How much target ammo vs HD ammo?

[krb]

Hi. Over the years I've stocked up on a bunch of target/range ammo. It's only more recently I've been picking up defensive ammo. I have defensive ammo but the vast majority of what I own is target (FMJ) obviously because of the cost.

Question - what is everyone's ratio? Do you largely stack up on target for practice and just have a few hundred rounds of self defense? Or is it more evenly split? It's really expensive (and I mean before this craziness) so my feeling so far has been that if I really have to go through more than a few hundred rounds of defensive ammo that's a really bad place to be but at that point I should have plenty of target ammo. And in terms of target ammo going through walls and everything else ... well if I've already run out of defensive ammo I have a lot more to worry about.

Wondering if I should be stacking self defense rounds deeper or if a few hundred for calibers I have is sufficient and then rely on FMJ if need be. I just don't like the idea of stacking deep such expensive ammo if the likelihood of needing it is small and if I have enough FMJ.

Thanks! Just wondering everyone's thoughts.

[Snoopy47]

Basically, I bought one box of defensive. Filled the home defense gun, and spare mags that are in the quick access safe with it and called it a day.

As a reloader, I have the capacity to manufacture high energy ammo (minus expanding projectiles) if the need arises.

Then, where shortfalls of "defensive" pistol ammo would even remotely be an issue will be made up with .308 rifle ammo taking the brunt of stand off defensive capabilities.

[golfish]

I think it's a good idea to practice with the ammo that you plan to use for HD so keep that in mind when your buying and at the range. As far as how much, man that's all up to you.
I've got 9x50 cal ammo cans full of factory ammo and then there's all my reloads.
(I hoard for my son, grandson and future grandsons) I figure it might come in handy for them in the years to come.

I'm such a lousy shot that I just use a shotgun with some #1 buck for HD.

[Powder_Keg]

I don’t practice with my HD ammo, too expensive. I did do a test run of my HD ammo thru my HD guns to make sure the guns/ammo/mags functioned without issue. In total, I probably have 350 rounds of HD handgun ammo, some loaded in mags, the rest on a shelf, 9mm and 45 ACP.

Shotgun ammo is way less expensive. If you don’t have a HD shotgun, I would suggest buying one and getting some ammo for it instead of loading up on a lot of HD handgun ammo. I think a balance of both is a good approach. YMMV

[L84CABO]

Below is the minimum for defensive ammo. You can never have too much. And if things really go south it can always be used to barter/trade. This is just my opinion. YMMV.

1000 rounds Rifle
500-1000 pistol
500 00 Buck

[rodralig]

Less of a ratio with my FMJ rounds, more of a number

9 = 1K
45 = 500
223 = 500
308 = 200
12 = 200


_

[3006]

Ball ammo works for defense most of it tumbles.

[P5Ret]

If things go really bad, there is nothing wrong with range ammo being defensive ammo.

[smupser]

If things go really bad, there is nothing wrong with range ammo being defensive ammo.

[krb]

Basically, I bought one box of defensive. Filled the home defense gun, and spare mags that are in the quick access safe with it and called it a day.

As a reloader, I have the capacity to manufacture high energy ammo (minus expanding projectiles) if the need arises.

Then, where shortfalls of "defensive" pistol ammo would even remotely be an issue will be made up with .308 rifle ammo taking the brunt of stand off defensive capabilities.

Thank you! That was exactly my thought process minus the reloading. I just bought some honey badger from black hills. Looks cool!

[krb]

I think it's a good idea to practice with the ammo that you plan to use for HD so keep that in mind when your buying and at the range. As far as how much, man that's all up to you.
I've got 9x50 cal ammo cans full of factory ammo and then there's all my reloads.
(I hoard for my son, grandson and future grandsons) I figure it might come in handy for them in the years to come.

I'm such a lousy shot that I just use a shotgun with some #1 buck for HD.

Thank you! Intermittently I shoot anmagazine of HD to make myself happy that it cycles correctly but not too often because of the price.

[krb]

[krb]

Less of a ratio with my FMJ rounds, more of a number

9 = 1K
45 = 500
223 = 500
308 = 200
12 = 200


_

[Rich1911]

Similar to what someone already said, I have two boxes of JHPs--one for each caliber pistol. The magazines in the quick access safe are loaded with them. If for whatever reason those run out, I have the FMJs put away. So for ratio, i dont know, 1 box of JHP to every 10 boxes of FMJ.

[Wordupmybrotha]

100 rounds of 9mm
20 rounds of 45acp
20 rounds of 38 spl

I ran couple of mags/cylinders for function test but I don't practice with them. Don't see why I need to practice with them. I didn't notice any significant difference in recoil between FMJ and HP.