I own ~40 assorted firearms
(3) rimfire calibers
(5) centerfire handgun calibers (counting 38/357 as just one)
(2) centerfire rifle calibers
(3) shotgun gauges
only rarely shoot most of those, and "really" only shoot (~98% of the time)
(3) rimfire calibers
(2) handgun centerfire calibers (38/357 and 380acp)
I don't reload, not because I disapprove in any way, just various and sundry other practical reasons
not a competition shooter (lacking in discretionary time, wherewithal, and talent)
do shoot at range every week, it's pretty much my "one fun just me thing, quiet time" to do thing
I usually have 50-100 rounds of what I don't very often shoot
I probably don't have more than 50 shotgun shells in total
doubt I have 20 rounds each of centerfire rifle ammo in hand
I have 50-100 rounds each of 38+p JHP (for handguns) and 357 JHP each (for carbines), "just in case", which I only practice with infrequently
(my mostly "just for serious stuff" ammo, because they all shoot 38sp range fodder just fine)
I keep 300-400 rounds of 17HMR on hand, and 500-700 rounds of 22WMR on hand, both of which is ~3X more than I really need to keep on hand
I (now) keep 500-1000 rounds of 38 range fodder on hand
I keep 250 or LESS rounds of 380acp on hand, and I am getting real peevish about it, too
going to have to go back to 38sp snubbie carry, if somebody doesn't do something about that real soon
I (now) keep at least 5000 rounds of 22 rimfire on hand
I really do think there is "a guy who knows a guy" at the local wallyworld, but it ain't me, and I am getting real peevish about it, too
I used to not keep more than a 100 rounds of anything but 22 rimfire on hand, and only 2-3 bricks of that
just pick up on way to range what I was going to shoot up that day
then (couple years ago) rising prices, started picking up twofers
then, too often couldn't count for sure on finding any on any given day, so started picking up threefers
but I still only keep ONE roll of duct tape on hand
If hurricane is maybe coming, I check up on stock of canned goods, water, ice, candles, batteries, propane, and toilet paper (and fill up the vehicle gas tank, just in case)... already got more ammo than I will ever use in a few weeks, and when the zombies come for me, I figure to be lucky to take out 3 or 4 before they eat me anyway (I ain't that good at head shots no more)
but THEN...
the Hate-N-Fear/Panic/SHTF/world-is-ending, zombie/martian/ninja invasion crowd got really serious
ever since, pretty much driven to checking places whilst traveling for the purpose of working to keep the family fed
never yet got desperate enough to pay just-plain-silly prices, but just restock on whatever's there in the calibers I shoot most
(except 380acp, of course)
No, I do NOT think OP was trolling for SHTF, but that is too frequently (almost always) where these threads go, in case nobody noticed
"buy more rope"
I have only "seen" two major "SHTF" very real deals in my entire lifetime
the LA riots and the Katrina event
I don't live in either LA or New orleans, on purpose (call me lucky)
Call me a fool, but I am real hard pressed to believe that even ONE law-abiding CIVILIAN ever shot up 50 rounds of self-defense ammo during either event.. but I would gladly have sold my #1 favorite gun to give somebody a drink of clean water in New Orleans, in a heartbeat, if I could have believed it would actually get done
but I was not there, of course (call me lucky)
The US military forces might just invade me any day now, of course
but I think 99% of U.S. soldiers and U.S. street cops are people just like you and me, and just like our own children
me, I think people who think they need 5,000 or 60,000 rounds of "defense" ammo to fight off their neighbor's children are not part of the solution, they just might be part of the problem
can't blame anybody (and do not) for stocking up whatever they can to beat the prices thing; but it just "does not compute"; people who are so frightened that they stock up 100X the rounds they shoot weekly
mostly, I am real doggone sure I could find more 380acp, if Walter Mitty had not been such a prolific fool
(and I am getting real peevish about it, too)
YMMV
Me and Uncle Jack know what we think about it, and Uncle Jack has seen more idiots, liars, charlatans, and fools of every religious/political persuasion than I ever will, and I have already seen way too many of ALL flavors
(me
have seen a few, and they don't fit
any one hate-name-game-label either)
PS
no, I don't mind if you stock up a 100,000 rounds of 223, just QUIT buying up 380 acp please !
(no, you are NOT going to win the next world war with 10,000 rounds of 380acp anyway, get over it already)
No, me got nothing against "black", (always did like ladies in black lace, one in particular), just never did think I needed 10,000 rounds to get it done... win, lose, or draw