What do you consider enough ammo per gun?

Let's be serious here, If you don't have a hundred rounds, PER GUN, not per caliber, then go to the store RIGHT NOW. As quick as you can go to 200 rnds per gun. After that 500 rnds, this is your reserve, it has nothing to do with how much you shoot and it should all be full power service loads. I keep a .50 cal ammo can filled with .38s and about 2000 357s 'cause I have 4 357 and a couple of 38 special revolvers. I also keep a .30 cal can full of 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO for my millitary guns. I don't know how many 5.56 or .308 rounds it takes to fill a .30 cal can but it sure looks impressive.
 
It's a silly question. "Enough to do WHAT". Enough because they stopped manufacturing ammo and you want enough to continue plinking every weekend until you do 40 years from now??? Enough in case a bad guy(s) break into your house and you have to protect your house and family????

The truth is, if you're talking for self defense, then the answer is 1 box of quality SD/HD ammunition. On top of that, should be however much ammo you are going to practice with. Assuming for a second that there is no ammunition shortage; people's conspiracy theories about the government restricting ammunition don't exist; and any other factor that could lead to hording. In a normal situation, all you need is 1 box of good self defense ammo for each gun you plan on using for self defense. Then, buy what you need to practice with as you use it. Preferably you won't be foolish enough to be practicing hundreds of rounds of expensive SD/HD ammunition.

As for plinking, have enough for each gun so that you can go plinking at a moment's notice without having to go buy some. Then replenish the amount after you are done plinking. So, if you normally plink with a box each of 45acp, 357mag, and 9mm; then have a box of each on hand so you can go when you want to. If you go plinking on a regular basis; e.g. every weekend; then you could have enough plinking ammo on hand for 2-3 trips. Then restock as convenient.

Now; for the $1,000,000 question. If you're talking about "Enough Ammo per gun" in case of conspiracy issues where uncle SAM is going to take away the ammo or make it difficult to buy and thus their way of getting around the 2nd amendment. "Can't get rid of guns, tax the hell out of ammo or make it impossible to buy". Well in that case, there is only a few possibilities.

1) If you want to still be able to go plinking, at the same level you are now, then you need to add up what your using in a month and multiply that out for the next however many years you plan on being alive.
2) If ammunition is going to somehow become illegal, monitored, serial numbered, etc... then plinking will pretty much become a thing of the past. Because as you're seen or notice plinking, "THEY" will be coming after your stash because it's not "Legal" stash. Obviously, this is a little unlikely. They would simply make all "NEW" ammo registered and such. They'll let existing ammo go out through attrition. However, just like anything else, prohibition doesn't work. There would be a black market.
3) The only other scenario would be if ammunition was controlled in such a way that you no longer could go plinking. In that case, you're only stocking for SD/HD use. However; the first time you need to use it for SD/HD use, the authorities will know, and you'll lose your stash.

So, there is no answer that is valid. The best case scenario is that ammo will still be legal, just that the government will want to make it difficult and too expensive for the average person to have. Which isn't logical, because all that would do is stop PLINKING. Plinking isn't where people get shot. So everyone would still have a couple of boxes for SD/HD. But for those wanting to have enough to continue plinking in a manner that they are use to, then the answer is simply to figure out how much you plink now, and store up enough for the next 40 years or so. If it's for SD/HD only, then you don't need but a couple of boxes. "No, this isn't a Hollywood movie where you're going to need to shoot up hundreds of people". And if that scenario did exist, then a gun is just one of many tools you better have. Those include other self defense methods, survival skills that don't include a gun, and other skills. Guns are JUST A TOOL. They aren't the answer to your survival. YOU are the answer to your survival. Try fixing a car with JUST 1 SCREWDRIVER!!!!!!! Well, believing that a gun is all you need for survival is the same thing. You CAN'T survive if you think you only need a gun and enough ammo.
 
ammo

I keep enough ammo to have at least three loaded magazines, or three cylinders for my revolver. That means enough 9mm to load 3 Glock 19 and 3 BHP magazines, plus a cylinder full and two speedloaders for my J frame. I always carry a reload along with my loaded weapon.
 
I ran into a good deal on surplus 50 cal ammo cans some years ago and bought 32. I have 30 filled with 380, 9MM and 40 cal. I store my shotgun ammo in the cases they came in. I have a spare bedroom walkin closet used just for gun safe and ammo. I now only buy ammo to replace what I fire on the range which is from 500 to 1000 rounds per month.
 
Ammo per gun I own? With all the crap going on I've started buying ammo for guns I haven't even bought yet. I was at the local sporting goods store and bought a bunch of .223 (hope to buy a black rifle when the prices come down) and some 12 gauge 00 (hoping I can find a used HD shotgun for cheap)

For the handguns, I buy when I find a deal, or when I find something that the local shops don't usually stock (like 9 x 18 mak around here). Pretty well stocked on 9mm and .40 S&W, but finding it hard to get enough .45acp to shoot it on a regular basis.

Oh...and I have been buying .38 special every time I find some at a decent price (another caliber I don't own yet...but I'm sure I will some day)
 
Depends on the gun. For example I keep more ammo around semi autos than bolt actions. 2000+ rounds of 45ACP, 300+ rounds of 308, etc...
 
I have begun to rethink the amount of ammunition to have on hand based on these scenarios.

1) If the ammunition is for some sort of societal collapse and I plan to protect in place on my property then it makes sense to have several thousand rounds of ammunition on hand for self defense and hunting.

2) If the ammunition is for some sort of societal collapse and I plan to bug out to a remote location then it makes sense to have no more ammunition than I can either carry on my person, or have room to transport in my vehicle.

3) If the ammunition is for simple self defense then I need no more than a box or 2 always on hand of whatever caliber is my choice for that so I can keep my gun loaded and practice enough to become proficient.

4) If the ammunition is for plinking, hunting or target shooting then I need enough on hand to satisfy the normal usage for those activities.

I simply don't believe that everyone needs to have 10's of thousands of round on hand. Usage should be your guide.
 
1) If the ammunition is for some sort of societal collapse and I plan to protect in place on my property then it makes sense to have several thousand rounds of ammunition on hand for self defense and hunting.
Click to expand...

Once you start picking off your neighbors and others who approach someone is going to notice. I doubt any of us could survive a situation like that long enough to shoot even a thousand rounds. Once the authorities, whoever they may be at the time, bring in the big guns you'd surrender or be toast. Think Waco.
 
Excellent point Sport45. Most people don't understand reality. You will not be in a position where you will be able to use 1000's of rounds of ammunition. It's just not going to happen. Unfortunately, too many people live in the world of Hollywood. They think they are Bruce Willis or Mel Gibson in a Die Hard/Lethal Weapon movie. Worse yet, there's probably those who actually believe "Dawn of the Dead" is a viable possibility. With the exception of plinking ammo; if you are normally into plinking; no person would ever need more than a couple of boxes of self defense ammo for their gun of choice. Throw in a brick of shotgun shells (100; they're only $20). That's about all anyone would ever need for home/self defense. If you were in a survival situation where you needed to kill animals for food, you'd be in much better shape having a good 22LR rifle with subsonic rounds. If people are hungry and you shoot your 7mm magnum, others will find you so they can find the food you just shot. A 22LR with subsonics can quietly take out rabbits, coyotes, cows, deer, and many other sources of food. And others don't even have to know you shot the gun. A subsonic 22LR can even be used effectively inside your town if needed.

Anyway; as long as people think that real life is like it is in a Hollywood movie, they will keep 1000's of rounds of ammunition. But the reality is; if society is degressing to the point of self preservation, some form of martial law or similar will be in place. As such; you'd never be in a position to shoot 100 rounds let alone thousands. And for survival purposes, a 22LR is the best round available. Although, I would probably consider some additional ammo for survival for the purpose of trading material.
 
Once you start picking off your neighbors and others who approach someone is going to notice. I doubt any of us could survive a situation like that long enough to shoot even a thousand rounds. Once the authorities, whoever they may be at the time, bring in the big guns you'd surrender or be toast. Think Waco.
Click to expand...

Go back and reread what I said. I never said I was going to randomly shoot 100 people on my front lawn, or even one fore that matter. I can guarantee you this though, I will protect my loved ones in a situation like that to what ever degree it takes.

On the other hand I have no intentions of taking on the police or military and never said nor implied that. Try posting to what I said and not some post apocalyptic movie scenrio.
 
Excellent point Sport45. Most people don't understand reality. You will not be in a position where you will be able to use 1000's of rounds of ammunition. It's just not going to happen. Unfortunately, too many people live in the world of Hollywood. They think they are Bruce Willis or Mel Gibson in a Die Hard/Lethal Weapon movie. Worse yet, there's probably those who actually believe "Dawn of the Dead" is a viable possibility. With the exception of plinking ammo; if you are normally into plinking; no person would ever need more than a couple of boxes of self defense ammo for their gun of choice. Throw in a brick of shotgun shells (100; they're only $20). That's about all anyone would ever need for home/self defense. If you were in a survival situation where you needed to kill animals for food, you'd be in much better shape having a good 22LR rifle with subsonic rounds. If people are hungry and you shoot your 7mm magnum, others will find you so they can find the food you just shot. A 22LR with subsonics can quietly take out rabbits, coyotes, cows, deer, and many other sources of food. And others don't even have to know you shot the gun. A subsonic 22LR can even be used effectively inside your town if needed.

Anyway; as long as people think that real life is like it is in a Hollywood movie, they will keep 1000's of rounds of ammunition. But the reality is; if society is degressing to the point of self preservation, some form of martial law or similar will be in place. As such; you'd never be in a position to shoot 100 rounds let alone thousands. And for survival purposes, a 22LR is the best round available. Although, I would probably consider some additional ammo for survival for the purpose of trading material.
Click to expand...

First of all read my response to Sport45's post.

I don't live in the world of Hollywood anymore than you live inside my head. I believe that I realistically prepared for rough times ahead with food and water and ammuntion on hand. I am not some survivalist lunatic that believes I will be able to do whatever I want if society collpases. I plan to keep a damn low profile, protect my loved ones, and what is mine. If no confrontation ever occurs with bad guys or others it would have been a perfect set-up for me.

I own .22 rifles and psitols amongst the other guns I own. I am completely capable of taking game for my family to eat if necessary. I will tell you right now the surest way to get your ass shot around here is to shoot some farmer's cow and try to haul it away. You may think that would be easy eating...not me.

I would suggest again that you reread what I wrote and not what you wanted it to say.
 
For shotguns, 50 rounds minimum of HD ammo. For handguns, particularly semi-automatics, 100 rounds minimum of HD ammo. Anything else beyond that is gravy. Now, if I experience/anticipate a shortage (similar to current times), I may double the previously mentioned amounts.

Practice ammo will usually be bought on an "as needed" basis.

I tend not to think in terms of "zombie" raids or "government" infiltration. Rather, I tend to think that the more you have, the more someone else can steal. Therefore, I try to keep things within a practical limit.
 
Last edited:
For shotguns, 50 rounds minimum of HD ammo. For handguns, particularly semi-automatics, 100 rounds minimum of HD ammo. Anything else beyond that is gravy.
Click to expand...

Mmmmmm, gravy. I like gravy!!:D
 
I like gravy!!
Click to expand...

Heh. Gravy is good, is it not? I to love, love, love gravy! Unfortunately, I have found it quite expensive to keep multiple calibers well equipped in terms of ammo. Hence, I have decided to focus on just two for now. Even then, between practice and HD ammo, its still expensive and/or frustrating trying to keep these guns "fed." After all, there are bills to pay, a wife to feed and vices to assuage. :)
 
I go with 1000 45acp my main gun's 500 9mm 1000 223 for the AR. 5000 22lr 250 22mag 250 shotgun. Then i try to keep supplies to reload 5000 45acp and 5000 9mm.I should set up for the 223. When primers come back!
 
I have tried to keep the number of calibers down. 7.62x39, .45 acp, 9mm, .38, 12 gauge, and .22 lr. I am pretty well stocked except for .22lr and .38. Not all that pressed to buy .38 wish i could find bricks of .22lr again. Nobody seems to have them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top