Bare minimum ammo storage?

Site Notices

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Bare minimum ammo storage? (Page 1 of 4)

Posted: 1/6/2014 6:45:36 AM EDT

What would you consider to be your bare minimum amount of ammo? Basically, "I wouldn't be caught dead without ______ rds of each caliber!" I'm currently about where I want to be for some calibers, but far from there for a few calibers

Currently, I have:
1,800 rds 9mm
500 rds 12Ga, mixed between 50 slugs, 150 00Buck, and 300 Birdshot
1000 rds 22LR
900 rds 5.56
160 rds .308
20 rds 7.62x54

It's a start, but I know I'm a ways off, but what id your bare minimum ammo storage?

Posted: 1/5/2014 1:04:12 PM EDT

[#1]

it can only be 87

Posted: 1/5/2014 1:36:51 PM EDT

[#2]

When you run out of storage space.

Posted: 1/5/2014 1:40:28 PM EDT

[#3]

100 round per firearm. That is my minimum.

I prefer 1000 per firearm.

I try to stock 2500 per gun.

Posted: 1/5/2014 1:56:14 PM EDT

[#4]

My rule of thumb is one full ammo can per each caliber and type of ammo, with the exception being NATO calibers (9mm, 5.56 and 308) and 22LR for which I like to have much more than that

Posted: 1/5/2014 2:00:40 PM EDT

[#5]

I like that rule.

When you guys store in ammo cans, do you store loose or in boxes?

Posted: 1/5/2014 2:00:44 PM EDT

[#6]

As was already stated that is very subjective. I shoot on a regular basis and in these times I would probably want 10K of most caliber I shoot.

I suppose as an absolute minimum, not shooting on a regular basis, a few hundred for each caliber would do.

Posted: 1/5/2014 4:19:43 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
What would you consider to be your bare minimum amount of ammo? Basically, "I wouldn't be caught dead without ______ rds of each caliber!" I'm currently about where I want to be for some calibers, but far from there for a few calibers

Currently, I have:
1,800 rds 9mm (this looks real good)
500 rds 12Ga, mixed between 50 slugs, 150 00Buck, and 300 Birdshot (this looks real good)
1000 rds 22LR (if it were me, I'd feel a lot better with 2500 rds on hand)
900 rds 5.56 (this looks like a place to bump up a little bit)
160 rds .308 (if it were me, I'd feel a lot better with 500 rds on hand)
20 rds 7.62x54 (if it were me, I'd feel a lot better with 500 rds on hand)

It's a start, but I know I'm a ways off, but what id your bare minimum ammo storage?

View Quote

You have a respectable start. Increase calibers as your budget allows. Since the crazy prices and shortages (plus a move to another state) I shot very little in 2013. I have noticed most calibers are available except for 22LR. Buy a couple boxes each payday and your quantities will increase in no time. I'd pick a number that is your bare minimum. Get some ammo cans and store that amount for long term.

Posted: 1/5/2014 5:44:34 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:

Quoted:
What would you consider to be your bare minimum amount of ammo? Basically, "I wouldn't be caught dead without ______ rds of each caliber!" I'm currently about where I want to be for some calibers, but far from there for a few calibers

Currently, I have:
1,800 rds 9mm (this looks real good)
500 rds 12Ga, mixed between 50 slugs, 150 00Buck, and 300 Birdshot (this looks real good)
1000 rds 22LR (if it were me, I'd feel a lot better with 2500 rds on hand)
900 rds 5.56 (this looks like a place to bump up a little bit)
160 rds .308 (if it were me, I'd feel a lot better with 500 rds on hand)
20 rds 7.62x54 (if it were me, I'd feel a lot better with 500 rds on hand)

It's a start, but I know I'm a ways off, but what id your bare minimum ammo storage?

View Quote

You have a respectable start. Increase calibers as your budget allows. Since the crazy prices and shortages (plus a move to another state) I shot very little in 2013. I have noticed most calibers are available except for 22LR. Buy a couple boxes each payday and your quantities will increase in no time. I'd pick a number that is your bare minimum. Get some ammo cans and store that amount for long term.

View Quote

Finding the ammo is the hard part, of course. My local walmart usually has a decent selection of 5.56 but it's almost always match ammo for $35 per 20rds. I usually order online from SG but their ammo sells out so quickly that I can hardly ever grab some. I'll probably just keep putting money back every week and start only buying in bulk.

Posted: 1/5/2014 7:01:56 PM EDT

[#9]

i ran out of room in the house

Posted: 1/5/2014 7:50:52 PM EDT

[#10]

Start with 1,000 rounds stored for each hand gun caliber you own or might own. Stored means you don't touch it to go to the range, practice, etc. Buy other ammo for that.

5,000 for your rifle platforms. .223/5.56, .308/7.62, etc. Ample magaizines as well.

10,000 on .22 LR when you can find it again.

That is my personal opinion.

Posted: 1/5/2014 8:21:13 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Start with 1,000 rounds stored for each hand gun caliber you own or might own. Stored means you don't touch it to go to the range, practice, etc. Buy other ammo for that.

5,000 for your rifle platforms. .223/5.56, .308/7.62, etc. Ample magaizines as well.

10,000 on .22 LR when you can find it again.

That is my personal opinion.

View Quote

I think 5k of .308 is a stretch, especially since I can't find anything of quality under $.70/rd, although I'd love to have that much on reserve And regarding magazines,I have 35 AR mags but only 5 .308 mags. I'm trying to work on those as well but I can't seem to find any good deals.

Posted: 1/5/2014 9:59:19 PM EDT

[#12]

Moral of this thread as in all threads past, present, and future, in 'how much is enough ammo'? There is no such thing as having enough ammo according to Arfcommers.

That number does not exist.

Posted: 1/5/2014 11:39:16 AM EDT

[#13]

arfcom fantasy? 50k rounds of each.

Reality? Probably a couple k of 22, few hundred (each) of everything else. I've got more than that, because "get both", but realistically...that is probably right. How you going to move thousands of rounds of ammo, if you need to be mobile?

Posted: 1/5/2014 11:42:40 AM EDT

[#14]

That's a very subjective question. Are you talking about just range/stockpile rounds, self defense, or both? Personally, I shoot 9, 45, 5.56, and 12 gauge. In a perfect world I'd keep at a minimum 1500 for the plink pile, and 500 sd. I reload for handgun, and have enough components on hand to reload 2k of each caliber. I only shoot my AR occasionally and have about 700 plink 250 sd.

Posted: 1/5/2014 11:48:17 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
That's a very subjective question. Are you talking about just range/stockpile rounds, self defense, or both? Personally, I shoot 9, 45, 5.56, and 12 gauge. In a perfect world I'd keep at a minimum 1500 for the plink pile, and 500 sd. I reload for handgun, and have enough components on hand to reload 2k of each caliber. I only shoot my AR occasionally and have about 700 plink 250 sd.

View Quote

I don't touch my of my stored ammo for range time. I buy ammo separately for that. I'm referring to the amount of ammo you would like stored for a SHTF situation.

Posted: 1/5/2014 11:49:42 AM EDT

[#16]

200 rounds per month to be used to defend the homestead (situation dependent)
x 12 months
x 10 years (maybe longer)
24000 on hand

Experienced guys with the support of other shooters can burn 200 rounds in a fight pretty quick, but its a number to start somewhere.

I shoot about 1000 rounds a month and I replace it with 1200.

Posted: 1/5/2014 11:53:02 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
200 rounds per month to be used to defend the homestead (situation dependent)
x 12 months
x 10 years (maybe longer)
24000 on hand

Experienced guys with the support of other shooters can burn 200 rounds in a fight pretty quick, but its a number to start somewhere.

I shoot about 1000 rounds a month and I replace it with 1200.

View Quote

If you are using 200 rounds per month to defend your home, it's time to move.

But, I like the idea of having 24000 rounds in stock. I don't have close to that much though.

Do you really shoot 12000 rounds per year?

Posted: 1/5/2014 11:55:29 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
arfcom fantasy? 50k rounds of each.

View Quote

ARFCOM fantasy is mostly an ammo depot, aka ammo dump, about the size of Hawthorne Army Depot, which is about 200 square miles.

LoL.

Posted: 1/5/2014 11:55:34 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
200 rounds per month to be used to defend the homestead (situation dependent)
x 12 months
x 10 years (maybe longer)
24000 on hand

Experienced guys with the support of other shooters can burn 200 rounds in a fight pretty quick, but its a number to start somewhere.

I shoot about 1000 rounds a month and I replace it with 1200.

View Quote

Well I went from zero rounds in my cache in August to the amount of ammo I have now. I'm well ahead of the pace you've given but I doubt I can continue to sustain the ammo purchases I've been making (slow months are coming at work). 200rds a month is a pretty good goal I think.

Posted: 1/5/2014 11:59:41 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

Quoted:
200 rounds per month to be used to defend the homestead (situation dependent)
x 12 months
x 10 years (maybe longer)
24000 on hand

Experienced guys with the support of other shooters can burn 200 rounds in a fight pretty quick, but its a number to start somewhere.

I shoot about 1000 rounds a month and I replace it with 1200.

View Quote

If you are using 200 rounds per month to defend your home, it's time to move.

But, I like the idea of having 24000 rounds in stock. I don't have close to that much though.

Do you really shoot 12000 rounds per year?

View Quote

Yes I do. Single pilot with no wife or kids so I take advantage of the time. One day I'll have to pay for a mini van.

ETA: I had about 10K rounds of 5.45 surplus, but I sold it all to another NC forum guy so I wouldnt have to drag it all cross country. But such is life.

Posted: 1/5/2014 12:02:23 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
200 rounds per month to be used to defend the homestead (situation dependent)
x 12 months
x 10 years (maybe longer)
24000 on hand

Experienced guys with the support of other shooters can burn 200 rounds in a fight pretty quick, but its a number to start somewhere.

I shoot about 1000 rounds a month and I replace it with 1200.

View Quote

Well I went from zero rounds in my cache in August to the amount of ammo I have now. I'm well ahead of the pace you've given but I doubt I can continue to sustain the ammo purchases I've been making (slow months are coming at work). 200rds a month is a pretty good goal I think.

View Quote

In 2005 I bought 20K rounds of 556. Ever since Ive been replacing what I shoot.

Im sitting almost as good on South African 308, so I can get behind my SCAR17 anytime I want. Then I go on Palmetto and order 100 rounds of PRVI or whatever military ball 308 they got to keep my numbers balanced.

Posted: 1/5/2014 12:22:51 PM EDT

[#22]

I wish I couldn't gotten into shooting before all the prices went crazy. I'm finally about to stock up on ammo and the prices are still insanely high.

Posted: 1/5/2014 12:30:38 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
I wish I couldn't gotten into shooting before all the prices went crazy. I'm finally about to stock up on ammo and the prices are still insanely high.

View Quote

In 2005-2006 they were starting to go crazy. I remember getting 1000 rounds of South African 556 for 130 dollars. By 2006 I was paying 180 for 720 rounds of British Radway Green. I have about 6 cans of that sitting in a corner. I just cant bring myself to break the seal on it, so shiny.

Posted: 1/5/2014 12:56:04 PM EDT

[#24]

A 50 cal ammo can with 900 rounds of 5.56 in sealed battle packs.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:02:06 AM EDT

[#25]

My wife keep giving me the

and saying "what are you going to do with all that ammo????".

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:06:41 AM EDT

[#26]

I make about 1000 rounds a month.

Usually whatever I am lowest on.

I have lost track of how much .223 I have on hand.

It is quite a bit but, I am sure it is amatuer night compared to several people here.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:07:15 AM EDT

[#27]

I'd prefer 1,000 per caliber.

i think i have 500 per caliber right now
with about 150 12ga

i only have 1300 .22

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:10:17 AM EDT

[#28]

Thats a good start for bare minimum. I am always buying more on good deals. Check the ammo whore thread in Armory.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:11:52 AM EDT

[#29]

Bare minimum is zero, as that is the point that almost everyone starts at.

From that point forward, buy as much ammo (and reloading components) as you can afford. When you run out of space to store it, buy a larger home or build a shed.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:16:38 AM EDT

[#30]

Just get yourself and FN 57 , PS90 and 5,000 rounds of 5.7x28mm and call it good.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:17:46 AM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
Just get yourself and FN 57 , PS90 and 5,000 rounds of 5.7x28mm and call it good.

View Quote

Why would the OP want to get rid of good ammo like 7.62x51 5.56 and switch to an inferior caliber?

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:18:20 AM EDT

[#32]

Bare minimum essentials... 500 rds of 5.56 and 9mm, 1000 rds of 7.62x39, 200 rds of 12ga.

That is the bare minimum. I'd have a lot of useless guns with only that ammunition, but it'd cover the basics.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:20:45 AM EDT

[#33]

Bare minimum supply of ammunition is for all of my magazines to be full and ready to use.

Empty magazines = Bad, Full magazines = Good.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:21:41 AM EDT

[#34]

5k of each caliber.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:21:51 AM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:
Just get yourself and FN 57 , PS90 and 5,000 rounds of 5.7x28mm and call it good.

View Quote

I see what you're going for there. I'd rather go with the Kriss Vector and a HK USP. All you'd need is .45.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:31:24 AM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
I like that rule.

When you guys store in ammo cans, do you store loose or in boxes?

View Quote

Boxes if it came that way, strippers (for some calibers) if it did not, loose for everything else (emptied spam cans, reloaded ammo etc.)

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:32:20 AM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:
What would you consider to be your bare minimum amount of ammo? Basically, "I wouldn't be caught dead without ______ rds of each caliber!" I'm currently about where I want to be for some calibers, but far from there for a few calibers

Currently, I have:
1,800 rds 9mm
500 rds 12Ga, mixed between 50 slugs, 150 00Buck, and 300 Birdshot
1000 rds 22LR
900 rds 5.56
160 rds .308
20 rds 7.62x54

It's a start, but I know I'm a ways off, but what id your bare minimum ammo storage?

View Quote

Everyone starts at zero but my kids would shoot your stash in a weekend. When people says kids are expensive I never really knew the extent of it until they started shooting.

Personally, and it's take years to get there, I don't like to have less than 10k rds for each of my main 6 cals. Unfortunately, this past year, I'm now less than that in 5 out of 6.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:32:40 AM EDT

[#38]

1000 of each

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:36:19 AM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
1000 of each

View Quote

Yep, plus full mags.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:36:47 AM EDT

[#40]

A case of .22 LR is cheap and gives you around 5K rounds
A thousand for your each of your primary weapons, pistol and rifle.
If you have other firearms, 1-2 hundred each so you can loan them to others if needed (strength in numbers and all that).

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:40:41 AM EDT

[#41]

Per shooter:
300 rifle
60 pistol
40 12 GA (16 slug, 8 00buck, 16 Turkey or bird depending on where you live)

Thats the max I would carry. Everything above that I consider range ammo.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:45:28 AM EDT

[#42]

1,000 rounds of each caliber you shoot.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:47:32 AM EDT

[#43]

No such thing as bare minimum ammo storage. You should buy as much ammo as you can afford.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:48:03 AM EDT

[#44]

One 50cal ammo can of each caliber.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:48:29 AM EDT

[#45]

All of it...

I try to keep/store all the ammo

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:50:02 AM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
Per shooter:
300 rifle
60 pistol
40 12 GA (16 slug, 8 00buck, 16 Turkey or bird depending on where you live)

Thats the max I would carry. Everything above that I consider range ammo.

View Quote

300rnd load out what i was basing on.

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:50:07 AM EDT

[#47]

1000 rounds of each caliber, 10,000 of .22lr

Posted: 1/6/2014 7:50:13 AM EDT

[#48]

Quoted:
What would you consider to be your bare minimum amount of ammo? Basically, "I wouldn't be caught dead without ______ rds of each caliber!" I'm currently about where I want to be for some calibers, but far from there for a few calibers

Currently, I have:
1,800 rds 9mm
500 rds 12Ga, mixed between 50 slugs, 150 00Buck, and 300 Birdshot
1000 rds 22LR
900 rds 5.56
160 rds .308
20 rds 7.62x54

It's a start, but I know I'm a ways off, but what id your bare minimum ammo storage?

View Quote

If you shot as much as you would like to, what would be a year's supply? That's the question I answer w/ my minimum, but I'm crazy. That means about 12,000 rounds of 45ACP for me.