How Much Ammo?

[paradox]

I don't understand the whole thousands of ammo stockpile. For most SHTF scenarios you will need to relocate to a safer spot so there is no way you can carry thousands of ammo of different calibers. If you needed to move a couple hundred rounds MAX is all you can take.

A few hundred rounds will be more than enough for a Katrina/riot/earthquake/etc event.

The slim possibility of having to water the Tree of Liberty, on the other hand, could require quite the stockpile...

[rivviepop]

Regarding "as much as you can carry", I thought about that once - when I buy my usual (sealed box of 1K federal HST 9mm JHP) I carry it in my backpack on the motorcycle home. Worried that I'd break the straps 'cause it felt so darn heavy, I weighed a box and did the math one day: 37.5lbs for 1000 rounds of the 147gr 9mm (that's in boxes with those plastic thingies, so let's say 37lbs even).

FYI only.

[8200rpm]

No one needs more than 10 rounds for an automatic pistol designed to be fired from the hip with the shoulder thing that goes up.

6 rounds for a high-powered armor piercing dirty Harry revolver.

Anything more and you're probably a terrorist, a mental case, or should be reported to the police as such.

[SemiAutoSam]

This is one reason alone that we all need to be prepared with lots of stockpiles.

A few hundred rounds will be more than enough for a Katrina/riot/earthquake/etc event.

The slim possibility of having to water the Tree of Liberty, on the other hand, could require quite the stockpile...

[rg_1111@yahoo.com]

Get as much ammo as you can afford. The prices are not coming down any time soon. It's better to have it and not need it. Than to need it and not have ammo.

[maxicon]

From a practical perspective, I go for 1k rounds for my primary calibers (.223, .22, 9mm, .357/.38), and less for my recreational calibers (.45, .380, .30 carbine, .30-06, etc). If you practice a lot, it's easy to drop below, so you have to be vigilant.

When I find especially good deals on stuff I shoot a lot, I'll lay in extra, knowing I'll work it off over time.

Not only is it expensive to build up larger stores, it can be difficult to find space for it (at least for me). Still, to paraphrase Freewheeling Franklin, "Ammo will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no ammo!"

[MudCamper]

I keep a few thousand rounds of .223 and only 100 of each other caliber firearm that I own.

As for shelf life, many decades if you keep it dry.

[MajorAR]

I have roughly 15k rounds of 5.56mm...I think I'm good for awhile.


Maj

[Bizcuits]

and 30cal or 50cal U.S. ammo cans work great for storing ammo due the rubber seal they have in the lids.

+1

You can easily take your ammo with you in the event you need to leave quick due to a SHTF incident.

As for how much? Well as much as you can afford, carry and safely store. The last thing you want is a fire at your place, then rounds cooking off at the fire fighters trying to help you.


Just a suggestion though, while many may laugh at this... If you've never been in a real fire fight "LEO, Military etc". I'd recommend getting into Airsoft or Paintball. It will give you a concept of how other people will react to an incoming projectiles. Plus you'll have them coming at you as well. "Theres a reason why LEO and Military train with Miles, Paintballs and Airsoft".

You can shoot at paper targets all day, but in a real incident your target won't be standing still and niether will you.

The words, "Blind Fire" and "Spray and Pray".. Watch some real combat videos from Vietnam and Iraq.

[hitman13]

where is the best place in nor cal to buy ammo in bulk? im talking:

5k 22LR
100 12 Ga slugs
800 00buck
2500 9mm
2500 .45
1500 .223 or 5.56

[BillCA]

Realistically for a short-term disaster like earthquake, big fire, floods, etc.... you don't need huge stockpiles of ammo.

Short term incidents figure it this way;
Handguns
Primary pistol - 100 rds minimum OR be able to charge every magazine fully, 3~4 times. For revolvers, 50 rds plus charging the gun and each speedloader device you have.
Secondary Pistols - 50 rds.

Rifles
Semi-auto: 200 rds minimum (10 boxes) OR be able to charge every magazine fully 5 times. Rapid fire ability eats ammo quickly so trigger discipline is a must.
Bolt Rifle: 120 rds minimum (6 boxes). Don't forget stripper clips if your can use them.
Lever rifle: 120 rds minimum.

Shotgun
For repeating shotguns (pump or auto) 25 rds of #00 buckshot and 15 rds of slug. Up to 50 rds of heavy birdshot (#4 or larger). Best: 100 rds of #00, 25 rds of #4 and 30 rds of slugs. Bandoliers, buttstock shell holders or sidesaddle holders are a big plus.

.22 Caliber
If you don't have a .22, get one. A Ruger 10/22, a Browning Buckmark pistol, even a .22 revolver. Ammo is small, light, cheap and easy to carry. Get 3-5 magazines for your gun. Keep 1,000 rds of quality .22 on hand plus a couple of small 50-rd boxes. Toss in a box of .22 shotshells for handling mice, rats, snakes, etc. The looter/thug on the receiving end doesn't really care that it's a .22 you're shooting, he just doesn't want to get shot.

For a primary pistol, you can load it with premium ammo for the first magazine (or cylinder full) and back-up magazines can be FMJ or lower-cost ammo (such as Winchester/USA or Fiocchi JHPs). Have enough premium ammo to reload a single magazine twice.

For a primary rifle, invest in some JSP hunting ammo which is likely a bit faster than FMJ/Milspec ammo. Use this for the first 2-3 shots then resort to FMJ in the rest of the mag.

If your family has 3 handguns, a bolt and semi rifle, a shotgun and one or two .22's then you'll be moving about 600 rds of ammo plus two bricks of .22 LR. This can be divided up amongst the people or probably into two 50BMG ammo cans along with cleaning supplies, magazines, etc.

[BillCA]

If one expects a serious, long-term situation (months vs. days) then by all means, lay in a supply of ammo for your guns. If you have 500 rounds for each gun, that's a good start, depending on how many guns, calibers and expected use.

For a shotgun, 250 rounds of buckshot and 50-100 slugs can be augmented with less expensive large birdshot such as a #4 turkey load.

If you have 500-1,000 rds for each "primary" combat gun plus 200 or more for each secondary gun that will probably be enough unless civilization fails. I don't expect to see massive firefights or combat hordes of gangbangers all alone.

[God Bless The Mauser]

Well I'm out in the country a few miles outside of Lincoln and if something happened there then people in the country will have to deal with the city folks coming out here. I will probably stay put since my house would be the safest place I know. I have visibilty going out to the road and wide open areas around my house so I can keep an eye on everything. Now for my ammo I have about
2200 7.62x54
350 30-06 need more since my M1 Garand is really tuned in and would be great for long range.
4k .22lr
200 9mm
1000 .45ACP
1000 8mm Mauser
500 .303 British
900 7.62x39
100 .30 carbine
I'm good for a while.

[rivviepop]

...that will probably be enough unless civilization fails. I don't expect to see massive firefights or combat hordes of gangbangers all alone.

what about the zombies? everyone always forgets about the hordes of zombies until it's too late...

[BillCA]

what about the zombies? everyone always forgets about the hordes of zombies until it's too late...

If it's zombies you're worried about, you're in the wrong state.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a6YdNmK77k