What's in your stockpile?

[BigRich315]

We all know that the wise take advantage of times of plenty to prepare for times of little. In other words: stock up on ammo if you can. But what type?

Practice or self defense loads or both? Obviously both, but to what ratio? Thoughts, opinions, empiracle knowledge welcome.

[Smokester653]

I try my best to stock up on defensive rounds as best as possible and use them solely for defense and only "train/practice" with some. I know that you should practice with defensive rounds to assure that they function, however the wallet and availability usually dictates how much I can buy at a time. I can get more "bang" pardon the pun from buying target rounds than defensive. I think that if the SHTF happens then any ammo will be better than none. Stock up with what you can get.

[mgjohn]

Reload my practice ammo. (80% of it at least)

Been stocking up on defence ammo. Have some factory practice put back
also. My stock pile is 90 defence /10 practice

Also have a few odd boxes of ammo in calibers I do not have a gun for.
(357 sig & 40S&W for example) Never can tell if you might need them to pass along or use in a friends gun.

[SWBigBang]

Does it really matter because no matter how much, its never enough.

[gearchecker]

As long as a SWAT team doesn't come to my house I should be able defend it fully against just about any other immediate threat.
I'm storing about 70% defense/30% practice ammo.
When the practice ammo runs short I have no issues with using the other ammo till I rebuild the stockpiles.
100% of the ammo I have is a servicable caliber for use in my collection.

[Smith357]

For handguns it's 95% practice ammo with hard cast bullets with 5% HPs, for my rifles it's 100% full power hunting loads, no light plinkers, that's what the .22 is for.

[bobelk99]

It might help if you decide exactly why you are stocking up. Then buy enough to satisfy that why. Buying a ton of ammo only because it might be scarce later is wasting resources, as long as you have the amount to meet your 'why'.

I keep 3 years supply on hand, reloaded or new, so I am sure I would be called a hoarder regardless

[s&wchad]

Originally Posted by BigRich315

What's in your stockpile?

Toilet paper.
First things first....

[redlevel]

Originally Posted by bobelk99

It might help if you decide exactly why you are stocking up. Then buy enough to satisfy that why. Buying a ton of ammo only because it might be scarce later is wasting resources, as long as you have the amount to meet your 'why'.

I keep 3 years supply on hand, reloaded or new, so I am sure I would be called a hoarder regardless

"Why" do you need a three year supply? "Why" do I need any more ammo? At my age, I probably have more ammo on hand than I will shoot. I bought more today. "Why?" Because I would rather die with 50K rounds on hand than to die with none. I am a true hoarder, and I make no apologies. I have nephews, a daughter, and nieces who can either use it or sell it when I'm gone. I'm not "wasting resources." If I'm lucky, I'll have ten or fifteen years after I retire (in a few weeks) to burn up a lot of what I have on hand.

As far as what kind: I only buy .45 ACP and .22 handgun ammo. I consider all the .45 to be defense ammo, hardball and whatever hp I can find. I don't buy the "premium" ammo, as I feel it is one of the biggest ripoffs going. I buy WWB and the equivalent Remington .45 ammo. The only cf rifle ammo I buy is 7.62x39 (I consider all that defense) and .250 Savage, which is hunting ammo. I load .45 Colt at 9 grains Unique/250 gr swc for my Ruger and S&W handguns and Model 94 rifle. Practice, hunting, defense, whatever.

When you get right down to it, I guess I consider all my cf ammo, handgun or rifle, to be "defense" ammo, except maybe for the .38 Target loads, and I wouldn't want to get shot with any of that.

[BigRich315]

Chad, I now know who to team with in SHTF scenarios.

The "why" is I know I don't have enough. I'm able to get it now and the future is uncertain: there are many reasons I may not be able to get it later. I've been thinking closer to 50/50 for handgun rounds and agree with 100% business rounds for rifles, excluding .22 of course.

[Vulcan Bob]

Gosh, I guess it a bunch of everything! The only down side to this is if theres ever a fire at my house Im takeing binoculars to watch!

[ENGINE18]

My average stash is not as much as some, but I think I have a good start.

100 7-1/2" 3" SG shells for practice and stuff; 50 4-0 buck; 50 00 buck;500 M193 .223; 1000 148gr .38SPL WC; 500 158gr SWCHP+P; 500 mix of .38spl+P and .38SPL; 150 various .357 MAG; 250 .44 SPL (for my 696ND!);100 9mm; 150 .32acp; 100 .22MAG;1000 .22LR

practice, varmit and SD. I usually shoot .38spl and .22.

[pred]

I cant count that high.
It seems as though when I see a good deal I buy it,
Found 600 rounds of 38 Wad cutter for 100 bucks, I bought it.
Found some 600+ of 45 acp for 35 bucks,,,, Yup I bought that too, Found 400 rounds of 9x23 for something like 50 bucks,,,,,
My ammo storage safe is not full yet,
I am not sure what I have,,, But there is enough there for now, And since I only get to shoot every 3 months or so now, I am happy.......
Peter

[bmcgilvray]

We can host a block party here.

[loutent]

I have a rule - every time I shoot a box of whatever, I buy at least 2 to replace it - more if it's on sale or something - works for me.

[ENGINE18]

I like that rule!

[dkees]

There's no rhyme or reason in how I buy ammo. If I see it, have the cash and a gun that will shoot it, I buy it.

.22, 32/20, 380, 9m, 38 SW, 38 spl, .357, 44 LC, .44 mag., 30-30, 10, 12,16, 20 ga., I have it all. Not exactly sure how much of each.

I may be foolish but that's the way I do it.

[jkc]

Read Cormac McCarthy's, The Road, and then assess how much .22 LR ammo you think you'd like to have... just for discussion...

[pharmer]

8k 9mm, 10K.22lr, 2K .45acp, 2k .308, 1.5K, .223, 1.5K .38spl, >1k 12ga, .44mag, 357mag and 120rds .45 Colt. 10% SD rest "range" ammo. If I need more than that in a "social situation" I'm sure there will be plenty left lying around on the "field." Joe

[zercool]

Chad, I hope you've been kind enough to notify your fire department that there's a fair quantity of powder and primers there! Ouch!

I purchase whatever I happen to come across that I can use - and some things I can't if the price is right. (Half a box of .35Rem for free, 8 rounds of Winchester Supreme .300WSM for $5, etc.) Most of my shooting is with reloads these days, so I spend more money on powder and primers and cast bullets than I do on loaded ammo. Only thing I *have* to buy for the time being is rimfire!

[Smokester653]

Originally Posted by jkc

Read Cormac McCarthy's, The Road, and then assess how much .22 LR ammo you think you'd like to have... just for discussion...

Also check out the book One Second After... It'll scare ya.

[sheriffoconee]

first rule of the ammo stockpile.........DON'T talk about the ammo stockpile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Smokester653]

Originally Posted by sheriffoconee

first rule of the ammo stockpile.........DON'T talk about the ammo stockpile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know it!!!! The only one that knows what i have is me!!! I might give a generalization like "I have some ammo" but that is all you will get.

[Trippy]

i have plenty for z-day. lol

[jframefreak]

Originally Posted by sheriffoconee

first rule of the ammo stockpile.........DON'T talk about the ammo stockpile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly. And don't keep it all in one place either.

[fyimo]

I have a good stock of defensive ammo and a really good supply of reloading supplies. I practice a lot and I reload a lot but I still have a great supply. I was at a gun show yesterday and ammo prices are really high on the point of being crazy. There was very little reloading supplies availabe at he show and that surpprised me.

[Frailer]

Originally Posted by sheriffoconee

first rule of the ammo stockpile.........DON'T talk about the ammo stockpile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's an ammo stockpile?

[thedogfather]

I try to keep a GI ammo can full for each of the calibers I shoot. I've been shooting a lot (for me) over the past few months so my "range" supply's are now much smaller than my "SD" hollow point supply. I guess I would normally be 70% - 30%, range ammo to SD. But yes, when needed any ammo is self defense ammo.

[eztarget]

well i clearly feel inadequate...

[c.marsh]

keep your powder dry and your good eye on the target///////////////