ammo
- Thread starter hunter8jl
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I feel you can never have too much ammo, just look at the ammo shelfs in any store today and what do you see, they are empty, and while they may fill back up soon the prices will never be as low as they were before the ammo buying madness of the fast few months, so if for no other reason to have 5000 rounds of .22lr or #4 12ga or whatever it will only cost more if you need to resupply in the future, and who's to say that you will still be able to buy ammo at all, there are some elected officals out there that are doing everything in their power to take that right away from you as we speak, so buy as much as you can as often as you can. Just say'n....
Read this and you'll see what I'm say'n....
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/guns-bullets-taxes-gun-control-tool-89782.html
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/guns-bullets-taxes-gun-control-tool-89782.html
Personally I'll be getting my shotgun and at minimum 200 rounds. I think if your bugging out then remember that shells are heavy.
Id say 200 rounds of shotgun for bugging out may be a little heavy/bulky, but if youre fit to do so and thats your preference, why not.
I have about 150 rounds of .40 ready to go right now, but ill be getting more when i can find it. Winchester white boxes are very good for packing, i can get almost 300 rounds into one side pocket in my BOB. Realistically though, most things ive seen say 1000 is a good start, and to try and consolidate your calibers!
Another option id look into is possibly a bow or other weapon that can be reused. Ammo can only be used once unless you have a reloading station, arrows can be used multiple times and theyre nearly silent when fired. And keep in mind, at some point, you might need to be quiet.
I have noticed the supply in stores returning, except .22LR.
However, like you said the prices are NOT coming down at all! I think they are still creeping up.
I walked in to Walmart the other day to get my doe tag (which for the first time I didn't get there in time for one) and glanced at the ammo locker, all that was in there? A lonely box of .380 ammo, that's it. I can still remember going not Walmart on the way to camp and buying 1000 rounds of .22lr ammo to put through the pea shooter just messing around.
I don't really stockpile ammo although I might start, but I do have about 100 rounds of .06 and 30.30 ammo laying around and a bunch of various 12 gauge shells.
here is a chain of Sporting Goods stores out here called Big 5, and their stock has increased. I was in one earlier this week and they had, 45 acp, 40 s&w, .223, 7.62x39, 38, 308. But alas no 22LR was to be had.
Like Wild Man said before, buy what ever you can afford. It wont go down in price. Don't pay insane scalpers prices either. Standardize the calibers you intend to have and try and buy at least 1 box a month or a paycheck as your budget allows. With that being said if you want hard numbers these are my absolute minimum I suggest:
22lr = 5k
223 = 1k
308/30-06 = 500
shotgun 12 or 20 gauge = 500 #6 shot, 100 slugs, 100 buckshot
9mm/40sw/45acp = 500 rounds for each caliber handgun you own
As far as 22lr availability, I hear of people locally being at the right place at the right time and getting a box. I was in a farm store the other day and saw an older gentleman put 5- 100 rd packs of CCI 22lr in his cart. He emptied the shelf. Its the first 22lr ammo I have seen since December. I felt like I won the lottery today when I found a 100 rd box CCI at Walmart. Another 15 seconds later and I would have missed it too as another guy walked up saying he wanted it as the lady unlocked the case to give me the last box they had.
As the saying says: Buy it cheap and stack it deep!!
22lr = 5k
223 = 1k
308/30-06 = 500
shotgun 12 or 20 gauge = 500 #6 shot, 100 slugs, 100 buckshot
9mm/40sw/45acp = 500 rounds for each caliber handgun you own
As far as 22lr availability, I hear of people locally being at the right place at the right time and getting a box. I was in a farm store the other day and saw an older gentleman put 5- 100 rd packs of CCI 22lr in his cart. He emptied the shelf. Its the first 22lr ammo I have seen since December. I felt like I won the lottery today when I found a 100 rd box CCI at Walmart. Another 15 seconds later and I would have missed it too as another guy walked up saying he wanted it as the lady unlocked the case to give me the last box they had.
As the saying says: Buy it cheap and stack it deep!!
The ammo crunch must be region based. I have no trouble finding .22 at my local gun shop. Not bragging sorry just must be something about were we live.
I am glad to hear that. Maybe the end is in sight for the ammo problems. I personally have my box of deer ammo, a box of 22lr and most of a box of birdshot for the shotgun. It would be nice to find what I need when I go to the store!
What I need to work on is getting some common calibers among my firearms. So I can have fewer calibers to stock up on. Right now I have .556, .40, .45, 12 gauge, .300 win mag. Nice to have a variety but not nice when buying.
Agree w/the above amts esp. in the 22lr.
22lr, 9mm, & .223/5.56s are still scarce around here. Most places only allow you to buy a box at a time. However, if you can get to Academy by about 4AM on a Tuesday or Thursday and be 1st in online when they open you might can get a box and that's no lie. People camp out in front of the store just to get a box. I have seen .308 and 7.62x39 easing up to the point they are no longer monitoring how many boxes you can buy. Ive managed to pick up a box or 2 here and there. 12g, 20g & .410g has never been a prob.
22lr, 9mm, & .223/5.56s are still scarce around here. Most places only allow you to buy a box at a time. However, if you can get to Academy by about 4AM on a Tuesday or Thursday and be 1st in online when they open you might can get a box and that's no lie. People camp out in front of the store just to get a box. I have seen .308 and 7.62x39 easing up to the point they are no longer monitoring how many boxes you can buy. Ive managed to pick up a box or 2 here and there. 12g, 20g & .410g has never been a prob.
I have been reloading for 24 years now. When I started I had no idea I would get into prepping. This alone has been a HUGE asset in this part of my preps.
Not necessarily, you may have a BOV too
Overlord is right, just remember in some circumstances that a car may not be able to be used (traffic jams, possibly an EMP though some results show they dont affect cars much), so dont put everything on the fact that your car will carry you.
Prsonally I can't drive so I'll be going by foot or by bike with a small wagon on the back
or by bike with a small wagon on the back
Devildog, may have to talk with you and see about possibly having you make some purchases for me of .22LR and shipping them. They are near enough to extinct around here. Were they the big boxes of 333 or 555 rounds or smaller?
If I remember correctly they were boxes if 250 and smaller bricks. May have been some larger boxes. I don't own a .22 yet so didn't buy any. Jus noticed em when I was getting some .40.
Personally, due to the large availability of 22LR locally, I would stock up on this first when I get a good 22LR Rifle. Other calibers are limited in supply
Anyways, to OP, it depends on a few things, bugging in or out, how many people and how long you are prepping for. My condition is going to be very different that yours. I'm bugging out and you might not be. You may defend a family of 4 and I may defend 2 people. So the ammo amount will differ, but like a few other have said, strandize your calibers and get a realistic amount of ammo (take into account target practice)
Depends on if bugging in or out. If bugging out, ammo can get pretty heavy. 2 extra clips worth for handguns and 20 rounds for rifles, 10 rounds for shotguns should be fine to get you where you are going.
If bugging in, as another said, as much as you can...while you still can. The current ammo shortage is crazy...but will be over eventually. When it is, there will be some crazy sales as they all compete. If you can get 5000 rounds of each type you have, I'd definitely do so (or as much as you can afford). Remember, you'll need some to MAINTAIN your skills, even if the SHTF never happens.
If bugging in, as another said, as much as you can...while you still can. The current ammo shortage is crazy...but will be over eventually. When it is, there will be some crazy sales as they all compete. If you can get 5000 rounds of each type you have, I'd definitely do so (or as much as you can afford). Remember, you'll need some to MAINTAIN your skills, even if the SHTF never happens.
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A thousand rounds for each weapon at minimum.
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5000 is a good number, depending on the caliber, for bugging in or for stocking your BOL. It is a bit much for hauling around when bugging out even for a BOV. For a BOV, you might want 500-1000 rounds.
For bugging out on foot or bicycle, you will want to carry a LOT of .22 ammo, several hundred (if you can find it ) and a moderate amount of centerfire. Conserve the centerfire for dire situations requiring it. I have a Browning Buckmark 22 pistol (accurate and dependable) with three mags and 200 extra rounds in my BOB, and a 45 caliber 1911 compact for concealed carry (licensed of course). I generally carry two spare mags, but in a bug out I'll load my cargo pockets with mags for the 45. I'm divided on whether to carry a rifle. The big problem I see is that you can't very well conceal it on foot or on a bicycle, so you are advertising to the world that you are armed. That might be good, might be bad... Maybe for a BOV, but on foot I think I will just go with the 45, and keep it concealed until needed.
For bugging in and stocking a BOL, you of course want a rifle and a good stock of rifle ammo. Normally I have no use for a pea shooter (223) and prefer something with more knock-down power and range, but for SHTF the ability to carry lots of ammo in a small amount of space gives it an advantage over, say, a 308 or 30-06.
For bugging out on foot or bicycle, you will want to carry a LOT of .22 ammo, several hundred (if you can find it
) and a moderate amount of centerfire. Conserve the centerfire for dire situations requiring it. I have a Browning Buckmark 22 pistol (accurate and dependable) with three mags and 200 extra rounds in my BOB, and a 45 caliber 1911 compact for concealed carry (licensed of course). I generally carry two spare mags, but in a bug out I'll load my cargo pockets with mags for the 45. I'm divided on whether to carry a rifle. The big problem I see is that you can't very well conceal it on foot or on a bicycle, so you are advertising to the world that you are armed. That might be good, might be bad... Maybe for a BOV, but on foot I think I will just go with the 45, and keep it concealed until needed.For bugging in and stocking a BOL, you of course want a rifle and a good stock of rifle ammo. Normally I have no use for a pea shooter (223) and prefer something with more knock-down power and range, but for SHTF the ability to carry lots of ammo in a small amount of space gives it an advantage over, say, a 308 or 30-06.
True on buying ammo with cash. Personally I'm shooting (lol) to have 2500 rounds for my main gun, 1000 rounds for my secondary, 1000 rounds for my pistol, 1000 extra shotgun shells and 10,000 .22lr rounds. It seems a bit high, and it is, but keep in mind I'm talking end of governments
I read about this a while back but for those who want to slim down the types or make a gun more versatile there is this
Calibers of ammo that the X Caliber allows a singe-shot shotgun to fire are .22lr, 38 special, .357, 9mm, 45 acp, 45 lc, .410 shotgun, 12 ga. shotgun, .223, 7.62×39 and 308.
http://www.gearupcenter.com/products/x-caliber-shotgun-gauge-adapter-system.html
I want my self but later when I have the gun first
there was a story about it on the Blaze and adds on BlazeTV
Calibers of ammo that the X Caliber allows a singe-shot shotgun to fire are .22lr, 38 special, .357, 9mm, 45 acp, 45 lc, .410 shotgun, 12 ga. shotgun, .223, 7.62×39 and 308.
http://www.gearupcenter.com/products/x-caliber-shotgun-gauge-adapter-system.html
I want my self but later when I have the gun first
there was a story about it on the Blaze and adds on BlazeTV
