How much ammo do you need?

[J Rich]

How much will you REALLY need?

These days and times are uncertain for some. I believe the ammo shortage will end shortly. Some may believe that it will always be this way or that the Government will shut off the ammo. Some are having hard times finding ammo. This maybe because you are a new shooter or you were caught with your pants down, but that's not what this thread is about.

Some people hoard ammo like it's the end of days, and it could be. Some have always been this way, and some are just buying into the "hype". I have several hundred rounds of various calibers of ammo some target rounds and some sd rounds. I personally don't see the need to hoard 1,000's and 1000's of rounds.



It's my opinion if the shtf tomorrow, and people lost their minds. They begin looting, taking to the streets, and invading homes. It's my opinion. If you start stacking bodies in your front yard the looters and have not's will not bother your house (I wouldn't). If they had weapons and ammo now you have more weapons and ammo. I don't think you would be using your supply to go out target shooting. You would be using your ammo on a as needed basis.


If you are hoarding ammo, food, and other needs. Then you should fill your garage with lumber as well to board up your home. The looters will bust out your doors and windows as well. Am I off the grid here? I'd like to think not. I just not buying into the frenzy.

 

[timloomis]

I personally would like a few hundred just so I dont have to run to the store all the time. But when the shtf, the preppers you see on tv will get wasted lol. Those fools show on national tv where they live, what they have, and their security plans. People who are smart need to stock up on supplies, but not tell everybody or put pictures of it on facebook. We had a power outage last summer and people went nuts after 2 days. If some real problems were to happen, there would be a lot of bodies on the street. People were ready to fight over chainsaws and ice. I'd hate to see what hungry people would do.

 

[Xfuzz]

Never have been a big plinker.
I shoot about 3-4 times a year..maybe 50 rounds just
to stay active with my carry pieces...sight in the deer rifle etc.
Still qualify once a year for the retired LEO federal carry.

That said, I wanted to see exactly what I had on hand since the frenzy.
I counted 8700 rounds in 18 various calibers.
Some I don't have guns for.
That is nothing compared to some...but enough for me.
Your mileage may vary.

 

[Mike7.62]

Yes, you're off the "grid". People who have prepared for the worst aren't worried. Those who haven't are. The ammo shortage will end, but don't expect it to end anytime soon, nor will pricing return to the same levels as it was prior, especially as .gov isn't about to remove itself from interfering in that market through laws and regulations. Setting aside "zombie apocalypse", simple supply/demand curves, currency debasement, and .gov market distortions are enough to keep pricing high and shortages in place.

You don't have to buy into the "frenzy", but at some point you will have to buy if you haven't "hoarded", and "frenzy" pricing will likely be in place due to the factors mentioned above.

 

[Hillbilly77]

How much ammo do you need?

Just one more box.


Kind of like a saloon that posts a sign that says "Free beer tomorrow".

 

[GKC]

I have one round...it's in my shirt pocket.

I lost the rest of my ammo in a boating accident, along with all my guns.

So, all I have is one round...and no guns.

 

[Ruger Nut]

I am prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse.

 

[Forester]

Your not shooting enough if you don't feel the need to have 1,000 rounds on hand.

That's not even enough for 22 plinking.

I like to keep at least 1,000 rounds on hand for each centerfire handgun caliber. 300-500 for centerfire rifle. I'm feeling really iffy right now about only having 5,000 22 LR.

I reload, so that has been my priority since the last run on ammo.

 

[walkin jack]

This is a very good question. It is also a very interesting and thought provoking question. I'm not real sure that there is one correct answer. Rather, I believe that this is a very subjective topic and it is up to each of us to determine for ourselves what the best answer is.

There are some factors to consider to come up with the best answer for YOU (or me or who ever).
. Where do you live. IE urban, rural, low rent, gated, etc.
. Your age and physical condition.
. Your attitude toward fire arms.
. Your experience/capabilities with fire arms.
. Your willingness to shoot another human being.
. How much target shooting/plinking you like to do
. Whether you want to build supplies to protect against future price increase or appocalypse type events
. Others.

My neighbor is not a hater of guns but doesn't have or want any. He told me one time that if it comes to the situation described above that he wants to be the first one killed. He said he had no interest in living in a world like that. I told him he was crazy.....

Myself, I DO want to survive. I'm not a hoarder or a prepper but I have a modest supply of "stuff" laid by. I'll be able to make it for a llittle while at least. See, I have no idea how much I'll need of this or that. Ammo and other supplies are going to run out at some point no matter how much you stock up.

The bottom line is that no matter how carefully or thoroughly you prepare you might need to be saving that last bullet......Me, I'm not driving myself crazy over this. It it happens I'll do the best I can for as long as I can. I didn't come down here to live forever. I'm not really ready to "go" just yet but I'm 68 years old and I've had a great life. It's way too late for me to have to worry about dying young. All I can say here is that I have pretty much lived my life on my own terms and I expect to die on my own terms as well.

Que sara sara.

 

[spricks]

Being Prepared for when the shtf is a personal choice in regards to how much ammo. It may be worth more than you think? I know i'd buy needed ammo from a neighbor or friend or barter for something I need as well. I know my guns will never be just a club. It's not like it's going to spoil, and I know it won't get any cheaper than it is right now, at least here where there is plenty on the shelves of every cal.
spricks

 

[BobC357]

How much ammo do I need?

How much have you got?

 

[gutdoc]

Anybody think ammo might be a substitute currency someday?

Would that prospect change how much you "need?"

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

 

[sipowicz]

Anybody think ammo might be a substitute currency someday?

Would that prospect change how much you "need?"

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

Oh man, my pants fit funny enough.....

 

[old bear]

All of my revolvers are .357 Magnum caliber with the exception of my OLD M-60. I've got 2,000 rounds of assorted ,357 Magnum and 38 special +P & +P+ ammo. In reality that's about twice what I feel comfortable with. But I ended up with it so I'm going to hang on to it.

 

[Alpo]

The question is idiotic. It's like "how much money do you need?" The answer is simple. As much as I can get.

You NEED enough that you won't have to stop shooting because you are out of ammo. If you are shooting the three squirrels in the pecan trees, you NEED three rounds. If you are going to do five-round groups on six different guns, you NEED 30 rounds. If your house is under attack by a rampaging horde of Mutant Zombie Bikers, you NEED a bunch.

What I NEED might change from day to day.

But the question I have is, What does NEED have to do with it?

The fastest you can legally drive in this country is 80. Why do you NEED a car that will go 100 or more?

I thought I had hit the big time, in 1981, when I bought my first Big Screen TV. 19 inches. I could see that from anywhere in the room. Why does anyone NEED a 48" (or bigger) TV?

People all around the world survive on a diet of rice. Why do you NEED Porterhouse steak?

The answer, obviously, is that I don't NEED any of that stuff. I WANT it. And I can afford to buy it. And if you don't like it - well, that's just too bad.

 

[Faulkner]

How much do I need?

I'm growing weary of the way we're always concerned about what other people need or want. Do you really need all that ammo? Do you really need all those guns? Does your wife really need all those shoes? Do you really need a 16 oz soft drink? Do millionaires really need all that money? Do you really need to drive a full size car?

This is the United States of America . . . I don't really care what possessions people think I do or don't need as long as I come by it legally.

 

[feralmerril]

At this point in my life I really dont shoot much. I used to reload, experiment and test or rather "dick" with many calibers in both rifles and handguns. I have no idea how much ammo is in the garage. I belive I loaded for about 25 different calibers and still have that many dies.
Much of my ammo both factory and reloads probley is up to 45 years old! For 38s, 357s, 44 special, 44 mag, 45 colt and 45 acp I probley have 500 to several thousand of each. Problem is with all my experimenting there is many different type loads and level of loads in all of them!
I really should get out and shoot them all and start out with just one standard load in each caliber. Golly when you have 7 .44 specials, 4 .357s, 4 .38 specials, its hard to find one favorite load thats good in them all!
I wont buy ANY ammo or guns in these mad insane times. I doubt if I could survive useing up five or ten thousand rounds before they got to me! I think we need a little sanity here. I think a valid answer might be ammo could be a good investment to barter or sell. Not so much reloads though, and thats what I mostly have.

 

[Xfuzz]

IMHO...
We all complain about the shortage and the crazy prices to the point to where it has become a source of aggravation to some.
The ones that are optimistic say they will wait til the frenzy is over
before they re-stock...good luck with that.

Ammo is not coming down in price until there is a glut of it on the retailers shelves.
When will that be..?
1. Production has to catch up.
2. The buying frenzy has to stop..big if there.
3. Then there will be a"second wave" from the ones that
vowed never to get caught short again.

If you need it...best buy it.

 

[feralmerril]

I remember seeing a cartoon of the last man alive. It was a solider standing alone on the planet with nothing but ruin and ashs as far as you could see. He is smileing and saying, "I won!"
Not sure I would want to live after that!

 

[sipowicz]

The question is idiotic. It's like "how much money do you need?" The answer is simple. As much as I can get.

You NEED enough that you won't have to stop shooting because you are out of ammo. If you are shooting the three squirrels in the pecan trees, you NEED three rounds. If you are going to do five-round groups on six different guns, you NEED 30 rounds. If your house is under attack by a rampaging horde of Mutant Zombie Bikers, you NEED a bunch.

What I NEED might change from day to day.

But the question I have is, What does NEED have to do with it?

The fastest you can legally drive in this country is 80. Why do you NEED a car that will go 100 or more?

I thought I had hit the big time, in 1981, when I bought my first Big Screen TV. 19 inches. I could see that from anywhere in the room. Why does anyone NEED a 48" (or bigger) TV?

People all around the world survive on a diet of rice. Why do you NEED Porterhouse steak?

The answer, obviously, is that I don't NEED any of that stuff. I WANT it. And I can afford to buy it. And if you don't like it - well, that's just too bad.

Got it...so around 500 rounds....thanks!