How closely do you match powder and bullets on hand?

[berettaprofessor]

Disclaimer; I don't load rifle in great numbers, shoot around 20-30/week on average, sometimes more sometimes less. So I've been comfortable keeping a box or two of each bullet I use and a couple of lbs of powder around for each load, and been able pretty well to maintain that while supplies dwindle locally. I don't keep an inventory, just glance on the shelves to see what is low before trips to the stores.

I realized this morning, however, that I may be most vulnerable to a bullet shortage, since in most instances, I have more powder than bullets to load for each cartridge. For instance, I've got two unopened lbs of CFEBLK, sufficient to load 800 rounds of 300 Blackout, but I've only got 200 bullets on hand. I've got enough powder to load over 200 6.5 Creeds with H4350, but less than 100 147 Hornady ELDs to load in them.

Do many of you keep your powder/bullet ratios closer with a spreadsheet inventory or do you just use the "empty shelf" method and shoot something else if one supply or another gets low?

 

[Erief0g]

For me it all comes down to monies on hand. Once there is enough to make a fair purchase I do a quick inventory to see what would benefit the most.

Sadly with a shortage ongoing I may have to change that to determine what one can get at the time. Currently regardless of any other components, primers seem to be the hardest to find. Powder I've not looked for as my current stock will load much more than I have projectiles or primers for. Bullets can be scarce but often for the ones I like i can backorder and know they are coming in a month or two.

 

[Sneakshot92]

When I get down to about half my supply of loaded l357 i'll usually switch to something else for a little while until I have enough primers, powder and projectiles to reload my entire supply.
Ideally I'd like to keep enough components on hand to reload half of my supply while having a full supply of loaded ammo. But that's been pretty tough to do with handguns lately. Rifle stuff has been pretty easy because I only have 3 main shooters and dont shoot more than 200 rounds a year through each of them.

 

[Varminterror]

For some stuff I do, some I don’t.

For my “regular use” rounds, I buy enough brass, primers, powder, and bullets to burn out the barrel when I order the barrel - so those are well correlated. For some of my more casual stuff, I buy a “healthy volume” and if I ever permanently run out, I’ll just be done shooting that round, also permanently, so I don’t worry about matching those. For some components, I dollar cost average bulk purchases - stuff I know I will want to shoot for my entire life, and my son would be well served to shoot for his entire life. Varget, Retumbo, H4350, H110, Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol, HP-38, 223/5.56, 300wm, 9mm 40, 45, 44mag, 454casull, 38, 357, 6 creed (replacing 243win slowly but surely), 7-08, 140 NAB’s, 50 Vmax’s, 77SMK’s, 60 Partitions, 105 Hybrids, 200 NAB’s, 300 XTP’s, 300 A-Frames, 180 HotCors, 158 XTP’s... Luckily, I have a large storage room... These are pretty closely balanced. But I’m currently loading for over 40cartridges (capable of a hundred and fifty or so), and have a lot of components on hand, so it would take a few years to sort out what gets used with what, and in the absence of competition, if guns were ever outlawed, a handful of generations of outlaws could enjoy casual pleasure plinking with various cartridges in my storehouse.

 

[Charlie98]

Basically, I keep a bullet inventory based on what I shoot, with an emphasis on weathering a general shortage like we are in now. What does that mean? That means I like to have 1000 .41 bullets, because I shoot a lot of those anyway. That also means I have a fair stock of .45 and 9mm bullets, just because. Same-same with rifle... I don't load a whole lot of 5.56mm, but I have components to do so. I shoot a lot of .348, .308, and .30-30 cast bullets, so I have an adequate stock of those on hand... but I also have a reasonable stash of good old 150grn FMJ for the .308, too. I have a box or two of JHP or JSP handgun bullets on hand for each cartridge I load for, even though I don't shoot them very often.

I decided some years ago to stick with buying just 8# jugs of powder... that way I'm not in the middle of something and realize I'm out of IMR4064, for example. I get down to the last 2# or so in the jug, and then I go hunting for more. I also like versatility... if I run out of H335 for 5.56mm, for example, I can easily swap in IMR3031, or IMR4895. In pistol I ALWAYS have Unique... and I can load any pistol cartridge I load for with that... and a few cast rifle loads, too.

 

[buck460XVR]

I couldn't tell you exactly how much powder, or how many bullets or primers I have. I just know I have enough for quite a while. I quit buying components years ago when I needed them, but when I found them at a good price or found them at all. Since I load for so many calibers, using the same powder at extremely different charge rates, matching powder quantity to bullet quantity is impossible. Again, I just know I have plenty for a while. Better to have too much and not need it than to have to little and want. During this last component shortage, I have no fear I will have enough ammo to get me thru hunting season, unlike many of my firends who are now hesitant to practice with their hunting loads for fear they will have no components left come hunting season.

 

[Cannibul]

I'm probably a ton short on lead vs powder.

I really need to correct that.

 

[AJC1]

My number one concern is primers. If you dont have those nothing else matters. I cast bullets so as long as my lead supply is good I have no worries. I have on had at least 10lbs of powder so I can sustain any of these hiccups like were having now. But to answer your question I dont try and match my shelves to any load ballance.

 

[Metal God]

With rifle I do-ish but but I never only have enough for just a couple hundred of anything, minimum is couple thousand worth of components on hand for each cartridge . Can’t really do that with hand gun , 1lb of pistol powder just loads to many and I have 10+ lbs

But to be honest I keep enough bullets on hand to cover what I should need and always try to have way more powder and primers . In all actuality there’s probably a couple cartridges I load for that I don’t have enough brass to load all the bullets and powder I have . 357 , 308 are two that I likely don’t have enough brass to use up all the components.

 

[AJC1]

With rifle I do-ish but but I never only have enough for just a couple hundred of anything, minimum is couple thousand worth of components on hand for each cartridge . Can’t really do that with hand gun , 1lb of pistol powder just loads to many and I have 10+ lbs

But to be honest I keep enough bullets on hand to cover what I should need and always try to have way more powder and primers . In all actuality there’s probably a couple cartridges I load for that I don’t have enough brass to load all the bullets and powder I have . 357 , 308 are two that I likely don’t have enough brass to use up all the components.

Isn't not having enough brass standard. I plan many reloads into my cases.

 

[LiveLife]

I realized this morning, however, that I may be most vulnerable to a bullet shortage, since in most instances, I have more powder than bullets to load for each cartridge.

How closely do you match powder and bullets on hand?

Since copper/lead bullets have very long shelf life and powder is ever constantly deteriorating, I have more bullets than powder.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I’m probably over stocked on primers, and the other components I buy handfuls of over time, when I see good deals, or just know I’m short on.
I don’t keep an exact count, but it always seems to work out pretty close.
Sometimes it’s so close that I think there’s an unconscious part of my brain that’s doing math I don’t even understand

 

[Metal God]

Isn't not having enough brass standard. I plan many reloads into my cases.

And that’s why I brought it up. The OP probably has a couple hundred 300 blackout cases but when you have a few thousand projectiles and enough powder to load them . We then often don’t have the brass to accomplish such a task . This was my point in general, I see guys claiming they have tens of thousands of bullets and enough powder to fill a pool and yet just a couple thousand pieces of brass so all that powder and bullets doesn’t really mean anything . You only have as much as The one component you have the least of .

I did an inventory of everything I have a couple months ago and I have by far more primers than anything 35,000 Give or take a sleeve or two . I don’t believe I could use every single primer I own , maybe half could be used to complete fully loaded cartridges .

 

[Muddydogs]

I keep a monster spread sheet with all my components, reloads, tools and other info. The sheet has been developing over the last 15 years or so and not something that I set down for a few days to create. While I could match powder to bullets with multiple calibers using the same powder its about impossible and not real meaningful. I do have a listing showing how many reloads I could get out of a certain powder for each caliber so it's kind of a powder bullet check in a way. My thinking is why worry about powder bullet combos when one can just purchase the biggest keg of powder available when ordering more and if its a powder like Unique or some other widely used powder then 2 kegs is better then one. Throw in a few bullet molds and I can keep shooting certain caliber for quite some time. Don't pass up a good bullet sale or pick up a few seconds when sellers have them and eventually bullet worry's are a thing of the past.

 

[AJC1]

And that’s why I brought it up. The OP probably has a couple hundred 300 blackout cases but when you have a few thousand projectiles and enough powder to load them . We then often don’t have the brass to accomplish such a task . This was my point in general, I see guys claiming they have tens of thousands of bullets and enough powder to fill a pool and yet just a couple thousand pieces of brass so all that powder and bullets doesn’t really mean anything . You only have as much as The one component you have the least of .

I guess how and why you reload has a lot to do with it. I match shoot so I dont really feel short on cases. People with 100 30 round mags loaded up at all times for the zombie apocalypse are in a different game than me. If your just hunting one may be just fine with a box of 20 that are sighted in. The goals of each member are wildly different and how we accomplish our goal is equally diverse.

 

[cfullgraf]

I couldn't tell you exactly how much powder, or how many bullets or primers I have. I just know I have enough for quite a while. I quit buying components years ago when I needed them, but when I found them at a good price or found them at all. Since I load for so many calibers, using the same powder at extremely different charge rates, matching powder quantity to bullet quantity is impossible. Again, I just know I have plenty for a while. Better to have too much and not need it than to have to little and want. During this last component shortage, I have no fear I will have enough ammo to get me thru hunting season, unlike many of my firends who are now hesitant to practice with their hunting loads for fear they will have no components left come hunting season.

I follow what buck460XVR does closely.

To add, most of the ammunition that I shoot the most, I have loads for alternate powders and bullets in case my usual components are difficult to find.

Also, I can cast bullets for most of my handgun ammunition and have loads developed for them.

I go through periods of shooting one cartridge more than another and then it shifts to something else so it is difficult to match quantities of powder to numbers of bullets. I just make sure I have a good supply on hand and pay attention when components are available.

 

[Walkalong]

I don't match up anything.

 

[Metal God]

I guess how and why you reload has a lot to do with it. I match shoot so I dont really feel short on cases. People with 100 30 round mags loaded up at all times for the zombie apocalypse are in a different game than me. If your just hunting one may be just fine with a box of 20 that are sighted in. The goals of each member are wildly different and how we accomplish our goal is equally diverse.

I agree 100% . In that zombie apocalypse you speak of ammo will be worth more than the dollar . Which is coming sometime in December or January as both sides challenge the election and the extremists on both sides do their thing due to the lack of confidence in the election . I strongly suggest you have more components than to shoot a match or two by then . Haha

 

[Skgreen]

"Balance?"
No.
I've got more of this than that, and a whole lot of 'the other', but I'm not really close to 'without' in anything.
I started reloading at the very end of the last crunch.
Wise men said 'It'll happen again"
So, I took advantage of some sales (while simultaneously questioning my own sanity)
I'm glad I listened.

 

[GBExpat]

How closely do you match powder and bullets on hand?

I wing it. I just always make sure that I have PILES of assorted cases, primers, propellants and bullets.

When I see an excellent sale on one or more of these items I check my inventory levels (maintained in an Excel file) and decide if I should put together a purchase.

 

[berettaprofessor]

The OP probably has a couple hundred 300 blackout cases but when you have a few thousand projectiles and enough powder to load them . We then often don’t have the brass to accomplish such a task .

Brass doesn't seem to be my limiting area anywhere. Yes, its possible I might run through what I have for 308, but I would also be out of powder and projectiles before the brass likely failed me. 300 BO, not so much a problem; I can cut it down from 223 if necessary. But you're right if we're talking 6.5 Creedmore; I've only kept the brass I shot in commercial loads; never bought or collected extra.

 

[Random 8]

I use the "1 year supply" method. This applies to specific tested and proven loads that I shoot a relatively known quantity of annually. I keep enough of ALL components on hand to produce a one year's supply, and replace/rotate stock as it's expended. For a couple of specific hunting bullets I like, I have them much deeper. I do have known loads, but I figure I can get them to shoot well enough with a substitute powder and primer if necessary for the relatively close hunting ranges I encounter with minimal development. These loads center around a specific bullet that performs especially well on game, so that is the component I stack deep.

For general practice shooting ammo, I have the "pile of random components" method. This is an ever evolving and changing pile of stuff from various experiments, sales, impulse buys, gifts from other shooters, trades, etc. If I feel it is getting below 1 years supply for any specific caliber, I start shopping. This rarely happens, as the reverse entropy of my reloading room ensures constant replenishment. I do try to use up the oldest or most questionable storage first, so this stock is rotated also. Just added to the random pile from an estate sale. $20 for the lot. The 2 cone tops of 748 just passed the 2002 Vn140 to the top of the list for 5.56 and .308 plinker ammo. They won't last long.

What's a spreadsheet??

 

[Skgreen]

.

What's a spreadsheet??

I've heard of such things,,,,,

Rarely a week goes by that I don't do something in the reload room, so if I'm not sure, a casual 'look-see' keeps me up to date.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I havent really done much reloading in years. Then all of my reloading stuff went up in flames in 2015. Man, you should hear 10k primers go off in about 5 seconds...

Insurance replaced it all, so I went on a shopping spree. Powder is my main stockpile with a set of dies for almost every caliber i own, that i shoot anyways. I keep projectiles in pretty much every caliber i own. Ive got enough stockpiled to load probably 8-10k rounds. I save all the brass i shoot and most shotshells. Ive got 50 lbs of birdshot too.

If it came down to it, I could make bullets on the lathe, but man would that be TEDIOUS! And inconsistent.

At this point ive thankfully got it all for a shtf type thing, but eventually ill get back into it. Ive got some calibers that are expensive to feed and reloading is the cheapest way. Except I dont have any of those pesky .228 bullets for 22 sav HP.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Powder is more important than bullets. It's easier to substitute bullets and back down a few tenths to work up than doing an entire workup for powder.