ammo

[Graybeard]

how much ammo should one keep on hand? I also beilve that bullets in paw will become hot trade item as well .

[Grey Mann]

March 2011 and you ask this?

As much as you can reasonably afford for each weapon to the limit of not being disproportionate in respect to your other preps.

It's my humble belief that worrying about trade in any realizable PAW is not a worthwhile endeavor.

[bae]

My goal:

[Alpha-17]

My goal:

Including the Ark of the Covenant? Ambitious to say the least.


OT: How much ammo? As much as you feel you need, can afford, can store, and want. There are probably a dozen threads on this already, but there will be people who say 1,000 rds is too many, while others say 15,000 isn't enough. When I first started, I was told 2,000 for rifles/carbines, 500 for pistols and shotguns.

[omega_man]

My personal preference is at least 1k rds reserved for SHTF for each caliber and 1k on hand to train with. My preps are above this number, but I think it is a resonable start. I prefer to keep ratio the weighted towards training ammo because shooting skills quickly perish.

[Redeyes]

If you've got the money fill up a couple of these http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/produ ... d=CSE_Bing in the caliber of your choice and call it a day. Ammo is heavy, good shelving is important.

[AKFTW]

Also, in before teh loxorz, this has been covered so many times in the last few months.

[Bender711]

Having the lake city plant dumping directly into your closet might be enough.

[landser]

I am in a race with DHS so I feel at least 850 million is a good number since they are buying 625 milllion I feel I need even more. Since they are better shooters than I am and must know something I don't i will need moar then them so 850 thats my story and I am sticking to it. I am now taking donations to help my 850 million round drive.

[aus.templar]

several more than everyone else you know or have heard of...

[Liff]

I b t l.

The first good question is, How much ammo can you carry? If you have to bug out, that is how much you "need".

Ammo is not going to be a hot trade item, or even a trade item.

The best reason to stock up is to insure against shortages or price spikes. How many rounds you "need" is easy to figure out. Just like calories consumed in a day for food planning, how many rounds do you shoot in a year? That is a 'one year supply'. A lifetime supply is the number of shooting years you have left multiplied by your one year supply.

Some people like to make up numbers that make them feel warm and fuzzy. All right. Typically these warm, fuzzy numbers end in three zeros. Meh. Rather than just making up warm, fuzzy numbers I would recommend having a goal like Bae's. Or to have a realistic plan on what you "need".

[polliedes]

I have been frequently told to stock what you can carry and/or stock a minimum of 1k for magazine fed weapons and 300 for bolt, revolvers etc.

My personal reality is to stock as much as I can afford. I am trying not to use credit to purchase anything.

[Yaivenov]

Ammo is not going to be a hot trade item, or even a trade item.

While we should be focusing on preparing before everything goes for a wicker ride, I would like to note that this particular statement isn't so.

Here's a first hand account of the fecal effluent being dispersed at high velocity (the specific situation: being besieged in a Bosnian city): http://www.tacticalintelligence.net/blo ... ccount.htm

[Kutter_0311]

Lots. Just... Lots. Keep buying more, the prices aren't going down. Ever.

[Liff]

Here's a first hand account of the fecal effluent being dispersed at high velocity (the specific situation: being besieged in a Bosnian city): http://www.tacticalintelligence.net/blo ... ccount.htm

That guy writes like FPS Russia talks. As in: English is his first language, he does not speak any other language, and he is trying too hard to sound/write like someone who speaks English as a second language.

Either way, I don't think that anyone who believes that "ammo is going to be the new currency" is going to change their mind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm

So, if you could, please stock up on 357 SIG. I'll trade for that with you. I mean, wouldn't this make the most sense? The hard to find ammo is going to be harder to find, so it would be worth more in trade. The basic idea of scarcity. Gold is more scarce than silver, so gold trades at a premium. 50 rounds of 357 SIG would be worth about 500 rounds of 9mm based on scarcity. So go ahead and stock up on 357 SIG, 300 RSAUM, and 25 ACP. Just imagine how valuable, based on scarcity like gold and silver, those rounds will be worth. And this way you will only have to stock a few hundred rounds instead of thousands.

If you think that paragraph sounds silly, you now know how silly "trading ammo in the paw" sounds to me.

[Yaivenov]

If you think that paragraph sounds silly, you now know how silly "trading ammo in the paw" sounds to me.

*shrug* It may sound silly to you, but the Balkans and Argentina are two real life examples (that have also occurred in the last twenty years) where people did have to resort to barter, and ammunition was one of the more desirable items and/or necessary items. Go with what you like, your feelings or historical fact, it's your call, but try to remember that as far as I can tell, no one here is advocating abandoning a sensible balanced approach to preparedness in favor of just stocking up on trade goods.

[Fosgate]

I personally keep my stocks around:
10,000rds 7.62x39
10,000rds 5.56 penetrator ammo
50,000rds .22lr
5,000rds of .40S&W
1,000rds of .45LC
2,000rds of .17HMR
1,000rds .50BMG
5,000rds of .308

But I shoot a lot. Also check your local ordinance, some places will have a limit due to safety. Place I used to live had a city ordinance of 3,000rnds. Always account that if your place catches fire to inform firefighters that you have a large stockpile. They'll just let it burn but I can't blame them, I would want to get shot and killed trying to protect property.

[Liff]

The real idea for me is the guy who is going to trade me one bullet for the rest of my rounds.

My basic plan is just like cigarettes; but instead of, "This is my last one" I am going to say, "I am on my last magazine."

[Kutter_0311]

The real idea for me is the guy who is going to trade me one bullet for the rest of my rounds.

My basic plan is just like cigarettes; but instead of, "This is my last one" I am going to say, "I am on my last magazine."

Not all environments or people are conducive to trading. Running 'lone wolf' can make it harder, I like to have someone provide overwatch when I deal with people I don't know. Then again, I also like people not to know where I live. Or my name, if I can help it...

[Liff]

<--Not a lone wolf. My bs opinion is that your support group and team is almost as important as water. Have you ever been so sick you couldn't walk? Not think of this type of thing in the paw. Yeah, lone wolf is a bad idea.

Stocking up on ammo is a good idea, within reason, just like everything else. For example: I recently found out how much it sucks to move states when a sizable stash needs to be moved. :/

[Fosgate]

Exactly Kutter, plus in survival mode the plan should be protect yourself but try to avoid engagements if possible when ammo is limited.

[Kutter_0311]

Oh, I agree, lone wolf is a lose-lose, IMO. My wife and I have matching rifles and pistols, and a good stash of ammo. Other members of my group are interested in getting matching rifles after shooting ours. Uniformity can be handy...

[Liff]

Exactly Kutter, plus in survival mode the plan should be protect yourself but try to avoid engagements if possible when ammo is limited.

Man, fuck my ammo supply, I am avoiding 'engagements' period. Even if I am inside of an ER, I am going to avoid 'engagements'.

[FrANkNstEin]

Personally, i try not to get under the "rule of thousand", meaning that i try to keep 1000+ rounds around for my two main calibers:

.223 and .357 (both out of a rifle)

I usually have more, but 1000 rounds is when i stock up again no matter what.

Currently, i´m working that a bit up as i want to have 2000+ in .223.

In .22lr, i´m currently at an amount of 3000+

All in all, not that great but ok for me.

As far as fires go: ammunition cooking off is usually not that big a hazard because the bullet is heavier then the case, and when ammo is not in the chamber of a gun the case will fly away or split before the bullet goes anywhere. So it´s really not a big hazard unless someone is really close to some ammo thats cooking off. It´s not like a machine gun going off uncontrolled, like, at all. It´s more like localized little charges of explosives going off with a very small amount of shrapnell.

Not to say it ain´t dangerous at all, but sometimes people make more fuss about it then it really is.