While so many people are hoarding ammo, how much do we really need???

PatrickinGa · Mar 8, 2013

I wonder how many people are buying a LOT more ammo than they actually need.

I understand stocking enough to be able to go to the range, skeet, trap, hunting, plinking, etc.

And for me .22lr is still reasonable when I can find it, $0.05 - $0.10 cents a shell. Last box of Remington Gold 225 count cost me $11.00.

And for range, like 9mm for me, most 9mm's semi-automatics will eat just about anything. And I chose 9mm guns to use and carry because they cost less than other shells.

But for home defense we all probably all have some more expensive ammo, for me it is Hornaday.

But how many shells do we really need for defensive purposes? I am in my 60's and so far, knock on wood, have never had the need to pull or use a gun to defend anything or anyone..

And I wonder how many shells I will need for HD in my lifetime?

For any scenario I can imagine other than a war, revolution, some kind of Military confrontation I doubt I would ever need one clip, much less one box.

And if I were put up against LE or some illegal military force, I would think that all I had, no matter how much that was, would not be enough, and I would be outgunned for sure.

So, talking reasonably, what do we do as firearms enthusiasts really need?

Just wondering...

Thanks for any comments or questions.

sw1834 · Mar 8, 2013

To each his own.

Some people might be hoarding ammo, like some people bought 100watt incandescant light bulbs. It's a matter of speculation. I believe the ammo hoarders believe that the govt. is going to limit quantities in the future. Right now , for most people it is get what u can, while u can.

jaymoore · Mar 8, 2013

I render inert huge quantities of ammo via caliber specific disassembly devices. Being very careful to send the various parts far from each other. Kind of a noisy disposal method, but it's made less tedious by attempting to place the high velocity front sections in specific locations.

Currently I'm not buying, 'cuz the last several crises taught me to "buy low" and "conserve high". Seems a shame not to perform my civic duty, though, so more ammo disposal is scheduled for the AM. It just won't be in a large a quantity as usual...

Sprefix · Mar 8, 2013

I like the thought process that it is my right to purchase all I can afford and want.....regardless of the number or amount. Every time I buy ammo, I'm one small step closer to having enough. 'Sides, I been buying for a long time before the prices went up. I don't rent pigs and I don't sell ammo................Oh, welcome to the forum where every conservative(and others) will fit in unless it is with guns, mags, and ammo!!

Hellcat · Mar 8, 2013

I will never again be unpreparred. I returned to Colorado after many years in CA. First thing that happens is the whole liberal world desends on this state to pass new gunlaws including 15 rnd mag limits. I am finding 5.56 and 9mm to feed my AR15's I plan on having 2 to 5K of the above plus 5 to 10K of .22LR If you wonder who is hording and why go ask Homeland Defense what they plan on using there Billion + rounds for. I'll bet it isn't for Illegals crossing the Southern border.

BCDWYO · Mar 8, 2013

I've found that the "carry ammo" (ie. high priced quality hollow points) is still available. As the OP suggested I really don't need more carry ammo as I don't shoot it much. What is hard to find around here is what most would consider range ammo. I reload most calibers so I'm pretty well stocked for range ammo for now, but I'm hesitant to shoot as much as I like since components are hard to come by too.

jaymoore · Mar 8, 2013

From what I've seen, folk need to be buying MORE ammo (and using it)! And some professional instruction. Because most of 'em can't hit squat past arms length. Nor know how to clear a malfunction. Much less do a good double tap, or know if their carry ammo feeds reliably, etc., etc. And that's not just the peope new to this responsibility.

geoff40 · Mar 8, 2013

Good topic. I'd be a liar if I said I only have what I can carry, because a few years back I decided I didn't want to get stuck again. So this time (the current buying craze) I am just sitting back and watching the madness. I refuse to participate.
In the fuzzy "shtf" scenario, none of us are going to have use for more than we can carry.
I have a friend in New Orleans. During Katrina and more recent instances, there were a few shots fired in neighborhoods to protect against looting. But I am told by him, nobody had to fire more than 2-3 shots to drive off the theives. The reality, there is more like a neighborhood watch than it is an "every man for themselves" situation. So, wether its an AK or an AR or something else, nobody needed more than a 20 or 30 round magazine. Nobody got in to war type of extended firefights.
So really, how much ammo would anyone need? A few full magazines would likely cover 99% of off-grid scenarios, and for the other 1%, maybe add another 500 rounds. About all its possible to carry, in other words.

Just my humble opinion.

sqhead · Mar 8, 2013

seing a couple boxes on my shelve makes me feel bad..seeing alot of boxes of diff. calibers makes me feel good..........i like feeling good,if you find a good deal,stock up!!!

Engineer1911 · Mar 8, 2013

I have sufficient reloading supplies to last until I decide to stop shooting. Ex-wife was a WalMart employee, so I stocked up until my 10% discount was cancelled. It was fun shopping for 17 months while it lasted.

zzclancy · Mar 8, 2013

Hellcat said:
I will never again be unpreparred. I returned to Colorado after many years in CA. First thing that happens is the whole liberal world desends on this state to pass new gunlaws including 15 rnd mag limits. I am finding 5.56 and 9mm to feed my AR15's I plan on having 2 to 5K of the above plus 5 to 10K of .22LR If you wonder who is hording and why go ask Homeland Defense what they plan on using there Billion + rounds for. I'll bet it isn't for Illegals crossing the Southern border.

1.6 Billion rounds. Who do they think they are going to shoot? Drones all over America, really. It's the tin foil hat.

k53 · Mar 8, 2013

Well the "need" level is diferent for each person. Someone who compeates and does a lot of training can burn up many thousands of rounds a year. OK... so maybe we dont NEED shooting compations.. but do we NEED golf, or football???

Next training. I think everyone that carrys should do at least some training with there firearms so they know how to handle it, the firearm fuctions as it should, and that the person firing it can hit what aimed at. IMHO that should be at least 500 rounds with a new shooter, or firearm, and at least half that every year... Reports are saying this will probabbly go on at least through the summer.... then Im sure a blip will come up for the '14 election... then the '16 election... so for the time being we are working on a every two year cycle... That being said I would say we NEED at least a two year supply for each firearm...

and that being said.... Who cares if someone has a 4 year supply vs a one year supply?? Do you get looked down on if you buy more then a week supply of soup when you go to the store?? is someone that has to go to the store every two days better then someone that has planed to have a pantry full and only needs to go once a month???

captainjohnsofd · Mar 8, 2013

The purchase of 1.6 Billion rounds is to keep it out of the hands of citizens. With no ammunition weapons are worthless except as clubs. Please don't tell me that this was not a back door ban. They used our tax money to take ammo away from us. And don't think that they won't come after gun owners...remember the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas? SWAT Teams, military tanks, gas.....a full assault on a church with 60 dead and 40 of them children. WAKE UP!

Maddog 521 · Mar 8, 2013

This situation has been coming since Nov.of 08. There were other times that should of opened the eyes of gun owners in the last 40 years. Right now some will change their thinking and some will let it slide and continue to be unprepared. Buy when you can, what you can and as often as you can.

ImprovedModel56Fan · Mar 8, 2013

PatrickinGa said:
And I wonder how many shells I will need for HD in my lifetime?

Including practice? I would say quite a few thousand rounds. It's not like it's going to spoil, or ferment or something.

You also mention a few other uses for ammunition. Again, enough to last you for the rest of your life. At your (and my) age, that might be possible. Younger fellows will have to settle for what they can afford, or store legally and safely. Each one does what he can.

I'm not going to wait until I fire the one bullet in my shirt pocket to go down to the gun store to buy another, and I didn't wait until there was a shortage of common cartridges before looking for a reasonable (lifetime) supply.

What's happening now is that folks who know guns but didn't look ahead are starting to look ahead, and folks who don't even know guns are deciding that it's time to learn.

Good for them. It's also good for all of us. This little shortage will pass, and maybe a lot of people will start acting a little smarter.

old&slow · Mar 8, 2013

I haven't purchased any ammo or reloading supplies since early last fall. Figured it just might hit the fan in November.
I use to try to have enough ammo loaded for next year's shooting. But since I've lived thru 3 or 4 ammo shortages. The last couple years I have been trying to have two years supply on hand.
I shoot about every weekend in the summer at the local club matches. Sometimes 50 rds for a rifle match,, 100 or 150 rds. if it's a pistol or shotgun match.
If my daughters , son-in-laws, and grandsons shoot with me that can be Quite a few rds.
Since the last shortage and the cost of ammo going thru the roof ,, the kids haven't been shooting with me much.
I kind of miss not having them shooting with me most of the time.. So, this gun control / ammo shortage BS is cutting into my family time..
For personal protection ,, I usually have a couple boxes of Factory Stuff laying around.
So, how many rounds to I really need ??

Don't know ,, Never really counted..

Arik · Mar 8, 2013

For me its very simple. I keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. I buy when there isnt enough or when prices are high and im not talking about panic shortages. Its me. When i had the chance to get into the Enfield 303 and 8mm Mauser game, when ammo was cheap and plentiful, i had no interest in them. Now i do and i have to pay a lot more to shoot. This goes for most other firearms as well. So now I'd rather stock up at todays prices then buy a little at a time at tomorrows prices

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

beemerphile · Mar 8, 2013

Don't fall into the "need" logic trap. It is the province of the banners.

I am about your age and retired, so my earning days are behind me. On the plus side, a lifetime supply ain't that much any more. But I bought it cheap with the understanding that real and imagined shortages, price hikes, punitive taxes, legislation against evil bullets or the evil raw material lead could seriously damage price and availability. My only surprise was how soon it happened.

Extra ammo is a good inflation resistant store of wealth and good trading or sale stock in lean times. Frankly, I can see no reason not to buy substantial stores of good ammo when the prices are reasonable. Stocking up now would be a bad strategy other than absolute short-term need. But over-supply in general makes sense to me from a number of perspectives. I also think it promotes the cause of liberty for this much ammo to be in private hands and past the last gate of government control. The banners have unwittingly created the very thing they sought to prevent - more ammo "out there". Or as they would say "on the streets", though I have looked and never seen any ammo there.

hardknoxni69a · Mar 8, 2013

10000 rounds of each centerfire/rimfire is the legal limit without needing a special permit. ammo is not cheap but I believe anyone should have at least a case of ammo or more we may not NEED it but always better prepared than not. A case of ammo isnt gonna last a year if your shooting a box a month and if your going to be reliable you should be shooting atleast that to keep you on your toes.

beemerphile · Mar 8, 2013

hardknoxni69a said:
10000 rounds of each centerfire/rimfire is the legal limit without needing a special permit.

Local law?

While so many people are hoarding ammo, how much do we really need???

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