How many rounds should you keep on hand?

D

Deliverer

New member
I am not going to assume that someday ammo will be unavailable to the public :eek:
But for each gun, how many rounds should you you keep on hand? I like to practice, practice and practice.
 
I keep, anywhere from 400 to 1200 rounds of each caliber I shoot, on hand. I am down to about 500 rounds of .45 now... Getting close to time to fire up the reloader...



------------------
.45 Super... Fat and FAST...

"No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority" - Thomas Jefferson
 
It's also cheaper to buy a thousand rounds or more at once, if you're not a reloader. I generally order another thousand rounds of the calibers I shoot when I am down to three or four hundred rounds.
 
I try for at *least* a case (1,000 per rifle and of that no less than 300 in magazines or clips) and at least a half-case per handgun (and at least 50 rounds in magazines). Don't forget webbing to carry at least one sidearm and one rifle, cleaning tools.
 
I subjective question. It depends alot on how much shooting you do. I reload, but I'm not one of those folks who really enjoys it. I do it because I like to shoot and ammo is expensive. I also like to know that I have the best possible load for any given firearm. Even though load development drives me crazy.
Like the others here, when I do sit down to the bench, I tend to make large lots of ammo. Generally 500 for rifles and 1000 for handguns. That way its over and done with for a while.
You need to figure out what your needs are and stock ammo accordingly.

I will offer you and old saying that I've taken to heart:

"The Three Great Excesses in Life:
There's no such thing as too much love, too much money or too much ammo." :D

------------------
Politically, Fashionably and Aerodynamically Incorrect!
 
I try to have 50 rounds on hand for each of my handguns - even the ones that I rarely shoot. For the guns that I shoot regularly, maybe 100-500 rounds loaded, with components for that many more on hand.
 
This may not, at first, sound related to the thread but hear me out. We all are aware of our dwindling gun owning rights and most of us believe that the gubmint wants to do away with private ownership of all guns eventually anyway. Having said that, I believe that one way they may try to achieve that goal is to go after ammunition rather than (Or in addition to)the guns themselves. There is already a small tax on all sporting goods you purchase, including ammo. I envison the possibility of raising that tax or adding a new tax, a tax so exhorenant that a box of ammo could have a $50 (or more) tax on it. Anohter possibility is electronic serial numbers on individual bullets, which would be inhierently exspensive in and of itself.

Those are just a couple of ideas that illustrate why I think ammo / components may be difficult, exspensive, or impossible to aquire.

With this being said, I can never have too much ammo, primers, bullets, brass, etc. I also think it is important to be able cast your own bullets for every caliber you own.

I am constantly adding to my supply of all the above,including wheel weights.

So without directly answering your question, did I answer your question?
 
I once read in a gun rag (I forget which one) that in general, 10,000rds for each of firearms is good to keep on hand. Since I have several guns, and no million-dollar trust account, I don't have anywhere near that. Right now, I'm going for between 1,000 and 1,200 per. I've been trying to live by the rule, "replace one with two", so for every box I shoot, I buy two to replace it. When possible, I buy by the case to save $$$. So far it's been working, and it seems to be a way to store a little extra up without a really noticable strain on the ol' pocket book. If I continue this, I should be at the 10K per firearm mark in a couple more years (assuming they haven't banned ammo by then). My advice would be to find a load you like, then shop around for the best price, then buy as much as you can afford to. I realize this is off topis, but it kinda fits in; don't forget to buy those extra mags, spare parts, and any accy.s you need as well. An empty and/or broken gun makes a really poor hammer.
-John
 
I made a decsion to limit the number of calibers I have in my collection to keep life simple, focusing on ubiquitous and available stuff like 9mm, .45, .380, ..357/.38, and .32. I try to keep at least 1,000 FMJ of each on hand (plus several hundred JHP's), and being cheap/frugal, I like to buy in case lots whenever there's a good deal. I have nothing against .40 S&W, 10mm, or .357 SIG, but they are relatively expensive, and you can't find them everywhere (though .40 is pretty available). If things look like it's getting too queer, I'll start stocking up, but for now, I just like to keep enough to be able to practice regularly, economically. M2
 
That is classified information. Loose lips sink ships.

...7th :)

------------------
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE, KEEP THEM INDEPENDENT.
 
I only keep a couple baoxes on hand at a time of factory ammo and I reload also ,so i have the xcapicity to have several thousand or more of any caliber i choose ,i just choose to not to load them up till i am ready to go to the range myself !
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Oleg Volk:
I try for at *least* a case (1,000 per rifle and of that no less than 300 in magazines or clips) and at least a half-case per handgun (and at least 50 rounds in magazines). Don't forget webbing to carry at least one sidearm and one rifle, cleaning tools.[/quote]
I totally agree. :)



------------------
"what gives a government that arms the whole world the right to disarm it's own citizens?"
 
I dont think ammo or compents will get cheaper and they don't spoil. I spend a little time each day reloading. I sit and listen to some talk radio and before I know it that Dillion 550B has knocked out another 500 or so. I box it and STACK it.
I buy in bulk to cut costs and scrounge like a good shooter should. I also seal primers now and bullets with sealer and use a vacuum sealer to vacuum seal each box. It should last almost forever.
I get free wood ammo crates from various dealers or use sealed metal ammo cans.
I shoot the 9mm, .45 acp, .38 special, m1-carbine, and .357 Magnum. I have dies for the .44 Magnum
When I stumble on a bargain I BUY. I buy 231 power since it works for most calibers. I don't worry about a little soot etc. I pay $80 per 8 lb jug. Not bad.
Shipping costs and availability are sure to be a problem and high fuel costs are impacting costs.
So BUY IT NOW. I am also buying if the price is right on items I don't use. I can always trade.
No such thing as "to much."
 
As long as the budget is good, I keep buying 2 boxes (50 rds/bx) every time I go down town. I am fooled by the different kinds of ammo offered in the gunstore so, I purchased usually 4 kinds.

Almost USA and European made bullets are just kept aside. I only fired my locally made ammo.
 
10,000 per GUN (not caliber) sounds right.

I make ammo, so I have no idea what I've got LOL!

(usually have 10,000 floating around in my car!)

------------------
"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
On hand right now I have between 1K and 5k for each caliber I own.

I also try to keep enough reloading components on hand to build at least 2k to 5k rounds, before I reorder.

My only limit is safe storage space...

Joe


------------------
Go NRA
 
OK. I get the picture. Can any gov't entity put a limit on what is "safe" and how it is stored? I read recently that some guy had a 100 thousand rounds and was busted on a an unrelated charge.The media crucified him on the ammo and only mentioned his rape charge secondarily. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top