How much ammo to keep on hand?

[Arik]

I keep as much as possible especially when certain calibers are still cheap. I stock up on 5.45x39 surplus because 1 can of 1080 rounds is only $150 shipped. I learned my lesson years ago when 7.62x39 used to be $70 for 500 rounds. Back then I thought "why do I need so many Im not going to shoot it all right away and when I'll need it Ill buy it" Screw that I'll buy today and shoot tomorrow at todays prices

 

[GatorFarmer]

Last time around furthered my inordinate fondness for the .45 ACP. Nice thing about it... FMJ is just fine as a defensive load. Though once again I could use some more 7.35 mm Carcano and .30-40 Krag. Last time around there was never a shortage of 12 gauge birdshot. So get a shotgun...

 

[mike from st pete]

For every box I use I would buy two as replacements.
Now I'm going to say that I have stopped this and handload most of my range ammo. I am still doing the two for one replacements in components.

 

[W.E.G.]

It depends on how much you shoot.

If you only hunt deer once a year, "a box of shells" should last you quite a while.

If you shoot competitions every weekend, you'll need a lot more.

Otherwise, if you are storing mass quantities of ammo for the day when the Neighborhood Watch comes to your door and asks you to join their door-kicking team, you're probably planning for something that's not going to happen.

You won't realistically need more than "a box of shells" if all you are doing is preparing to defend against the typical suburban burglar.

Some folks just buy more than they "need" when its relatively cheap, so that they don't have to pay premium prices, or have to skip going to competitions, when short-term market shortages inevitably roll around.

 

[wbraswell]

I need to buy a metal detector. I can't remember where I buried all that stuff. Dang, I need to buy a shovel, too.

 

[NYlakesider]

Without going into specifics lets say I have a bit. I also have the makings to load up a lot more I’m just too lazy to do a count!

Heck I even have 60 rounds for my 1898 Model 94 32.40Winchester rifle

As I have 6 .22 guns I have quite a few bricks available.

 

[Martimus]

On average I usually keep about 1000 rounds of each of my favorite caliber's (9mm, .380, .223) in a storage cabinet. I think I have about 3000 rounds of .22lr at the moment.

When I get down to 500 rounds I make another purchase and bring that caliber back up to 1000 rounds. As I've gotten older I've gotten into the habit of marking each box to show when/where I purchased it. This way I can help to insure that I cycle the older boxes of ammo out first.

 

[gregintenn]

How much ammo to keep on hand?

More!!!
It ain't getting any cheaper.

 

[loutent]

For every box I use I would buy two as replacements

I have been doing this for the last 3 years - it's amazing how it accumulates. Most of it is just target ammo, but lately my LGS/range has been selling loose cases (500rds) of Golden Sabre JHP's for around $150 - I couldn't pass that up!

 

[Fishslayer]

I need to buy a metal detector. I can't remember where I buried all that stuff. Dang, I need to buy a shovel, too.

If you can dig it all up with a shovel you need to bury MOAR!

You sure you're from Tejas?

 

[rodeo kid]

Alot! Just an estimate, but around 2,000 .22lr, 1,000 .223 and 500 of everthing else. God Bless.

 

[xplorer400]

i have grandkids and 35k of 22's..it's ankle deep at my range at times on sunday

 

[vrichard]

All I have is a BB gun with maybe 100 BB`s.
Dick

 

[Kinman]

Around 30 years ago when I was young and dumb I got mixed up with a group that was into the whole Armageddon thing. Everyone had to have a weapon capable of at least semi-auto, high capacity. I bought a Model A Uzi that could be converted to full auto by simply changing the bolt, changed to pistol length barrel by simply changing the barrel, it was all legal even if all the parts were in the same kit as long as it wasn't put together. The deal back then was to have at least 1K rnds buried in an accessible marked location. I thought that over and used black plastic drain pipe, ends glued tight. I almost forgot about that stuff but ran across the location site map last year went out dug it up and it was all still beautiful as the day it went in the ground.
I don't think its a bad idea to have at least 1K rnds in the calibers you would need for protection/survival...this ammo is never borrowed from although can be rotated. You can't have too much ammunition, it will always hold its value if times get tough and as trade stuff could be worth its weight in silver literally. I know a guy still in that Armageddon mentality that has a military conex buried near his place in Arizona that is full of ammunition, the stuff was purchased back in the 70's, he calls it his retirement plan.

 

[OldBull57]

I keep a 1000 rds min for each Cal. over what I shoot each month.

And Really if that isn't enough to get me out of trouble...I'm in too deep.

 

[johnsonl]

I have made it my personal crusade to be the root cause of the pre-election ammo shortage. A firearm without ammo is a club.

 

[johnsonl]

All I have is a BB gun with maybe 100 BB`s.
Dick

That's 100 servings of squirrel w/ gravy!

 

[GatorFarmer]

Around 30 years ago when I was young and dumb I got mixed up with a group that was into the whole Armageddon thing. Everyone had to have a weapon capable of at least semi-auto, high capacity. I bought a Model A Uzi that could be converted to full auto by simply changing the bolt, changed to pistol length barrel by simply changing the barrel, it was all legal even if all the parts were in the same kit as long as plan.

That is not a good idea. ATF would call it constructive possession.

 

[Long Barrel]

Ammo?

To paraphrase an old Air Force saying, the only time you got too much ammo is when the ammo locker is on fire!

See ya at the range.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I think I heard this question about 20 years ago (perhaps from my inner self). I think that it started with standard-capacity mags (for wide-body autoloaders), and sort of naturally extended to ammo. Since then, I have bought ammo when it was reasonable or, on a good day, cheap. I haven't bought much lately. I'm 67, and not planning to bequeath more than a few thousand rounds, so the local fire regulations work out well enough for me.

I have seen this question quite a few times since I first started getting careful about my ammo supply. Each time, the supply returned to normal fairly soon, and those who were careful could stock up. This time, the prices are mostly high, which wasn't what happened the last few times. Whether this will continue remains to be seen.

I will say that I have seldom regretted an ammo purchase.