Ammunition

[tmttactical]

When I travel in their territory, I give them the road. When they travel in my territory, they tend to end up dead. Children and small pets do not know better or are as aware of the snakes presence. Cats and dogs can keep the rat population in check. Pellet or 22 lr. will also help reduce the rat population. Venous snakes need to stay out in the wild.

 

[Maverick]

I did a count of some of my purchased ammunition not counting any big bore handgun/rifle calibers or reloads.

21,050 - .22 cal CCI/Federal
29,440 - 5.56 M193/M855
6,020 - 357 magnum 125gr Golden Saber/Hornady Critical Defense
1,500 - 38spl+P FBI load, Federal, Hornady
4,900 - 9mm Hornady Critical Duty, Federal, Gold Dot, M882 Ball
7,050 - .40 cal Hornady Critical Duty, Federal LE Tactical HST, Gold Dot
8,100 - .45 cal Federal, Hornady, Winchester, M1911 Ball
5,015 - 12ga 00 buck Hornady Critical Defense, Federal

 

[Mountain trapper]

Does anyone have experience with .22 sub sonic ammo? During the dark days of obumas ammo shortages I had no choice but to buy whatever I could find. I ended up with probably 10,000 rounds of sub sonic ammo. It wasn't until a couple days ago that I actually tried it out. It doesn't cycle in my 10/22 very well. I guess I'll have to save it for my lever action rifles or SA pistols. These are harsh times indeed.

 

[TexasFreedom]

Yup, that's the problem with the subsonic 22s. Same is true for other calibers like 223. Subsonic doesn't produce enough pressure to properly cycle the chamber. If you go heavier, like the 40 grain 22's, it helps a little. Or you can fully customize one 10/22 with a really light spring so it does cycle properly with subsonic ammo. But then that gun is dedicated to just that particular round. It is an option, and has valid reasons to do it. I will tell you that they are still very loud in 22 revolvers. But pretty quiet in a bolt action. Add a suppressor and it's 'poof' 'poof' quiet.

 

[user 6493]

Does anyone have experience with .22 sub sonic ammo? During the dark days of obumas ammo shortages I had no choice but to buy whatever I could find. I ended up with probably 10,000 rounds of sub sonic ammo. It wasn't until a couple days ago that I actually tried it out. It doesn't cycle in my 10/22 very well. I guess I'll have to save it for my lever action rifles or SA pistols. These are harsh times indeed.

it is low velocity ammo and does not have a lot of pressure it's not going to cycle a semi auto very well,,,, I will not buy any even if it was all that was being made

 

[Mountain trapper]

I guess when I bought the stuff I didn't know what sub sonic was. Before and since I've only bought High Velocity.

 

[DrHenley]

There is also standard velocity, which is sometimes subsonic and cycles all my semi-autos. Check the specs on it. The most accurate standard velocity is subsonic. Match ammo in 22 is subsonic because dropping back through the sound barrier can upset the bullet (why high velocity 22 ammo usually has terrible accuracy at very long distance while subsonic does not)

CCI standard velocity has an advertised velocity of 1070 which is about as fast as you can push it and still insure that it's subsonic in all guns. It is considered a very accurate round.

 

[Brent S]

I did a count of some of my purchased ammunition not counting any big bore handgun/rifle calibers or reloads.

21,050 - .22 cal CCI/Federal
29,440 - 5.56 M193/M855
6,020 - 357 magnum 125gr Golden Saber/Hornady Critical Defense
1,500 - 38spl+P FBI load, Federal, Hornady
4,900 - 9mm Hornady Critical Duty, Federal, Gold Dot, M882 Ball
7,050 - .40 cal Hornady Critical Duty, Federal LE Tactical HST, Gold Dot
8,100 - .45 cal Federal, Hornady, Winchester, M1911 Ball
5,015 - 12ga 00 buck Hornady Critical Defense, Federal

Damn Mav. you could open an ammo store! I’ve never actually counted my ammo but have enough to never need to buy anymore. I don’t even shoot anymore so it will definitely last my lifetime. I’m aware how hard and expensive it is to replace and I’m also trying to preserve what little I have if my hearing too.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Damn Mav. you could open an ammo store! I’ve never actually counted my ammo but have enough to never need to buy anymore. I don’t even shoot anymore so it will definitely last my lifetime. I’m aware how hard and expensive it is to replace and I’m also trying to preserve what little I have if my hearing too.

I agree that Mav has a decent start for a beginner .
When I started stockpiling (hoarding) ammo my intent was to provide ammo for our entire family so that they'd never have to worry. Since then I've learned that no one in my family is interested in hunting or shooting. So now I'm stuck with 10's of thousands or rounds and even more reloading components. I won't come close to living long enough to hardly put a dent in my stash. Especially since I realized that there are no zombies.

 

[DrHenley]

When I started stockpiling (hoarding) ammo my intent was to provide ammo for our entire family so that they'd never have to worry. Since then I've learned that no one in my family is interested in hunting or shooting. So now I'm stuck with 10's of thousands or rounds and even more reloading components. I won't come close to living long enough to hardly put a dent in my stash. Especially since I realized that there are no zombies.

When my daughter went off to college, and then got a job, I kept her guns here. A few months ago she said she wanted the 9mm. She even has a female shooting buddy, LOL. She's been renting guns at the range. I took it to her with a ammo can stuffed full of ammo - all Federal Eagle 124 grain FMJs and Federal 124 grain Hydroshocks, which are ballistically matched and the ammo the gun likes the best. And I bought her a cleaning kit and taught her and her husband how to strip and clean it and and taught her husband how to shoot.
The son in law is a natural. Shooting is new to him, but I had him outshooting me by the time I left.

 

[Brent S]

I agree that Mav has a decent start for a beginner .
When I started stockpiling (hoarding) ammo my intent was to provide ammo for our entire family so that they'd never have to worry. Since then I've learned that no one in my family is interested in hunting or shooting. So now I'm stuck with 10's of thousands or rounds and even more reloading components. I won't come close to living long enough to hardly put a dent in my stash. Especially since I realized that there are no zombies.

What! No zombies? Come on…..

 

[DrHenley]

What! No zombies? Come on…..

I'm still prepared for them, LOL

 

[Schattentarn]

Mike Mah, the expert I trust most, says 1000 rounds for your primary weapon. He had a number for your pistol (which you are carrying as a backup) but I forget than number. It was smaller and more like 100. I only have 500 rounds plus maybe 125 for practice shooting.

 

[EastenerWesterner]

I won’t say what I have. But it a pretty high number in what I use the most.

Its really low in my newest acquisition. Everything else is in between.

 

[Kevin L]

Does anyone have experience with .22 sub sonic ammo? During the dark days of obumas ammo shortages I had no choice but to buy whatever I could find. I ended up with probably 10,000 rounds of sub sonic ammo. It wasn't until a couple days ago that I actually tried it out. It doesn't cycle in my 10/22 very well. I guess I'll have to save it for my lever action rifles or SA pistols. These are harsh times indeed.

I just bought a Heritage single-action revolver in .22 long rifle with an extra .22 Winchester Rimfire Magnum cylinder that can be swapped out in seconds.

It seems like your .22 LR subsonic would be ideal for such a gun.

I would imagine that the fact that it's a revolver means that there should be no relevance to the cycling issue, the barrel is 6 inches long . . . which--if loaded with subsonic--would ideally suited for vermin and pest control in the rat, squirrel, woodchuck, feral cats, bats, opposum, and raccoon category.

Such animals can carry disease--especially rabies--except for the rat and oppossum. For whatever reason, oppossum are resistant to rabies, as it seems to have something to do with them being marsupials. Rats can't spread rabies either except under some highly unlikely, oddball circumstances.

For certain applications, I deliberately carry a weaker cartridge, as I've seen any number of innocent, uninvolved third parties (often kids) killed by over-penetration and richochet, so the .22 subsonic would appeal to me.

You could buy a Heritage revolver like mine for about $135.00 brand new from Rural King.

The extra .22 Magnum cylinder can be ordered off the Internet for about $35.00, if that talks you into buying a gun just for your ammo. There are worse things for a prepper to have than a 6 shot .22 LR/.22 WRM revolver . . . that happens to be very accurate out to about 25 meters for a rabbit-sized target, or almost 35 meters for a man-sized sillouette target with .22 CCI Stingers.

Undoubtably there are many people who will shoot this gun better than I can.

I only consider myself to be slightly above average in pistol marksmanship, and I do feel that I've lost some longer range shots in a given caliber because of my high-mileage eyes.

 

[Kevin L]

I'm still prepared for them, LOL

I remember this ammo, and I intentionally avoided buying it, as I was afraid of being perceived as a crazy person who's worried and/or paranoid about zombies . . . which is what the prosecution will imply if I went to trial for a self-defense shooting with this ammo . . . and I'm not going to give anyone room to say I'm a nut job. I don't have bump stocks, I don't have trigger-activators, or 50 round drums, or armor-piercing rounds, or any other things designed to circumvent gun laws.

 

[Hummer]

Low velocity ammo is designed for single shot competition target rifles and is generally capable of shooting smaller groups at up to 100 yards than the standard velocity stuff. I was a competition shooter for many years and that is all I shot. If you can find a Anchutz or Walther single shot target rifle you will have the right combination.
Finding smallbore competitions is going to be harder. You will meet lots of fine people in those matches.

 

[DrHenley]

Mike Mah, the expert I trust most, says 1000 rounds for your primary weapon. He had a number for your pistol (which you are carrying as a backup) but I forget than number. It was smaller and more like 100. I only have 500 rounds plus maybe 125 for practice shooting.

If you only have tactical ammo (HP) you tend to use it too sparingly for practice. Besides practice ammo is much cheaper than tactical ammo. So you should have a lot more practice ammo than tactical ammo otherwise you won't practice. The practice ammo is for practice, so I will use it without worrying about denting my tactical supply.

125 rounds is one short practice session for me. Hardly worth driving to the range for that short of a session. When I was competing in IDPA and Steel Challenge, a practice session was more like 200 rounds of rimfire and 200 rounds of centerfire -. Several times a week.

 

[DrHenley]

Low velocity ammo is designed for single shot competition target rifles and is generally capable of shooting smaller groups at up to 100 yards than the standard velocity stuff.

Depends on the brand and whether the standard velocity stays subsonic.
Most American brands of standard velocity are not very accurate because they don't have very good quality control.
SK (German made) standard velocity (5 rounds) vs CCI standard velocity (5 rounds)

 

[DrHenley]

I remember this ammo, and I intentionally avoided buying it, as I was afraid of being perceived as a crazy person who's worried and/or paranoid about zombies . . . which is what the prosecution will imply if I went to trial for a self-defense shooting with this ammo

You mean you're actually worried about getting arrested for shooting zombies??

 

[Kevin L]

You mean you're actually worried about getting arrested for shooting zombies??

Maybe I'm just being paranoid . . . but I've seen lawyers do and say any number of things to win a case.

Using Zombie rounds in a self-defense shooting seems like a way to invite the prosecution to imply that you're needlessly paranoid, or living in a fantasy world.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I just bought a Heritage single-action revolver in .22 long rifle with an extra .22 Winchester Rimfire Magnum cylinder that can be swapped out in seconds.

It seems like your .22 LR subsonic would be ideal for such a gun.

I would imagine that the fact that it's a revolver means that there should be no relevance to the cycling issue, the barrel is 6 inches long . . . which--if loaded with subsonic--would ideally suited for vermin and pest control in the rat, squirrel, woodchuck, feral cats, bats, opposum, and raccoon category.

Such animals can carry disease--especially rabies--except for the rat and oppossum. For whatever reason, oppossum are resistant to rabies, as it seems to have something to do with them being marsupials. Rats can't spread rabies either except under some highly unlikely, oddball circumstances.

For certain applications, I deliberately carry a weaker cartridge, as I've seen any number of innocent, uninvolved third parties (often kids) killed by over-penetration and richochet, so the .22 subsonic would appeal to me.

You could buy a Heritage revolver like mine for about $135.00 brand new from Rural King.

The extra .22 Magnum cylinder can be ordered off the Internet for about $35.00, if that talks you into buying a gun just for your ammo. There are worse things for a prepper to have than a 6 shot .22 LR/.22 WRM revolver . . . that happens to be very accurate out to about 25 meters for a rabbit-sized target, or almost 35 meters for a man-sized sillouette target with .22 CCI Stingers.

Undoubtably there are many people who will shoot this gun better than I can.

I only consider myself to be slightly above average in pistol marksmanship, and I do feel that I've lost some longer range shots in a given caliber because of my high-mileage eyes.

I'd like to pick up another .22 SA, like the Heritage. I keep a .22 pistol in every one of our vehicles, atv's, utv and tractor. Most are Browning Buckmarks.
I've got a couple Rugar .22 SA's, one has the magnum cylinder. I'll set aside the sub sonic ammo for my lever action rifles and the SA pistols.
When I'm on the trap line I load my .22 with CB caps, I think thats what they're called, or .22 shorts.
I have a lot of problems with ground squirrels, chipmunks, pine squirrels and rattlesnakes around the house. I keep several rifles, and pistols, within easy reach to shoot the vermin. In the laundry room I keep a Marlin lever action .410 for the wife in case she sees a rattlesnake.
I think the sub sonic ammo certainly has a place around the house, just not in a semi auto.

 

[user 7000]

Maybe I'm just being paranoid . . . but I've seen lawyers do and say any number of things to win a case.

Using Zombie rounds in a self-defense shooting seems like a way to invite the prosecution to imply that you're needlessly paranoid, or living in a fantasy world.

Other than the lime green insert, that ammo is no different than their "Critical Defense" brand (which has a red insert). A mediocre defense attorney could laugh a prosecutor out of the court room in your scenario.

 

[DrHenley]

What I want to know is who's going to dig a bullet out of a zombie's brain to do a forensic analysis?

 

[Illini Warrior]

I don't see much of a court offensive punch claiming any of the OEM available ammo was toooo hostile or inhuman - you aren't a country's military violating the old venerable Geneva Convention basics ....

what could get you noosed is reloading with something devilish special like DIY explosive tips or encapsulated poison

 

[Schattentarn]

If you only have tactical ammo (HP) you tend to use it too sparingly for practice. Besides practice ammo is much cheaper than tactical ammo. So you should have a lot more practice ammo than tactical ammo otherwise you won't practice. The practice ammo is for practice, so I will use it without worrying about denting my tactical supply.

125 rounds is one short practice session for me. Hardly worth driving to the range for that short of a session. When I was competing in IDPA and Steel Challenge, a practice session was more like 200 rounds of rimfire and 200 rounds of centerfire -. Several times a week.

But I cannot compare myself to you in terms of being a shooter. I have only been shooting five years and almost all of that on an AR 15 only. My tactical ammo is no different from my practice ammo. Crap ammo is all I am ever going to get. My practices are very directed at weak areas with a little work on my strengths. Mike Mah differentiates between target shooting and combat shooting which is something I always keep in mind.

 

[DrHenley]

Mike Mah differentiates between target shooting and combat shooting which is something I always keep in mind.

IDPA is neither, it is defensive shooting. It's more real world scenario oriented than the "Run and Gun" types of competition like USPSA and IPSC. You get penalized for things like not using cover or leaving a loaded mag laying on the ground.
This was one of my favorite stages, LOL.

 

[MOS0231]

Does anyone have experience with .22 sub sonic ammo? During the dark days of obumas ammo shortages I had no choice but to buy whatever I could find. I ended up with probably 10,000 rounds of sub sonic ammo. It wasn't until a couple days ago that I actually tried it out. It doesn't cycle in my 10/22 very well. I guess I'll have to save it for my lever action rifles or SA pistols. These are harsh times indeed.

I have shot a lot of SK Standard Plus in my 10/22. I think I have only had maybe a dozen failure to fires out of thousands of rounds. Never had an issue with cycling the action.

 

[Trihonda]

Decision time!!! I need a new shotgun for home defense and I want a new 22 lr. for more range time. Economics at the range. 22 Lr is reasonable. 12 ga. is very good for home defense but will see limited range time. I have other firearms for home defense, so not like I will be sitting unarmed. 9 mm, 556, 6.5 Creedmoor and 7.62 x.39. The 22 lr with scope, will run about $800. The shotgun and small amount of ammo will run about $600. Shotgun will spend most of it's time standing in a bedroom corner. 22 lr will be headed to the range just about every month. Which ever one I get, the other firearm will have to wait for about 6 months. So which way would you all go?

ahh the old shotgun for home defense bit…. I dislike a shotgun for HD very much, but some love them. What Did you end up getting?

 

[tmttactical]

ahh the old shotgun for home defense bit…. I dislike a shotgun for HD very much, but some love them. What Did you end up getting?

I got the 22 rifle (Ruger Precision Rimfire). I have still not made up my mind on the shotgun. Since this not going to be a hunting tool or a range firearm, I am still deciding on a price point. Being Mr. El Cheapo, I am reluctant to spend very much on a firearm that is basically going to be sitting against a wall collecting dust. The shotgun will be a semi-auto type but I have not decided on either a mag fed version (more expensive) or a tube type. The tube type is cheaper but the mag fed reloads much faster. I also got a 9mm carbine (Keltec sub-2000) that is currently doing HD duty. I have a lot of 124 grain HP ammo for the Keltec but no shotgun ammo, that is another reason for putting the shotgun farther down the list.