Minimum amount of ammo?

[payj]

Now that my AR is done I want to invest in good self defense ammo. I know that more ammo the better, but I can't afford to buy thousands and thousands of rounds.

So my question is, what MINIMUM amount of ammo would you want to have stock piled up? I guess an amount that would make you feel good, maybe not great if things went to hell.

THX

[J Krammes]

For me, that was 2000 rounds. Over the years I have since colected much much more than that. But I was buying Wolf for $55/500rounds for blasting fun... You can fit 1000 rounds in a 50 cal ammo can for a grab and go box. Don't forget about parts and mags.

Jk

[JimmyB62]

Assuming I knew my rifle would run OK with it I'd be just fine with a couple hundred rounds. 1000 would certainly be nice. I'm almost embarrassed to admit what I have squirreled away.

[devildogljb]

me the minimum amount is 1000 but thats just my opinion

[M&P15OR]

I probably should have more but I like to keep 1,000 rounds for my Ar and my Ak and my old .22 semi auto, 500 rounds for my Saiga -12ga shotgun, and 500 rounds for my each of my .357 Colt troopers. With the cost of .223 coming down I should get some more. But I tend to try to keep at least 3 months of food for the entire family and we keep using it and replacing it with fresh forthe perishibles. Also keep alot of water on hand as well as medical supplies since you're talking about if the SHTF scenario.

[matt86]

I cant ever save any. I always shoot it. :(

[C4IGrant]

Couple ways to look at this.

1. Ammo for generally blasting/Training.
2. Ammo for property/home defense.
3. Ammo for the purpose of bartering (Govt Collapse, US Dollar is worthless).

For me, I like to have 1-3k for training on hand at all times (as I never know when I may jump into a car and go to a carbine class). For a pure defensive load, I like to have at least 1K of that (SPEER 24448 is my current choice).

Bartering. That's a a tricky one. Generally you want ammo that people have heard of, that is reliable and will work in any number of twist rates and chambers. So for me, that would be stuff like 55gr-62gr FMJ or either of the TAP Practice Ammo. I would attempt to head towards 5-10K in this ammo (as you can always shoot it or sell it if you need the money).


C4

[Hmac]

I keep 2000-3000 rounds of rifle ammo around the house in case a training opportunity presents itself on short notice. Same for 9mm and .40 cal. I keep about a hundred rounds of self-defense ammo for each as well, but training is all I need to stock for in quantity around here.

[Elessar]

If you are one of a few sole survivors hiding from hordes of bandits that scour the countryside in a post-apocolyptic wasteland, then several thousand rounds with mags might be a good thing to have handy.

If you mean a normal, law abiding citizen legit self defense scenario, then one 20 round mag is more than enough, with a backup in case of malfunction. Even in Rodney King / Katrina no one even needed this much. I know those Koreans fired off a bunch of pistols, but I wouldn't call those shootings 100% legit self defense, at least from what I've seen. ;)

[DirectAction]

I try to keep approximately 2,000 rds for AK and AR......at least 1,000 for each pistol caliber I own.

:big_boss:

[arizonaranchman]

For me never under 1k would be my minimum. Anything above that use for training, plinking, defense, etc.

I always keep in mind there will come a day when the Commie/Libs will launch an all-out assault on these guns and the ammo for them, if not all guns/ammo in general. So have what you need and stockpile it while the sun is shining and all is well. There may come a day when you just can't get the stuff, at least not without paying dearly for it.

[bradb55]

It was a 1k for me, but with going to the range everyweek for the last six months I have depleted most of that. I haven't been able to buy in bulk because of my travel schedule. I'm forced to buy at the range I'm shooting at for that week. I don't want it sitting on the porch and plus my wife bitches about carrying it in.

I really need to do another big purchase! Single boxes cost to much:mad:

[Sensei]

5.56mm: 1000 rounds of mix M855/M193 for training and 500 rounds of TAP T2 for SHTF

.308: 200 rounds of Federal American Eagle for training, 200 round of 175 grain FGMM and 200 rounds of 168 grain TAP/AMAX for SHTF

9mm: 1000 rounds mix of 147/124+P Gold Dot for SHTF

45ACP: 500 rounds of 230 grain Gold Dot

These are just bare minimums. I'm thinking of switching away from TAP T2 to the SSA 77 grain OTM due to increasing scarcity of the TAP.

[m4fun]

Grant is prety spot on for a TEOTWAWKI.

Personnaly I reload quite a bit but am very "green" in that this is modeled for recycle/reloading over and over again. That is practice and in a place where brass is very reclaimable. Typically a few K at a time before reloads.

Training for me is lowered powered russian type ammo. Your old Wolf/Brown Bear. A couple K as well in the event you have a couple training events in close proximity.

Head for the Hills...Factory Ammo - about 3K ready to go in ammo cans. Can grab at least a can on the way out the door or have just in case...This ammo is fresh and sealed. Have fired it years ago but has been "stored" as is defined as reliable, etc.

[mike_556]

For me? Two 840rd ammo cans loaded on strippers in bandos is the minimum--which is where I'm at until I load some more today and place a bullet component order:(

Forgot I also have 12 mags loaded with 28 rounds each too:D

[SGT D USMC]

I could never have enough, However for strictly defense as a civilian, most likely by yourself, If you servived a fire fight that lasted long enough for you to expended 20 well aimed rounds you would be lucky.
However to feel good save up at least 2,000 for about 3 different cal.

[Bolt_Overide]

As much as you can reasonably:

1) Afford
2) Store safely
3) see one and two.

[Dionysusigma]

My personal minimum would be what it takes to fill every single magazine a person owns. For me, that's about 300 rounds.

[Watrdawg]

I think I have settled on a 1000 rounds of SHTF ammo and the same amount of training ammo at any given time. So far I've been stocking up on Speer 64gr GDLE from Grant. I have 600 rds so far. I also have 200 rds of 75gr Tap. I'm going to shoot that stuff up though. I also have 20 mags. I will probably get a few more. 2-3 here and there doesn't hurt the wallet much at all.

[J Krammes]

My personal minimum would be what it takes to fill every single magazine a person owns. For me, that's about 300 rounds.

That would still be more than 2000 rounds for me...

Jk

[SGT D USMC]

Never too much ammo unless:

1. you are drowning

2. you are on fire

[m1a_scoutguy]

I would say that a Minimum of 1K per rifle or firearm that you own and use on a regular basis !! And that 1K is Stash ammo,,for who knows when and such,,buy,,store it,,keep it High & Dry !! You will need shootin/blastin/training ammo also,,so that depends on your budget and needs,,but more is always better & I agree with Grant,,ya need ammo for all the reasons he stated ! :) There are 10 Rules Of Ammo,,but I can never remember all 10,,I can only remember the most important one & that is Rule #3,,and it says,,,When In Doubt,Buy More Ammo !!! Simple enough !! :D

[jumbopanda]

I try to have at least 500, but usually I've got more than that.

[The_War_Wagon]

Never too much ammo unless:

1. you are drowning

2. you are on fire

:p

I know I'm sitting on 12k of .223 (yes, I do actually shoot it, too!), and I lost count after I accumulated 8k of .308. I am building a dedicated .22LR AR though for training purposes, to hang onto the good stuff longer. That, and I have 18k of .22LR to blow through it once completed! :D

[GermanSynergy]

Training ammo:

3,000 rds of 9mm ball

3,200 rds of 5.56 ball

Assorted 7.62x39, 5.45x39mm, 8mm Mauser, 8x56R, 7.62x54R.

Defence ammo:

400 rds of BHA 69 grain JHP

1,000 rds of BHA MK 262 Mod 1

300 rds of MK 318 Mod 0

650 rds of Speer GDHP 124 +P

[jwfuhrman]

I found you can fit just under 1500rds in a 50cal ammo can. Something like 1300 or so.

That ammo is XM193. Had originally bought it for a MagPul Carbine 1 class that ended up being canceled here last June. It is now my "SHTF" stash.

I also do my own reloading. I have enough components to load 800rds 75gr Hornady BTHP Match, and 1000rds of 68gr Hornady BTHP Match.

For handgun ammo, all I own are 40cal handguns, so I have 500rds of Winchester 180gr Ranger, 500rds of Winchester 155gr Ranger, 500rds of Federal 180gr Hydrashock, plus since I shoot USPSA enough components to load 5000rds of 180gr FMJ.

Shotgun I dont have much in the way of Buckshot, but I keep alot of Remington Managed Recoil Sluggers and anywhere from 100-200rds of 7 1/2 Birdshot(for 3gun).

22 long rifle I have lots of the 555 packs from Walmart since Ive been using my 22lr kit for my AR's alot for playin around.

308 I have alot of surplus M852, but I only have 3 308's(M1A, Rem700 and a Chilean Mauser Carbine in 308)

[Makintrax73]

I could never have enough, However for strictly defense as a civilian, most likely by yourself, If you servived a fire fight that lasted long enough for you to expended 20 well aimed rounds you would be lucky.
However to feel good save up at least 2,000 for about 3 different cal.

There is nothing wrong with stocking up, but this answer is a nice dose of reality.

If TEOTWAWKI ever comes I would rather have 2 mags of ammo and cupboard full of food than to have that reversed.

Societal unrest? I wonder what the highest round count for law abiding civilian in Katrina or the LA riots? If the number is higher than 100 I would be astounded.

[J Krammes]

I wonder what the highest round count for law abiding civilian in Katrina or the LA riots? If the number is higher than 100 I would be astounded.

There is a guy who wrote a blog about Katrina, called Listening to Katrina. Excellent read. He stated that he expended 507 rounds of ammo during the whole event (he did not evacuate). 500 went to the local police because they had almost none and the other 7 were used to dispatch vermin (dogs and coons).

Jk

[Makintrax73]

There is a guy who wrote a blog about Katrina, called Listening to Katrina. Excellent read. He stated that he expended 507 rounds of ammo during the whole event (he did not evacuate). 500 went to the local police because they had almost none and the other 7 were used to dispatch vermin (dogs and coons).Jk

:laugh: OK you got me, but giving it away to the police because they didn't stock up enough is not exactly the "round count" I was thinkin' of!

[J Krammes]

:laugh: OK you got me, but giving it away to the police because they didn't stock up enough is not exactly the "round count" I was thinkin' of!

I know. That is how he put it. He was just trying to make the point that during the worst natural disaster our country went through, the only rounds fired were at animals. Food and first aid supplies were much higher on the "need" level. He did say that just the presence of a gun did deter more than one person and groups of people from bothering his small community. Well worth reading.

Jk

[Beat Trash]

Interesting thread so far.

Life is about balance. Ammo is important to stock, but so is food, water, meds, ect.

If stocking ammo for social unrest after a natural or manmade disaster, I like to have 1,000 rds of rifle and 500 rds of handgun ammunition per shooter on hand.

But at a bare minimum, I tell people who ask my opinion that I like being able to reload all of the rifle and pistol magazines 3 times.

Now if you're talking about stocking up on ammunition because you fear the prices will increase, or possible new laws restricting sales are forth coming, then buy a fork lift and have at it!

[M193 BALL]

1000rds per weapon for stashed ammo

[J-Dub]

What is a combat load out? 1 mag in the gun, 6 in the carrier?

If so i would think that amount (210rds) would be the minimum for defensive round (wow reality check..i need to buy ammo)

For training/plinking....however much you need. Arent most classes bare minimum 500rds?

[m1a_scoutguy]

Hmmmm,,sounds like a fair number !!! My Son-In Law use to carry 1 in the gun & 10 or 12 with him !!! But then he had real Bad guys shootin back at him !;) I guess there is a fine line between Ammo/weight,etc,,but there is no such thing as to much ammo !!! :D

[jasonhgross]

I am happy I only own two calibers.

[Dionysusigma]

I am happy I only own two calibers.

This, not including .22lr.

[royal_fox]

I have 250 gold, 1100+ of 855, and 500 of 193. 250 of 9mm and 40 cal. 50 rds deer slug and 25 rds double ought.

[Abraxas]

Couple ways to look at this.

1. Ammo for generally blasting/Training.
2. Ammo for property/home defense.
3. Ammo for the purpose of bartering (Govt Collapse, US Dollar is worthless).

For me, I like to have 1-3k for training on hand at all times (as I never know when I may jump into a car and go to a carbine class). For a pure defensive load, I like to have at least 1K of that (SPEER 24448 is my current choice).

Bartering. That's a a tricky one. Generally you want ammo that people have heard of, that is reliable and will work in any number of twist rates and chambers. So for me, that would be stuff like 55gr-62gr FMJ or either of the TAP Practice Ammo. I would attempt to head towards 5-10K in this ammo (as you can always shoot it or sell it if you need the money).


C4I could not find this on your site, do you not carry it, or am I missing something? As for the OP, I think that 1000 should be a minimum. But more is better

[Ironnewt]

I am happy I only own two calibers.

I own quite a few but some are not in the 'mix' as it were. Some rifles will be 'Stashed' with their ammunition in various places. Some will be used for 'Barter' bait. I would think as much as ammunition, the spare parts to keep a firearm in good working order are just as important. Keeps you from having a 'tricked out' club.