What's in your stockpile?

[BigRich315]

We all know that the wise take advantage of times of plenty to prepare for times of little. In other words: stock up on ammo if you can. But what type?

Practice or self defense loads or both? Obviously both, but to what ratio? Thoughts, opinions, empiracle knowledge welcome.

 

[Smokester653]

I try my best to stock up on defensive rounds as best as possible and use them solely for defense and only "train/practice" with some. I know that you should practice with defensive rounds to assure that they function, however the wallet and availability usually dictates how much I can buy at a time. I can get more "bang" pardon the pun from buying target rounds than defensive. I think that if the SHTF happens then any ammo will be better than none. Stock up with what you can get.

 

[mgjohn]

Reload my practice ammo. (80% of it at least)

Been stocking up on defence ammo. Have some factory practice put back
also. My stock pile is 90 defence /10 practice

Also have a few odd boxes of ammo in calibers I do not have a gun for.
(357 sig & 40S&W for example) Never can tell if you might need them to pass along or use in a friends gun.

 

[SWBigBang]

Does it really matter because no matter how much, its never enough.

 

[gearchecker]

As long as a SWAT team doesn't come to my house I should be able defend it fully against just about any other immediate threat.
I'm storing about 70% defense/30% practice ammo.
When the practice ammo runs short I have no issues with using the other ammo till I rebuild the stockpiles.
100% of the ammo I have is a servicable caliber for use in my collection.

 

[Smith357]

For handguns it's 95% practice ammo with hard cast bullets with 5% HPs, for my rifles it's 100% full power hunting loads, no light plinkers, that's what the .22 is for.

 

[bobelk99]

Stock up?

It might help if you decide exactly why you are stocking up. Then buy enough to satisfy that why. Buying a ton of ammo only because it might be scarce later is wasting resources, as long as you have the amount to meet your 'why'.

I keep 3 years supply on hand, reloaded or new, so I am sure I would be called a hoarder regardless

 

[s&wchad]

What's in your stockpile?

Toilet paper.
First things first....

 

[redlevel]

It might help if you decide exactly why you are stocking up. Then buy enough to satisfy that why. Buying a ton of ammo only because it might be scarce later is wasting resources, as long as you have the amount to meet your 'why'.

I keep 3 years supply on hand, reloaded or new, so I am sure I would be called a hoarder regardless

"Why" do you need a three year supply? "Why" do I need any more ammo? At my age, I probably have more ammo on hand than I will shoot. I bought more today. "Why?" Because I would rather die with 50K rounds on hand than to die with none. I am a true hoarder, and I make no apologies. I have nephews, a daughter, and nieces who can either use it or sell it when I'm gone. I'm not "wasting resources." If I'm lucky, I'll have ten or fifteen years after I retire (in a few weeks) to burn up a lot of what I have on hand.

As far as what kind: I only buy .45 ACP and .22 handgun ammo. I consider all the .45 to be defense ammo, hardball and whatever hp I can find. I don't buy the "premium" ammo, as I feel it is one of the biggest ripoffs going. I buy WWB and the equivalent Remington .45 ammo. The only cf rifle ammo I buy is 7.62x39 (I consider all that defense) and .250 Savage, which is hunting ammo. I load .45 Colt at 9 grains Unique/250 gr swc for my Ruger and S&W handguns and Model 94 rifle. Practice, hunting, defense, whatever.

When you get right down to it, I guess I consider all my cf ammo, handgun or rifle, to be "defense" ammo, except maybe for the .38 Target loads, and I wouldn't want to get shot with any of that.

 

[BigRich315]

Chad, I now know who to team with in SHTF scenarios.

The "why" is I know I don't have enough. I'm able to get it now and the future is uncertain: there are many reasons I may not be able to get it later. I've been thinking closer to 50/50 for handgun rounds and agree with 100% business rounds for rifles, excluding .22 of course.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Gosh, I guess it a bunch of everything! The only down side to this is if theres ever a fire at my house Im takeing binoculars to watch!

 

[ENGINE18]

My average stash is not as much as some, but I think I have a good start.

100 7-1/2" 3" SG shells for practice and stuff; 50 4-0 buck; 50 00 buck;500 M193 .223; 1000 148gr .38SPL WC; 500 158gr SWCHP+P; 500 mix of .38spl+P and .38SPL; 150 various .357 MAG; 250 .44 SPL (for my 696ND!);100 9mm; 150 .32acp; 100 .22MAG;1000 .22LR

practice, varmit and SD. I usually shoot .38spl and .22.

 

[pred]

I cant count that high.
It seems as though when I see a good deal I buy it,
Found 600 rounds of 38 Wad cutter for 100 bucks, I bought it.
Found some 600+ of 45 acp for 35 bucks,,,, Yup I bought that too, Found 400 rounds of 9x23 for something like 50 bucks,,,,,
My ammo storage safe is not full yet,
I am not sure what I have,,, But there is enough there for now, And since I only get to shoot every 3 months or so now, I am happy.......
Peter

 

[bmcgilvray]

We can host a block party here.

 

[loutent]

I have a rule - every time I shoot a box of whatever, I buy at least 2 to replace it - more if it's on sale or something - works for me.

 

[ENGINE18]

I like that rule!

 

[dkees]

There's no rhyme or reason in how I buy ammo. If I see it, have the cash and a gun that will shoot it, I buy it.

.22, 32/20, 380, 9m, 38 SW, 38 spl, .357, 44 LC, .44 mag., 30-30, 10, 12,16, 20 ga., I have it all. Not exactly sure how much of each.

I may be foolish but that's the way I do it.

 

[jkc]

Read Cormac McCarthy's, The Road, and then assess how much .22 LR ammo you think you'd like to have... just for discussion...

 

[pharmer]

8k 9mm, 10K.22lr, 2K .45acp, 2k .308, 1.5K, .223, 1.5K .38spl, >1k 12ga, .44mag, 357mag and 120rds .45 Colt. 10% SD rest "range" ammo. If I need more than that in a "social situation" I'm sure there will be plenty left lying around on the "field." Joe

 

[zercool]

Chad, I hope you've been kind enough to notify your fire department that there's a fair quantity of powder and primers there! Ouch!

I purchase whatever I happen to come across that I can use - and some things I can't if the price is right. (Half a box of .35Rem for free, 8 rounds of Winchester Supreme .300WSM for $5, etc.) Most of my shooting is with reloads these days, so I spend more money on powder and primers and cast bullets than I do on loaded ammo. Only thing I *have* to buy for the time being is rimfire!