How much ammo ?

[phdo]

I keep at least 2k and 10 mags for each new firearm I purchase. The older the gun the more I have. I'm well over 5k and 30 mags by now. I also reload so I keep a large stock of components.

[JDay]

When you start keeping track of your ammo by weight you're getting close.

[retiredAFcop]

You can never have too much.

If you do not have storage space, or if you have to spend more money to rent a storage space than you will save in the next "panic", then you actually may have "too much".

Moving house with a large amount of bulk ammo can be expensive and a lot of work.

[jbolton]

[roostersgt]

I think some of you are being a bit unrealistic in the number of rounds per firearm. Do you really believe most of the sub $500 handguns will survive 5-10k rounds??? I don't, not without having a supply of springs, guide rods, slides, strikers and barrels, at minimum. I make pretty good money and there is no way in hell I could afford to have the kind of round counts some of you are suggesting. I'm thinking more in line with around 1500 rounds , or so, of each caliber (not including hunting rifles).

I'm all for being prepared and all, but damn. I learned my lesson regarding 22lr too late, but that shortage is really artificial. It's driven solely by greedy $@#^%#@!s who are likely unemployed and stand in line early every day at the box stores to dry them up and later sell at double the price online. I've never had any trouble obtaining common hand gun or rifle rounds at normal prices, even when the so-called "drought" occurred. Sure, the really cheap *** surplus stuff was scarfed up, but not the normal stuff I shoot.

Do people here really believe they'll be able to utilize those several thousand rounds per firearm in a real world SHTF situation? You really believe you're "that good" at urban combat?

Yeah, if you truly shoot a lot, I can see having quite a few rounds around might make sense, but I seriously doubt most people shoot that many rounds through their handguns. 5000-10000 rounds in a 6 month period, and you're not a sponsored competition shooter? Is everyone here who suggests that amount of ammo, making more money than their wives know about? What do you tell them? I'm intrigued and would love to tell my wife how I was able to squander that much money on ammo, without having to use it for familial obligations / purposes. Reloads is a whole different animal and makes sense to me. Hell, as many rounds as you can store if you reload is perfectly justifiable to me. JMHO and no disrespect, implied or intended to any posters.

[crono35]

Does anyone really think about the implications of being a prepper? That the only scenario you have "prepped" for is one in which you immediately begin killing everyone that isn't related to or beneficial for you? THAT sort of mentality is what will eventually finish our species off, after whatever it was that caused the scenario in the first place.

It's one thing to be naive and think nothing bad will happen in our lifetimes, but on the opposite side of the scale, assuming that society will fall apart at the first sign of trouble is every bit as naive. I'd like to think we all have a bit more citizen in us than that.

However, on the off chance of zombie apocalypse/alien invasion/ hyper intelligent land shark attack, it probably wouldn't hurt to have a couple thousand rounds in storage.

[SonofWWIIDI]

How much is enough?

More is enough.

You need more. I need more. We all need more.

Buy as much as you can afford and have room for...then get some more.

[ArmedCMT]

I think some of you are being a bit unrealistic in the number of rounds per firearm. Do you really believe most of the sub $500 handguns will survive 5-10k rounds??? I don't, not without having a supply of springs, guide rods, slides, strikers and barrels, at minimum. I make pretty good money and there is no way in hell I could afford to have the kind of round counts some of you are suggesting. I'm thinking more in line with around 1500 rounds , or so, of each caliber (not including hunting rifles).

I'm all for being prepared and all, but damn. I learned my lesson regarding 22lr too late, but that shortage is really artificial. It's driven solely by greedy $@#^%#@!s who are likely unemployed and stand in line early every day at the box stores to dry them up and later sell at double the price online. I've never had any trouble obtaining common hand gun or rifle rounds at normal prices, even when the so-called "drought" occurred. Sure, the really cheap *** surplus stuff was scarfed up, but not the normal stuff I shoot.

Do people here really believe they'll be able to utilize those several thousand rounds per firearm in a real world SHTF situation? You really believe you're "that good" at urban combat?

Yeah, if you truly shoot a lot, I can see having quite a few rounds around might make sense, but I seriously doubt most people shoot that many rounds through their handguns. 5000-10000 rounds in a 6 month period, and you're not a sponsored competition shooter? Is everyone here who suggests that amount of ammo, making more money than their wives know about? What do you tell them? I'm intrigued and would love to tell my wife how I was able to squander that much money on ammo, without having to use it for familial obligations / purposes. Reloads is a whole different animal and makes sense to me. Hell, as many rounds as you can store if you reload is perfectly justifiable to me. JMHO and no disrespect, implied or intended to any posters.

Does anyone really think about the implications of being a prepper? That the only scenario you have "prepped" for is one in which you immediately begin killing everyone that isn't related to or beneficial for you? THAT sort of mentality is what will eventually finish our species off, after whatever it was that caused the scenario in the first place.

It's one thing to be naive and think nothing bad will happen in our lifetimes, but on the opposite side of the scale, assuming that society will fall apart at the first sign of trouble is every bit as naive. I'd like to think we all have a bit more citizen in us than that.

However, on the off chance of zombie apocalypse/alien invasion/ hyper intelligent land shark attack, it probably wouldn't hurt to have a couple thousand rounds in storage.

I think you both are missing the point as to why people are say "just keep buying.".

Roostersgt, maybe they just have different priorities than you and choose to shoot their guns a whole lot more. While I have slowed down on the amount of ammo I burn through in recent years, when I was younger, and didnt have bills or a lady I was spending money on, I would got to the indoor range where I had a membership and shoot a few hundred round at least a couple times a week. I figure I was burning through about 1k rounds a month easy. Just cuz you're not doing it doesnt mean others arent. Im not shooting as much as I used to but Ive definitely been getting more range time in since I started reloading and im slowly working on building my stash.

I dont see why it makes sense to stock pile if you reload but not to if your buying factory ammo and yes I dont see why a sub $500 gun would have any problems shooting between 5K-10K rounds.


Crono35, I dont think most of us are stockpiling to go on a murderous rampage the moment the SHTF. Its really just to be prepared for times when ammo is hard to find and is outrageously priced when it is found. We understand that everything is going to be ok, but prices are going to skyrocket & supply will dry up, and that our stash will allow us to live our lives and shoot our guns as we have been without having to pay the inflated prices or camp the LGS with the rest of those who didnt prepare. Im sure a few of us may even be planning on capitalizing on the dry spell by selling a portion of their stash at a significant profit to offset the ammo they plan on keeping. Think of it as a mid length investment.

In the event the the S really HTF, who knows how long till youll be able to get ammo again? Some of us have families/friends we may have to arm and that my include wasting ammo teaching them how to shoot. I'll understand if your plan during a large scale disaster is to hole up, rely on the kindness of strangers and wait for FEMA. That is not my plan.

[thetaxman]

Buy whatever you can afford to buy. Get it in bulk so put $20/$200/$500 a week in a jar instead of buying a box or two at Walmart - unless it's cheaper than bulk of course.

[kcjr1125]

i have to agree with most here and say Minimum should be 5k. this depends on caliber of course.

I cannot afford to keep 5k rounds of 30-06 or 30-30. that would be wayyyy to expensive.

5.56x45 or 762x39 or even 762x54r are cheap enough for you to be able to accomplish this.

9mm, 357 mag, 45acp 38 spcl are all very common and you should have PLENTY of it.

[JDay]

Does anyone really think about the implications of being a prepper? That the only scenario you have "prepped" for is one in which you immediately begin killing everyone that isn't related to or beneficial for you? THAT sort of mentality is what will eventually finish our species off, after whatever it was that caused the scenario in the first place.

It's one thing to be naive and think nothing bad will happen in our lifetimes, but on the opposite side of the scale, assuming that society will fall apart at the first sign of trouble is every bit as naive. I'd like to think we all have a bit more citizen in us than that.

However, on the off chance of zombie apocalypse/alien invasion/ hyper intelligent land shark attack, it probably wouldn't hurt to have a couple thousand rounds in storage.

Stockpiled ammo is for arming your friends/family/neighbors that you trust should the S hit the fan.

[uhlan1]

I think some of you are being a bit unrealistic in the number of rounds per firearm. Do you really believe most of the sub $500 handguns will survive 5-10k rounds??? I don't, not without having a supply of springs, guide rods, slides, strikers and barrels, at minimum. I make pretty good money and there is no way in hell I could afford to have the kind of round counts some of you are suggesting. I'm thinking more in line with around 1500 rounds , or so, of each caliber (not including hunting rifles).

I'm all for being prepared and all, but damn. I learned my lesson regarding 22lr too late, but that shortage is really artificial. It's driven solely by greedy $@#^%#@!s who are likely unemployed and stand in line early every day at the box stores to dry them up and later sell at double the price online. I've never had any trouble obtaining common hand gun or rifle rounds at normal prices, even when the so-called "drought" occurred. Sure, the really cheap *** surplus stuff was scarfed up, but not the normal stuff I shoot.

Do people here really believe they'll be able to utilize those several thousand rounds per firearm in a real world SHTF situation? You really believe you're "that good" at urban combat?

Yeah, if you truly shoot a lot, I can see having quite a few rounds around might make sense, but I seriously doubt most people shoot that many rounds through their handguns. 5000-10000 rounds in a 6 month period, and you're not a sponsored competition shooter? Is everyone here who suggests that amount of ammo, making more money than their wives know about? What do you tell them? I'm intrigued and would love to tell my wife how I was able to squander that much money on ammo, without having to use it for familial obligations / purposes. Reloads is a whole different animal and makes sense to me. Hell, as many rounds as you can store if you reload is perfectly justifiable to me. JMHO and no disrespect, implied or intended to any posters.

I shoot 500-1000 rounds weekly. Match weeks often more. It's not just a incidental hobby to me, it is what I love to do.
If you had no trouble acquiring ammo during the last panic, I'm guessing you don't shoot much and your small stash was enough. 9mm, .45, .223 were inobtainium. .22 disappeared. Components became very scarce, powder still is. There were times I went to an indoor range and I was literally the only one shooting (weird feeling). I kept friends shooting. These boards were full of complaints about scarcity for over a year.

Most of us don't stock up because of SHTF, the apocalypse or whatever. We stock because of Washington DC and Sacramento. The nation is becoming more liberal and will continue to do so, as are the courts. They will not let up.

After Obama and his attempt to ban M855, we will likely get Hilary. After Brown we're getting Newsome, God help us. Deleon has made two attempts at his ammo restriction bill. He WILL make a third. Only this time as president pro tem of the senate, with a lot more power. This is why I am stocked up.

How many panics must we suffer before people learn? How many more whining threads titled "I can't find 9mm anywhere" will we have to endure in the future?

The choice is yours.

[rambutan316]

In a panic buying situation, both reloading components and factory ammo may be in short supply/high demand .So it's best to invest in reloading, as well as have a good amount of factory ammo saved up. Five thousand factory rounds, plus enough reloading components to make another 5K rounds would be a good goal IMO.

[roostersgt]

I shoot 500-1000 rounds weekly. Match weeks often more. It's not just a incidental hobby to me, it is what I love to do.
If you had no trouble acquiring ammo during the last panic, I'm guessing you don't shoot much and your small stash was enough. 9mm, .45, .223 were inobtainium. .22 disappeared. Components became very scarce, powder still is. There were times I went to an indoor range and I was literally the only one shooting (weird feeling). I kept friends shooting. These boards were full of complaints about scarcity for over a year.

Most of us don't stock up because of SHTF, the apocalypse or whatever. We stock because of Washington DC and Sacramento. The nation is becoming more liberal and will continue to do so, as are the courts. They will not let up.

After Obama and his attempt to ban M855, we will likely get Hilary. After Brown we're getting Newsome, God help us. Deleon has made two attempts at his ammo restriction bill. He WILL make a third. Only this time as president pro tem of the senate, with a lot more power. This is why I am stocked up.

How many panics must we suffer before people learn? How many more whining threads titled "I can't find 9mm anywhere" will we have to endure in the future?

The choice is yours.

If I was as concerned as you are about politicians eliminating my ability to obtain ammunition, I think I'd hang onto the ammo I have and shoot fewer rounds, or at least less often.

Apparently you don't read about all of the problems and failures resulting in the sub $500 hand guns having to be shipped back for repairs / replacement, often, right after they received them. Even the $800-$1000 hand guns LEA s use have their share of problems when the round count gets up there. I merely suggested people consider stocking up on wear out parts too, like slide springs.

I don't shoot all that much per range session. 200-300 rounds at most, and that's in a month with different weapons. Maybe I need to reconsider my stockpiling plan and start hoarding more. Even with 22r still being scarce at the box stores, it's still obtainable, if one wants to buy the pricier match grade stuff. It costs the same as the flippers are charging for bulk garbage 22's, around 10 cents per round.

Think I'll go out and grab another 10 boxes of Walmart's $9.97 per box 9mm this afternoon. They always have that.

[Squidward]

Most of us don't stock up because of SHTF, the apocalypse or whatever. We stock because of Washington DC and Sacramento. The nation is becoming more liberal and will continue to do so, as are the courts. They will not let up.

This is true!