How much ammo do we need?
- Thread starter Thomasss
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herrwalther
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There is a very simple formula for buying ammo.
X + 1.
Where X is the amount of ammo you have now. Repeat as necessary.
X + 1.
Where X is the amount of ammo you have now. Repeat as necessary.
Buzznrose
Member
I think the real question is what will 2025 look like….and as others said, that will depend on results of next November.
.308 Norma
Member
Who is "we?"
Beats me.
I know what I don't know.
And I also know that I'm 75 and might not be around long enough to see the end of the next ammo shortage - IF it even happens, and IF the current "ammo shortage" ends before I'm gone.
Ignition Override
Member
OP:
This: the more you enjoy actually shooting (ie) “Cold War Battle Rifles”, the more you might ‘need’. All of my shooting is pretty " slow fire". Nothing like some videos by "mixup 98" (the guy in the NV desert) on Youtube.
Anticipation of possible consequences of the election in November , not to mention anxiety After a certain "flavor" of results are calculated, will have a serious repercussion on ammo prices.
As for .308 ammo in my present “reserve? It is so easy to burn up 60 rds. at a sluggish, gradual pace.
::::By the way:::i just had my favorite gun shipped back from the best FAL gun smith in the US ("ARS"). I can Not over-emphasize how much I enjoy my pair of FALs, the PTR-91 and M1A.
I would (now) order 1,000 rounds to Fatten the reserve, but there is zero chance of any significant discounts in the near-future. Talking about 2005, 2018 etc ammo prices is totally meaningless.
Many of us only scan the first page of Ammoseek's prices.
This: the more you enjoy actually shooting (ie) “Cold War Battle Rifles”, the more you might ‘need’. All of my shooting is pretty " slow fire". Nothing like some videos by "mixup 98" (the guy in the NV desert) on Youtube.
Anticipation of possible consequences of the election in November , not to mention anxiety After a certain "flavor" of results are calculated, will have a serious repercussion on ammo prices.
As for .308 ammo in my present “reserve? It is so easy to burn up 60 rds. at a sluggish, gradual pace.
::::By the way:::i just had my favorite gun shipped back from the best FAL gun smith in the US ("ARS"). I can Not over-emphasize how much I enjoy my pair of FALs, the PTR-91 and M1A.
I would (now) order 1,000 rounds to Fatten the reserve, but there is zero chance of any significant discounts in the near-future. Talking about 2005, 2018 etc ammo prices is totally meaningless.
Many of us only scan the first page of Ammoseek's prices.
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Until people stop panic-buying. Actual shortages are relatively minor events and it doesn't take much ammo stock to get through them. Once people start panic-buying, the dramatically increased demand can turn a minor event into a really difficult situation and keep it going. It is very easy for the ammo-buying public to buy more ammo than the manufacturers can turn out and they can keep it up for a surprisingly long time.
BreechFace
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Only need two shotgun shells. Just walk out side and fire them into the air; that's all one needs.
theotherwaldo
Member
I've got enough loaded ammo that I had to redistribute it.
It was starting to damage the floor.
I've got enough casting lead that I had to put a cabinet for it on the carport slab.
I could probably reload most of my brass with the components that are on hand.
I'm not too concerned... .
It was starting to damage the floor.
I've got enough casting lead that I had to put a cabinet for it on the carport slab.
I could probably reload most of my brass with the components that are on hand.
I'm not too concerned... .
We're doing a good enough job at that all by ourselves.
Calculate how much you shoot and plan accordingly. Seems like most shortages last a year or two before things come back to relative normalcy.
I don't mind cutting back on shooting since I have other hobbies so I don't need to get too carried away.
I don't mind cutting back on shooting since I have other hobbies so I don't need to get too carried away.
Steve51
Member
I hand load and try to keep a good stock of components on hand. I probably have at least two years of ammo made up for my usual amount of shooting.
I know for certain, if the ATF and the FBI swat teams show up at my door, I will be dead before I can shoot it all up.
I know for certain, if the ATF and the FBI swat teams show up at my door, I will be dead before I can shoot it all up.
Only you can answer that.
CapnMac
Member
Well, to put a fine point on it, you are asking us to give an integer answer to an equation which is all variables beyond today's date.
They keep telling us we are looking aw world-wide inflation and currency issues. So, your question might be rephrased as "How many dollars ought I have on hand next year?" The answer above, f "Enough" is as apt for ammo as for currency.
The "they" reporting potential shortages ought be subject to a gimlet eye, and a grain of salt the size of a cow lick. Especially when a generic term like "gunpowder" is being reported.
See, my bros in the pyrotechnic entertainment field have been saying that there's a major shortage of both black and flash powder--mostly due to Chinese factories running at full tilt for NYE and Lunar New Year fireworks production.
Some of the news reporting has conflated that shortage of black powder for fireworks with the production of smokeless propellant for firearms ammunition. Sadly, the journalism trade now prefers things which create "clicks" rather than an informed audience.
Now, there are rather a lot of wars and similar belligerent activities going on right now--so there is demand for smokeless powder frim the finest grain size up to 1" diameter extrusions. But, that demand has been high for better than a year now.
The conditions and quanta on retail shelves is probably more due to Just-In-Time inventory schemes rather than world politics.
Watch the prices on retail shelves, buy when it's a bargain as often as you can afford--you will wind up with rather a lot, even 1 or 2 or 5-6 boxes at a time.
They keep telling us we are looking aw world-wide inflation and currency issues. So, your question might be rephrased as "How many dollars ought I have on hand next year?" The answer above, f "Enough" is as apt for ammo as for currency.
The "they" reporting potential shortages ought be subject to a gimlet eye, and a grain of salt the size of a cow lick. Especially when a generic term like "gunpowder" is being reported.
See, my bros in the pyrotechnic entertainment field have been saying that there's a major shortage of both black and flash powder--mostly due to Chinese factories running at full tilt for NYE and Lunar New Year fireworks production.
Some of the news reporting has conflated that shortage of black powder for fireworks with the production of smokeless propellant for firearms ammunition. Sadly, the journalism trade now prefers things which create "clicks" rather than an informed audience.
Now, there are rather a lot of wars and similar belligerent activities going on right now--so there is demand for smokeless powder frim the finest grain size up to 1" diameter extrusions. But, that demand has been high for better than a year now.
The conditions and quanta on retail shelves is probably more due to Just-In-Time inventory schemes rather than world politics.
Watch the prices on retail shelves, buy when it's a bargain as often as you can afford--you will wind up with rather a lot, even 1 or 2 or 5-6 boxes at a time.
hoardingthemanual
Member
Idk about you but I need all the ammo.
I must admit that all I buy is rimfire! I am always adding to the reloading components when I find a great deal and then I load up. I have not been affected by the ammo shortages for the last 20 or 30 years. I took care of business long long time ago!
I'm just sayin
I'm just sayin
armoredman
Member
How much? One box more than you think you need.
It depends on what your needs are. A box would satisfy some people. 100,000 rds wouldn't satisfy others. How much do you shoot? You may have to cut down on your recreational or training shooting.
During the Clinton administration there was talk of classifying primers as an explosive. You couldn't find a primers for about a year or more. I learned how to deal with shortages from that.
When I saw reloading components or factory ammo at good prices I'd buy some even if I didn't need it. I realize many budgets won't allow that.
If you're looking at an EOTWAWKI you can't have enough ammo. I think that scenario is unlikely.
Buy what you can at good prices. Remember mass buying will drive prices up.
During the Clinton administration there was talk of classifying primers as an explosive. You couldn't find a primers for about a year or more. I learned how to deal with shortages from that.
When I saw reloading components or factory ammo at good prices I'd buy some even if I didn't need it. I realize many budgets won't allow that.
If you're looking at an EOTWAWKI you can't have enough ammo. I think that scenario is unlikely.
Buy what you can at good prices. Remember mass buying will drive prices up.
Corpral_Agarn
Member
All of it
hutch51
Member
Mosins - More than I can use in my lifetime. I'm 72.
9mm - I don't have a reliable 9mm right now. 1k+. Thinking on a 1911-pattern in 9mm.
45ACP - 1500 I think. I generally buy a couple hundred rounds with each range visit, leftovers go in the safe. Also have a half case of SD/HD.
.380 - more than I need. Seldom fire that one, belongs to wife and she never shoots.
9mm - I don't have a reliable 9mm right now. 1k+. Thinking on a 1911-pattern in 9mm.
45ACP - 1500 I think. I generally buy a couple hundred rounds with each range visit, leftovers go in the safe. Also have a half case of SD/HD.
.380 - more than I need. Seldom fire that one, belongs to wife and she never shoots.
Ignition Override
Member
If many gun owners are now panic-buying, most probably don't read any specific gun website such as TheHighRoad anyway. Don't take offense, but this probably isn't the center of the US' online gun universe.
Similar or identical topics can likely be found on many other gun websites and they don't necessarily originate in this echo chamber.
The youngest adults who own guns supposedly read little outside of X and TikTok, no matter what the subject- guns or otherwise.
What's that weird stuff - Reddit? ....is it partly AI? So many of the naiive gun questions on Reddit mostly seem to be created by young people "in the spectrum"
, or it looks that way.
Similar or identical topics can likely be found on many other gun websites and they don't necessarily originate in this echo chamber.
The youngest adults who own guns supposedly read little outside of X and TikTok, no matter what the subject- guns or otherwise.
What's that weird stuff - Reddit? ....is it partly AI? So many of the naiive gun questions on Reddit mostly seem to be created by young people "in the spectrum"
, or it looks that way.
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Targa
Member
I cast my bullets, have a good supply of powder and a decent supply of brass and primers. The only manufactured ammo I buy is 9mm but if things get bad and as much as I hate reloading 9mm, I am set up to do it. Long story short, set yourself up to reload if at all possible at least as a backup if the factory stuff runs dry.
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