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

[otisrush]

How much *loaded* ammo I have on hand isn't significantly different as compared to before I reloaded. (Actually, I probably do keep a bit more loaded ammo available than I used to prior to reloading.) But if I include components in the "ammo on hand" definition I have a whole bunch more than I had prior to reloading.

I really don't give much thought to how much I have loaded.....as long as I have enough to shoot whatever I feel like shooting when it's time to go to the range....plus extra above that amount. But I give A LOT of thought to how long I can last shooting x rnds/month of each caliber based on the number of components I have.

 

[Blue68f100]

I haven't seen those quantities of bullets sold anywhere, including online. Are you ordering direct from the factory, or am I just looking in the wrong place?

Your just not looking at the right places. Midway, Brownells and a few more sell them in bulk. To fine them quickly go to the mfg site and get their part number. Then search on the sight where you buy bullets. That is the quickest way I have found odd parts.

 

[LiveLife]

3000 9mm or even 6000 .223’s per box.

I haven't seen those quantities of bullets sold anywhere, including online. Are you ordering direct from the factory, or am I just looking in the wrong place?

Some online vendors such as RMR, MBC, etc. will give you increasing discounts for higher quantity purchases.

Take for example RMR 115 gr FMJ they manufacture in-house - https://www.rmrbullets.com/products...tal-jacket-bullets-new-made-right-here-at-rmr

- 1000 bullets with 5% THR discount comes to $75.05/1000 shipped
- 2000 bullets with 5% THR discount comes to $73.15/1000 shipped
- 4000 bullets with 5% THR discount comes to $71.25/1000 shipped
- 12,000 bullets with 5% THR discount comes to $69.35/1000 shipped
- 20,000 bullets with 5% THR discount comes to $68.40/1000 shipped

At some quantity point, price becomes cheaper than plated, coated lead or even lubed lead bullet pricing. You may say you can't buy that much bullets. Well, during the last two shortages, I networked with other reloaders looking for components and we put together group buys to save on shipping and HazMat costs.

If four people did a group buy of 20,000 quantity bullets, each person would buy 5000 bullets at cost of $342 (after 5% THR discount). I tell you, if people heard you were paying $68.40/1000 for jacketed bullets shipped to your door, they would say you were crazy. But these are current pricing you can buy TODAY.

If you want to save on reloading cost, you need to buy in bulk and stock up on sales. Cabela's recently had S&B primers for $19.99/1000 with free shipping on $99+ orders ($20 HazMat fee) and many of us stocked up.

FYI, THR members post reloading component sales to share with other members on this thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...onents-for-sale.707473/page-162#post-10712513

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Thanks gents. I have actually ordered from Midway before when there is a sale, and I watch for sales at Cabella's that are decent, and then check out the comparison if ordered on line. However, I had no idea RMR offered a THR discount, and have never visited their site. Thanks for the heads up!

I gotta say, I've always enjoyed THR, and have found many forum members to be extremely helpful, but the folks in the reloading forum have been friendlier and more helpful than any of the other subforums.

 

[brewer12345]

On the bullet side, I don't have that many calibers so it is easier to stock up. The trouble is that you can run into serious money quickly when buying stuff like 35 Rem bullets in quantity or top shelf .30 cal bullets. Solution? Casting. Yep, I had to invest in equipment and molds up front and climb the learning curve (but this is a fun extension of the hobby). Now that I am past the hump and have a lead stash, I don't worry about projectiles at all. Bought as many primers as I can store as well, so one big powder order and I will be ready for the inevitable next panic. The only thing I don't have a mold for is 9MM Mak. That has been last on the priority list because the pistol shoots fine with the steel cased stuff so I have basically no brass for it. I need to either decide to stock up on the cheap factor stuff, tool up to load for the caliber, or not worry about it.

 

[Walkalong]

The trouble is that you can run into serious money quickly when buying stuff like 35 Rem bullets

Still hoping Remington makes another run of 200 Gr Core-Lokts to sell as components.

 

[kidneyboy]

I have a 50cal ammo box for each caliber I load (plus one for 22) and reload to keep them topped off.

Ok, I'll admit the 9mm has sort of filled in the extra space in the 357 box but I shoot a lot of 9mm.......
My rifles are the same caliber as my handguns.

 

[brewer12345]

Still hoping Remington makes another run of 200 Gr Core-Lokts to sell as components.

Well, it looks like they are preparing to file for bankruptcy, so that is anyone's guess. I sure as heck won't buy their loaded ammo. Besides, Leverevolutions are readily available and I find them to be far superior to the core lokt. We wll see what I can get my cast to do this spring.

 

[Bartojc]

I'm shooting more pistol this winter. Heck I'm having trouble just keeping up much less stockpiling.

My definition of a stockpile is definitely different than it was years ago.

Jeff

 

[walnut1704]

As long as I have 30# of powder and 40,000 primers I'm good. I don't feel the need to have it all loaded.

 

[Walkalong]

Well, it looks like they are preparing to file for bankruptcy, so that is anyone's guess. I sure as heck won't buy their loaded ammo. Besides, Leverevolutions are readily available and I find them to be far superior to the core lokt. We wll see what I can get my cast to do this spring.

Hmm, guess I'll pony up for a couple more boxes of factory stuff. It really thumps things.

 

[Walkalong]

As long as I have 30# of powder and 40,000 primers I'm good.

On the last Cabelas sale on primers I bought 12K more S&B and gave each child 10K. Hmm, that means I am going in the wrong direction....

 

[FROGO207]

I started reloading when I was ten with help. Now pushing 60 and have never purchased THAT much factory ammo for anything other than rimfire ammo. That I have increased stocks of as it is difficult to reload though. These days I will not drop below five years average shooting supplies in reload components on hand and will resupply when used as I find sales. I agree that keeping it in component form allows a more fluid use of resources. I do however try to keep 200 rounds or whatever larger amount I will use up at my next range trip loaded ahead. YMMV

 

[jmorris]

I haven't seen those quantities of bullets sold anywhere, including online. Are you ordering direct from the factory, or am I just looking in the wrong place?

Yes, mine come direct from Hornady.

You can get them from distributors too though.

http://www.monmouthreloading.com/shop/hornady-55-fmj-bullets/

 

[milemaker13]

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.

Correct. I've read it should be stored in a wooden cabinet that would be able to break open to release expanding gas to prevent kaboom.
I use my grandfather's home made wooden gun safe to store ammo & reloading components. Not the most secure box in the world, but it does lock and should come apart quite easily from the inside.

 

[SamT1]

Correct. I've read it should be stored in a wooden cabinet that would be able to break open to release expanding gas to prevent kaboom.
I use my grandfather's home made wooden gun safe to store ammo & reloading components. Not the most secure box in the world, but it does lock and should come apart quite easily from the inside.

I’ve got a lot bigger worries in a fire than a few 50 cal cans of primers. I’d prefer they be sealed tight with a desiccant pack. They won’t make near the bomb my cutting torch in the garage does.

 

[Jeff Flannery]

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?

I did the same thing! Years ago, I bought only one pound of powder and 100 primers at a time. Now,i panick if I get below 10,000 primers and 25 or so pounds of powder!

 

[milemaker13]

I’ve got a lot bigger worries in a fire than a few 50 cal cans of primers. I’d prefer they be sealed tight with a desiccant pack. They won’t make near the bomb my cutting torch in the garage does.

Yeah, I don't Know man... My primers are kept in zip lock bags with desiccant packs.. but not in gas tight locked metal contains (ammo cans). Your welding tanks are in the garage, not the house and they have certain safety features built in (assuming proper tanks and storage conditions).
You may consider using a different storage method for your powder and primers.

Does anyone know anything about home owners insurance and powder/primer storage?

 

[Walkalong]

While a tank of gas for welding is definitely dangerous in a fire, so are primers sealed up in an ammo can. Primers are sealed, I don't worry about humidity. Sure, it's better to have them inside where humidity won't range fro 10% to 99% like outside, but we don't need them airtight with desiccant to last indefinitely. Mine are not sealed up in any way, just stored out of the direct line of heating/air vents. On the closet shelf for many of them, some in the large steel cabinet with plenty of extra air space.

 

[mavracer]

I've basically always reloaded dad n big brother were already loading when I came of age so it was just a natural progression. As to my stockpile well that's been a natural progression also.

 

[FROGO207]

Well the USGI ammo cans are made to contain things and still vent if they are in a fire so I feel quite safe storing my ammo and primers in them. But the propellant should be in a one inch thick walled wooden cabinet with shelves as the ammo cans are really too small to store much propellant. The powder manufacturers have info for the reloader on how to make a powder magazine for your home on their web sites.

 

[walnut1704]

The only thing I don't have a mold for is 9MM Mak. That has been last on the priority list because the pistol shoots fine with the steel cased stuff so I have basically no brass for it. I need to either decide to stock up on the cheap factor stuff, tool up to load for the caliber, or not worry about it.

I've been culling my nickel 9mm Luger cases and converting them to 9mm Makarov. I converted 50 to try them. They work fine. Of course I lose a few but I just convert enough to replace them, plus some extra. Basically I trim cases until I get sick of it. It's a bit slow trimming them back but I've been slowly building my stock. Not something I shoot that much anyway.

I shoot them in a FEG PA-63 which is a tad unpleasant with factory fodder. This way I can load them down a bit. I use the nickel cases because I also load for 9mm Luger and .380. I just never load any nickel cases for those two, to help keep things separate.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I've only been loading for a coupe months now. Prior to that, I was stockpiling factory ammo. I had what Ifelt was a basic starter inventory. (Like 460Shooter, I too am a bit of a prepper.)

I started loading when I started shooting a pistol league. I thought I would be continually adding to my inventory, but so far, I have used everything I have loaded and have not added a single round to my inventory.

I probably have too many calibers to be able to truly stockpile for every gun. I may only add 1-3 more calibers in the future. Don't see myslef shedding any.

 

[45+9]

Before I reloaded I thought a couple of boxes of factory ammo was pretty good. Now I fret if I don't have at least 2 ammo cans topped off.

 

[NWPilgrim]

Thanks gents. I have actually ordered from Midway before when there is a sale, and I watch for sales at Cabella's that are decent, and then check out the comparison if ordered on line. However, I had no idea RMR offered a THR discount, and have never visited their site. Thanks for the heads up!

I gotta say, I've always enjoyed THR, and have found many forum members to be extremely helpful, but the folks in the reloading forum have been friendlier and more helpful than any of the other subforums.

Also check powdervalleyinc.com , wideners.com , and grafs.com for bulk components including jacketed and cast. More cast bullets at mfg sites such as Dardas Bullets, Penn Bullets, Missouri Bullets, etc.

If budget is constrained I would get a basic amount of bullets, and then work on buying powder and primers in bulk until you reach a comfort level. There are many more options and less chance of total drought for bullets. Primers and the most popular powders dry up quickly. I used to have 1 or 2 favorite powders per cartridge. the 2008-2016 drought made me explore and test several different powders. Now I have favorite formulas for 4-6 powders per cartridge. And focus on a couple of primary cartridges for your main high volume use; defense, competition, hunting/practice, fun or whatever.