Emergency ammo supply

[FROGO207]

As far as how much I keep on hand it depends on the firearm. I keep enough for the next range trip loaded ahead. The supplies, I keep a 5 year stock to match my current usage. 5 years of .22/.22MAG. If things linger I can always slow my consumption. I want a hedge against price increases and regulations such as CA presently has on ammo or components.

 

[Armednfree]

Hunting ammo I have enough. Especially considering hunting is the worst way to try and get by. Learning to trap is a much more reliable way.

SD, I have ammo cans full of 9mm, 40S+W and 45acp. All hardball.

SHTF, an undisclosed amount of Norma TAC-223. More importantly is there are three boxes loaded with 10-30 round mags and 300 rounds on strippers each. There are again two boxes loaded with 800 rounds on strippers.

I use strippers a lot. Loaded before going to the range I don't have to waste time thumbing rounds into mags.

 

[hanno]

Not shooting because you are afraid you will run out, despite having 10K rounds in your garage, IS hoarding. I am not hearing that people with TONS of ammo are out there using it. They are keeping it for an "emergency". And there are plenty of people out there, just buying up the ammo that is out there, just because they can. Sorry, but that's hoarding, too. Again, this is America, and people are free to do what they want. But at least call it what it is. And then don't come to a public forum complaining about the price of things that you artificially inflated, either.

You quoted my post above in your post, so please point out where I complained about the price of things I somehow magically "artificially inflated."

I call it stocking up in the plentiful times for my shooting needs. You call it "hoarding." Whatever floats your boat. All I know is I'm still shooting.

 

[Reloadron]

While you can't anticipate every emergency, you can prepare for things likely to happen. I don't consider myself a "prepper" but my wife and I have always tried to keep enough food and supplies on hand to see us through an emergency. When there was a run on toilet paper, we just laughed. We were okay.

I have a generator for when the power goes out. Have only used it a couple of times, but was glad I had it when needed.

I have lived through many ammo panics. I have been stockpiling ammo and reloading components for many years (buy cheap, pile deep). Why? Because when things like this current panic happen, I can still shoot and help friends out if needed. I likely have enough to keep shooting for the years I have left and then my son can shoot the rest. To me, ammo is like money in the bank. It isn't losing any value.

As far as the government goes, I have seen things happen I never would have believed could happen. Do I know that ammo won't be taxed out of reach or gun companies bankrupted by a flood of lawsuits? No I do not know that. If it happens I intend to be ready for it.

I have not bought during this panic so my "stash" in no way impacts your ability or inability to find ammo.

Safe shooting!

Wow, pretty much the same right down to the generator. Well stocked pantry, plenty of ammo and loading components and have not had any need to buy ammo or components the past few shortages. When I would see something on sale at a good price need it or not I buy it. I figure it is just being prudent.

Ron

 

[NuShootr]

You quoted my post above in your post, so please point out where I complained about the price of things I somehow magically "artificially inflated."

I call it stocking up in the plentiful times for my shooting needs. You call it "hoarding." Whatever floats your boat. All I know is I'm still shooting.

My apologies. My comment wasn't directed at you personally, but at the point you were making in your post. Which happens to be in a post where people are complaining about ammo prices. I didn't mean to point a finger at you. That was not my intention.

 

[reloaded_in_pa]

This thread was not intended to be another ammo price complaint, who has the biggest stash or a bash people for trying to be prepared thread. I was just getting an idea from fellow shooters about whether or not I have a large enough reserve stash.

Thank you for those that contributed.

 

[DustyGmt]

And then don't come to a public forum complaining about the price of things that you artificially inflated, either.

I bought alot of ammo between 2015-2018. I "artificially inflated the price" about as much as I would bring the price back down if I were to give it all away. Not at all. 10k rounds amassed over the span of years is n o t h i n g. The guys who prepared well in advance are far removed from being responsible for what is going on with ammo right now. There are a ton of us on here who haven't purchased ammo at all in the last year because we already had it.

I'm not shooting what I paid $0.16 cents/rd for when the current price is $1.00/rd in many cases. If I did, and had to replace what I was shooting well then wouldn't I then be contributing to the current shortage. I would think it would be favorable to the current buying market that I sit on what I have and not be out buying currently. Not shooting much, not buying much either.

If I'm not actively participating in the market, and my stores are stagnant and purchased well in advance. How the hell is my hoarding imposing on others trying to buy ammo?

 

[Ignition Override]

reloaded_in_pa:

Yes, you certainly appear to have more than enough ammo, based on your very minimum consumption.
My consumption (have three imported AKMs and a Czechpoint VZ-58, plus 9mms and .22LRs) and the certainty over the years, that there will Never be an end to intermittent ammo panics, inspired me to become a "self-starter", before the election in 2008. And remain a self-starter.

Thousands of rds. of 7.62x39 are stored. This might be four years' worth. Very rough estimate. My use of 9mm has sharply slowed down, despite having over 2,000 rds.

Living 12 min. from a private gun club makes it Very hard to "Just say no" to guns.

 

[vintovka]

Anyone else think it might not be a good idea to post pics or info on what you have in the way of ammo stockpiles or firearms?

 

[readyeddy]

I have more, but what I would consider enough for an emergency goes something like this: 200 rounds for deer hunting, 500 rounds for home defense, and 1000 rounds 22 LR.

Practice shooting at this point is strictly air rifle. Hand gun practice is dry fire only.

 

[NuShootr]

500 rounds for home defense

Good Lord, how bad is the neighborhood you live in?!

 

[hanno]

Anyone else think it might not be a good idea to post pics or info on what you have in the way of ammo stockpiles or firearms?

It is not exactly rocket science that on a gun forum members will own guns and ammo.

What are we supposed to discuss?

How about this: I personally don't own any firearms or ammo but I have a friend who has a friend and that friend of a friend wants to know how much ammo the friend of a friend should keep for emergencies?

 

[lsudave]

I'm sorry, but I have to ask the most obvious question. Being new to the game, and not being able to find ammo to become proficient with my rifle with, it really makes me wonder.
What "emergency" are y'all hoarding ammo for?

Well, where I live, we've had several major hurricanes and major flood, just in the past couple years. If you go back to Katrina+Rita, that's quite a few legit emergencies in the past decade or so. When the power and utilities go out for days, up to weeks, society breaks down. You want to think your fellow man is civil and decent, but I've seen things that make you seriously question that.
We're still dealing with Covid, so everyone's wound up as it is.

note, this has nothing to do with anyone "coming for my guns", it's about maintaining safety and security for my family.

 

[vintovka]

It is not exactly rocket science that on a gun forum members will own guns and ammo.

What are we supposed to discuss?

How about this: I personally don't own any firearms or ammo but I have a friend who has a friend and that friend of a friend wants to know how much ammo the friend of a friend should keep for emergencies?

Probably was too late long ago.

 

[gnappi]

I think if the system went to the dogs, very few would live long enough to consume 500 rounds.

 

[DustyGmt]

A guy who shoots everyday, every week, every month, so on and so fourth is going to take greater care to keep and store stuff. The occasional plinker who goes and digs a gun out every few months to pop a few, probably isn't as worried about it. It doesn't all come down to life threatening emergencies.

But for the OP, my idea of good emergency storage is a case. Would anybody make it past their first mag, no one can know. I'm not one of those expert analysts from the discovery channel. I just know that if I have to endure for an undetermined amount of time with limited availability and prohibitively expensive prices I want no less than a case, if I could afford a tractor trailer load full I would go that route.

I also agree with people who have justified a 50rd box or two. Thats likely 50x more than you'll ever "need".

 

[dcloco]

Being prepared vs hoarding Believe that question has to be described by the person.

This can be applied to any object - how many 10 mm sockets or 9/16" wrenches are actually needed? Well, it depends. Sometimes a deepwell 12 point is perfect for most jobs. What if there is a space/access issue? What if somebody else has tried to remove the nut or bolt previous? A six point short socket may be needed.

How many cans of beans or soup is in YOUR cupboard? BIG difference in answers, depending on what country you live in.....this evening.

SHOULD a person be prepared? At least to some degree, what THEY are comfortable with......is THEIR decision.


Now, let me spin this - what if you are a type 1 diabetic? You MUST use insulin. Insulin needs to be refrigerated and does not have a great shelf life. Cannot hoard......what do you do?

 

[Ignition Override]

dcloco:
Excellent question. My wife has been Type One diabetic since we were engaged, about twenty seven years ago. Insulin and our pharmaceuticals (my stent etc) are critical.

My nice ammo stash and guns do absolutely Nothing to help with frequent refills of these drugs; the foundation of electrical power, microchips and extremely highly-organized logistics which provide the drugs' availability.

Sidenote: luckily she began using a pump years ago, and the associated gear really helps with mgmt.

 

[upptick]

No, no one is obliged to make sure everyone has ammo. No one is obliged to do anything for that matter. I keep hearing "it's not my fault you are so late to the game" when I ask this question on the YT channels that address this. Actually it is. If you are hoarding ammo, such that the 7 million new gun owners can't get any, whose fault is it? Yes, yes, free country, free market, supply and demand, etc. I get it.

Good post and I see your point. I also sense your frustration, but I think there is reason to be somewhat optimistic. I'm not really a "hoarder," per se, but I do have a small stockpile of ammunition in multiple calibers and I have multiple guns to match. Realistically, all I need is a shotgun and 2-3 boxes of shotgun shells along with my revolver and a few reloads to sufficiently protect my home and my family. All of my excess firepower has been accumulated with the aforethought -- at least to a degree -- that if things really do deteriorate I will want to have armed and ready neighbors and many of them will need weapons and ammunition to help protect the neighborhood. Hence, it will be in my self-interest to have extra stuff to loan out and I think I'm probably the norm and not the exception in this regard. I served in the military and saw how when law and order breaks down, militias naturally form to protect neighborhoods. Last summer's civil unrest across the country was very revealing -- the Kyle Rittenhouse situation was a good example of how gun owners in a neighborhood stepped up to protect their property because the police would not or could not. I live in an upscale part of California and there was rioting and looting not far from me. A year ago, I would've thought that was impossible. I was proven wrong. Little brother, you will not be left in the cold if you have the stones to step up and help when it matters.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Anyone else think it might not be a good idea to post pics or info on what you have in the way of ammo stockpiles or firearms?

Most sensible comment I've seen in a long time.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Good Lord, how bad is the neighborhood you live in?!

I used to feel that way. I figure 6 rounds in a revolver was plenty. Then I started shooting USPSA with a revolver. Then reality set in.

 

[readyeddy]

Good Lord, how bad is the neighborhood you live in?!

500 rounds is for a good neighborhood.

Plan for the future my friend.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

deleted

 

[Rexster]

I am not sufficiently anonymous to be posting about the quantity of my/our firearms or ammo. I already knew to be secretive about this, but, if I needed reminding, members of two other forums have recently posted about their ammo caches being targeted by burglars.

Yes, I have a modest quantity of ammo, for each of my several firearms. Do I wish I had more? Yes, of course. I will not define “modest quantity,” I will not define “several,” and I will not define “more.”

I was lucky, in that a burglar who hit a rented storage unit was not prepared to carry much weight with him, so he left my things tossed about, but took nothing from my unit. That was last March, IIRC. He left a few boxes of ammo sitting there, in plain sight. Today, I bet he would be taking that ammo.

Another thing that taught me to keep things in modest quantities was a hurricane name Harvey, in 2017. The Lord giveth, and, the Lord taketh away. He may not destroy the whole world, by flood, again, but now and then, a 40,000-year flood event happens, to teach us to remain humble, and to store important things well above floor level. (We were luckier, by far, than many of our neighbors.) So, we had to not only replace ammo, but invest in some sturdy shelving.

 

[LoonWulf]

I've always kept what I called an emergency supply of ammunition for every gun I own (500 rounds per gun). Those rounds never get shot, but I will rotate stock when ammo is cheap. I've been wondering if I should increase that number. How many loads do you keep in reserve per gun ?

Same as loose change, what ever I find in the dryer the day after shooting........



Some kidding aside, i have on hand one or two boxes worth of ammo/components for everything I shoot. Some guns i have more, others less, but always at least a box.