Ammunition: Strategic Reserve?

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I love to shoot and go through ammo like nobody's business, but I am a bit uneasy about burning through all my ammo and then having some sort of ammo shortage or event happening that makes ammo impossible to get.

So, I decided a strategic reserve of untouched ammo was a good idea. I'm sure many of you do as well, so I'd just like to know what everyone's 'comfort zone' is as far as ammo reserve:

.223 = 1,000
7.62x39 = 1,000
.45 acp = 500
9mm = 1,000
.22lr = 2,000
12GA = 250
7.62x54R = Sealed 440 rd Spam can

I usually have more ammo than this, but whatever is above these numbers I consider 'shootable' and replace it only when I have the $$ or a tremendous deal comes up.

Would love to get feedback on this. The above calibers are all I own because I feel they cover everything and are all reasonably affordable to shoot.

Thanks CG,
Bobby Ricky

[troysland]

It's a good start, I too keep a threshold and anything above that is shootable. I'm collecting/hoarding components for reloading. The Brown truck may not be running when the Appocalypse arrives.

[the86d]

I was trying to keep a bunch at the ready, but range-trips with a new set of 2A partners depleted some. I will not tear into my (X)M855 can, nor my WalMart purchases so I have about 1000 .223/5.56 that goes untouched, 1500 22lr, and about 400 Federal/WalMart 9mm luger that sits happily away from moisture in ammo cans.

I was trying to keep 1000 (at least components) of each caliber, but with paying off one of my credit cards and not wanting to use it any more keeps me at a disadvantage.

I don't have that credit card payment any more, so I SHOULD be able to get ahead starting next month... hell, .223/5.56, and 9mm brass is free! Reloading it is like 1/2-3/4 the cost of store bought ammo, so I should be okay... soon.

Now on to get a 12-gauge!

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I was trying to keep a bunch at the ready, but range-trips with a new set of 2A partners depleted some. I will not tear into my (X)M855 can, nor my WalMart purchases so I have about 1000 .223/5.56 that goes untouched, 1500 22lr, and about 400 Federal/WalMart 9mm luger that sits happily away from moisture in ammo cans.

I was trying to keep 1000 (at least components) of each caliber, but with paying off one of my credit cards and not wanting to use it any more keeps me at a disadvantage.

I don't have that credit card payment any more, so I SHOULD be able to get ahead starting next month... hell, .223/5.56, and 9mm brass is free! Reloading it is like 1/2-3/4 the cost of store bought ammo, so I should be okay... soon.

Now on to get a 12-gauge!

Agreed. Blowing up credit cards to buy ammo isn't an ideal situation. On the other hand, unlike most of the junk and perishable stuff we buy, ammunition is like currency. It seems to cost more every year and it can always be sold off as needed.

Anymore whatever factory boxed ammo I buy goes into the reserve and I buy the good quality reloads for shooting. Thankfully steel case ammo is reasonable because I shoot my commie guns more than anything.

[bender152]

Back in '08, ammo was scarce and expensive. Brass-cased .223 frequently sold for $0.40/rd and up... and even then, stores couldn't keep them in stock. This lasted for over a year.

Not wanting to get burned by this again, a lot of us learned our lesson and bought reloading setups. It sucked having a gun, but not being able to use it because you had no ammo for it. While I don't have much of an actual ammo stockpile, I do have a decent amount of reloading components.

With that being said, it'd be nice to have at least a 6 month supply of ammo on hand (easier said than done). I try to go to the range twice a month and each time, I shoot anywhere from 100 to 400 rounds of .223. That averages out to 3000 rounds over 6 months.

[Richard Erichsen]

I love to shoot and go through ammo like nobody's business, but I am a bit uneasy about burning through all my ammo and then having some sort of ammo shortage or event happening that makes ammo impossible to get.

So, I decided a strategic reserve of untouched ammo was a good idea. I'm sure many of you do as well, so I'd just like to know what everyone's 'comfort zone' is as far as ammo reserve:

Given the potential for this sort of information to be used against you later on, I'd suggest not posting how much ammunition you have or plan to obtain in public.

[bruss01]

I love to shoot and go through ammo like nobody's business, but I am a bit uneasy about burning through all my ammo and then having some sort of ammo shortage or event happening that makes ammo impossible to get.

So, I decided a strategic reserve of untouched ammo was a good idea.

You're right, it is a good idea.

I would not recommend anyone rush out and "run up the credit card" buying a ton of ammo. Keep an eye out for what you need, and keep a bit of a "reserve fund" for pouncing on opportunities when they come up.

At minimum I try to keep 1k for every caliber I stock. Ideally I want to keep 1k per every GUN. That 1k is besides what I shoot for range practice and fun... that 1k is supposedly "sacred" and not to be spent on day-to-day range trips... it's intended to be my supply for necessities if it happens that I cannot replenish my supply for whatever reason.

I have taken up reloading also partly as insurance against supply shortages, but keep in mind you still have to have a source of bullets, powder and primers even if you can save and re-use all your brass. It's almost as difficult and expensive to purchase the components when supplies are short... and if you're going to just stockpile components... you could have stockpiled whole ammo as well. Reloading can save you a little expense, and a little storage room... you can store 1k loaded ammo, 4k bullets, primers and powder, in slightly less space and at somewhat less expense than you can store 5k of loaded rounds. To some folks, that is worth the time and trouble. For many though, it's not. I do it primarily to have a better understanding of ammo, how it works, what my gun likes, etc. For most folks, just buying ammo off the shelf is the best way of making sure they will have it.

I have heard of people who "run out of ammo" after a range trip. To me, that sounds like parking your car in the driveway with an empty tank, just because you are home now... sure, but you will drive again, right? Makes no sense. I think I would be in a full-blown panic to find that any gun I owned didn't have at least a box of ammo on hand... well not really, but I just can't fathom letting that happen. If I find a good price on 500 or 1k of something, I jump on it. That's why I still have several cases of x39 that I bought for $99 each back in 2003-2004. It makes me chuckle to think that when I shoot some of this, I'm paying half what the guy next to me, shooting the same stuff, is paying. Because he only buys a box when he goes to the range. Well, some folks choose to live like that. I don't when I can help it.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Given the potential for this sort of information to be used against you later on, I'd suggest not posting how much ammunition you have or plan to obtain in public.

Care to elaborate? Is the government going to confiscate our ammunition?

[ChrisToad]

You're right, it is a good idea.

I would not recommend anyone rush out and "run up the credit card" buying a ton of ammo.

No, but I've got a 401k I think would be better spent 'investing' in Yugo / range friendly ammo...

[XDRoX]

If the S really HTF then I'd be comfortable with a 500rd bulk pack of 22 from Walmart and a 10/22.

I'm being honest. Honestly I think that's all you'd need.

But I think everyone should have as much ammo as they can get ready just for recreation. I think 100k is a good goal. After all 100k rounds divided by 50 guns is only 2k per gun. Lots of guys around here have 50 guns. So I'd consider 100k rounds an achievable goal that most of us should have. Or at the very least enough components to load 100k.

[Colt562]

If the S really HTF then I'd be comfortable with a 500rd bulk pack of 22 from Walmart and a 10/22.

I'm being honest. Honestly I think that's all you'd need.

But I think everyone should have as much ammo as they can get ready just for recreation. I think 100k is a good goal. After all 100k rounds divided by 50 guns is only 2k per gun. Lots of guys around here have 50 guns. So I'd consider 100k rounds an achievable goal that most of us should have. Or at the very least enough components to load 100k.

100k rounds!? Im sorry but that seems a little excessive to me. If you have 50 guns are they all different calibers? But if you can store and pay for 100k rounds, im jealous

[CSACANNONEER]

.223 = 1,000
7.62x39 = 1,000
.45 acp = 500
9mm = 1,000
.22lr = 2,000
12GA = 250
7.62x54R = Sealed 440 rd Spam can

So, two weekend's worth is all you are planning to keep in reserve?

[XDRoX]

100k rounds!? Im sorry but that seems a little excessive to me. If you have 50 guns are they all different calibers? But if you can store and pay for 100k rounds, im jealous

I have no where close to 50 different calibers. I think I have 8 9mm's and at least 11 different 22's. but hey the OP asked for a number 100k seems like a good number.

[Colt562]

I have no where close to 50 different calibers. I think I have 8 9mm's and at least 11 different 22's. but hey the OP asked for a number 100k seems like a good number.

oh ok, well with the 22 it does make sense to have at least 2000 rounds, cause its so cheap

[XDRoX]

BTW, I don't think I have 100k loaded rounds. I have no idea what I actually have. I'd guess probably somewhere between 50-70k. But I have quite a bit of components on hand as well.