Some musings about ammo and such

[45_auto]

The only time you can have too much ammo, is if your house is on fire and you have to move it all in a hurry.

You've obviously never been in a damaged airplane or a sinking ship. Ammo and weapons (heavy and not needed to keep the plane flying or the boat floating) are the first things to go.

From "B-17 memories - From Memphis Belle to Victory":

Meanwhile, we had thrown out all guns, ammo and flak jacket armor to lighten the load and save gas.

From "Memories of a B-29 Pilot":

having thrown overboard all guns, ammo and loose objects,

From "US Military in the Persian Gulf":

Rinn ordered the crew to throw ammunition overboard, seeking to accomplish two goals.

Ammo also makes it hard to float if you have to go in the water. It's standard training at the sheriff's department here (lots of bayous swamps, canals, etc) to practice removing your gun belt if you have to go into the water after someone.

 

[Sav .250]

Go with the flow and enjoy life..................

 

[Ironicaintit]

Okay fine, the only time I have had too much ammo was when my house was on fire and I had to move it all real quick.

When its not on your person, or in transit; merely being stored at home as a hedge against inflation... A house fire is about all I can think of as a negative.

 

[Warp]

Plus of course, most of us have and will never find ourselves in a plane with a bunch of weight in guns and ammo readily at hand

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

Maybe you just need a better storage method so it doesn't look like too much. 30 and 50 caliber ammo boxes make wonderful storage containers. You can label and organize them so it doesn't appear to be an excessive amount and it will allow them be convenient when you need to grab a particular caliber for a range trip. Maybe it is the appearance of too much ammo that is bothering you......

 

[Warp]

Maybe you just need a better storage method so it doesn't look like too much. 30 and 50 caliber ammo boxes make wonderful storage containers. You can label and organize them so it doesn't appear to be an excessive amount and it will allow them be convenient when you need to grab a particular caliber for a range trip. Maybe it is the appearance of too much ammo that is bothering you......

With only "several hundred" rounds of a caliber (cartridge) on hand, I don't think too much space is an issue. Ammo cans would probably take up more room unless he put multiple calibers in the same can.

 

[another pake]

If I have too many components or completed rounds of ammo in various calibers on hand, that is someone else's opinion and I do not share it.

There were times in the past when new factory ammo or components for reloads were readily available and I bought them as I needed them. Then shortages began to happen...

I doubt that situation will affect me again.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

My mistake. If he only has "several hundred" rounds of each caliber on hand then he does not actually have a problem. I have in excess of tenfold that and do not consider it a problem.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Ammo on the shelf is like cash in my wallet.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Why multiple guns

Because I enjoy shooting different kinds of guns in different cartridges, and because it's fun.

and why so much ammo?

Because winter is long, and factory ammo is expensive.

 

[CapnMac]

"Why?" is easy--because elsewise you'd be out squandering your money (and time) on wine, women, and song.

 

[FROGO207]

Seriously---you have to stop watching those hoarder shows on cable. Do the sensible thing and invest your time in reloading more ammo. It will save your sanity.

 

[AZ Desertrat]

Most of us would love to have more of everything! Here is my rule: I try to have at least 1000 rounds of everything I use, except maybe .22 which I have way more of. As for reloading components....I always have about 10 pounds of different powders on hand, 4000 or so of primers...don't necessarily have all the projectiles on hand...but those I can get as I need them.

 

[CoalTrain49]

At the risk of being labeled un American here I'll tell you what I did. I downsized about 3 years ago. I have only one rifle cartridge and two handgun cartridges to reload for. I sold all of my shotgun components as I no longer hunt or shoot the shotgun games. If I got back into it I would just buy the ammo as the cost difference isn't huge.

I don't keep a large quantity of ammo on hand, only what I think I will shoot in about a month. That would be 4 trips to the range for me. If I take a new shooter to the range I will load enough for both of us in advance.

I prefer to have the components on hand instead of ammo. I have enough components to keep me going for several years. I like to experiment with different loads so a large amount of a certain configuration wouldn't be advantageous for me.

I see no reason to stockpile ammo. I prefer to stockpile components. Some think ammo is as good as money. I tried to barter a haircut with a box of factory 45 acp one time. My barber thought it was a joke and he has a 45. I'm pretty sure the grocery store won't take it either.

 

[larryh1108]

I reload for what I need for my next range visit. I keep my components in their factory package. If I ever need some cash then I can sell my components but my reloads would be near worthless.

I keep all my brass cleaned and primed. I have them bagged in 100ct bags. I reload for about 10 pistol and 1 rifle calibers. When I want to go to the range, I reload what I need for the calibers I am taking. Storing is also easier in the original packaging.

When I retire in 6 years I plan to have enough components on hand to reload until I can't shoot any more. I believe I am almost there. All I need is some more (reasonably priced) .22LR and I'll be good to go unless I decide to pick up a new caliber along the way. I doubt that will happen because I have most of them covered now but I learned to never say never. Last month I took the plunge on a S&W 10mm which was the last gun on my want list.

 

[Pushrod]

My thoughts:

-Because reloading's fun, and firearms are beautiful examples of mechanical ingenuity.

-Because ammo, components, and weapons will never be cheaper.

-Because ammo, components, and weapons may be subject to further unconstitutional regulation, and I have a family that I'd like to provide the tools of self-defense for, for at least the next generation.

This first post nails it. That is my exact three reasons.

 

[Hondo 60]

why so much ammo stockpiled

This time of year I've had a lot of indoor time.
The "range" I frequent is behind my friend's barn.
It's just very difficult to access over the winter, as the snow is knee deep on the trek back there.
I end up reloading a LOT more than I shoot.
But no worries, the stockpile dwindles very quickly once the snow melts.

Why so many calibers?

Heck the last 2 guns purchased were a SAA with 2 cylinders (45 Colt & 45 ACP)
Just so I "could".

And a .380 just cuz I didn't have one.

I enjoy reloading.
Not only does it give me something to do, it rewards me for a job well done.
I get enjoyment when I look at targets that say I found a good combination of components.

And just because I can!

 

[orionengnr]

I see no reason to stockpile ammo. I prefer to stockpile components.

^^^ This. For example:
My large pistol primers can be used for making 10mm, .45acp, .41 Mag or .45LC rounds (these are the LPP handgun rounds I currently load for.)
If I were to decide to sell my 10mm and my .45LC and keep the other two (as I have been considering) then all those primers will still be usable. If I assemble that ammo...not so much (the brass and the bullets for the 10mm and .45LC would sell just fine.)

Same situation applies with SPP, LRP, SRP...

Also, if I should drop dead tomorrow, my widow will have a much easier time selling boxes of primers and clean sorted brass than she would selling "someone's" handloads.

 

[dragon813gt]

I have ammo on hand. But at this point most of my ammo cans are full of cast bullets. Some and sized, lubed and ready to load. But most are as cast and haven't been processed yet. I have way to many molds at the moment. I just added another 35cal mold to the spreadsheet. That makes 31 molds for that caliber. The total for all calibers is much larger.

Do I need all of the firearms I have, no. Could I sell most of my casting molds and keep the known performers, absolutely. But that would be boring. Over the past week I cast w/ four molds I've never used before. So that's going to lead to load development across multiple firearms. It all leads to trigger time which is what it's all about.

There are plenty of times where I load just for the range trip. Did it w/ some 10mm rounds this past Monday. I really need to keep more loaded but I'm in load development. Jacketed bullets make that part easy. But again.....that's boring and isn't any sort of challenge

 

[JTHunter]

Almost 25 years ago, I started reloading for my .243 and my .380, but not my 12 gauge.

Unfortunately, the public range I used to frequent had 200 yd. set-ups but was destroyed in the floods of 1993 and there were no "public" ranges near here now. As I had put together about 200 rounds of .243 and double that for the .380 and had no place to practice, my press sat for over 10 years.

With my recent acquisition of a Marlin 1894 to go with my GP-100 (.357) and a relative's SP-101 (.38 Spec.), the press has come out of mothballs. The problem now is some components are hard to obtain. The ones I have had the most problems with have been brass and bullets. I was fortunate to get some used brass at a recent local gun show, but not bullets, and I've used up the 2 boxes of bullets I did have.

It would also help if I had a dedicated place to reload but I have to C-clamp the 2x6 plank the press is bolted onto to my kitchen table. Being single, this isn't a serious problem (I don't eat at this table!) as this serves as a "worktable" when it is too cold to work in my pole barn.

I'm hoping to find someplace that I can shoot the Marlin farther than the 50 yards I'm limited to now as I want to see how accurate this 20 year old rifle is at ~100 yds.

 

[Teachu2]

I'm working too much these days to spend time seeking and consuming reloading supplies, but I've been buying an "extra" case or two a month on ammo I shoot often. It adds up in a hurry, but I've found that legal-width file cabinets will hold a boatload of ammo....

I got caught in the last shortage. NEVER again....