How much and what kind of ammo to stock up

[Elcid]

I've heard several numbers floating around of how many rounds of ammo per caliber of pistol/rifle you should have as part of your preps but the question I have is if there is a recommended ratio of "quality" ammo versus "target" ammo. When I have some extra money and go to the store I always struggle with the question do I buy fewer higher quality rounds or is it a numbers game and I should just stock up on what's cheaper. What do you think? *

[Paraclete comes]

I think you should find the right balance for you that is quality and priced right. I love to shoot MK262 MOD0/1 but cant afford to keep tens of thousands around. I also like the green tip but again to spendy for stockpiles. What we have chosen to do is buy cheap and stack it deep. We use internet places like ammunitionstore.com and have enjoyed it. I like the WPA (wolfs higher end stuff) that non corrosive powder and primer. The case is mixed metal some sort of steel or aluminum. Alot of guys turn there nose up anything other than brass cased, but unless your reloading who cares. I can buy 500 rounds for $94.00 which allows me to stockpile and shoot alot! I have also noticed the zero from green tips is almost dead on with the WPA stuff. So for us its a win win deal.

As for the number I cant say exactly what we have and nor would I but into the tens of thousands seems very realistic. Having the ability and know how to cast new bullets, reload and have a stash of powder and the likes around is also a good idea.

But when budgets are tight, the cheap stuff still works. Everything I have ever done comes down to shot placement so the cheap stuff still works for me. I have also noticed the MK262 MOD 0 I get at work shoots real dirty, matter of fact the WPA is much cleaner shooting. Its no 77grain but what the heck.

[Kfgk14]

M193, two weeks ago got another thousand rounds in. It isn't too accurate, but it works.

[bcarroll]

I think you should find the right balance for you that is quality and priced right. I love to shoot MK262 MOD0/1 but cant afford to keep tens of thousands around. I also like the green tip but again to spendy for stockpiles. What we have chosen to do is buy cheap and stack it deep. We use internet places like ammunitionstore.com and have enjoyed it. I like the WPA (wolfs higher end stuff) that non corrosive powder and primer. The case is mixed metal some sort of steel or aluminum. Alot of guys turn there nose up anything other than brass cased, but unless your reloading who cares. I can buy 500 rounds for $94.00 which allows me to stockpile and shoot alot! I have also noticed the zero from green tips is almost dead on with the WPA stuff. So for us its a win win deal.

As for the number I cant say exactly what we have and nor would I but into the tens of thousands seems very realistic. Having the ability and know how to cast new bullets, reload and have a stash of powder and the likes around is also a good idea.

But when budgets are tight, the cheap stuff still works. Everything I have ever done comes down to shot placement so the cheap stuff still works for me. I have also noticed the MK262 MOD 0 I get at work shoots real dirty, matter of fact the WPA is much cleaner shooting. Its no 77grain but what the heck.

Well?? I have to agree with the above qoute. With to day's issues. Get what you can get and alot of it. There is no such thing as a majik bullet. The hole idea of this issue is to put a metal pill in them. keep it simple! dont over think the issues.

[BudMan5]

I buy another brick of .22lr every time the wife drags me to WalMart.

I have been buying up M855 every time I see a battle can of 420 rounds for sale for under $150.00.

I use both GunBroker and ammoengine.com which searches all the major online retailers for the best prices to buy ammo also.

I am actually beginning to worry that something might actually happen, particularly an economic collapse.

Scary times

[PA PATRIOT]

I keep 500 rounds of good defensive ammunition for each primary fighting gun with enough magazines to load same. Hell if I get past just one or two magazines in a fight most likely I'M in deep do-do and should be trying to disengage and evade.

[Just a Jarhead]

I'm assuming your stocking & referencing for a shtf scenario since you're posting in this area. I would recommend that the bare minimums are 2000 per rifle, 500 per pistol & shotgun. I would do everything I could to get to that bare minimum level asap.

5x's those amounts I would consider optimal and I wouldn't stop til I reached that. I only buy mil spec or better ammo personally. Just a personal choice.

[Moose-Knuckle]

No such thing as too much ammo, provided you have the space.

I buy by the case when I can but also when money is tight I just buy one box at a time (it adds up quickly).

Any ammo is better than no ammo. After I reached goals of FMJ I turned my attention to ballistic tipped. For bulk purchases I strictly shop online. When I find something local that is hard to come by I snatch it up.

As for caliber, if you have various long guns and handguns decide on which will be your primary and focus on stocking up on those calibers first. A lot of guys get focused on getting as many guns as they can and do not consolidate calibers.

[JohnnyC]

One of the SME's or Mods here brought up the very good point that 500 rounds of whatever you have is better than 0 rounds of the newest super sexy Mk262/TBBC/GDHP whatever. It rings very true and for several years have been trying to do exactly that.

I keep a small stockpile (1000 rounds or so at any given time) of good defense ammo and supplement the rest with cheaper stuff like PMC Bronze or X-tac. My guns are doped for the Mk318 SOST as I figure a good barrier blind round will probably be the most necessary for any ridiculously improbable situation that may arise. This would be the go-to ammo loaded in mags in the gun. The cheaper stuff is for training and heaven forbid the SOST stuff is ever used up in a real life situation, at least I'll have something that will poke holes at a bare minimum. Of course if I've expended 1000 rounds of SOST I'm probably in a bad way and not nearly far enough away from the impending urban downfall of extreme suckiness.

FWIW SOST was the choice because it's readily available in the Federal T556TNB1 loading, even if its performance isn't as good as the TBBC or Speer GD stuff. But again, any ammo you have is better than the ammo you don't because you can't afford trying to buy defense ammo.

[PA PATRIOT]

I used to subscribe to the stack it deep mentally of what ever bargain ammunition happen to be on sale at the moment, and this is great if your playing the market to protect against future shortage, price increases or state/federal bans.

But what good is it to have more fighting ammunition then you can travel with? Ammunition is heavy and if your forced to bug out all you did was supply the hostiles with all those stack-em deep cases.

Now if your breaking down and spreading out your stored ammunition supplies in multiple locations then I can see several hundred rounds in each possible bug out or resupply location.

I personally keep ten loaded 30rd magazines of the good stuff for each primary his and her AR's backed up with a addition ten loaded 30rders in the go packs.

It seems many are under the delusion that they can defend the homestead in fire fights that last for hundreds of rounds fired over multiple engagements. Now I'M not saying its not possible but any hostile force who has the least bit of military training will burn you out quick. Heavy stores of food and water are good things but more then a case or two of good defensive ammunition unless you train with what you carry in one location is most times left behind when things get bad.