How much ammo is enough ?

BTPost ,
You are very right , in fact it brings with it a greater appreciation of the chemistry and art of fire arms. more than simply making something go bang.
For fun I was thinking of taking some WWII 30/06 rounds I found that dad had collected and since I don't own a 30/06 pull the bullets and power and see if it is still workable , if not, the bullets them selves can be applied to something else. the brass can go to salvage.

 

If they are GI rounds from WWII I'd put money on them being good, depending on how they were stored of course. If they look good you might be better off trading them for a calibre you do own. I have a bandoleer of '06 AP with the same year headstamp as my '03 and it's still good.

 

Put a magnet to them, You may have better than you think!

 

I'll give it a try.
thanks

 

I'll second on reloading to save $$$. For those new to rolling your own, most of the equipment is high quality and very reliable. I'd have no issue buying used and it will save you a lot of money. That goes for dies as well as the presses - unless rusty it's unlikely that any of it is worn past providing good use. I have a 1950's or early 60's RCBS junior that's still going strong as well as a Dillon RL-550B from the 1980's. These will easily outlive me and likely be working until some idiot sells them for scrap after I die. Same for some dies I have from the 60's - 80's.

I've found that Craigslist doesn't tend to have a lot of listings in my area, so I recommend joining whatever forums are in your area. For example calguns and northwest firearms covers the Pacific Northwest and California between them, and there is always a lot of used reloading equipment for sale.

 

Now that obama is out of office , gun sales are down ,and likely second hand unused loading equipment will show up for sale.

 

hmmm.... thought I saw reports that sells actually increased slightly?

seems the left is now buying weapons and created the slight increase?

something about NICS background checks increasing?

 

One round left to carry away from the Frey, after what I carried into the Frey to start with, works for me.

Math question: if I expend 2 rounds on target, and I expended those rounds upon a target that had a standard load of 210 rounds, how many rounds of ammunition have I gained to trade for ammunition to feed my rifle by the time I've expended 100 rounds?

 

I'm like you ghrit, If I have to count my rounds then I'm not doing it right!

 

That is part of the problem. Ammunition acquisition via survivalist tactics lends itself to the fortification philosophy of the retreater.
Survivalism - Wikipedia
"For a time in the 1970s, the terms survivalist and retreater were used interchangeably. While the term retreater eventually fell into disuse, many who subscribed to it saw retreating as the more rational approach to conflict-avoidance and remote "invisibility". Survivalism, on the other hand, tended to take on a more media-sensationalized, combative, "shoot-it-out-with-the-looters" image."

 

Hollywood has contributed its share of discounting 'survivalists' as loopy crazies .....

As to eking out the maximum from one's ammunition resources, reloading is certainly a sensible option for many practical applications....particularly in training and maintaining marksmanship skills. Reloading equipment does not have to be exorbitantly expensive...particularly for shot shell reloading. Bullet casting is also a worthwhile skill to complement one's reloading efforts.

 

The reality of the amount of ammo needed is based on the expenditure rate per year. I've known folks that expend as few as 3 rounds a year, so a box of 20 30-30's lasts years. Competition shooters that expend hundreds of rounds every week will need to have thousands of rounds per year. Milsurp, reloads, factory the choice is all based on how many rounds and to what purpose you expend them per year. Make an honest assessment of how many rounds you actually expend per week and attempt to attain a one year supply. JMHO.

 

What I'm anticipating ,is that those that have been spending ammo like it's always going to be there, post SHTF they run out just after the resources have all dried up .
On the other hand those that should have invested something practice, didn't , and their resources are dried up in a single fire fight, You and I know that the potential exist, that there will likely be hundreds of skirmishes .
By one's self that's one thing, but it takes a group to maintain a defense ,because it will most likely be groups that are raiding.
Each person in that group needs the discipline to spend his ammo as conservatively as possible .

 

Sounds allot like the average trooper requires 30+ rounds of 5.56 NATO to effect a threat elimination, yet those issued 7.62 NATO average less than 2 rounds to eliminate threats. Those issued 7.62 NATO have to display a better aptitude ( more training/ practice) in order to be issued the 7.62. I've found that the biggest trouble with anticipating something, is that the reality of the situation ends up being something other than anticipated. But marksmanship is a perishable skill, and a balance of practice over time is required. Rounds expended are sort of like runway behind you. LOL.

 

Murphy is alive and well.

No plan of operations extends with certainty beyond the first encounter with the enemy's main strength (no plan survives contact with the enemy). - Helmuth von Moltke the Elder