Is now the time to stock up on ammo?

[edprof]

At 5200 rounds I feel like a piker in this group.

 

[rojodiablo]

At 5200 rounds I feel like a piker in this group.

HAHAHAHAAAA!!!!! I have a few stored, and as a good deal comes along, I grab a little.
I will share my thoughts on this, and the subsequent side-track that is directly tied to the concerns about ammunition availability.
#1. Be practical on ammo stored. Don't bulk up on junk or questionable ammo. "I have 10,000 rounds of Romanian surplus bla bla bla for the zombies......" And is there a known failure rate on that ammo, or a date of manufacture? Is there a lot of steel in your stored ammo, is it waiting to rust and rot on you? (One plumbing leak next to your storage or a roof leak WILL make you consider this one seriously. My water heater took out 11 guns and 9K of assorted ammo. )
#2. You are getting good ammo, bit by bit, but WHAT to get?? Here, again- be practical. A lot of 7-1/2 shot for a 12 or 20 ga. is VERY VALUABLE STUFF. Birds, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits all taste good, and fall to the stuff readily. Food will be more important than defense in case of natural disaster, civil unrest. In most instances, the average hungry scavenging human will retreat quickly and permanently when peppered with 7-1/2 shot if you are out looking for food and pushed. If they do not retreat, then drop a goose load on them. That will surely fix their errant attitude. Store a few boxes of Goose loads. T shot. Why screw around with duck loads? You want to whack a turkey, a goose, a duck, a big raccoon, marauding coyote at night, etc?? T shot WORKS. It also ENDS FIGHTS in close quarters. Having 40 pellets halfway between a .22 and a regular BB run through you at 10 feet is simply NEVER a good thing for you. .22LR is just plain 'ole important stuff to have! It is versatile, works on a wide variety of stuff, and is fairly quiet. Ammo will be a commodity. Interested governments, the new enforcement in town might not like you having 10,000 5.56 in the bedroom. But they tend to allow hunting food gathering ammo; ie shotgun ammo, and .22LR. (I am NOT saying capitulate and turn French. I am saying that when it comes down to your family and Police state gunners, you will need to negotiate WISELY, and QUICKLY. Be real here, we are not Delta Force. And, even if we were, we would know better than taking on 5 to 1 odds when faced with this scenario.) Ammo is a great trade commodity. Many people will have a shotgun, few will have enough ammo to gather food with. Trading some ammo or gathered animal food for water, clothing, shelter is the new currency when things go upside down.
#3. Pick and choose carefully the guns you buy, keep, and shoot. An oddball caliber is going to be a paperweight rather quickly when 'Buck's Shooting Supplies' is closed for the next 3 years. Why have a .258 Roberts, or a 270 WSSM when the venerable .243, 270, 30-06 ammo will be somewhat available? I understand you reload. I understand you have 200 pc of brass for the Spinster.363, or whatever that weirdo rifle you have is. Can you trade that ammo with anyone on your block? If your personal ammo gets wet and will not fire, can you work out a deal to get a couple precious rounds to kill a deer or elk to feed your family thru the winter? REALLY???!!

A Combat based rifle is just as critical. While I really like the 6.8SPC, and feel it will be the survivor of the new and ever evolving military ammunition....... can you get your hands on 1,000 pc of brass for it easily and cheaply? Let's surmise that you run across some unfriendly people. They all have extra holes in them, and they are laying down on the job permanently. Are they more likely to have .308, 9mm luger, 5.56, 12 ga. on them... or will they have 28ga shotgun ammo, 22-250, .338 RUM, .223 Wylde???? Well, these people are the new Wal Mart, and you are the new shopper. Time to stock up.

Now, you can understand my position. You will find yourself in a position to trade food, goods and services with anyone who you meet up with. Let's say the US Marines finally roll into your neighborhood after a 6 month siege of some unGodly kind. They are hungry, and fatigued. You have some fish and dried meats to share. But you need a few rounds to keep some security for the family and to hunt with. Yep; there is your answer. The Marines will part with a few rounds for a hot meal and some Tinactin or Ben Gay, toothpaste and a brush, soap, etc. So what ammo do you think they will be carrying with them?? (Conversely; imagine after a hellish fight outside of town, some Marines come in looking for shelter and a place to regroup. Imagine that the men and women who are fighting for you are suddenly there at your door, and as soon as they leave your home, they are headed back out to fight. What do you think they would feel like if you handed them 2 unopened boxes of XM855 on strippers, and a fist full of magazines to re-supply them in their effort? Hint: They will not have much use for 300 Weatherby magnum......... but they will be very grateful to be resupplied with the 5.56 they need so desperately.)

My FINAL answer: 12 ga., 20ga. Shotgun. 9mm Luger, .45 ACP Pistol. .308, 30-06 Rifle. .22LR small rifle/ pistol. 5.56 Combat. First choice in each category as shown. I chose .308 reluctantly over 30-06 because it is a NATO round. I own the 30-06, but not a .308. My choice is strictly based on availability from military sourcing. Buy to what is practical for personal use. Then, buy to what is practical for trade and sustenance of some extended family or neighbors you will likely wind up in leadership of.
Sorry for the rant and sidetrack. Let's hope my theory never has to be put to the test, and ammo hoarding remains a beer drinker's second hobby!!!

 

[clang444]

It's always a good time to stock up on ammo.

 

[Larry Walls]

Ahhh...the good ol' days. Wifey worked at KMart for 18 years and clued me in on any ammo and sporting good sales. Used to pick up bricks of Federal and Thunderbolt's ( yeah, yeah, but MY 15-22 shoots it flawlessly) for $7 a brick about twice a year. Got enough to supply a 3rd world country revolution. And thats after selling some at garage sales for 10 per. New issue. As warned-unfortunately AFTER purchased, I've wasted money on EVERY Barska item purchased for my 15-22, except the flashlight. Laser and red-dot lasted less than a week before puking. IR scope illumination 3 weeks. Keeping a close eye on the flashlight too. The Chinese laugh all the way to the bank.

 

[Larry Walls]

Good info from rojodiablo. Military ammo will be in supply longer than commercial stuff, when the poo-poo hits the fan. What isn't shot will be valuable to trade/sell.

 

[mike from st pete]

Saturday the 19th of November was National Buy Ammo Day.
There is never a bad time to buy some more ammo.

 

[Fishslayer]

And if you drive to Wally world 10 times and buy one box each, you'll probably spend more in fuel at $3.50 a gallon than you ever considered. Of course you get to meet interesting people and catch up on the latest fashions in nightwear used by overweight old women. And slippers.

So a good rule to live by. Limit your exposure to Wally World and make one trip. Buy as much ammo as you can afford on that trip. Save your money and your sanity. Ammo gives you a warm feeling on a cold winters night.

Or do what I do. Reload & buy bullets at your local range/gunstore.

Ohhh. Wait. Two of those "bullet trips" cost me $600+ apiece...

Never mind. Off to Wally World for some more .22.

 

[gr8smiles]

It's always good to have ammo in storage.

If you find a good deal - get it and put it in your safe

I tried that for a while, then the safe got so full that the ammo had to go

 

[rojodiablo]

Or do what I do. Reload & buy bullets at your local range/gunstore.

Ohhh. Wait. Two of those "bullet trips" cost me $600+ apiece...

Never mind. Off to Wally World for some more .22.

OUCH!!!! And I thought getting shot once when I was younger hurt. The cost of ammo is even worse!!!!!!

 

[vipermd]

I know nothing about reloading. You can't reload .22, can you?

I better get my butt to Wally world, I only have 3 550 boxes and a couple 50 rounds.

I know that Clinton had the weather proofing around the primers removed way back. But does rimfire ammo have a shelf life too?

When did "clinton" remove the weather proofing?

 

[rojodiablo]

When did "clinton" remove the weather proofing?

I too read this and was wondering exactly what change and when was it done?

I will admit that I do not see any lacquer sealer on the primers on a lot of ammo, but some has it. My NATO ammo does not have a visible sealer. I can't remember what was up when using Navy ammo at my former job. All I know was, we shot a lot of ammo, and it was wet all the time. But this is 20 years ago now.....

 

[Sprefix]

I woke up breathing!! Perfect excuse to stock up on ammo. I am around 15,000 rounds of .22 and need to have 5,000 more "expendable" rounds on hand. Not joking. I do need to get some 7.62x39 as I'm horribly low on that. 5.56 is OK, but could use some there also. I figure around $3.5K and I would feel like I could sit back and not worry about my ammo supply. Think what you will, but if I can shoot, I can eat. Not everyone hears a .22 go off to secure food. Just a thought

 

[pyper22]

I began to think the same way several years ago, and slowly began buying a case here and there whenever I saw a "deal". I just bought a small safe in which to store my "survival" stash, and so I needed to unload my ammo closet and inventory everything. I found I had more than I suspected of almost every caliber. My current stash of .22 LR is over 26,000 rounds, and that's just what's in case lots, does not include the several odd 500-550 rd brick, nor the dozen or so other 50 rd boxes of "shooting" ammo that are laying around here and there.

Tim

i hope you home don't catch on fire, lol , banb, bang, bang.

 

[dogtag]

My main stash of ammo is approximately 3,000 rounds of 308 lake city nato and some sealed packs of south african 308. Plenty 12 guage buckshot left over from the Rodney King days, maybe 200 rounds and about 300 rounds of 45acp and 45colt. Oh yeah 400 hundred rounds of 8mm corrosive stuff. All stored in a foot locker in the garage. My wife fears for the fire department. Lake City Armory had some great deals in 762x51 before Obama.

Now I'm stocking up on MRE's and medial stuff like Celox hemostatic granules, trauma gauze and Israeli bandages. I have not found anything as of yet to help with zombie bites. Guess were just sol.

 

[Bullzaye]

i hope you home don't catch on fire, lol , banb, bang, bang.

Thanks...I hope my house doesn't catch fire as well, regardless of my ammo situation.

The truth is that ammo has very little impact on a fire, regardless of what you may have seen on TV or movies. There are multiple instances of fire departments doing testing with ammo in fires, and actual fires where homes with ammo stashes have caught fire. By and large, the ammo has not been found to have had much, if any, effect on the fire, nor did it seem to pose any great threat to the firefighters. I've trained with and spoken with several firemen over the years, and they've all expressed little to no concern regarding normal ammunition storage in the home.

For those who don't know, ammunition that ignites in a fire does not fly off at lethal velocities...in fact the bullet itself generally stays in place, and the casing becomes the "projectile", and pops somewhat as a firecracker would. The main exception to this would be rounds that are in the chamber of a firearm and are involved in a fire. These certainly could pose a threat.

Tim

 

[Paracord Joes]

The truth is that ammo has very little impact on a fire, regardless of what you may have seen on TV or movies. There are multiple instances of fire departments doing testing with ammo in fires, and actual fires where homes with ammo stashes have caught fire. By and large, the ammo has not been found to have had much, if any, effect on the fire, nor did it seem to pose any great threat to the firefighters. I've trained with and spoken with several firemen over the years, and they've all expressed little to no concern regarding normal ammunition storage in the home.


Tim

LOL, while that IS true...in my 18 year career as a firefighter, I CAN tell you that the casing do travel and I have been hit by a few and the noise they make is scary.....no harm done however.

 

[dogtag]

LOL, while that IS true...in my 18 year career as a firefighter, I CAN tell you that the casing do travel and I have been hit by a few and the noise they make is scary.....no harm done however.

Tell my wife that, lol

 

[Shaggs]

I have about 8000rds of 22LR, 1000 45ACP... note to self, need more 12 gage #8 and 00

 

[Aceman58]

I have a black steel cabinet in my garage filled with ammo of all kinds of caliber. I'm up to 1900 rounds of 22LR and building it up as well. One thing for sure, if a fire starts in my house, "GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY GARAGE"... and watch the NEWS for "Looks like Fourth of July in this town when you what it, a house goes off like....."... later.

 

[rojodiablo]

Thanks...I hope my house doesn't catch fire as well, regardless of my ammo situation.

The truth is that ammo has very little impact on a fire, regardless of what you may have seen on TV or movies. There are multiple instances of fire departments doing testing with ammo in fires, and actual fires where homes with ammo stashes have caught fire. By and large, the ammo has not been found to have had much, if any, effect on the fire, nor did it seem to pose any great threat to the firefighters. I've trained with and spoken with several firemen over the years, and they've all expressed little to no concern regarding normal ammunition storage in the home.

For those who don't know, ammunition that ignites in a fire does not fly off at lethal velocities...in fact the bullet itself generally stays in place, and the casing becomes the "projectile", and pops somewhat as a firecracker would. The main exception to this would be rounds that are in the chamber of a firearm and are involved in a fire. These certainly could pose a threat.

Tim

This is EXACTLY why you should store the ammo next to gasoline or propane bottles. If you wanna make popcorn, you gotta get the kernels HOT!

With all the woodworking, paint/ finishing stuff, plus welding and then propane bottles, I would treat a fire like the flight deck airman did on the USS Forrestal. I'd damn near die trying to put that fire out before it got too hot. My garage would be worse with chemicals off-gassing than the ammo would be. But still, a lot of ammo stored in a metal box or safe can create some heavy pressures and it would not be a good thing to stand next to if it gets froggy and starts hopping on you.