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How much ammo is enough?/Too much?

COWBOYKIDDCOWBOYKIDD Member Posts: 239 ✭
edited May 2002 in General Discussion
I reload most of my ammo, except for .22, 762x39 and 308.
Seems Im running low on 9mm.
I keep track of quantities when I reload and added it up and came up with just over 16 thousand rounds.I need about 5 thousand 9mm to keep the HK94 fed for awhile.
How much ammo is enough or too much? Im wondering what other members here have in supply?


Thieves in 3 piece suits = Politicians,Doctors & Lawyers
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Comments

  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    21 yrs in the military, 2 trips to NAM, you only need what you can carry comfortably, without straining yourself. A worn out body is not good no matter how much ammo ya got.

    LR
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you're protecting your home after some sort of major societal breakdown, I'd say you pick a number. If you're on a camping trip where you might find yourself in an extended holding situation waiting for relief, I'd put some extra in the trunk. But otherwise, I like the answer above -- What you can carry without straining yourself over a significantly long hike. (That reminds me, I still need a tactical vest or harness of some kind -- too many belt pouches will just pull my jeans down and that might be kinda inconvenient in a firefight).

    - Life NRA Member
    If dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    How much does it cost? Never turn down a great deal. BUY BUY BUY! I was buying Lake City Match 168 grain BTHP's at $207 per 460 round can at the CMP store in Camp Perry. Now that that stuff is becoming more and more rare I can ask a lot more than I used to for it. If I had limited my my purchases to just what I thought I'd need I'd be SOL today trying to get that stuff.

    Really though I'd guess that you should store no more than 10,000 rounds in your house.....hmmmm maybe we need to construct bunkers outside of the house. Beach
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  • COWBOYKIDDCOWBOYKIDD Member Posts: 239 ✭
    edited November -1
    Classic095. lol I only pack what I plan on shooting.Maybe 1000-2000 rds in a shooting bag. That finds its way to the pickup so I dont have to carry that far at all.

    Beach. 10,000 rds huh. A bunker?lol
    Say I load 5000 9mm. Ill have over 20k rds. Im wondering If Im truely addicted?

    Thieves in 3 piece suits = Politicians,Doctors & Lawyers
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Cowboy....I once had over 26,000 rounds of centerfire ammunition in the house... and then I thought, "Jeeze what happens if there's a fire?" I visualized the smoking crater in the neighborhood and downsized from there. Beach
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  • COWBOYKIDDCOWBOYKIDD Member Posts: 239 ✭
    edited November -1
    Beach. Yes that thought crossded my mine as well. How much ammo do you keep?

    I imagine most memebers have from 1 box to maybe 2 thousand rds?

    Thieves in 3 piece suits = Politicians,Doctors & Lawyers
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  • njretcopnjretcop Member Posts: 7,975
    edited November -1
    I would fall into the 1 to 2000 round catagory I suppose. At last count I had just over 1800 rounds, lol.

    -Charlie

    "It's the stuff dreams are made of Angel"NRA Certified Firearms InstructorMember: GOA, RKBA, NJSPBA, NJ area rep for the 2ndAMPD. njretcop@copmail.com
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  • austin247austin247 Member Posts: 375 ✭
    edited November -1
    I guess I'm a packrat, but I can't turn down a good deal. Just when I think I have enough, something else turns up and I find myself buying more. A buddy of mine had a couple thousand rounds of 7.62x39 steel core put back (remember when you could order that stuff?), and he offered to sell me 500 or 1000 rounds for 10 cents a round. You bet I took him up on that one.
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  • FUBARFUBAR Member Posts: 175 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    10,000 Rds. many variety's

    Guns! Guns! Guns!
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  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,696 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I love it when UPS shows up and I get a heavy brown box. I think I enjoy that more than a new gun. Open that thing up and there are two military spam cans, all that European or Russian writing on them. Open one up with the can opener, the smell is great. I have about 5000 rounds total, I loaded up on the SKS ammo 10 years ago when it was really cheap.

    "Not as deep as a well, or as wide as a church door, but it is enough."
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  • Bushy ARBushy AR Member Posts: 564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yeah,UPS knew who was getting the box labeled (ORM-D)even when E-911 changed my number on the mailbox....I guess I keep about 1000 rounds of each caliber I shoot and rotate stock for trips to the range...

    Only the strong survive...well maybe also some weak ones with lots of ammo!
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  • RosieRosie Member Posts: 14,525 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Theres an auction here Sat. after next and the old guy had over 320 guns and i counted mentaly through the sail bill over 75000 rounds! In addition he had many, many slings, holsters, scopes, gun safes, reloadind equiptment of all kinds, boxes of gun parts such as barrels Etc. Many other items too numerious to mention. I have a list 15 pages long.
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  • FUBARFUBAR Member Posts: 175 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Rosie, Where is the auction?

    Guns! Guns! Guns!
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  • beltfedbeltfed Member Posts: 690 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello Rosie
    Were is the auction and would it be possible to get a copy of the list glad to pay for any cost. Thankyou beltfed at ghubbar@bellsouth.net
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  • Rob GreeneRob Greene Member Posts: 102 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It's always best to have with you what you need and can comfortably carry, but I like to have a supply beyond that as well. The only problem is that my weapons like to eat way too much and it's way too easy to end up with none!!! And as mentioned, the 7.62X39 is getting to be more expensive...
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  • RosieRosie Member Posts: 14,525 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Auction is about 30 miles north of Fort Wayne IN. You should know that a large portion of ammo is .22 Yes I could mail you a list if you want to travel that far. No charge. There will be a lot of dealers there because this auctioneer is known for his antiques and travels all over. I don't see many antique guns on the list. There is a few expensive guns, a few antiques and a lot of Western field type guns Etc.
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Rosie, if you provide some specifics about the location / time / auction house, etc., I have buddies who collect .22 who are within convenient driving distance for whom this might be a pleasant excursion. Would deeply appreciate any data you could post!!

    TIA,
    The resident ammo guy

    10K rounds, Beach? That's ALL??????????? LOL!! Damn, man, if I was ever down to those levels I'd think the house were empty!!
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  • Rafter-SRafter-S Member Posts: 2,173 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    No matter how much ammo you think you need, be sure to save the last round for yourself.
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  • OtomanOtoman Member Posts: 554 ✭
    edited November -1
    1000 rounds of 7.62 X 39 & .223 each, about 500 rounds of 45 and 9mm. and you never have enough .22 ammo. all of the other stuff is just a few boxes....Oto I think 10,000 rounds of assorted calibur ammo would be a good round number but you guys are right we have to live here too. This is certainly a class II Group "G" environment....OTO

    KIMBER: Pistol du jour
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  • k.stanonikk.stanonik Member Posts: 2,109 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    1300 rnds of .223, 900 rnds 9mm, 200rnds of 38, 1000 rnds of 22, 100 rnds of 40cal and 50 rnds of 12 gauge. and still adding on.
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm not going to disclose any particular numbers, but when I start running low, I buy in bulk and reload even bulker. My last puchase of .38spl factory was four cases. Its cheaper when you buy in bulk that way. Sometimes I go in with friends so I can get an even better deal, and we split shipping.

    I just wish I had a dollar for every gun I wanted, then I'd be a rich man.
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  • DarkStar11DarkStar11 Member Posts: 1,557 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "too much of everything is just enough..."
    Several thousand rounds for several different calibers.....and I live in an apartment. The folks in the management office seem to get very jittery when I stop by to pick up a shipment, almost like I'm picking up a shipment labeled "kiddy porn" or "heroin". But they haven't raised my rent at the end of the last two leases, either.

    DarkStar11
    "...But Mona Lisa musta had the highway bluesYou can tell by the way she smiles..."
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  • MercuryMercury Member Posts: 7,842 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Lee,
    Where have you found the best prices? I buy from Cheaper than Dirt, and Miwall.com.

    Merc



    NO! You may not have my guns! Now go crawl back into your hole!

    ****************************************

    "Tolerating things you may not necessarily like is part of being free" - Larry Flynt
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  • thesoundguy1thesoundguy1 Member Posts: 680 ✭
    edited November -1
    I guess it depends on what you are storing or stockpiling for.As I
    stated in earlier posts,I try to plan for the worst case scenario,
    anything short of that I can handle.I fear the possibility I,and my
    friends and family,may have to defend ourselves from a threat that local law enforcement may not be able to handle(remember the L.A.
    riots?).So,I have upwards of 6,000+ rounds for my SKS and AK.1,000+
    9mm for my P-11, 1,000+.44 spl. and magnum for my Redhawk,800+ for
    my 1911,500+ 12ga.,and I'm purchasing more every couple of weeks.
    I'd rather err on the side of paranoia than on the side of complacency.
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  • jager22jager22 Member Posts: 197 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    only about 10,000 rounds....need more...buy all i can when i see a good deal
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  • woodsrunnerwoodsrunner Member Posts: 5,378 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would put a rough guess at 10,000+ rounds. I keep 2500 rds of cheap .22's on hand just for plinking.When the supply falls below that amount I get a bunch of friends to share a case with me. The last long weekend I had I managed to load 500 rds of .357 mag 125gr hollowpoint loads. I know there is at least 100 rds in house for each gun I own and some more for guns I no longer own. Due to my work hours I seldom know in advance when I'll be able to squeeze in some shooting time. I prefer to be able to grab a gun and ammo and go shooting. I find reloading a great way to unwind after a long night shift. Components are much cheaper in bulk. So I end up loading a bunch of ammo and wind up going on marathon shooting sessions. I don't stockpile out of paranoia, Just out of a love of shooting and reloading.

    Woods

    How big a boy are ya?
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  • SCREWEDUPSCREWEDUP Member Posts: 60 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    HAVE AT LEAST 2000 RDS. .223, 500 9MM, 1000 38CAL,TOO MANY 22CAL TOO COUNT, & ABOUT 500 ASST SHOTGUN RDS. GOOD PLACE TO BUY I"VE FOUND IS GEORGIA ARMS THEY HAVE PRETTY GOOD DEALS ON 223 ANDSKS AMMO ALSO GOOD VARIETY.
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  • gunpaqgunpaq Member Posts: 4,607 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Since 1999 have kept 1,000 rds of 9mm, 1,000 rds 38 spl, 500 rds .357, 500 rds .44mag, 500 rds 30-06, 500 rds .303, and 500 rds 12ga, just in case it happens. Rotate this ammo annually with regular use reload ammo on the range to keep fresh. Matbe I am paranoid but rather be a little prepared then not at all. Also always keep 2 months food & water on hand.

    Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.
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  • rokkmannrokkmann Member Posts: 47 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    When you can't get into your house anymore then i think that's enough.
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  • beantolebeantole Member Posts: 1,086 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In Vietnam we were issued a bandlier with 6 20 round magazines. For one's home tho, I think 10,000 rounds is a minimum because the government may tax to death or outlaw the ammo you need someday.

    Bruce
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  • dobieman0690dobieman0690 Member Posts: 148 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    you can never have enough!!!! 25,000 and still cranking them out
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Iconoclast....but you are a connoisseur of cartridges and a purveyor of fine ammunition to the rich and famous as well as the poor and infamous!!! I on the other hand merely expend my ordnance down range. And when I had 26,000 rounds I just started thinking... "maybe not a good idea" I'd say 10,000 rounds covers most of the contingencies I can visualize(hehehe). Beach
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  • Rob GreeneRob Greene Member Posts: 102 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Beach: It's not the contingences that I can think of that I'm worried about. It's those that I can't imagine that worry me!! LMAO!

    **It is your right to posess a firearm. In case of questions, please refer to ammendment 2, United States Constitution.**
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  • RosieRosie Member Posts: 14,525 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Iconoclast
    Located at Kendallville Banquet and Conference Center (behind best western hotel) on US 6 East, Kendallville, IN
    Saturday, may25, 2002
    Starting at 10:00AM
    Preview: 8:AM
    You must fill out ATF Form 4473 before you can bid.
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Beach, although a purveyor of exquisite examples of small arms fodder, the original comment stands notwithstanding the commercial inventory, amigo. Once I scrounge / liberate the brass, it seems criminal to leave it empty and forlorn. Besides, need to do something to justify that Dillon . . . .

    Hey, Rosie, thanks so very much! I will pass it along to my collector buddies in the area.
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