Did your idea of what a sufficient stockpile of ammo was change when you started reloading?

Zaydok Allen · Feb 8, 2018

I'm a little bit of a hoarder and prepper. I find I like to always own 3 different sized handguns, plus a carbine for each cartridge I shoot..

Additionally, I like to have a healthy stockpile of ammo for all my guns, in the event of one of those bad situations we don't discuss on THR. Over the last decade, I've squirrelled away a few thousand rounds of factor hollow point ammo in 22lr, 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 454 Casul, 460 Magnum and now find myself wanting to stash 9mm and 10mm.

However, I was fairly content that I had enough in the event of a bad situation or a shortage. But now that I am reloading, I find myself desiring to load 1000 rounds of all of the above cartidges, and then have enough components to load another 1000 of each. 22lr being the obvious exception.

I doubt highly that I'll even need it, but I find myself craving a greater stockpile. Did this happen to any of you when you began reloading?

MDof2 · Feb 8, 2018

Call me when you think 10,000 of .each in 224, 308, 45 or 9mm projectiles is low.

sbwaters · Feb 8, 2018

The first year expanded the variety of bullets expanded because I didn’t know what I wanted or what worked well. I still have too many boxes of bullets that some day I’ll Pay It Forward.

The second year, shooting IDPA I settled on a few bullets (.45 ACP and 9MM) and powders, always trying to stay at a month or two ahead of what I’d need.

Now, the third year, I find myself loading a hundred rounds whenever I want the therapy. Who knows how many I’ll end up with. ;-)

LiveLife · Feb 8, 2018

When I initially started shooting USPSA matches, I kept around 6 month supply which quickly became 1-2 years.

During the last two shortages, it went to 5+ years to ride out election year cycles.

Now I am stocking up for retirement and wish I had bought more components when they were half the price I am paying now.

saiga308 · Feb 8, 2018

460Shooter said:
and now find myself wanting to stash 9mm and 10mm.

i crave for more 9mm in my stash but every time i think i have enough, i go out and shoot up a bunch and then chase the supply chain again a endless paradox :rofl:

for me

Zaydok Allen · Feb 8, 2018

sbwaters said:
Now, the third year, I find myself loading a hundred rounds whenever I want the therapy.

Funny, I find myself thinking that most days. I just want to crank out a few hundred rounds.

So basically what you guys are saying is 1000 rounds and enough components for another 1000 is silly. This is only going to get worse isn't it?

LiveLife · Feb 8, 2018

Yes, it only gets worse.

Next, you'll start collecting reloading presses. I "only" have ten ... and growing.

ColtPythonElite · Feb 8, 2018

For over 25 years, I have always bought at least twice what I thought I would use before the next order. I never bought unless I was getting a great price.

saiga308 · Feb 8, 2018

ColtPythonElite said:
For over 25 years, I have always bought at least twice what I thought I would use before the next order. I never bought unless I was getting a great price.

me too wait for fat times like now, compared too a few years ago when i bought very little to stock up

LiveLife · Feb 8, 2018

Yes, stock up on sales.

I suggest you save up each month to buy as much as you can when components go on sale, especially on Black Friday (which typically has been the best sales).

Zaydok Allen · Feb 8, 2018

I do shop for sales, and I'll keep Black Friday in mind. I find I don't want to shoot factory ammo at all anymore. It feels like cheating.

NoirFan · Feb 8, 2018

Not really, no. I have about the same amount of rounds on hand as before - enough to fit in three ammo cans. The only difference now that I reload, is that I replenish that amount much more quickly and cheaply after a range trip.

I do have a couple thousand extra projectiles that I bought on sale.

Holderofthehorns · Feb 8, 2018

Always buy on sale.
Always buy too much.

Teach your children well.

brewer12345 · Feb 8, 2018

Other way around for me. I got into reloading (and casting) because I felt like my stash of factory was not sufficient to ride out shortages, panics and administrations.

JeffG · Feb 8, 2018

No, my stockpile of ammo is factory or milsurp. I handload for my hunting rifles and my Vaqueros. The AR,AK, the Glocks shoot non handloads.

ray15 · Feb 8, 2018

I don't worry about ammo as long as I've got enough for the next range trip. But I'll horde all the bullets I can, to lock in good prices as they avail themselves and ensure I can crank out 500 rounds at any given time. I've got ~25K. at the moment (do not watch the xtreme clearance sale section, unless equipped with the special safety glasses).

I don't like keeping more than 4-5lbs. of powder and 8,000 primers out of respect for fire. I'm thinking I'll build a good outbuilding to store the powder and primers, plus most other flammable things currently in the house and garage. My 2.5 gallon gas can for the lawn mower is probably as much energy as a few pounds of powder. That way if it all goes up it doesn't take the house with it, and I'll feel free to have a stock of most things rather than the 3 or 4 most useful powders.

bearleft · Feb 8, 2018

I'm glad brass and bullets don't have an expiration date

berettaprofessor · Feb 8, 2018

I find I don't want to shoot factory ammo at all anymore. It feels like cheating.

I look on it as an opportunity to stock up on once-fired brass

Walkalong · Feb 8, 2018

ray15 said:
I've got ~25K. at the moment (do not watch the xtreme clearance sale section, unless equipped with the special safety glasses).

lol......... I bought 2K (1K 9MM & 1K .38) for me and 1K .40 for the kids (500 each)

Bfh_auto · Feb 8, 2018

I keep more components, but fewer loaded rounds now. As long as I have 2 times what I expected to shoot loaded I'm good.
I have a 50 cal can full of primers, countless bullets and about $1000 worth of powder.
The powder is excessive because I could drop it to IMR 4064, titegroup, Win760, and h110 and not have 15 different powders.

Holderofthehorns · Feb 8, 2018

If my house catches on fire, I'm telling the firemen to run.

Gottcha · Feb 8, 2018

I shoot too much to have a stock pile.....

Dudedog · Feb 8, 2018

The last ammo/component was enough for me to realize I needed to have more on hand.

However in CA you can't even legally stockpile much, small limits on the amount of powder and primers you can have.

wrench459 · Feb 8, 2018

I don't know about the rest of ya'll
I'm only able to transport 2 ammo cans of 9mm with my body.

brewer12345 · Feb 8, 2018

Bfh_auto said:
I keep more components, but fewer loaded rounds now. As long as I have 2 times what I expected to shoot loaded I'm good.
I have a 50 cal can full of primers, countless bullets and about $1000 worth of powder.
The powder is excessive because I could drop it to IMR 4064, titegroup, Win760, and h110 and not have 15 different powders.

Please, please do not put primers or powder in a metal ammo can. You are creating a bomb that can throw shrapnel quite far. A non-sealed, easily breeched container is much safer.

Did your idea of what a sufficient stockpile of ammo was change when you started reloading?

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Moderator

Member

Member

Member

Contributing Member

Member

Member

Similar threads