How much ammo do you guys keep around?

[filbert]

Just wondering, do you buy ammo as you need it? Or do you buy periodically in bulk, or when there's a sale do you go clean out the store shelf?

Right now i've got 1000 .22 shells (two bulk boxes) and about 500 9mm for my handgun, but there are some good sales right now so I was debating stock piling a bunch.

I guess you could play it like the stock market and try to predict which way ammo prices are going to go in the near future, but that sounds like work...

 

[LTC]

More than enough components to get me through the next shortage and .22's to last me well into retirement.

LTC

 

[Legitmw]

We've got a little over 1000 .22, about 150 12 gauge, slugs, buckshot, low recoil buckshot, about 50 20 gauge, a box of 50 .40, about 30 30-30, like 20 .38 special, maybe a dozen .25 ACP, in my opinion, not enough different calibers and not nearly enough of each. hopefully I will need to be having some .357 mag, 5.56, and 7.62 around soon.

 

[tbury]

Ammo prices long term only go one way -- UP! If I find a good price I buy what I can afford. It does not go bad so stock up. I have 22 HP hunting ammo from the 80s. I wish now that I had bought 10k rounds when 22 was less than $10 a brick. When I go to the range with a 22 I rarely shoot less than 50 rds, so 1000 is only 20 trips. With a 15/22 I would probably shoot more than 50 rds. A year ago I had the chance to buy .40 S&W for $14 a box of 50. I only bought 10 boxes, should have bought 20. Since I reload, I rarely have less than 200rds of pistol ammo on hand at all times. So my advice is buy it when it is reasonably priced it is a better inflation hedge than stocks.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Listen to tbury. There was an ammo shortage some time in the 90's. I didn't panic, but I did start to make sure that I didn't pass up opportunities. There has not been a shortage since then, at least not in my house.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Always bulk for higher quality .22lr. Typically buy cases of 5k from Midway when they have the right coupon. The savings can be significant. To buy locally a box of 500 Wolf Match Target costs $55 + tax = $60... and it is quite often not in stock. I think the last 5K order of Wolf I got from Midway was $410 delivered.

I used to "clean out the store shelf" at Walmart when cheap Fed Bulk Pack was hard to find. But now the price is up and there is plenty of availability so I just buy a few boxes at a time.

 

[DownRange&Upwind]

I have around 2000 or more rounds of just .22 ammo at any given time. And only about 200-300 of .223. For my .22 LR ammo, I buy the Federal bulk packs of 375 rounds for 11 bucks. This allows me to buy 2 boxes and get 750 rounds for 22 dollars before taxes. I stay away from the 550 Federal bulk packs as they are around $19.48 before taxes. While a good price, I can basicly pay about $2 over the same price for the 550 pack, and get 750 rounds.. so 200 free rounds each time I do this. That adds up quick.. and if your paying the basic same amount give or take, why not get the extra 200 rounds you know? All I have to say is...

"God bless Wal-mart, the only place you can get enough ammo for one man to hold off half of China for less than $100"

 

[Justinsan]

I try and pick up a Fed Bulk Pack every time I go to Walmart.

 

[patrickmn]

I think you should have at least 1000 rounds for every gun you own. Shoot the oldest ammo first and replace it as you use it.

Think of it this way. You wouldn't think twice of having a few days of canned food just for normal cooking, plus a few more days worth of canned food in case of a flood, storm, or snow when the stores might have a shortage of food. Why not have a good supply of ammo in case there is a shortage of ammo?

I'm going to go count my ammo now.

 

[CajunMouseSniper]

At least 5,000 rounds of .22lr. and a couple of hundred rounds for my other rifles, handguns and shotgun. Right now I have about 2k Aguila Match Rifle and 3300 Federal Bulk. Since I shoot at least 150 rounds every day, I buy a couple of bulk packs every time I stop by Walmart.

 

[kennyb]

i shoot any number of calibers....only one i buy is 22lr..fortunately i reload and keep about a thousand rounds on hand of each caliber

 

[Black_Sheep]

I saved brass for 20 years before I began reloading, needless to say I have more ammo than I can carry. The only thing I don't reload is shotgun shells, I usually pick up a box or two every time I go to Fleet Farm...

 

[Harrison]

Except for 22 ammo, buying is not very cost effective. Reloading is cost effective. Brass can be saved and/or scrounged. Buy powder- primers as you can afford them. Keep in a controlled temprature and they will last a long time. Buy bullets on sale and/or cast your own. Anyone that buys bulk ammo, instead of reloading is throwing good money down the ammo companies rathole.

The only ammo that might be cheaper than reloading is low base shotgun shells during dove/quail season.

 

[zamboni_driver]

I have at least 10K rounds of .22, just picked up 5K rounds from the ShopDunns.com and 4200 from the Cabelas sale because I needed the storage boxes.

 

[TurboniumOxide]

I have 12k of 22lr, I have some of every kind fed cci aguila wolf rem.
I have 1200 rounds of 223 in magazines mostly magpul and another 4k of 223 and 556 in storage.
I have the least of 308 at 4k, 300 rounds in magazines.

About 2500 .45
About 3000 9mm
500 .38
200 .303

500 12ga 00buck
some birdshot

and here is the big number

15000 .177 pellets and a couple of nice supersonic air rifles

 

[DownRange&Upwind]

I have 12k of 22lr, I have some of every kind fed cci aguila wolf rem.
I have 1200 rounds of 223 in magazines mostly magpul and another 4k of 223 and 556 in storage.
I have the least of 308 at 4k, 300 rounds in magazines.

About 2500 .45
About 3000 9mm
500 .38
200 .303

500 12ga 00buck
some birdshot

and here is the big number

15000 .177 pellets and a couple of nice supersonic air rifles

LEAST likely to EVER be robbed.. well after word got out of what"happened" to the last guy.. its LEAST likely to be robbed twice lol!

 

[TurboniumOxide]

I have been collecting for a long time and every time I get close to a walmart I get a twitch that won't go away until I buy some more ammo.

Lately I have been buying at academy sports and sportsmans warehouse and sometimes dicks.

I always replenish what I use at the range quickly. I just can't stand the idea of having a $3000 rifle and no ammo to play with.

 

[pea shooter]

ammo

22000 rounds 22lr mostly fed. bulk some 333 win. some cci mini mags. 2200 rounds 9mm fed. 600 rounds 38spec.rem.300 rounds 357 rem. bought it all before the price went wild.

 

[marinevet]

remember.....if things go south.....guns and ammo will get you more than cash will, bullets are relatively inexpensive...

Semper Fi

 

[TurboniumOxide]

I like to say I am stockpiling precious metals. Lead copper and brass, stainless steel and aluminum. Some polymer. If the shtf ammo will be the new $20 bill.