How Much Ammo Do You Bring To The Range?

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mbu110587

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Hey everyone,

I know this is a very subjective question but I'm wondering how much ammo you all bring to the range for a full day? I'm finally getting the chance to bring my 15-22 out to a large, outdoor range that has a designated rifle range and plinking pit. Normally I shoot indoors, mostly target shooting on paper and go through anywhere from 250-500 rounds depending on how much time I have. This will be the first time I will be using reactive targets and rapid firing, etc and am wondering how much ammo you guys typically bring for a day of plinking.

Aside from the 15-22, we are also bringing a few shotguns, handguns and another .22lr rifle (Henry Golden Boy lever-action) since this shooting park offers ranges for all 3. I was planning on bringing about 1200 rounds of various .22lr to shoot. Is this overkill or am I underestimating how fast im going to run through mags in the pit?

Curious as to what you all recommend? Thanks!

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Make sure you take plenty of fluids, and some sacks.
Double up your hearing protection and take some shade and chairs if there aren't already some there.
I have spent quite a few full days at the range and becoming hungry, tired, and running out of fluids can end your day just as much as running out of ammo.
Also make sure you take a decent tool kit with you.

The pace of burning ammo can be quite different at a club vs an indoor range. How many people you are sharing the range with, as well as visiting with other shooters and distractions such as guns being there you always wanted to have a look at.
IMO you may or may not burn all you take.
I would take two bricks of 22 to shoot and another brick JIC
For centerfire, I always hold myself at no more than two boxes because of cost.
 
mbu110587 said:
Hey everyone,

I know this is a very subjective question but I'm wondering how much ammo you all bring to the range for a full day? I'm finally getting the chance to bring my 15-22 out to a large, outdoor range that has a designated rifle range and plinking pit. Normally I shoot indoors, mostly target shooting on paper and go through anywhere from 250-500 rounds depending on how much time I have. This will be the first time I will be using reactive targets and rapid firing, etc and am wondering how much ammo you guys typically bring for a day of plinking.

Aside from the 15-22, we are also bringing a few shotguns, handguns and another .22lr rifle (Henry Golden Boy lever-action) since this shooting park offers ranges for all 3. I was planning on bringing about 1200 rounds of various .22lr to shoot. Is this overkill or am I underestimating how fast im going to run through mags in the pit?

Curious as to what you all recommend? Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G530P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

you must be quite well off. I am retired and 1. don't own a lot of firearms and 2. have a limited ammo budget. If I am going to the indoor range I use for pistols, I take my .22 and my shield. I take all of my mags for both (4 for the ruger .22 and 6 for the shield. All go pre loaded , so , that is 40 for the .22 and 48 for the shield. Then I take 100 rounds for each pistol. I shoot every 2 weeks (or so)so that is about 500 rounds total. When I go to the rifle range, I take 150 rounds for any rifle I take. That is once a month when the weather is good here. I trade one of my indoor trips for that. While prepping for hunting season, I forego indoor and sharpen rifle work as much as I can.
 
oldfart64 said:
you must be quite well off. I am retired and 1. don't own a lot of firearms and 2. have a limited ammo budget. If I am going to the indoor range I use for pistols, I take my .22 and my shield. I take all of my mags for both (4 for the ruger .22 and 6 for the shield. All go pre loaded , so , that is 40 for the .22 and 48 for the shield. Then I take 100 rounds for each pistol. I shoot every 2 weeks (or so)so that is about 500 rounds total. When I go to the rifle range, I take 150 rounds for any rifle I take. That is once a month when the weather is good here. I trade one of my indoor trips for that. While prepping for hunting season, I forego indoor and sharpen rifle work as much as I can.
Click to expand...
I have 10 mags that i regularly use for the 15-22...all 10 of them go to the range loaded and ready so thats 250 rounds right there. I usually bring another 250 rounds for reloads but most of the time i only end up reloading about 3-4 mags after the original 10 are spent. This new range im going to, however, is very large and outdoors...offering multiple rifle ranges and an open pit for plinking. And i plan to be there for a majority of the day...5+ hours.

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I take more than plenty...

I bring about 3 times as much as I anticipate using in whatever firearms I'm taking for about 2 hours of shooting. I use several types for each weapon. Different size/weight bullets and different profiles. I've had days at the range messed up but not due to running out of ammo.

Excluding travel time about two hours is the max until I start getting fatigued. I don't want to wear myself out completely to be able to clean up and get home without wishing I quit sooner.
 
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Except for the 12 gauge, I take a minimum of 100 rounds per caliber. Normally I take a couple of 9mms, a 45, one or two ARs and the Mini-14. If I take my 10/22, a hundred rounds is enough. I want to shoot everything I brought. After about 2½ hours of shooting, I've had enough, or I'm out of ammo. Or both.
 
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I typically go with the same two friends. We average between 2-3 hrs.
I shoot a lot of 9mm and .22lr. I've been averaging around 250 rnds of 9mm in pre-loaded magazines, and 100-150 rounds of .22lr semi and revolver. My buddies average the same.
 
For me...
I usually take at least 2 handguns in different calibers. 45acp & 40sw, at minimum of 100 rds, max would be 150.
9mm & 22lr would be minimum of 100 rds and max of 200.
12 gauge would be minimum of 3 boxes of birdshot and a box of slugs or 00 buck.
9mm carbines would be minimum 100 rds and max of 200.

My range sessions have never lasted more than 2.5 hrs - even though we are at an private outdoor range.
I'm there to practice...and sometimes to help teach friends and family members the basics.
I do socialize from time to time, but that's not my sole purpose of being there.

And I do have a buddy of mine from work who can make a 20rd box of .223 and a 50rd box of 9mm last 2 range sessions.
He says he's just patient and goes at a slower pace.
I just say "you aren't patient - you are just plain ole cheap".
 
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500 to 1k, typically, regardless of what we're shooting. My kid has been a shooting partner for the past couple years and he believes it's only fair that he shoots the same amount of ammo as me.
 
I've never spent an entire day at the range. Much too long for this old man. Three, maybe four, hours is generally tops. It's only 10 minutes or so from my house to my club's outdoor range and I can go every day, if I so desire.

If I am shooting by myself, I take 15 25-round magazines and 10 10-round magazines for the 15-22 and a couple of hundred rounds for the each of the pistols I may take that day, including centerfire. If I'm shooting my 77/22 I take a couple of hundred for that. Same deal with my Mini-14. Except for .223/5.56 all my centerfire range ammo is hand loads. I run a minimum of three magazines of factory carry ammo through my carry guns, as well.

If any of my grandchildren are shooting with me, I add 50 percent to the ammo load. :D

I don't normally punch paper, so all my targets are reactive in some fashion.

I second the suggestion to take liquids and snacks, especially if the day is warm. It's very easy to dehydrate if you're not paying attention.
 
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I typically go to the range once or twice a week for an hour or two with 200-300 rounds of ammunition, unless I take a sub gun with me :)

If I am doing an all day range trip, it is either for research, demonstration or training. Usually there will be a several thousand rounds of ammunition with me, along with photographic equipment and a few chronographs.
 
Quick Update-

Thanks to everyone who replied...I think Im getting a better idea as to what Ill need.

To clarify, I will be with 2 other people...my wife and brother-in-law. I figure about 400 rounds of 22lr per person should be more than enough for both .22 rifles, and im also estimating that both my wife and her brother will shoot less than that. I have plenty of CCI Mini-Mags stocked up and dont mind burning through a little extra ammo if we feel like it.

Thanks again for all your input so far.

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MichiganScott said:
I think that we have finally figured out why there is a shortage of .22LR.
Click to expand...

No finally about it. It has been stated for years that the advent of the 15-22, and similar, would cause a vast increase in the number of 22lr rounds shot. Many have only blamed the "hoarders" and have not considered the change in how folks nowadays shoot.
 
RedNeck Jim said:
No finally about it. It has been stated for years that the advent of the 15-22, and similar, would cause a vast increase in the number of 22lr rounds shot. Many have only blamed the "hoarders" and have not considered the change in how folks nowadays shoot.
Click to expand...

Guilty!! :D

When ever I take my 15-22 to the range, i usually go thru 800-1000 rounds in a 2-3 hour session. Darn things are just fun to shot, especially with any kind of reactive or steel targets.
 
I jad a membership to an indoor range. Now first off I dont shoot pistols and shotguns.
I did have a few black rifles but sold them. Im cheap and ammo was 50 cents a round.
However I did take me .22s
Id go through atleast a brick and a half. Would take me 2+hours.
Some guys would walk in. Shoot for less thsn 10 mins and walk out.
I didnt understand it. Maybe they shot evry day or atleast twice a week.
However I shoot once a week. I couldnt justify traveling an hour to shoot for 10 mins.
Someone said to me atleast they ate shooting.
I dont see the point of shooting less than 30 rounds.
If its uncomfertable to shoot more than that, pick a different gun.
Lol hunters would come in
Shoot 5-10 rounds and leave.
Imo the shooting range must love those paying members!!!!
 
little_airwolf said:
I dont see the point of shooting less than 30 rounds.
If its uncomfertable to shoot more than that, pick a different gun.
Lol hunters would come in
Shoot 5-10 rounds and leave.
Imo the shooting range must love those paying members!!!!
Click to expand...

People shoot for different reasons. These hunters are probably just checking the zero, as they want to make a clean kill. I wish more hunters verified their guns prior to heading out.
 
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