A Time to reasses the situation

My heuristic is/was:

1. At least 500 rounds of generic quality ammo for my major guns.
2. 50 to hundred rounds of quality self-defense or hunting rounds for the major guns.
3. Buy enough for matches each month on top of the above
4. A few boxes of weird stuff - like 50 rounds of 22S for my one little 22S gun, which I never shot much

During normal times, I might stock up on really great sales for my commonly used types, just to save money.

If I end up going through 500 rounds of 223, 9mm , 45 ACP or 12 gauge in an Apocalypse, I would be rather surprised if I made it that far. I would be more likely to be dead because my Rx's ran out before then.

Thomas Mayberry said:

No change here. I learned a couple of decades ago to prepare for panic buying making resupply difficult. I'll use what I have while the unprepared strip shelves then restock when the supply returns to normal, just as I have done in the past.

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My stock predates Sandy Hook. When my local dealer said he was having trouble getting ammo, I stocked up. I'm not very smart, but I know good advice when I hear it.

Hokkmike said:

So, can you offer a BALL PARK ($$$) idea of the cost involved with getting into a set-up like you have

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Well, it’s kinda like looking at cars. How much does a car cost?

For a decent set up for rifle, probably $200-500 depending on your tastes. When I was in high school in the 60’s, I used a simple little which-a-mole Lee loader. Very slow, but you can easily set at the kitchen table and get started for $50 plus components

Pistol, I would strongly suggest a progressive (NOT LEE brand progressive) as you’ll go through a lot more ammo. It’s not typically cost effective for 9mm. I have .45 Colt and other more boutique calibers and it saves a lot in the long run. For those, I can save more than 50%. Twenty boxes pays for my whole set up

Mine is Dillon, so it’s higher end. Hornady is also very good. You’re probably going to have hobbies anyway. One of the costs of life. You can make way better ammo than you can buy, so it’s more than just straight cost.

The between alternative is a turret. Good for rifle or limited pistol.

Don’t get intimidated. If you read the reloading forum too much before you start, you’ll think it’s rocket surgery. I had my friends kids loading their own ammo in fifteen minutes. A mentor is a HUGE help.

Buying ammo, rarely more than 500 rounds at a time, gives me an excuse to drive my truck 25 miles to my favorite LGS.

I only stockpile 9 and 556. It might be time to add 40 to that. Usually only 2000 rounds. Adding 40 would be my only change.

All of my other calibers aren't essential in any way. Maybe 100 rounds on the shelf.

I started before this, but the only real change is making better use of existing space. I keep a limited number of cans, and strategize the best use of that space. I'm getting better at knowing how much various ammo takes up - and if I can find space for a good bulk order - that's when I'm looking to buy. The other thing I've started to pick up - is reloading my brass. Having the ability, equipment, and supplies to reload factory brass that gets fired, it makes the idea of running out of ammo seem a little bit silly IMHO. If you have 1,000 or 2,000 rounds in a particular caliber - and reload that brass 3 or 4 times, well you could quickly be looking at 8,000 rounds - and I honestly can't see myself ever needing 1,000 rounds - never mind 8 or 10k rounds. I also like that I don't have to be concerned about keeping empty brass locked, so - the secured space it takes up is less, and keeps my highly secured items at a lower level, and neater and easier to manage and keep track of is something I prioritize.

Have plenty of rounds and reloading components. But I have stopped going to the range as a way to conserve. Even though I am well stocked.

In my 63 years of life I have never hoarded or panicked buying ammo. I will say that during that time I have seen ammo cheap or the hard to find ammo on the shelves of a LGS and bought it. I look whenever I am at a LGS and have a large quantity. Not hoarding but just buying a box here or 2 boxes there! I have a cabinet of 5 shelves filled with ammo of certain calibers. I do shoot weekly so I am at the LGS replenishing my supply.

horsemen61 said:

Now due to the recent changes in the World is anyone else thinking the same?

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I've been reassessing more than just my ammo stockpile. I have realized that having a ton of ammo isn't really the highest of my priorities. My priorities are for the health of my kids, my family and my friends/neighbors. Getting to my range to shoot 250 rounds or more a week just does not seem to me, as important to me as it was a week ago. Having more time off and being limited to where we can go has given me all the time in the world to work at the reloading bench. Don't need to make 500 rounds an hour....... with the amount of ammo I already have reloaded, I don't need to make any. But it gives me something to do and is still related to one of my favorite hobbies. So plodding away on the ol' Single Stage is just fine. Prepping every piece of brass I won is done. Every ammo box I have is full. Just ordered some more off Amazon Prime, should be here early next week. Should be able to take what's in the reloading blocks out and start again. It's not having the stockpile of ammo that drives me, it's the relaxation of reloading and the memories that come to mind as I do it. Lost my best friend a few months back thanks to cancer. We used to shoot/hunt/fish together regularly. Now all I have is the memories. I think about the good times I have shooting with family and other friends and hope that will soon be a normal activity again.

The computer desk that I'm typing on is primarily supported by full cans of rifle ammo.
The pistol ammo is mostly stacked under the drafting table across the room to distribute the weight.
The ready ammo packs are either in the reloading closet or in my bedroom.
I've added a couple of calibers to my reloading cycle.
No other changes.

Before the panic was already stocked with 9mm and .38 spl bought on sale past few months, always have couple boxes defense loads. Sometimes nice lady at the range lets me shoot free so buy a box or two while there.

I did an assessment years ago and made changes then. Although some more 1911 magazines are on the way here. My reloading regimen hasn't changed. There is enough 22 ammo here that I just traded a case of it for a rifle scope.

I have no need to re-assess my personal (and my immediate family's) situation.

I will freely admit that in the period leading up to Hillary's coronation (which was somehow thankfully averted), I stocked up, big-time on 5.56, 9mm, .45 ACP, 12 ga., .38/.357 ,,,it wasn't exactly panic buying, but I did fear the worst, as the Dems still continue to attempt to subvert the supply of, and the ability to freely purchase, firearms and ammunition, be it with draconian laws, through taxation or other sneaky methods.

To the point where I ran out of storage space. Now, even should the apocalypse still happen, I have enough to shoot and for the family for the rest of my life without ever buying another round. Of anything ... wait, maybe I could use some more .30-06 and .30-30. (Yet for some strange reason, I've continued picking up ammo here and there when I see good deals.)

I see no need to re-asses. I have plenty of ammo and plenty of reloading supplies. I'm not doing any shooting because of the blankety-blank wind anyway. It just won't quit blowing.

One advantage to cap and ball revolver and buying black powder and primers in bulk to save Haz-Mat fees and casting ones own RB’s is there is generally a lot of ammo around. Just not loaded.

psyopspec said:

Yes, I am reassessing things. I followed my own advice to others and put some budget toward having ammo on hand over the last few years during a period where it's cheaper and more plentiful than it's likely ever to be again. Now I'll probably hold off on buying until we see where the new floor is on prices.

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This is me as well. I'm in pretty good shape on ammo and reloading supplies. I may find a few holes here and there, but I have enough to keep shooting for a quite a while.

doubleh said:

I see no need to re-asses. I have plenty of ammo and plenty of reloading supplies. I'm not doing any shooting because of the blankety-blank wind anyway. It just won't quit blowing.

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West Texas would be nicer if y'all would keep that SSW wind in New Mexico. Gusts to 40mph are not fun.

Nope, it's your fault. It's coming ffom El Paso and parts south and right up Guadalupe Pass. It just has to get by us on it's way back to Texas.

theotherwaldo said:

The computer desk that I'm typing on is primarily supported by full cans of rifle ammo.
The pistol ammo is mostly stacked under the drafting table across the room to distribute the weight.
The ready ammo packs are either in the reloading closet or in my bedroom.
I've added a couple of calibers to my reloading cycle.
No other changes.

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Strange I know, but I do look at user profiles. As one old gent to another, Just how long do you plan on living.

If your ammo numbers don’t have 4 digits for each caliber, you’re behind the power curve....lol

If I reassess I find that I have more ammo than I need. The only public range here is closed. I cannot legally shoot a firearm unless it’s in self defense or hunting.

I began "securing" reserve ammo at about age 12, and really started in the run-up to Slick Willie's inauguration in 1993- right near my 17th B-day.

I am well stocked...

I’ve been well supplied since I started shooting competitively and reloading in the late 80’s.
A 1/2 ton pickup would not handle my ammo and components supply, a 3/4 ton maybe but it would probably be down on the overloads.
I still have bricks of .22 rim fire price tagged $13 and primers all sizes marked 11.75 and 12.50 per thousand.
The loaded ammo is in ammo cans stacked 3 high along the wall. Brass and bullets in buckets and wooden ammo crates.
At this point, my concern is living long enough to shoot it all!

here in the beautiful Washington State they started talking about following California's lead and mandating back ground checks for ammo purchases, that set off an alarm in my head and since than I was spending a couple hundred a week on ammo, since the virus has struck our way of life I haven't bought any because prices and availability have changed, even if I can't make a purchase for a year or 2 I will still have plenty of ammo set aside

I don't load 10mm or 45 acp, I have maybe 300 of each. I also don't shoot much of either. Just enough to stay proficient with my carry pistols. I'm neck deep in the important stuff - 357 mag, 45 colt/454 casull, 45-70 & 30-30. I'll run out of primers before I run out of powder or bullets. I always keep 1000 5.56, I rarely shoot ARs

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Anyone old enough to remember the Great Obama Ammo Scare of 2012

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I remember and had started bringing in the ammo in prep of the election year, the virus caught me off guard like many though, didn't see that coming, didn't think a virus would induce mass ammo buying.