How many reloads stocked up is enough??

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jeeptim

jeeptim

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Just came in from the garage, was priming and sizing .308 cases and was thinking I have about 1k loaded for a semi auto 308, 1k+ 7.62x39 2k223, 1k 45l/c 500 30-06, 500 8mm, 500 303brit, 500+2spam cans 7.62x54r 600 12ga.
So when will I stop? I mean I'm to the point every case i have is in some stage of being reloaded I could go a long time without reloading anything and still not run out.
Anybody else experince the reloading madness?
I used to reload so could shoot more, now I shoot more so I can reload more.
I gotta go order some powder I'm getting the shakes.
Is it just me? Or do I need to go to reloaders rehab.
 
I buy factory ammo to keep for long term. I shoot my reloads. I shoot a lot.... So no you're not alone :D
 
Depends on how much and what calibers you shoot. For me, having 4k of 9x19 on hand would be totally reasonable. Having more than 500rds of .38spl or 30-30win would be wasted storage space.
 
I'm working up my stash since I just started reloading about 2 years ago. I figure I have about 2 years worth loaded right now (which may not be much for some people) for 9 and 223. About 3k 9mm and 2k 223. Still working on my 45. I am trying to collect enough components to go about 4 years out, but I'm still a ways off from that.
 
The way I look at it, if you have components just laying around, they do you no good and defeats the purpose of having them to begin with. Unless you still working up a load that you like. My problem is that I shoot way too much so I can never stay stocked up on components.
 
I'm the same way. My .357 is currently broken and I set up yesterday to load all of my 38 and 357 brass to add to the 3000 already loaded. I guess I am just getting prepared for when I get it fixed. Should be cheap and easy, just a stripped screw hole.
 
I have way more loaded than I need.
My kids & grandkids have cut way back on shooting--so have I
Retired 15 years & with back problems I need something to do--so--I keep on reloading with a turret press--the Dillons are put away
A friend of mine asked me" what will happen to this room when you are gone---your kids & grandkids don't know how to reload"
?????????????
 
I enjoy reloading so I have to temper my enthusiasm and keep my reloading in check. Otherwise, my house would be chocker block full of ammunition.

How much of a particular cartridge I have on hand depends on a number of factors. Ones I shoot more of and/or load on a progressive, I run a sizable run which holds me for long while. Other cartridges that i do not shoot so much, once I have a favorite load, I'll keep two or three hundred rounds or so on hand.

With rifle, I have changed my loadings and been caught with a bunch of ammunition that is not my favorite any more. It gets shot up eventually but with different sight settings, it can be an aggravation. So, with most rifle, I only keep a few hundred rounds on hand. Blasting 223 Remington, 300 BLK, and 30-06 Garand loads are an exception but those loads have been established for a while and serve a purpose.

I keep a supply of components on hand. Much of the supplies can be used in several different cartridges so by keeping it as components, I can replace what I have shot. If everything is loaded up, then I am stuck if replacement components are not available.

I store my ammunition in 50 caliber ammunition cans mostly, some 30 caliber cans. I use this as inventory control. If the can is full, i do not need to reload any for that cartridge.
 
I keep 400 rounds of 9mm and half that much .32, .38, .357, and .380 so about 1200 rounds which is all the room and resources I have....as I shoot it I reload back to that level. I'm on my last pound of Unique and have not yet decided what I'm gonna do when I run out and can't get any more.

I try and keep enough components in stock to renew my 1200 round stash at will and I'm now below that and getting edgy but have not yet panicked.

VooDoo
 
As long as the wife isn't complaining, keep loading. Mine said she was tired of complaining, so now I load as much as I want! :D
 
How much you should have on hand is a question only you can answer.

It depends on how much you shoot; how often; your own comfort with the risk of running out (leisure vs a serious competitor running dry); and hard easy/hard it is for you to carve out time to load back up.


Its not a simple matter of X amount being enough. This question truly is an individual one.
 
My personal thoughts. For shooting ammo, have a 2 to 3 year supply of the volume you shoot for each caliber. That way you can ride out panics. For defensive ammo, I'd say 100 rounds of good defense ammo and then 1000 rounds of more generic ammo to back it up in your possession at all times. Assumption is you can afford to do so.
 
I look it at the basic same way cfullgraf does. I load a set amount of "on hand" ammo to use and the rest is kept in a floating pool of components. One seasons shooting loaded and a minimum of 5-6 years components is prudent these days IMHO. I do not want to have to disassemble some ammo to make something different should I run short of say---primers.:)
 
I usually reload 2-3k during the winter when I can sit in the garage and be comfortable. Once summer rolls around I'm not reloading in the garage because of the humidity. So I guess enough to get me through the hot seasons between winters. I store them boxed in those plastic mtm 100rd boxes instead of keeping them loose in 50cal ammo container so I always have an exact count of my inventory.

Trying to stock up on components now so I have at least a 2 year supply so my competitive shooting schedule won't be interrupted. Some guys golf with buddies on the weekend, I shoot with clubs and hang out with buddies there. I started reloading during the panic so I wonder what was the normal amount of components kept before was 1-2 years the norm? I feel like 2 years is now the min. for components.

Wish I didn't have to keep years worth of components on stock. Would be nice if I could just go to walmart and pickup powder like a jug of milk and not have the money tied up in the supply.
 
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You can never have enough! I have on hand loaded right now 5k .40s&w, 500 .223 loaded w/Barnes 62gr TSX, 3500 .223 55grFMJ, 2k .38spl, 2k .45acp, 250 .300wm, 100 7mm RM, and 100 .300RUM.
 
I mostly shoot 38 Spl & some 357 Mag these days. Having enough supplies for about 10,000 rounds would be ideal. Like some of you, I keep most of my factory ammo for rainy days or barter.
 
I have a specific load for bullseye shooting with AA#2 that I run off in batches of 2-3k. Most others are only a couple hundred rounds, except 45 acp. I load and keep 1k of them at a time b
 
I keep enough ammo on hand for at least 3 years shooting (and I shoot a great deal) and components enough to load for 10-15 years.
 
Not sure I can answer that till I get there..... but right now I have about 5k reloads and 2k of factory m193 for the various AR's and about 3k of 9mm and 1k of .45. I load 40 S&W but have almost no reloads right now. I go through phases where I reload a few k then shoot for a month or two then reload again.
 
I have minimum of 2k rounds factory ammo for every caliber I own. Typically I have at least 1k for each in reloads. I also reload for my SIL he shoots 9mm in competition so I always have at least 3k of 9mm reloads on hand. Right now he is eating up right around 1,500 per month.
He also just got fine with an AR build so I guess I am going to have to bump the quantity of 223 I keep on hand
 
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