc, as I have a current, actual need for it.

If I were to buy calibers I don't have, it would not be in case I inexplicably find someone at my door with a gun, but has no ammo for it. No, it would be for MY use, in case I came across a gun that took it.

There's an argument to be made for standardizing on a few popular calibers, but there's also one to be made for having a wide variety of calibers: you can use almost any ammo you find.

Giving ammo to someone else can open you up for legal problems. Their gun jams on your ammo, they die, family sues. Or their defective gun blows up shooting your "alleged" factory ammo, they sue.

IF I felt compelled to help someone in this way, it would be a trusted friend or family member using a gun I'm familiar with. But I'd rather they use the ammo that's been proven in the gun I also lend them.

 

[HoosierQ]

You need some commie ammo calibers in there. Especially 9x18 for all those Makarovs out there.

This is a little quirky but I see some sense in it. I am not one for SHTF scenarios but in same barter is a good strategy...ammo would presumably be as good as money.

Watched exactly one episode of that Doomsday Preppers thing and there was a bone dry, teetotalling Baptist couple preparing for some sort of apocalypse and they had stockpiled a serious boatload of both cheap and expensive booze expecting the value of that to be worth A LOT in barter after...whatever.

 

[Warp]

There is a box of 9x18 Makarov.

RE: Doomsday prepper episode...People who think like that generally put items like ammunition (especially .22lr and 12 gauge), toilet paper, bar soap, liquor, condoms, feminine hygiene products, and bleach/pool shok at the top of the list.

 

[Ramone]

I've bought some ammo for weapons I didn't own when I came across some at yard sale prices ($5.00 for 50 rounds of 30-06!) (I think I gave it to my Uncle for his '03), and I have accidentally kept some when I sold a weapon ( I still have about 100 rounds of 12 gauge, but no shotgun currently).

I once bought a box of ammo (.32 short rimfire) just because I'd never seen it before. and it was cheap. Not sure what happened to it.

And I often go to the range with some ammo that doesn't fit anything I am firing that day, as sometimes someone offers to let me shoot a mag and it's nice to share, or someone might be having some function issues that might be attributed to bad ammo, and it's nice to help a fellow out when you can.

I've got a box of .22WMR that I bought when I wanted .22LR.

I have a couple of cans of M855 that I don't use, for deep storage/possible barter.

I don't think it's all that strange. I mean, I've been to a planet where they juggle geese.

 

[Buck Kramer]

Well this thread went to SHTF/TEOTWAWKI in a hurry...

 

[writerinmo]

Anytime you start talking about stockpiling ammo, it's going to head there.

 

[Warp]

Or it will head to a political debate if taxes/restrictions/etc are given as the reason for the stock. But THR doesn't do those, so SHTF it is I suppose.

 

[Walkalong]

so SHTF it is I suppose

We don't do that either. I think this one has run its course.