How do I know when I have enough brass?

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UKWildcatFan

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I have thousands of 223 loaded, and another 2,000+ pieces cleaned and ready to ,old. However, I'm not sure I have enough. I'm a casual AR shooter, maybe 250/mo., but I'm big on being self-sufficient, and I've always concentrated on reloading components over another firearm. What's your method to knowing you have enough?
 
"Enough?" What is this "enough" of which you speak?

Seriously, I have thousands of everything, and still gather everything I find. The more you have, the fewer times each case gets reloaded, so the longer they last. But I'm probably a hoarder.....
 
OK. You guys are a bit out of my league.
I have lots of a few calibers. I'm kind of skimpy on some others. I have components ready but I don't load past my storage capacity. kind of laid back in a way. I'm loading for fun...not on a mission. :D

Mark
 
I keep on hand enough cases to last me a couple years of shooting. It depends on how much I shoot and how long cases last.

As i scrap cases, I buy replacements.

If I find a deal or the administration gets testy, I may stock up a bit higher.
 
You can never have enough! I have no telling how many 9mm, .40s&w, and .223 cases. The last time I counted, I had four 5gal buckets of 9mm, one 5gal bucket of .40s&w, and four 5gal buckets of .223/.556 that I haven't even cleaned yet. I have about 5k of each caliber that I'm currently loading/shooting. My weakness is my large magnum brass for my 7mm, 300wm, and 300RUM. I don't have but 200 or so pieces for each of those calibers.

There's so many shooters around here that shoot IDPA, and USPSA, but don't reload. It's mh goal to always bring home twice what I shoot. If I shoot 150rnds, I bring home 300 if possible.
 
Go over to castboolits and talk to some of the guys who measure the amount of casting lead by the ton.....
 
When you are filmed for an episode of "Hoarders" and only have a narrow path to walk into you house.:D
 
You have too much when it's stored under all your benches, the garage, the basement floor and upstairs closets. And that's just loaded ammo. Cases are in bags, barrels and any other things I can store them in.
 
I think it depends on how much brass you have access to. If you can replenish your supply easily I see no reason to horde brass. Every time I go shoot I return with more brass than I took to the range so I feel comfortable maintaining a short term supply in each caliber (1,000 to 2,000). After that I start thinking I should give some away to help others
 
Are you volunteering? I could really use another 500 or so of 38 Special..
 
I have to fight the urge to pick up brass that's left at the range. I think I have an average 2500 cases for each of my firearms. I do know that at one point in time thanks to the U.S. CC that used our range for qualifying I had between 25k to 30k 9mmx19 cases and I don't remember how much 223 brass I got as well.
 
I reckon I have at least 500 cases for my two least used calibers (.380 and Nagant revolver) and about 1000-1500 for the others.

I don't get to shoot that often or that much and based on my realistic ammo needs I have several years worth of supply. Much more than that makes no sense to ME.

If I shot 250 rounds per week, I could replenish it on my turret in a couple hours so theoretically allowing for loss/damage 300 brass cases 'could' last a lifetime - lol - not to mention usually being able to scrounge a lot of brass at the range.
 
I don't ever plan to stop collecting brass and lead. Every time I hit the range I grab all the brass I can and then if it's possible I try and grab range lead. I figure waste not want not, I don't plan to ever stop shooting. And when I croak my kids will have a decent supply to keep them going.
 
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The savings is on re using brass, but I like to have enough that I don't have to load for awhile.
 
You can never have enough. Especially if you are picking it up and not buying it. Consider them nickels for handgun brass. Can you ever have too many nickels? Nope.
 
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