How Much Ammo?

[mangostene]

How many rounds of ammo should you keep per firearm for home defense purposes?

I'm just thinking of that scenario where there's urban unrest imminent and law enforcement is spread out so thin across the city chasing after major incidents that quiet law abiding citizens will be left to fend for themselves defending their loved ones and property against all manner of unlawful characters who are out to riot, destroy property, or worse, hurt others.

Worst case scenario would be, what if this situation is indefinite? How much ammunition should one keep a supply of?

Also, is there a shelf life to ammunition that's been kept for a while? Say, two years old?

Thanks folks
MANGO

[SemiAutoSam]

3-5K rounds for every firearm.

[Santa Cruz Armory]

I have no idea, but I love your avatar. too bad it's not full screen size. (it's not your wife is it? if so, sorry)

[Wyatt]

As much as you can horde. I feel nekkid with less than 1000 rnds in reserve for ea. caliber but I have honestly lived thru a Katrina type scenario and never had to fire a single round.

[maschronic]

3-5K rounds for every firearm.

i second SAS!!!!!

[Tweak338]

As much as you can afford!
Since I cannot buy cases & cases all the time, I try and shoot half of what I buy each time, and slowly build a small stash..

[What Just Happened?]

I've got about 1k in .22 (tho' that doesn't count cuz' .22's so cheap)
650 in 9mm
100 in .38 special
~250 in .45 acp

But that's only because I kinda started the whole shooting habit not too long ago and haven't had time to build up my reserves.

[FEDUPWBS]

At least 20k of each cal. thats why im so pissed at CAI bastards.

[mangostene]

Damn, then I need to pile up some more then! I have just a little over 1K rounds per firearm! Do you guys ever think about a situational scenario where you have to move locations (i.e. house is burning down) and you have to move all this ammo? How do you guys have your ammo stored so it can be readily moved?

Should I be worried about the shelf life of the old stock?

Wyatt, I know what you mean by a situation like Katrina. I was around here in L.A. when the riots happened because of that R.King incident and the DMV next to me was burned down, electronic stores where being burglarized, and they were using pick up trucks to either ram into the stores or tie a tow rope on the security grates and drive off with them busting the storefront literally wide open!

Blfd1, no worries, no need to apologize. That's my girl Sarah! Glad she caught your eye. She caught mine.

[sloguy]

modern ammo, if stored right, will outlast you( or so i hear)

ive shot milsurp ammo from the early 50's and had zero failures and that stuff was green with corrosion.

i think the how much ammo question is variable. depends on who you are, what rifle, what you expect to encounter, your shooting style, and a zillion other variables.

the quick answer is" to fill all your magazines" however, some people i know i dont think he could carry all his mags when empty. if they were full, hahahaha, good luck.

i say 10-15 magazines are fine. maybe more if they are all 10 rounders. so, a couple hundred rounds should be fine.

[JeffM]

If the situation is indefinite, then it will become impossible to find/buy factory ammo in short order. Maybe the same day as whatever event. There was a ban on ammo sales in some areas affected by the Rodney King fiasco.

So get as much as you can afford. Also invest in reloading. Bullets, primers, and powder.

...Then burn most of it up in training. Take a training course in whatever firearms you're likely to use. The more ammo you us in this way will translate into using less during an actual emergency.

[Grouch]

for a SHTF more the better to an extent.

remember if you're going to fire 2000 rounds expect to get 2k fired right back at you.

So keep what you can quickly carry with you and will last you an extended period of time and remember not to look for the fight.

[FEDUPWBS]

So to parphrase/clarify SLOGUY, two loaded preban beta C mags is fine?(=200rds) if you got em.

modern ammo, if stored right, will outlast you( or so i hear)

ive shot milsurp ammo from the early 50's and had zero failures and that stuff was green with corrosion.

i think the how much ammo question is variable. depends on who you are, what rifle, what you expect to encounter, your shooting style, and a zillion other variables.

the quick answer is" to fill all your magazines" however, some people i know i dont think he could carry all his mags when empty. if they were full, hahahaha, good luck.

i say 10-15 magazines are fine. maybe more if they are all 10 rounders. so, a couple hundred rounds should be fine.

[glockman19]

3-5K rounds for every firearm.

+1 I agree the problem is with 20 firearms where to store all the ammo?

[WokMaster1]

3K per caliber except 9mm & 22lr, 6k each. 200 rds 12 gauge 00 buckshot & 100 rd slugs..