[thegtwyo86]

Hi everyone
I've been thinking about this lately and I decided to ask you guys.
I'm going to list the guns I have and am going to have in the near future. And I guess you guys let me know what you think the amount of ammo I should have for each.
#1. .223/556 ar15
#3. .223/556 ar15
#4. Mosin nagant 91/30
#5. 12ga hunting pump shotgun
#6. 12ga home defense pump shotgun
#7. 38spl carry handgun
#8. 9mm handgun
#9. .22 mag bolt action rifle
#10. .22lr semi auto rifle
#11. .22lr semi auto handgun
This is just stored ammo I'm not counting ammo that will be used for practice.
Thanks
James

 

[PaulS]

How much depends a lot on your situation. Are you "bugging in" or are you going to have to pick and choose what to take with you when you "bug out"?

I will answer your question assuming nothing bad happens and the ammo is for "recreational use".

You should store about four years worth of shooting supplies for all your guns.

For instance I shoot competition small bore silhouette twice a month. It takes 40 rounds plus some fouling rounds each time we meet. I practice twice each week using around 50 rounds at each practice session.
Using that information: 100 rounds a month for matches, or 1200 rounds a year plus the 100 rounds a week for practice or 5200 rounds a year. That comes to 6400 rounds a year times four years is 25600 rounds for four years or 51 bricks at 500 rounds each would be the maximum I need to store for my 22. That is why I am still shooting competition - I have not had to buy 22 ammo at the inflated prices and can afford to shoot until the ammo is back in stock at normal prices again.

Now take my hunting rifles: I shoot 5 rounds twice a month for ten rounds a month or 120 rounds a year for practice. Add to that the 5 rounds I need for the hunt and you get 125 rounds a year. Multiply that times the four years and you get 500 rounds or 25 boxes of ammo.

Just sit down and be honest about what you shoot and how much and then figure it for a four year time span.


There is no way that you could bug out with that much ammo but if the only thing that happens is that we get another run on ammo that makes it hard to find and expensive to buy you can go three years without any decrease in your recreational shooting and then replenish it at normal prices.

 

[retired guard]

If somebody is shooting at you you don't have enough.
If your house is on fire you have too much.
If both are going on simultaneously I hope you have prepped.

Paul gave you great advice.

 

[SDF880]

I like to keep 1,000 rounds for each as a baseline minimum and for those I shoot often I buy it when I see a deal.
Ammo shortages seem to be easing but in this crazy day and age it's more like buy it when you see it.

 

[wesley762]

You have enough when you have no more space to store any more, seriously though there is no perfect answer to this. Buy what you can afford without neglecting your other preps.

 

[Rigged for Quiet]

I'm not sure there is a "right" answer to this. My practice requirments to remain profcient are likely much less than the average person. That said, my desire usually outweighs my need, lol.

I have always looked to keep my desired inventory on hand and pick up my practice rounds as I go. Obviously, the last 10 months has reinforced hard lessons learned in 08 about dealing with no availability.

Someone once answerd this question with, "If you can still walk in your house, you don't have enough." I suspect they were single, lol.

 

[wallyLOZ]

I believe that Paul is right on when he says four years worth as a baseline. As stated be honest about how much you shoot and do the math. Initial cost is an additional aspect to storing that much ammo.

One other aspect that I'd like to throw out there is, consider reloading. It's a great hobby and developing a load for a particular gun will have you clawing to get to the range to try it out. It's relatively inexpensive unless you get into it big time and buy a progressive press. Once you have your basic tools you will see big savings in your ammo costs.

 

[tango]

Invest in reloading equipment and supplies, lots of supplies.
You can reload brass many times.

 

[thegtwyo86]

My wife and I are planning on bugging in for 3 to 6 months and depending on the situation. then going up north after that. to where? We haven't decided yet but for a bugging out situation I was thinking about 1000 rounds each for the 2 ar's get an 880 can for the mosin, 1000 of 9mm, 500 for the 38spl about 500 or more for .22 mag, have about 1000 split up rounds for the shotguns like buck, turkey load, bird and slugs. and as much .22lr as I can get my hands on.does that sound good?
Thanks for the responses by the way I'm really liking this community and what you guys bring to the table. 👍
James

 

[Chipper]

I would suggest you get rid of 4, 7, and 9. This would allow you to stock up on more ammo for the guns you will actually use. Are you really going to grab the Mosin when you have 2 AR's?

High capacity 9mm or a 5-6 shot revolver, I know which one I'd grab. Can the 38 and get another compact 9mm that uses the same mags.

Same with the 22mag if you have a 556 and a 22lr you have it covered. IMO. Concentrate on 3-4 calibers and stock up on what you can find and afford, don't forget the mags.

We are mighty congested already here up north maybe try out west or down south.

 

[1skrewsloose]

This topic has been up before, each time my plans change some. Do I keep 308 for my m1a or stock up on 5.56? The weight difference in carrying ammo is significant. For sure select nato rounds and maybe tried and true hunting rounds, ie: 3006. If you have mulitiple users, couple of guns that use the same ammo will put you miles ahead of the game. Less guess work on what ammo to use. The old adage-keep it simple stupid.jmho Course any extra off caliber can be used for barter.

 

[alterego]

I have to admit that I would rather have multiple calibers of the twelve most common ones. That way your chance of running across some is higher. But stocking ammo for multiple calibers could be considered more problematic. I have been working at it for some time and am starting to wonder if I am being a little silly. I am 40 years old and have been trying to dream up how many rounds I have fired to date and figure if I have another forty years worth I am covered.

 

[PalmettoTree]

How much ammo? 1000 rounds per cal. That is your hoard. Then 100 rounds stored with each gun for the range. Remember to rotate.

 

[recon]

Try to keep it simple. The less calibers you have the more ammo you can get. Me it's .223/5.56,7.62x39,9mm,12g. Same weapons also make it easy to stock ammo.

 

[thegtwyo86]

I like the ideas. I'm probably going to only stock up on 3 to 4 different calibers. I've even trying to slim out my caliber selection to where I have to reduce how many different ones I would need. I think your right about the 38spl. I might start looking at trading it in for something else. I really like my mosin though and the ammo is really cheap.
Thanks again
James

 

[SDF880]

Don't get rid of the Mosin, shoot I'd add a Mosin M-44 to complement the 91/30. I have a Ruger LCR in .357 and a S&W 642 I sometimes carry both and keep .38's HP +P in a few speed loaders that fit either revolver.
I'm from the camp don't get rid of anything you have and work with it, even expand it! Who knows what the future brings and you just might be glad you have a diverse line-up!

 

[Verteidiger]

I think 1000 rounds per caliber is a good goal to begin with.

For me, if you stack it all up in a big stack on the floor, big enough for you to sit down on without worrying about teetering off the edge of the pile, you still don't have enough.

Once you have to jump up in the air and boost yourself up to safely land on top of your big pile on the floor, you're there.

Or when your significant other is really starting to pitch a bitch about how much ammo you have.... Whichever comes first!

 

[split]

10K rounds...you know you have enough.

 

[SDF880]

Ammo seems to be coming back but as we have seen in the past something hiccups and everything dry's up and next time may be
a long time, stock up my friends!

 

[thegtwyo86]

That was another option I was thinking of was getting a .357 revolver so I could shoot both .357 and 38spl. But then again I already have speed loaders and ammo and other things for my 38spl. Idk lol I guess I'll have to think about it some more.....
Thanks again
James