How Much Ammo? - Again

[mrsig]

I like things to be guided by formulas wherever possible, so I am looking for a 'correct' formula for how much ammunition to keep on hand. I tried the following formula:

Revolver - 500
Auto Pistol - 2000
Single Shot Rifle - 500
Repeating Rifle - 1000
Self Loading Rifle - 2500
Repeating Shotgun - 1000
Single or Double Shotgun - 500

This left me with the need to keep about 60,000 rounds on hand and 2000 of them need to be 7 MM Rem Mag. That seems like a lot of 7 MM ammo. Do others here use a formula to guide their ammo purchasing? If so, what do you use?

- Sig

 

[Detritus]

Do others here use a formula to guide their ammo purchasing? If so, what do you use?

well have to say that my formula goes something like this, "oops gettign below what i would like to keep around of ammo type 'X' so let's see (disposable income this weekDivided by cost of either completed ammo or required components not on hand)

works for me, esp since as long as the brass holds up, how hard to get cases of "ammo type X" isn't really that big of a concern.

 

[Hanzo581]

This left me with the need to keep about 60,000 rounds on hand

 

[ArfinGreebly]

I'm new at this, but . . .

As a general guideline I plan in the direction of 1,000 rounds per weapon, with some considerations, thus:

I have multiple .22 rifles and pistols. Happily, .22 is really cheap, so 1,000 is easy. I also use them for practice and teaching wife/kids, so I keep an additional 1,000 for that as a "practice float." Now I'm working on a stock of higher performance stuff (Velocitor, Yellow Jacket, Viper, and like that), and that stuff is 2x, 3x, 4x as expensive.

Multiple 9mm (rifles & pistols). Again, the goal is 1,000 per weapon, plus some for practice. Given that 9mm costs about 5x what .22 does (at least in FMJ), and given that I do burn a certain amount practicing, it takes more time to build toward that. Along with FMJ, one needs some JHP and the like, and that costs more, but I add about a box of that for every 4 boxes of FMJ.

The .40 profile is like the 9mm, but there's only one of him, so the build-up is a little slower. Less practice with this one, so less burn.

Moving up in price, we have .30 Carbine. Build-up is even slower here, but I don't practice as much with it, so burn rate is lower.

At the top, there's 30-30, and that builds slower than all the rest. That puppy doesn't go to the range every month, cuz until I get a recoil pad on it, my shoulder doesn't enjoy the experience as much as the rest of me. I've got a ways to go to the magic 1,000 mark -- especially since I insist on things like the new Hornady stuff.

When I'm all done, I expect to have about 1,000 per weapon, plus enough practice ammo that I can hit the range with any of the stable and not run myself short.

Once the basic levels are achieved, I begin to replace FMJ with whatever's appropriate for the expected application (JHP, softpoint, and so on) so that, in the end, the reserve stock for any given weapon is what's most appropriate for its most likely usage, plus practice stuff.

Yeah, I wish I had the cash flow to just plunk down and git 'er done. I'm just a working stiff, though, and it takes as long as it takes.

And you will have noticed that not all the calibres are represented. So there will probably be .223, .357, and .45 in my future. And, of course, all the associated costs of building their reserves.

Oh, darn.

 

[Lou629]

MrSig...

I think it comes down to this: How much do you reasonably expect to use, and how often do you expect to use it?
For example, i try to keep about 1500 of 9mm on hand, which may sound small or large depending, but my reasoning goes like this-

If i go to the range i can easily go thru 500 rounds myself in a weekend. It could be worse, but 250/day per caliber is about right for me. The 9's all being auto-loaders they eat it up fast, and i have three of them.

Since prices have been rising dramatically in the past year, and there have been a few spot shortages of ammo in my area, i try to keep the 1500 figure so that i can hit the range at least a few times without worrying about either price or supply, while maintaining a constant vigil for a decent sale price on replacement stock.

My other calibers, which i use about half as often or less, i keep about half the ammo stock for, or about 700/750 each for the other rifles, pistols & shotguns. The only exception would be the obvious, .22LR, where the stock on hand can reach into the multiple thousands, depending on sales.

60,000 rounds sounds like a heck of a budget buster in terms of prices today, especially in those more expensive calibers. More power to you if that's your goal, but i'd re-think it a bit from the economic side as well as the sheer weight of it all in storage. Hope you have strong shelves to hold it. Good luck!

 

[Ian]

Whatever you do, don't get to be good friends with any serious machinegun shooters. They'll make just about any normal person's ammo stockpile look downright pathetic.

 

[erict]

At this point in time I've got

3,000 rounds of .223 between 4 rifles

400 rounds of 30 06 - 1 rifle

300 rounds of .270 Win - 1 rifle

120 rounds 30/30 - 1 rifle

1100 rounds of 7.62 - 2 rifles

75 bullets/powder/etc. - .50cal. - 1 muzzle loader

1500 rounds of 9mm - 1 pistol

1600 rounds of .40 cal. - 1 pistol

300 rounds of .357mag - 1 pistol

150 rounds of .38 special - 1 pistol

several thousand rounds of .22lr (4500 or so) for 1 pistol and 2 rifles.

 

[erict]

Lou629 makes a good point. Alot of the ammo I have at a particular point in time has to do with prices.

Wally World had clearances on ammo about 2 months ago and I went to 7 different stores and cleared all of their ammo out for them.

They had rifle ammo that was $23-$32 per box of 20 at Bass Pro Shop for $7-$9 per box.

I bought all of my .270/30-30/and 30 06 ammo at this time.

I even bought 7mm, .243 .22 hornet, and some others that I don't even own just in case I might in the future.

 

[Glockfan.45]

2000 rounds 7.62x39 all of it Wolf

600 rounds .45acp - 250 WWB H.P, 250 WWB FMJ, 100 Speer gold dots

5000 rounds 22LR - 2000 minimags, 1000 stingers, and 4 bricks of Federal bulk pack.

500 rounds 12 gauge - mixed between buck, bird, and slugs. most in 3". some 3 1/2" mag, a little 2 3/4"

odd ball boxes of .223 lying about.
==========================================================
This is my always stock, I always have what is listed above. I buy ammo at Wally World on the way to the range when practicing. This ammo gets rotated out from time to time with fresh stock though. I plan to start double buying now though. When I buy a Winchester 100 round value pack to shoot at the range I will buy another to take home. Doing this will allow me to stockpile ammo fast without noticing a dent in my wallet. Call me a paranoid nut job but I dont feel right without a good stock of ammo on hand. Plus I save all my .45 brass as I plan to start reloading.

 

[Glockfan.45]

Wally World had clearances on ammo about 2 months ago and I went to 7 different stores and cleared all of their ammo out for them.

So your the that does that .

 

[kfranz]

There is no "correct" formula for ammo purchases. Here's what I use

Good price + disposable income - other items I've prioritized = ammo on the door step. The formula is in order of priority, mostly. I won't buy ammo if the price isn't right, but I have bought ammo a time or two even though I didn't have the disposable income at the moment I placed the order. I have shifted the priority I've given to "stuff I want" when I've had the disposable income and ran across a really good deal on ammo.

Some months it's none, others it's 10k rounds.

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

When I purchase a firearm, I buy 4-500rds of ball and 100rds of HP to wring it out and work it loose. Once that's done, all I keep for it is 300rds of ball, and 100rds of gold dots.

The same can be said for new barrels, IE: a barsto 9mm conv for my .40 Sig got wrung out, Then I keep the barrel, 9mm specific mags, and 300rds of ammo together in a molle pouch.

I'm sorry, but one guy with a pistol isn't going to save the world like in the movies. A couple of hundred rounds for each caliber I own is plenty. You can say I'm wrong, but hey, I won't be around to hear you say "I told you so"

That's not to say I don't buy a crapload (several 1000rds) when I have a weekend long shoot with family or anything, just that I don't really horde it.

 

[Stickjockey]

I like things to be guided by formulas wherever possible...

My personal formula is (Centerfire=1000 rounds per caliber, per gun)+(rimfire=2000 rounds per gun)

Still workin' on it...

 

[Big Calhoun]

My method is fairly easy. For each firearm, I like to have at least 3 magazines. Two for defense, one for the range. So, with that, I keep at least two magazines full. My current breakdown is:

HK USP - 10+1 loaded, 1 spare loaded (10), no 3rd magazine
HK P2000 SK - 9+1 loaded, 1 spare loaded (9), no 3rd magazine
Beretta 96FS - 11+1 loaded, 1 spare loaded (11), empty 3rd magazine
Kimber - 7+1 loaded, 2 spares loaded (7), and 1 empty magazine
Springfield - 13 loaded, 1 spare loaded (13), 1 empty magazine

Then on top of that, I also try to keep about 100 rounds of defensive ammo in .45 and 50 rounds of definsive ammo .40 around. Eventually, I'll pick up another magazine for the USP and two more for the P2000 SK.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

"My personal formula is (Centerfire=1000 rounds per caliber, per gun)+(rimfire=2000 rounds per gun)"

Good goggely moggely,
I've got 3 Garands, 3 03s, and an M1917. That's 7,000 rounds of .30-'06. I am getting behind, my wife is going to kill me

 

[FrogClan]

I think it comes down to this: How much do you reasonably expect to use, and how often do you expect to use it?

Yep. I get to the range about once a week and spend just about a whole day there shooting two or three firearms. I keep enough ammo on hand for each firearm to get me through two range sessions. That gives me the flexibility to shoot what I want to shoot in any given session while keeping an eye open for sale prices.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I don't have a formula as such. I just stock up on cases of the ammo I use when it's on sale.
Recently bought 17 boxes of 9mm Win White box at Wal Mart for $4.38 a box.

In most calibers I have an unknown amount of factory ammo.
I also reload, so I'll load like 5,000+ rounds of 45ACP at a time.

Having "backyard" ranges I shoot a lot but some of the reloads I'm shooting now date back to 1993.
I have to shoot more.

 

[Joe Demko]

I originally posted these guidelines about 3 years ago, but they are still useful today:
When the balloon goes up, the only proper response is to begin shooting. Shoot the blue helmets. Shoot the black helicopters. Shoot the commie infiltrators. Shoot any unfamiliar people. Shoot your neighbors (never fully trusted them anyway). Shoot any family members who don't follow orders in a prompt and dilligent fashion.

With that now firmly in the forefront of your mind, you should understand why I consider this to be the minimum necessary armament for TSHTF: Each person in your compound (you do have a compound, don't you?) will require
1 .30 NATO semiautomatic rifle w/ minimum 20 round capacity
1 5.56 NATO semiautomatic rifle w/ minimum 20 round capacity
1 12 gauge shotgun w/ mimimum 8 round capacity, autoloader preferred
1 .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol
1 .357 magnum revolver
1 .32 ACP pocket gun
1 tacticool-type combat folding knife
1 big honking bowie knife (kukri is acceptable substitute but must meet big honking requirement)
1 Spetznaz shovel
1 Piano wire garrotte

Figure an absolute minimum of 10,000 rounds of ammo per man per weapon per day for the long guns and 5,000 rounds per man per weapon per day on the handguns. If these levels aren't at least being met, then you aren't shooting enough people. All personnel are to have all weapons on their persons at all times.

 

[CAS700850]

God, I'd hate to spend any time at Fort Demko. A trip to the bathroom could take an hour, and end up with me getting shot for not firing enough rounds while otherwise occupied.

Personally, I know I don't keep nearly enough ammo around the house. Couple of hundred rounds total. But, then again, I'm not planning for the end of civilization. I'm just another guy trying to make it through the night.
That said, one thing I do is keep my Beretta 92 and Glock 19 mags loaded with 12 rounds per. Less mag stress, but loaded enough in case they are needed. That's 8 mags, 12 rounds of JHP per mag, for 96 rounds, and I have a couple more boxes of FMJ for range use or SHTF, as needed. There's a box of .357, two boxes of .38 LSWHP, a box of .45 jhp, and two boxes of .45 fmj. Plus a couple undred rounds of .22.

I guess now that I take stock in my head, I've got a lot more ammo on hand than I thought. Won't get me promoted at fort Demko, but I think I'll put up a good fight for a while...

 

[eastwood44mag]

Eastwood's rule of thumb:

If it's shot a lot, or if ammo is hard to find, buy by the case. If it is seldom shot or insanely expensive, buy a couple hundred rounds and a set of reloading dies.

 

[oldfart]

A few hundred rounds of each is adequate. We all "plan" for TEOTWAWKI when all we can reasonably expect is some rioting or minor anarchy that might require some gunplay. If the ball does drop and we need more ammo, there'll be plenty of it laying around.

 

[Eyesac]

Yeah wow, 60,000 rounds onhand. I'm lucky if I have 300 rounds of anything. I need to get with it.:banghead:

 

[mpmarty]

Ammo Storage

AK 74 twelve thirty round mags full plus 2000 rounds in cans.

Custom round action bolt gun w/26" barrel 7mm Rem Mag 100 rounds 160 grain Noslers in front of 80grs of H870

Witness full size 10MM four fifteen round mags full plus 200 rounds in boxes all 200 grain Hornady HPs in front of max charge of Blue Dot = 1200 fps or so

Mossy 12 GA pump six in mag + 250 (10 boxes) #4 buck 3" magnums

Misc. .45 acp pistols all with at least four mags full plus about 1000 rounds of jackedted hp reloads.

Marlin 1895 45/70 six in mag plus about a hundred 405 grain handloads at around 1900 fps. and one box of 20 500 grain solids (must single load as too long for the action).

Dillon progressive 550B for all the above except the AK74 (5.45X39) with enough powder, primers and bullets to outfit the 82nd airborne.

 

[Lou629]

Figure an absolute minimum of 10,000 rounds of ammo per man per weapon per day for the long guns and 5,000 rounds per man per weapon per day on the handguns

Sgt. Nick Fury himself couldn't go thru that much in a day. It'd take ALL the howlin' commandos to use up that much before the next issue came out.

 

[mrsig]

There have been many good answers. I think that everyone here, including myself, has to deal with the disposable income part of the equation. Many people are looking at 1000 rounds per gun. That is about what I have in the formula until I get to the semi-auto stuff.

I love Joe’s answer, but my 5-year-old daughter is currently limited to a single shot .22. Perhaps the older kids, 7, 9, and 11, should start doing pushups to prepare for that .30 battle rifle. To date the two oldest have fired .22, black powder, and shotguns.

I think I will keep the current formula with a 50% reduction in the goal for hunting type arms. 500 rounds of 7 MM Rem Mag is still a lot, but it sounds much more reasonable than the original goal of 1000. Even with this reduction, we are still talking about a lot of rounds, but you have to start somewhere. This will probably be at least a 5-year project.

Thanks for the input.

- Sig