How Much Loaded Ammo Do You Keep On Hand?

[Olympus]

For each caliber of pistol AND rifle? I'm finding reloading to be more enjoyable these days and not just something I have to do in order to get to shoot more. I find myself sitting at the bench and before long I've got a stockpile of loaded ammo. I enjoy reloading, but is there a point when you need to stop loading ammo? Is there a point when you have "enough" loaded ammo?

 

[BobTheTomato]

Have you damaged your houses foundation yet? I see no need to slow down. As you as you have the financial means and don't neglect more important parts of your life a hobby is a good thing.

For me I like to fill up the boxes I have for each (which varies). I might do some extra here and there.

 

[Hangingrock]

I load 9mm-Luger and 45ACP in lots of a thousand. When I consume a lot of a thousand for either its time to reload. I have two Dillon SDB progressive units on dedicated to the 45ACP and the other 9mm-Luger. The 9mm-Luger is set up for 124Gr-FMJ and the 45ACP-230Gr FMJ.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I keep about 200 rounds per gun on hand. Of my basic plinking stuff anyway. More exotic loads usually 100 or less. So I might have 200 cast or plated rounds and 75 XTPs loaded for my 9mm. Similar story for 380, 38, 223 etc.

The simple loads get topped off back to 200 quickly after use. The premium stuff I just make 100 and then slowly use them up. I usually don't make more til I'm just about out.

There was a time when I kept much more ammunition around. But then I sell or trade a gun and end up with a bunch of ammo that I don't like or cant use. Sometimes I simply want to workup a new load, either for safety or just to be thorough. Other times the ammo will not function, and that is a pain.

 

[Reloadron]

How Much Loaded Ammo Do You Keep Onhand?

Sign me Clueless in Cleveland. I really have no idea. During the summer seasons I load and shoot but during the winters my shooting is limited to indoors (short range) and handgun. I normally have several thousand rounds loaded for the calibers I shoot most but maybe 500 or less in calibers like .38 Super I seldom shoot.

If I am out shopping and see a good deal on ammunition I buy it adding to my stock and brass once I shoot the stuff. Anyway, as to any round count? Forget it. I have whatever is lying around and the ability to make much more.

Ron

 

[Olympus]

Right now I have 17 of the 308cal size military ammo cans full of various calibers and 3 of the bigger 50cal ammo cans full.

Right now I'm loading rifle calibers, 243 and 300Blk. I'm not really sure when I should stop.

 

[AZAndy]

I keep a thousand .45ACP and half that for .38 specials. That's enough for two serious range trips each. Other stuff that I don't shoot as much, maybe a couple hundred.

 

[cfullgraf]

Is there a point when you have "enough" loaded ammo?

I also enjoy reloading, sometimes more than "unloading".

When I run out of storage space, I'll have enough ammunition.

In the last couple years, we've added about 15,000 sq ft of covered/indoor space on our farm so I do not see me running out of storage space any time soon.

 

[hdwhit]

How Much Loaded Ammo Do You Keep Onhand?

Enough for my purposes.

I loaded a little more than 1,000 rounds of .223 Remington in the late 1970's/early 1980's for myself and members of my family for use in hunting and self-defense needs. Most of it is still around in stripper clips in military packaging in sealed containers.

I keep about 200 to 300 rounds of loaded ammunition for the other guns that I own. I also have around 500 to 1,000 rounds of prepared but unloaded brass (and associated components) for each of these guns.

I also have 500 rounds of loaded .30 Carbine but no rifle to shoot it from.

 

[Comrade Mike]

About 1000 per gun, time spent behind the press is a chore for me.


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[gspn]

As much as I feel like making. I don't feel the need to have "X" number of rounds of each caliber. I have some of each loaded, and if i need more I load more. Additionally if I just feel like doing some reloading, I just go reload. No rules, no quotas, no inventories or spreadsheets.

 

[Alderman]

I have never counted but it is at least a couple hundred for each rifle.

I did buy a Lee Classic turret press a couple of years ago and I have thousands of 9mm plinking rounds loaded up.

I've still got test loads for my rifles I never got a chance to shoot.


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[Olympus]

As of right now, there aren't any guns that I'm just itching to own. I am content to just enjoy the guns I have. But I find myself spending my gun money on reloading components and my free time at my presses. So I guess I'll keep cranking out the ammo and storing it for a rainy day.

 

[Slamfire]

Let me offer the advice that you load enough that will be shot up within ta year.

I have violated this in spades, but I am finding with mid nineties rifle powders, ammunition loaded for years are now having case neck cracks and body splits. Gunpowder deteriorates and as it deteriorates it outgasses nitric acid gas. It is impossible to predict just when gunpowder goes bad, but I am getting to the opinion that it should be shot up no later than 20 years of age. Yes, we all have shot older gunpowder, and yet, I am having issues with mid nineties gunpowder. One particular lot of AA4064, ammunition that I loaded in February, took it to a June mid range match and most of the case necks cracked. Same gunpowder loaded before the match, no problems with the same batch of cases. Conclusion, this stuff is going bad fast but the powder does not have an acidic smell or red dust. It has a neutral smell.

I do have pistol ammunition that I loaded and not shot up since the 80's. Probably not too much of the stuff that old, but I have older pistol ammunition around. The reason I have not had problems with this stuff is just due to luck of the draw in gunpowder lifetime. However, after having enough issues with gunpowder over 20 years of age, and given that cases are not getting any cheaper, I think it is best economic practice to prep the cases, prime where necessary, but only load up with powder and bullet close to the time you want to shoot.

Now there will be those who jump on this and tell me they fired 1918 vintage ammunition, fine for you. But, some of my rifles shoot cases that are getting very hard to find. When was the last time anyone found 257 Robert brass that was not $1.00 to $2.00 a case? I think my 300 H&H brass was $2.00 a case and I was happy to get it. I am going to baby that brass because it may be years till I see the stuff again.

 

[zerobarrier]

This much and even more waiting to be loaded

 

[JamieC]

Just a couple more boxes...

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I find myself constantly reloading, because I enjoy the activity. Right now, I'm shooting about 500 rounds of 9mm and 40 cal/month combined. At this rate of consumption, I can keep 1000 rounds of each caliber on hand, outside of what I shoot.

For 223, I'm doing about 250 rounds/month, so that leaves me with a constant surplus of about 300 rounds, I'm ok with that.

 

[FROGO207]

First I try to keep enough raw components on hand to reload for my expected uses for five to seven years in the future at a minimum. Now brass, I keep as much as I can on hand. Five gallon buckets full are where I keep it usually. I prep that brass through the winter months and store it for later reloading. So for the stuff I shoot often I keep ~500m rds loaded. For rifle that I do not shoot but for hunting 100-150 rounds ahead is sufficient. Some seldom used calibers I reload only two 20 round boxes ahead. I reload it all as I use it because as I use up components or should I have firearm issues I might decide to go to another caliber or platform. If I had all my primers loaded into say, 357 and waned to load 40 S&W I would be taking them apart. Not a good thing IMHO so I have for a better term a "floating supply" that is always ready to adapt. I can load several hundred rounds in an evening if the brass is all ready to prime and fill. YMMV

 

[Blue68f100]

I use to reload during the winter months for what I shot through out the year. Since I averaged 5k/45's and 9's that gives you an idea. Now add 223R into the mix another high volume round. As long as your not forced to hand load rounds to shoot at any time your good.

 

[GBExpat]

@SUBJ: How Much Loaded Ammo Do You Keep On Hand?
For each caliber of pistol AND rifle? ...

Sorry, but I moved (was able to move) beyond that mindset decades ago. That worked for me when I only had a few firearms and, often, a shortage of cash. Now I have what most would consider a substantial quantity of both guns & ammo.

When I was in that mindset, the numbers kept stepping upwards as years went by and circumstances changed. The idea that more semi-auto ammo was required than exclusively boltgun and revolver ammo never changed, however.

For a long time now I have reloaded more than I have shot, so my stockpile is always increasing (plus the huge pile of inexpensive milsurp ammo that I stockpiled last decade).

My reloading occurs in surges. About a week ago I did 1000 9x19 (while firing none) within a few days while testing a new LCT accessory. I may do 1000 9x17 this week ... or I may feel the urge to, instead, work on a few carpentry projects on my List. I mowed the lawn so that is off of my List for awhile.

Retirement.

 

[Schwing]

I seem to go through phases with this. I also enjoy reloading as much if not more than shooting so some months will go by where I build up a huge supply of multiple calibers. Then the spring and fall months roll by and I spend way more time shooting than reloading.

As a sort of mental rule, I usually try and keep at least 500 rounds of each of my calibers on the shelf. When I get down to 500 or so remaining is when I hit the bench. Some calibers that I shoot more like .357 I keep more like 1500.

I always read these articles where they raid some guys house and find an "Ammo Cache of nearly 500 rounds". To me, that is just a good days worth at the range.

 

[badkarmamib]

Enough to keep every magazine loaded, and 2 trips to the range. Reloading is starting to make this easier. Accumulating enough to keep 5X that amount in components.

 

[Bartojc]

It varies quite a lot. For pistols I seem to be running between 300-500 rounds loaded for each caliber. That is a range trip or 2 any time I want to go, and if I need more I'll load more. Exception would be 45 Colt. I don't shoot it as much so I don't have that much around.

Hunting rifles, really once I get a round that works I may only need 20-50 rounds. Again if I need more I'll load more.

For my AR in .223, I can store more than I have It seems every time I have more than a couple hundred rounds it get used, and I have to start fresh. maybe when winter comes I can load more and shoot less.

I don't have a need to have some number of rounds loaded. I do like to have the components to load what I need though.

-Jeff

 

[The Bushmaster]

Enough....

 

[ny32182]

I don't think you can have "too much" component material, but I don't load way ahead of my shooting schedule for two reasons: 1) I don't have an autodrive press and would prefer my arm not fall off, and 2) If I were to discover some problem, I don't want many thousands of loaded rounds that are suddenly potentially suspect.

So, <3000 for pistol (about a month's supply)
and <1000 for rifle (about a year's supply)