How much is enough

[UrbanSI]

.22- about 3,000
9mm- 1000
.45- 7-800
.357- 6-700
.223- 500
.38SPL-250
7.62X54R-400ish
7.62x39- 600
about 100 various rounds of SD stuff too

My safe is full so ive had to start stocking in alternative places, time for a real safe i think

[Double Star 1911]

The way things are going in this country there could be a zombie outbreak at anytime. Arizona is looking like thete might be one cooking up out there

[USMM guy]

To the contrary. Everybody should ask themselves this question. To know the answer that will fit your situation. You really need to figure out what your potential, and realistic needs will be in a given set of circumstances. What sort of situation that you may find yourself in, long term/short term whatever. This is what you should plan for with an emphasis on worst case scenario planning.

Just my two cents which does not amount to much.

[medalguy]

I have presently not enough.

Seriously, I shoot a LOT and I have over 100,000 rounds of .223, .308, .30-06, 9mm, .45 ACP, .38 Special, 7mm, 8mm, and .22LR and .22 magnum. I don't want to worry about any more shortages of either ammo or components. Ever.

[V-J]

Medalguy can I be your neighbor? Nice stash you have.

[PaulTX]

I keep 1,000+ rounds for the Garand and AR-15 plus 600 for the M1 Carbine. For autopistols about 600 rounds each. But I keep a good stock of reloading components!

Paul

[Pow-ding]

I have seen the value of guns go up and down, but ammo always seems to go just up.

Buy lots of ammo now, and be very happy later.

Ken

[medalguy]

Pow-ding is right, it doesn't get cheaper. Ever. I like to shoot and since I retired I do it as often as I can. Shoot, that is. I like to reload in my spare time to keep myself busy. Seems I'm always buying more brass and bullets.

I bought into pulldown bullets and powder several years ago when a buddy and I were discussing the prices at that time. We decided that powder for $4 or $5 a pound was an excellent price and .30 cal bullets for 3 cents were just too good to pass up. We both loaded up and I bought over 50,000 bullets, and more since when the prices started creeping up and the government stopped allowing the surplus components to be sold. Turns out that was one of my better investments.

[Stevie]

Originally Posted by medalguy

I have presently not enough.

Seriously, I shoot a LOT and I have over 100,000 rounds of .223, .308, .30-06, 9mm, .45 ACP, .38 Special, 7mm, 8mm, and .22LR and .22 magnum. I don't want to worry about any more shortages of either ammo or components. Ever.

Finally someone i can relate too..

[sumo61]

I think it depends on how much you intend to shoot. Both my son and I try to shoot at least 2 matches a month. So that means I reload and stock more than someone who does not shoot as often. I always try to have at least 500 of the calibers we don't shoot in matches and over 1500 in the calibers we shoot in matches. So I tend to reload about one full day each month. I do have cases of 223 sitting just in case SHTF or zombies start walking the earth.

[sniper208]

The definition of "enough" is relative to your circumstances at the time the question is asked.

I reload what I shoot every month, as others do. I can reload more if needed. I try to keep a minimum of 500 per firearm and my max is..........

[verniersight]

The only time you have too much ammo is when your house is on fire.

[crankypop]

Originally Posted by verniersight

The only time you have too much ammo is when your house is on fire.

That's true, friends of mine lost their home in the late 70's because they had so much rifle and shotgun ammo stocked up that the firemen couldn't approach the home because rounds were cooking off and they couldn't risk getting shot so they had to fight the fire from a greater distance than they would have liked.

[WESHOOT2]

Min = 8K; Max = no limit.

I get uncomfortable when I have less than 25K primers.

[Robert101]

I'm on the other side of the quantity stream. I keep about 300 45 automatic as I shoot that the most. And, only about 150 of the other calibers (that's 150 for each of the other calibers). When I run short of 45 auto, I just clean cases and reload some more.

[Tonimus]

Ammo stockpiles are good. I keep between 500-1000 rounds for just about everything I have. (Except for the odd caliber 7.7 Jap) However, I keep 11 mags of 7.62x39 loaded and 8 mags for my 1911 loaded at all times. I can't carry several thousand rounds if I have to bail.

[trickyasafox]

the stuff that doesn't get shot much- a few boxes is ok.

high volume stuff though- i try to keep a good bit more. here's whats in stock- all figures are estimates

223- 1500 rounds
7.62x39 1700
45acp 1000
9mm 1200
38 spl 700
357 500
40 sw 1000
44 mag 250-300
22lr- 15,000

[Morgo]

I'd say my stockpile would work out to atleast 500rds per firearm way more for .22's. Thats mostly reloads, I do keep a fair bit of factory ammo but since I only use my reloads why store ammo I don't normally use and am not accustomed to shooting.

[mil spec]

Originally Posted by Tonimus

Ammo stockpiles are good. I keep between 500-1000 rounds for just about everything I have. I can't carry several thousand rounds if I have to bail.

Exactly! If someone has to bail, then a battle load is plenty. If your on foot , then your also carrying water, food, shelter, and etc.

[dryden]

Originally Posted by Conhelador

I try to keep about 100 rounds minimum for each gun I own.

What's your stockpile min/max?

Well, let's see. These are min/desired stock level (not max) because I may find a deal and/or reload a large batch and have more

12 ga. rifled slug - 50/100
12 ga. turkey load - 50/100
12 ga. target load - 250/500
12 ga. steel shot pheasant - 500
.22 lr plinking - 500/1,000
.22 lr target - 500/1,000
.22 lr small game - 500/1,000
.45 ACP target - 250/500
.45 ACP SD - 100/200

Those are all the calibers I shoot on a regular basis. I also keep these handy:

.38 Special - 50/100
.357 Magnum - Occasionally
9mm - 200/500
.380 - 100/200

Oh yeah, and rifle:

7.62x54R - 100/200
.270 Win - 60/100

Plus three to five pounds of powder and 1,000 - 2,000 primers of assorted sizes.

[Brian48]

About 300-500 depending on caliber.

[Akicita]

Ok, so we all keep a stock pile. How long do you keep ammo before you shoot it? Whats the shelf life?

[john_galt]

4-5K per caliber of everything I own rifle and handgun, reoaded, about another 1000 of each caliber factory. No idea how much .22, a lot. A couple hundred rounds 12 gauge. I need to start reloading .223 , I haven't started with that caliber yet.

I found out recently it weighs a lot. Moved and the moving company wouldn't move it, so I had to move it myself 2 States away. I ende up building ammo crates from scraps of hardwood and plywood in my shop. Then had to upsize a trailer of the ammo and the other stuff we had to move ourselves. I'd would've had to rent a truck to move the 100K rounds per caliber!

[AZsnipe]

Well, I used to shoot trap competatively, so I'd keep about 10,000 AA hulls on hand. Usually about 2500 loaded up. Ya go through about 1000 rnds per week if you're serious.
Pistol? Well, generally I like to have about three 50 cal. ammo cans full of 45ACP. Bout the same for 9mm. Couple of hundred for the 380's. Preferably 3000 rnds of 22lr (that's the real meat getter).
All the others, couple of hundred rnds each.
That said, also plenty of "components for rolling my own". (MEC Hustler, RCBS Rock Chucker & JR, and a trusty MEC 650).
Oh yeah, plenty of Black Powder and lead for the smokepoles. I can make the powder, but its easier to buy it.

[AZsnipe]

Originally Posted by Akicita

Ok, so we all keep a stock pile. How long do you keep ammo before you shoot it? Whats the shelf life?

Well, I'm still shooting 30-06 left over from Korea. Still goes BANG!

Keep it dry, and its OK for the range for a looong time.
Personal protection stuff? Usually not more than 2 yrs. (only because I rotate the stuff) I sell weapons and ammo (retail), and I have had stuff on the shelves for over 7 years in some calibers. I know of shops that have closed, and when they sold the "old stock" there was ammo many years old in it.


Snipe