Ammunition Stock and How Long Will It Last You

i store much more hp than I do fmj in my pistol calibers .and reverse in my rifle calibers. I have an assortment of shot but like to keep 500 of buck and slug.

 

I have the reverse situation. My father in law would show up at my house with his guns, but barely a box of ammo for each. He doesn't shoot much, and just doesn't stock up. He has several calibers that I do not, so I've actually put away a few boxes of ammo for each of his guns, even though I don't have a gun in some of those calibers; trying to be prepared for an uncertain future, and walking a fine line between being prepared, and being paranoid.

 

In fall of 2011 I couldn't understand it. I just couldn't seem to resist a good deal on ammo. I already had plenty but any time I saw a good deal I just couldn't pass it up. NOW I know it was ESP or sumthing as in Fall of 2012 for same amount of $$$ I wouldn't have gotten 1/4 of what I did. Though Fed-Ex guy delivering to me at work did make jokes about Armageddon LoL Only thing I'm low on is 30-30. Got a few hundred rounds but then I couldn't find 30-30 in bulk so was hard to find any good deals.

 

Things are starting to look a little better in my neck of the woods. I have been able to find more handgun calibers and 5.56/.223 at Academy and Bass Pro. Still haven't been able to score anything at Wal-mart. Magazines and AR 15's have been in stock for a few weeks as well. I think I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

I did kind of the same thing starting about 2009. I didn't have much on hand at that point, in part because I was in Okinawa from '05-'08. Due to my parents living in Thailand at the time, and all of my siblings already thinking I was crazy, I felt it was best just to give away what ammo I had. From 2009 until Dec of '12, I jumped on every good deal I could find. I even had boxes being delivered while I was in Afghanistan. My wife dutifully piled all my packages in the corner of our room. Now I have several thousand rounds of mixed calibers. The only thing I'm really deficient on is .40 S&W, which is my wife's carry. I'm not really sure how I missed that one.

 

Same here. Some calibers are starting to show up I have even picked up a few rounds of 5.56 at Wal Mart and Cabelas. That being said Cabelas isn't having it on sale every other week like they used to either. Hand gun ammo is still somewhat difficult to find. AR's are coming on the shelves around here too and they are actually starting to be priced back to pre-panic prices. Hopefully this little drought is coming to an end.

 

Depends on how SHTF unfolds. If it is longterm without rule of law then can you ever have enough? Although I would severely curtail recreational shooting i would need to shoot a little every month for family practice, varmints, hunting etc. Similar situation if it was longterm general ban or taxes on ammo.

If it is short term civil disorder or natural disaster then not sure anyone needs a whole lot just for defensive shooting. How many rounds can you expend and not be at great risk yourself? If you a laying down a lot of fire then you are likely warding off multiple threats and that does not bode well for longevity. A couple if hundred rounds per main firearm may be enough to get through a one month SHTF.

I have at least 2,000 per caliber of ammo and 2k - 4k of components for primary arms such as .223, .30-06, 9mm, and .40, plus 20k in .22LR, 500 in 12 ga. and 500-2,000 rds for secondary calibers such as 7.62x39, .308, .45, .38. I am comfortable with this but will continue to add to the inventory when reasonable. I plan to leave my grandkids a fully stocked armory someday!