How Much is Enough? - Realistic Preparation

[Suvorov]

Something I have been wondering for a while and offering up to the masses here. Considering a most likely SHTF scenario (riots and civil unrest following a major natural disaster), how much ammo should a person have on hand? Obviously you can never have too much ammo (unless you are on fire), but given today's rising ammo prices, the need to be able to bug out with it quickly, the limited storage room, and other limiting factors, how much is the realistic minimum (not bare minimum) do you think should be set aside?

Does anyone know how much ammo was gone through by the Koreans during the LA Riots? How much rifle ammo versus shotgun ammo versus pistol ammo?

I'm not talking World War Z here, or even invasion from Canada by UN forces I'm just talking defending the homestead until the local authorities take control of the situation (assuming they don't confiscate our weapons first).

[Jason762]

Honestly, I think standing outside your home with your firearm of choice would deter almost all looters.

There's other houses without armed guards that would be worth their time.

EDIT: On the other hand, if you suddenly face a gang of looters with one or 2 firearms hoping to get your firearms, you might need 2, maybe 3 mags. I'd like to think that, in such a situation, I would take controlled, aimed shots rather than spray and pray. But I'll never know until I'm in that situation.

[NSR500]

I'm aiming to keep at least 1000 rounds of each caliber I own on hand. Luckily I only own .22, .223, .308, 9mm, and 12ga.

[Two Shots]

IMO having a situation like L.A 100rds would get you thru. Once the people see your armed and ready to defend your home (not to mention a few bodies laying out front) they will leave for a easier target. Rifle ammo depends on the weapon, Hunting rifle 60rds, AR 200rds, Pistol 50rds, Shotgun 100 rds. It's always better to have more then not enough on hand, Myself I'd want atleast 200 rds per gun if law and order was being restored within a few days. If I needed to bug out I would just take the AR, Pistol and maybe the shotgun plus 50rds for all but the AR if on foot.

[ar15barrels]

Luckily I only own .22, .223, .308, 9mm, and 12ga.

I would consider myself unlucky if I only owned firearms chambered in those cartridges.
No 357 or 45?

[NSR500]

I don't care too much for the .357, but I am picking up a .45 soon after I stock up on AK's and AR's.

[sloguy]

what can you carry if you are forced to move? what else are you packing along? water, food medical stuff, ect? i say minimum is a full magazine.

[ibanezfoo]

Just enough to take out your targets and pick up their ammo. And hopefully some health packs. Or if you run out just die and when you respawn you will have max ammo again.

-Bryan

[1911su16b870]

IIRC in combat the guys/recommended carry is eight 30 rounders = 270 total rounds on your person. Some of our .gov guys can verify this.

[viras]

Your question has a lot of variables to consider.

For a bug out situation, this is what I would take with me:

1 Rifle - 1 battlepack (200 rounds) of .223
1 Shotgun - 50 Assorted Shells (magnum slugs, 00buck, etc)
1 Pistol - 100 +p+ HP 9mm

On top of this, I would have to lug around food/water and other essentials. I'd assume that my bug-out bag would weigh in at at least 35-40 lbs total...I hike quite a bit, and so I know I can carry a 40lb bag for at least 26 miles.

In reality, the amount of weight someone would be able to carry would vary greatly. You should practice by loading up a bug-out bag full of food/water/essentials, and then carry it for a while - how much ammo ON TOP OF what you're already carrying would you be able to carry? That is the true question.

Know your limits.

[tmuller]

100 rnds .30-06, 500 rnds .223 and 500 .45. Id on't plan on bugging out on foot however....that changes things significantly.

[Suvorov]

Your question has a lot of variables to consider.

For a bug out situation, this is what I would take with me:

1 Rifle - 1 battlepack (200 rounds) of .223
1 Shotgun - 50 Assorted Shells (magnum slugs, 00buck, etc)
1 Pistol - 100 +p+ HP 9mm

On top of this, I would have to lug around food/water and other essentials. I'd assume that my bug-out bag would weigh in at at least 35-40 lbs total...I hike quite a bit, and so I know I can carry a 40lb bag for at least 26 miles.

In reality, the amount of weight someone would be able to carry would vary greatly. You should practice by loading up a bug-out bag full of food/water/essentials, and then carry it for a while - how much ammo ON TOP OF what you're already carrying would you be able to carry? That is the true question.

Know your limits.

These are kind of the numbers that I have in mind as well. The main reason I'm asking this is to get a realistic amount of ammo not to shoot and just set aside. I'm sure most of us have a small "collection" of ammo sitting around the house. As the prices get higher and the specter of tighter restrictions on purchasing handgun ammo looming, I want to be able to know how much of what I currently have I can shoot and how much I should leave for a rainy day.

IIRC in combat the guys/recommended carry is eight 30 rounders = 270 total rounds on your person. Some of our .gov guys can verify this.

Back in the day of the LBE the standard infantry man load was 7 magazines = 210 rounds. Of course if you were going to go into battle, you would stuff your ALICE pack full of as many magazines and as much extra ammo as you could stand. In today's world of MOLLE gear, I don't know what the standard load is.

Just enough to take out your targets and pick up their ammo. And hopefully some health packs. Or if you run out just die and when you respawn you will have max ammo again.

Good tips, but if it gets that bad, I'll just jump in my X-Wing fighter or AT-AT and take care of things old school.

[ProtecSylt]

Back in the day of the LBE the standard infantry man load was 7 magazines = 280 rounds. Of course if you were going to go into battle, you would stuff your ALICE pack full of as many magazines and as much extra ammo as you could stand.

7 30 round magazines will leave you with 210 rounds. Load the mags with 28 and you have 196 rounds - one battle pack.
Depending on the mission in Iraq I carried up to 10 magazines on my paraclete vest and a grab bag in the car with an extra 8 magazines. It is kind of frightening how fire discipline goes out the window once you are totally outgunned and outnumbered... one just wants to put lead downrange to break the contact.
I personally feel that more ammo is better - but a combat mission and a bug out / civil unrest situation are entirely different.
200 rounds for my main rifle should take care of everything I will face in the CONUS... if I need more, I am sure I will be able to pick up extra ammo "off the ground" at that point.

[blisster]

Just enough to take out your targets and pick up their ammo. And hopefully some health packs. Or if you run out just die and when you respawn you will have max ammo again.

-Bryan

[Dark Water]

I try to keep 1000 rounds stocked up for each gun I own. I keep varying types of these rounds also. A few hundred hydrashock, t-series, gold dot and powerball for my handguns. However for my shotgun I only keep 100 rounds plus a box of slug.