ZeSpectre
Member
My wife was astounded that I had more than 1k rounds of ammo TOTAL until we went to the range a while back. She put 400 rounds through a .22 and suddenly realized how fast you could "practice" your way through all of that.
How Much Ammo? - Again
- Thread starter mrsig
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SoCalShooter
Member
Revolver .357mag: 1500 rounds
Revolver .44mag : 1000 rounds
Revolver .38spcl : 2000 rounds
Revolver .22LR : 3500 rounds
Auto: .45ac: 5500 rounds (assorted types some match some ball)
Auto: .40 : 50 (i dont own anything in .40
)
Rifle: .300 weatherby mag : 250 rounds
Rifle .223 : 1500 rounds :banghead: (really need some more)
Rifles: .308 500 rounds (china ball, surplus ammo copper wash)
A lot of handloads for matches pistold and rifle, a lot of walmart special too.
I try to keep ammo levels for certain weapons above 1000 rounds.
RE: mpmarty I am like you I have enough primers and powder, etc to outfit the 101st, got my Dillon 1050 and went overboard
Revolver .44mag : 1000 rounds
Revolver .38spcl : 2000 rounds
Revolver .22LR : 3500 rounds
Auto: .45ac: 5500 rounds (assorted types some match some ball)
Auto: .40 : 50 (i dont own anything in .40
)Rifle: .300 weatherby mag : 250 rounds
Rifle .223 : 1500 rounds :banghead: (really need some more)
Rifles: .308 500 rounds (china ball, surplus ammo copper wash)
A lot of handloads for matches pistold and rifle, a lot of walmart special too.
I try to keep ammo levels for certain weapons above 1000 rounds.
RE: mpmarty I am like you I have enough primers and powder, etc to outfit the 101st, got my Dillon 1050 and went overboard
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PaladinX13
Member
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- 747
Last inventory I had "only" about 7K on hand, 5K of that in .22 since I have more .22s than anything else. 1K to 9mm. And the last 1K split up amongst .38spl, .357mag, .45ACP, and 12ga... and I'm having trouble just keeping good track of that! I don't envy the low maintenance types trying to track another half-a-dozen rifle, handgun, or shotgun calibers in addition!
Ammo levels are part of the security plan, and as such...
How much and what kind of ammo I keep on hand won't be discussed on an open Internet forum.
Suffice it to say that if I ever make it onto CNN for whatever reasons, you'll hear the phrases 'large cache of weapons', 'huge stockpile of ammunition' used freely in the report.
[small print]Disclaimer: The above post is in no way to be construed as meaning that I intend to do anything that would make me the subject of a CNN report.[/small print]
How much and what kind of ammo I keep on hand won't be discussed on an open Internet forum.
Suffice it to say that if I ever make it onto CNN for whatever reasons, you'll hear the phrases 'large cache of weapons', 'huge stockpile of ammunition' used freely in the report.
[small print]Disclaimer: The above post is in no way to be construed as meaning that I intend to do anything that would make me the subject of a CNN report.[/small print]
donttellthewife
Member
I keep enough ammo and reloading supplies to make the fire marshal mess himself. I buy only when I can get a great price on ammo or reloading supplies, the internet has been great for finding deals if you can order enough to make the shipping worth it. Finding good people for a group buy works best. I store the arsenal in a secure out building, even I dont want too much in the house. With the way the prices and politics are going, get as much as you can safely store and afford, that's my formula.
dragongoddess
member
Well with all that ammo I have a question. How are you storing it? Do you have one of those triangles that would warn Fire Personal responding to a fire at your house that there is ammo/explosive material in a cabinet thus providing essential knowledge to fire personal on scene.
I only ask since the Asst. Fire Chief provided me today with some stickers and a copy of the international code that cities follow in regard to storage of on site dangerous materials like ammo, Black Powder and Black Powder subsitutes.
Might be a good idea for others to look into to avoid a possible liability issue if something bad happens..
I only ask since the Asst. Fire Chief provided me today with some stickers and a copy of the international code that cities follow in regard to storage of on site dangerous materials like ammo, Black Powder and Black Powder subsitutes.
Might be a good idea for others to look into to avoid a possible liability issue if something bad happens..
I don't go by a particular formula so much. I basically look at each gun individually and think about it's purpose. For example, I have a bunch of SKSes that I intend to use as handout guns in a crisis. They'll be handed out to neighbors and friends who may show up at my house. I figure one bandolier (200 rounds) with each gun is plenty.
For the guns I take shooting regularly and burn a lot of ammo for, I try to keep about 5000 rounds on hand. When I start to get down to 1000 or so, I put in a big reloading session or order more ammo. I try to keep at least 1000 rounds on hand for the FALs and AKs since they figure into my defense plans. For my hunting and target guns, I might have no ammo, a little ammo, or a big pile, depending on what I've reloaded for.
For handguns, I don't feel the need to keep large amounts of ammo stockpiled, as they're close range weapons and I'm going to do my best to keep hostiles at a distance. A couple or three boxes per gun, depending on the gun. For example, I let myself run out of .44 magnums a lot. I only reload them when I know I'm going to be taking it shooting. I do have guns in .44 special though, and I keep spare ammo for them that could be used in the magnum in a pinch.
One thing I do stockpile is shotgun shells. If there's going to be any type of social breakdown, a lot of the problems are going to happen at "street" distances and a shotgun is a good equilizer. I buy S&B 12 pellet 00 buck loads. They're cheap and perform really well. I also keep a few hundred Brenneke KO slugs on hand also. They're quite accurate from my 870's.
For the guns I take shooting regularly and burn a lot of ammo for, I try to keep about 5000 rounds on hand. When I start to get down to 1000 or so, I put in a big reloading session or order more ammo. I try to keep at least 1000 rounds on hand for the FALs and AKs since they figure into my defense plans. For my hunting and target guns, I might have no ammo, a little ammo, or a big pile, depending on what I've reloaded for.
For handguns, I don't feel the need to keep large amounts of ammo stockpiled, as they're close range weapons and I'm going to do my best to keep hostiles at a distance. A couple or three boxes per gun, depending on the gun. For example, I let myself run out of .44 magnums a lot. I only reload them when I know I'm going to be taking it shooting. I do have guns in .44 special though, and I keep spare ammo for them that could be used in the magnum in a pinch.
One thing I do stockpile is shotgun shells. If there's going to be any type of social breakdown, a lot of the problems are going to happen at "street" distances and a shotgun is a good equilizer. I buy S&B 12 pellet 00 buck loads. They're cheap and perform really well. I also keep a few hundred Brenneke KO slugs on hand also. They're quite accurate from my 870's.
Harry Paget Flashman
Member
I am old, getting slower, am a large target and don't shoot as well as I once did. I have ~24K rounds for about 90 guns and what I worry about most in a SHTF or TEOTWAWKI scenario is the bad guys getting my stockpile after the ballistic plates duct taped to my back and chest fall off while I'm doing a bayonet parry with my SKS, trying to do a tactical reload with the stripper clips I never got around to buying and some punk takes me out with a Hi-Point Fo'tay to COM.
It's a cautionary tale for maybe having too big a cache. I get the last laugh when they cart off the 1000 rounds of lacquered Wolf .223 sitting on the top shelf in my gun vault.
It's a cautionary tale for maybe having too big a cache. I get the last laugh when they cart off the 1000 rounds of lacquered Wolf .223 sitting on the top shelf in my gun vault.
Glockfan.45
member
lol I know just what you mean
Big Calhoun
Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2006
- Messages
- 554
Right now I have maybe 250-300 rounds left over. They stay in a surplus ammo carrier with a desicant pack inside.
Just a dude, it's not about prepping for some blockbuster shootout. For me, having a few extra rounds on hand is to ease the pain when they start to ban, or even just tax rounds. A 25 cent tax per round isn't so crazy as to be impossible.
I got 500 or so .22lr. No big deal, pick it up at wally world cheap.
100 rounds of 12 gauge shotgun. Don't shoot it much and can be picked up cheap again at wally world.
500 or so rounds of 7.62*39 wolf FMJ. Enough for my 2 SKS for a while. Is dependent on ammount of money in budget for ammo.
150 rounds or so of .308 ammo for my CETME. Not near what I would like. I would like at least 280 on hand plus more for plinking/practice/just blasting. 280 is 2 combat loads of 7 mags each. If I need more then that, I am in big trouble. Also is Ivery dependent on ammount of money in budget for ammo.
900 rounds of 8mm mauser + 20~40 rounds of hunting ammo. Just picked up a case of 900 rounds on 5 round stripper clips. (don't shoot it that much) This should last me a good long time and don't see restocking this anytime soon unless 8mm mauser starts to dry up....
Basicly I try to keep a "combat" load of ammo for each gun ready to go. Mauser has its bandolier all filled up. SKS have an ammo bra all filled and set and hopefully 7 mags of .308 ammo. 6 in pouches 1 in the gun.
Ohh plus about enough powder and balls for 150 shots for my cap and ball pistol..... Damm age laws on pistols....
100 rounds of 12 gauge shotgun. Don't shoot it much and can be picked up cheap again at wally world.
500 or so rounds of 7.62*39 wolf FMJ. Enough for my 2 SKS for a while. Is dependent on ammount of money in budget for ammo.
150 rounds or so of .308 ammo for my CETME. Not near what I would like. I would like at least 280 on hand plus more for plinking/practice/just blasting. 280 is 2 combat loads of 7 mags each. If I need more then that, I am in big trouble. Also is Ivery dependent on ammount of money in budget for ammo.
900 rounds of 8mm mauser + 20~40 rounds of hunting ammo. Just picked up a case of 900 rounds on 5 round stripper clips. (don't shoot it that much) This should last me a good long time and don't see restocking this anytime soon unless 8mm mauser starts to dry up....
Basicly I try to keep a "combat" load of ammo for each gun ready to go. Mauser has its bandolier all filled up. SKS have an ammo bra all filled and set and hopefully 7 mags of .308 ammo. 6 in pouches 1 in the gun.
Ohh plus about enough powder and balls for 150 shots for my cap and ball pistol..... Damm age laws on pistols....
Molon Labe
Member
You can never have too much ammo.
Heck, I've got 23,000 rounds of 7.62 X 51 in my basement, and I still think it's not enough.
Owen
Moderator Emeritus
I mostly buy what I shoot. I have a handful of .30-06 rifles, so I keep a few hundred rounds for them. Lately it's just been the Korean stuff. I'm down to one can, so I should probably buy another can, if I see a good deal\
My OH NO rifle is an AR-15. My OH NO, don't touch it ammo is 2 cans of Radway Green on strippers and in bandoliers. I figure thats about 1.9 cans more than I wouold ever need, but there is no such thing as too much, is there?
After that I try to keep a case of 5.56 around for random plinking and practice purposes.
I have a few hundred rounds of .357/.38 I really don't shoot it that much.
I have about 2k of .45 ACP for the 625. I got a deal, but I'm not shooting that gun as much as I though I would. Maybe 400 rounds/ year.
I really shoot alot of 9mm. I shoot 800 - 900 rounds a month. I know it sounds like a lot, but it's still alot cheaper than drinking. I'll wear out that plate machine yet!
.22 is so cheap, and gets used up so fast that I start getting ansty if I have less than 5000 on hand. One trip to the range with a bunch of friends, and it's easy to burn through 5 or 6 bricks, ya know? On top of the cheap plinking stuff, I have a brick of this and a brick of that of all kinds of premium target ammo for the Anschutz. Maybe 8 or 9 bricks total.
I keep a flat of 12 gage and 20 gage birdshot on hand, in case I get invited to a midnight skeet session, and can't pick up a few boxes at Walmart on the way. It happens!
Maybe 200 rounds of .303.
I guess that pushes me a little over 10k. Don't make me pull out my calculator!
My OH NO rifle is an AR-15. My OH NO, don't touch it ammo is 2 cans of Radway Green on strippers and in bandoliers. I figure thats about 1.9 cans more than I wouold ever need, but there is no such thing as too much, is there?
After that I try to keep a case of 5.56 around for random plinking and practice purposes.
I have a few hundred rounds of .357/.38 I really don't shoot it that much.
I have about 2k of .45 ACP for the 625. I got a deal, but I'm not shooting that gun as much as I though I would. Maybe 400 rounds/ year.
I really shoot alot of 9mm. I shoot 800 - 900 rounds a month. I know it sounds like a lot, but it's still alot cheaper than drinking. I'll wear out that plate machine yet!
.22 is so cheap, and gets used up so fast that I start getting ansty if I have less than 5000 on hand. One trip to the range with a bunch of friends, and it's easy to burn through 5 or 6 bricks, ya know? On top of the cheap plinking stuff, I have a brick of this and a brick of that of all kinds of premium target ammo for the Anschutz. Maybe 8 or 9 bricks total.
I keep a flat of 12 gage and 20 gage birdshot on hand, in case I get invited to a midnight skeet session, and can't pick up a few boxes at Walmart on the way. It happens!
Maybe 200 rounds of .303.
I guess that pushes me a little over 10k. Don't make me pull out my calculator!
Mannlicher
Member
how much ammo to have on hand?
Goofy question. Way too many variables, and there is no correct answer in any case. Keep on hand what you feel comfortable with.
Goofy question. Way too many variables, and there is no correct answer in any case. Keep on hand what you feel comfortable with.
SoCalShooter
Member
I store AMMO in AMMO CANS!!!
I use the 20mm cans for some of the large quantities, guy at the range was like you cant shoot 20mm here and I told him if I had a 20mm I wouldnt be shooting at this range.
I store some in my safe, some in my room, some is in the bathroom, parents room has some under the bed (they dont know yet :neener, just temporary) MOst of it is in the garage and some is in the shed. I keep loaded mags with the surplus just in case I need to have one.
I use the 20mm cans for some of the large quantities, guy at the range was like you cant shoot 20mm here and I told him if I had a 20mm I wouldnt be shooting at this range.I store some in my safe, some in my room, some is in the bathroom, parents room has some under the bed (they dont know yet :neener, just temporary) MOst of it is in the garage and some is in the shed. I keep loaded mags with the surplus just in case I need to have one.
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ctdonath
Member
Practical answer: 1000 rounds minimum per gun.
Optimal answer: enough to burn out each barrel.
So long as the gun (esp. barrel) is usable, you'll need to feed it, and ammo will only get more expensive and scarce, and ammo will outlast you on a shelf...
Optimal answer: enough to burn out each barrel.
So long as the gun (esp. barrel) is usable, you'll need to feed it, and ammo will only get more expensive and scarce, and ammo will outlast you on a shelf...
SoCal...
In the bathroom??
I'd get it the heck out of there pronto my man. The humidity levels in there are a killer for any type of long-term ammo storage. Same with your shed or garage, are they dry and reasonably temperate? If not, move it.
Most factory ammo will last for decades on the shelf if it's kept DRY. But that's the keyword, DRY. High humidity and/or wild temprature fluctuations that happen regularly and may cause condensation should be avoided when it comes to ammo storage.
In the bathroom??
I'd get it the heck out of there pronto my man. The humidity levels in there are a killer for any type of long-term ammo storage. Same with your shed or garage, are they dry and reasonably temperate? If not, move it. Most factory ammo will last for decades on the shelf if it's kept DRY. But that's the keyword, DRY. High humidity and/or wild temprature fluctuations that happen regularly and may cause condensation should be avoided when it comes to ammo storage.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Not to ruin the moment . . .
A couple of posts indicate a SHTF bias, while others focus on simple economics and supply chain considerations.
It occurs to me that (thinking SHTF now) if/when the ballon goes up and the ball drops and the society disintigrates and the zombies have landed and . . .
Given that one survives the initial event . . . given that the subsequent disorder subsides . . . given that some semblance of order begins to emerge . . . and that you're there to enjoy it . . .
What are you gonna use for currency? Gold? Silver?
It seems to me that lead and brass will become precious metals. Especially when joined with some fine particles of "rare earths" and such.
At the risk of skewing the original purpose of the thread . . .
A good supply could be prudent for a variety of reasons.
A couple of posts indicate a SHTF bias, while others focus on simple economics and supply chain considerations.
It occurs to me that (thinking SHTF now) if/when the ballon goes up and the ball drops and the society disintigrates and the zombies have landed and . . .
Given that one survives the initial event . . . given that the subsequent disorder subsides . . . given that some semblance of order begins to emerge . . . and that you're there to enjoy it . . .
What are you gonna use for currency? Gold? Silver?
It seems to me that lead and brass will become precious metals. Especially when joined with some fine particles of "rare earths" and such.
At the risk of skewing the original purpose of the thread . . .
A good supply could be prudent for a variety of reasons.
Rem700SD
Member
I try to keep 1000 for each pistol and 500 per rifle. 500 rds of 300 Win Mag goes a LONG way. (Pun intended!)
I have a lot of ammo because I buy in bulk for the savings, rather than paranoia. Keep track of ammo prices, and have $$ ready. You'll save $$$ in the long run.
I have a lot of ammo because I buy in bulk for the savings, rather than paranoia. Keep track of ammo prices, and have $$ ready. You'll save $$$ in the long run.
The tally I took this afternoon worked out to about 2300rounds in stock shared among 6 different calibers. I don't maintain a specific volume - but rather I buy some when it's in the budget and when the numbers need a boost for a certain caliber. Sometime in the next couple weeks, for example, I'll probably buy a case of 5.56 since I'm down to about 200 rounds.
The 750 rounds of .45 I have right now could easily last me through the rest of the year. 80 rounds of .243 will get me through deer season and coyote hunting for probably the next 2-3 years.
How much a shooter should have depends on budget, perceived need, and the role of the firearm, IMO.
The 750 rounds of .45 I have right now could easily last me through the rest of the year. 80 rounds of .243 will get me through deer season and coyote hunting for probably the next 2-3 years.
How much a shooter should have depends on budget, perceived need, and the role of the firearm, IMO.
scout26
Member
If I have empty shotgun hulls, I fire up the reloaders and make more. If I don't have empty hulls, I go to the range and scrounge some hulls up. Simple.
Same with the rifles and handgun.
.22 on the other hand, buy a 550 pack every trip to Wallyworld, Gander Mountain or a gunshop. Can't have too much .22 on-hand, and goes quickly when you have two kids and their friends shooting it.
Same with the rifles and handgun.
.22 on the other hand, buy a 550 pack every trip to Wallyworld, Gander Mountain or a gunshop. Can't have too much .22 on-hand, and goes quickly when you have two kids and their friends shooting it.
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