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Posted: 10/8/2007 7:18:19 PM EDT
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I get asked this question by friends who are just getting started in ammo storage. Not how much should I store for shooting... the answer to that is buy it cheap and stack it deep! As much as you can afford and justify. What is your number of rounds for SHTF stash. Realistic number. How many rounds are really necessary? 1000? 2000? More? I mean, how many rounds could you really go through in a shtf envrionment? Would it be better to store 1000 rounds of 75gr 5.56TAP instead of FMJ Ball ammo (XM193/855, Q3131/a, etc)? What do you guys think? |
This poll is more so I can give a better idea of how much my friends/others should have... I have way more than I will ever need...  But I always buy more of premium stuff now.I have set the poll up for multiple answers. Pick quantity and type. |
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1000rds for one rifle may be enough. But what if you decided to resupply some buds who show up with little ammo (didn't have much, expended it all getting to you, etc)? Heck, if the SHTF was extreme enough, you might want to help the local NG unit with supplies so they could help out/fight off the zombies/Mexicans/Commies (whoever). I'd lay back at least 3K per rifle as an untouchable stash, personally. But I acquired most of my ammo when it was still $200/1000 rds, not this $400/1000 rds reality. |
Depends greatly on where you are. Some areas that are remote I would want more (better chance of living a long time). Some areas 1000 will do ( middle of Houston you arn't going to live that long). To all that keep 50k rounds how long can you really live? One hundred years ago the average life-span was only around 48 years. Now with SHTF and everybody shooting at you how long will you last? Just a few thoughts. Ken on Satori (also known today as the Prophet of Doom)
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| Are you "bunkering in" where you are or are you "headin' for the hills"? If the former, how much can you afford knowing you'll need other subsistance supplies (ie. water filters, food, etc.). If the later, how much can you hump on your back? Your SUV or pickup full of ammo is going to be ripe for the pickin' because the zombies will figure "big car/truck = lots of stuff inside" and they'll want it in droves. |
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I have about 800 rds. of M855, 4,000 total of xm193 and Q3131, 3,000 of Bh 75gr. blue box, about 1,000 rds of AE223, 2,000 rounds of NATO 9mm 124gr. fmj and maybe 500 rds of #8 birdshot. I'd still like to get some more BH 75gr or 77gr SMK, some 9mm 147gr HP (at least 1,000 rounds) and 500 rds each of #1 buck and slugs. The only thing I shoot of what I list is the AE223 and the birdshot. I forgot to mention that I have about 700 rds of 115gr 9mm for target shooting. I figure in a mild SHTF what I have would be way over the top but in a long term serious SHTF scenario what I have could be grossly inadequate. Maybe if the world heads off in the right direction I'll shoot it all up or sell it, but in the meantime I'm an ammo collector. As far as prices go, unless the military abandons the 5.56 round prices will continue to rise. I don't see an end in sight to conflict in the Middle East. If we get tangled up with Iran , that could pull other Mid east countries like Syria into the fray not to mention Russia and China. Heck 5.56 may soon be unavailable in any form or totally cost prohibitive. Whew let me climb down from my doomsday soap box I'm getting dizzy.  |
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I currently have ~2000 rds of 5.56 of that though 300 is some Silver Bear crap that is totally unreliable to shot. It consistently has FTE in my weapons. I also have 2500 rds of 230Grn .45ACP Ball 2000+ rds of 9mm Ball 500 rds of .40SW I have just started stock piling ammo and added the .40SW. I had always been told not to shot the wolf laquer coated stuf cause it would gum up the chamber, has anyone had any experience with the newer polymer coated? Just looking for a cheaper solution for stock and plinking. Ultimately I want to get to at least 5K rds of each caliber with the exception of a couple of hunting rifles in 22-250 and 270 which would be 1K rds of each of those. then plus2-5K rds of .22 for small game Let me know you guys thoughts on the new wolf stuff and if you have had similar experience with the Silver Bear or if I just need to try another extractor and spring? Even though I have tried it in two separate AR's with the same FTE issues. Thanks, Joddy |
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If you are bugging out, then only have as much as you can carry and still have the essentials of what you need to survive with. If you are bugging IN, well then the sky's the limit, ammo forts, etc .Anything less than 1,000 and you are working with a very small amount to stake your future on...YMMV. |
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I like to maintain 5k of the most accurate ammo that i can get at a decent price as my primary SHTF stash. I also maintain 3k of 2nd quality(range) ammo in the event i need to supply friends. Also i keep a good supply of long range ammo for my Rem 700. 5k to feed the side arm. And we all probably have 10k+ rimfire but if you've gotta resort to that, i think you're probably already dead. My SHTF cache: 5k Fed 55gr 223B 3k UMC and Ultramax 55gr SP, FMJ, HP 5k 9mm UMC 1k Fed Gold 168gr .308 I'll be adding some 75gr TAP soon (this will be loaded in all SHTF mags). Not many zombies will be able to withstand this! |
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Think about it. How many times have you and a couple of friends have gone to a range for a couple of hours and oops went through six or seven hundred rounds. Now imagine firing in ernest defending your life, family and property against chinese submarines, giant grasshoppers, or hords of man eating zombies*. You can go through a couple of hundred rounds in a hour. Now ask yourself, is 1000 rounds enough? * I use such examples loosly of course, based on the many recent and past B movies as a examples of hypothetical vs realistic issues of potential need. |
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If Hitlery Klinton becomes dictator of the USA, I want to have enough ammo to train and practice with regularly for the rest of my life. It is reasonable to assume the she-bitch will, at the very least, make ammo utterly unaffordable if her coup attempt is successful. 
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i say just buy what you will need and shoot, screw all that hoohaa about zombies and SHTF....waste of time. just like meteors are going to be hitting us, states falling off, etc...yea yea. just buy what you need, supply won't be so taxed, who know's prices might even come down to more managable levels... that's ok though , buy it all..then when the money crunches hit, ill buy it all off ya's CHEAP..... 
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Blasphemy When there is a "money crunch" it means your pieces of cloth with dead guys on will not be worth shit. Try to feed yourself and or shoot someone with currency is going to be mighty tough. Good luck with that. |
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To me SHTF is happening right now with the prices of ammo being what they are and the uncertain future of said ammo supplies and prices. Being stocked up for SHTF in the scenario means I can continue to shoot through these tough times and enjoy my firearms and ammo and such. Now having that ammo whore want-a-be side to me, it pains me to shoot said ammo.
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You really should capitalize "I". Makes you look ignorant.  |
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I try to buy a few boxes everyweek, but most of my friends are just starting out. I have been doing this for a long time. Buy 2 boxes, put one box away. So I am trying to get a legitimate number to tell them they should have stored away so they kind of have a "goal" to work towards. Me personally, I don't think you will ever need to use it, but boy scouts is kind of engraved in my skull- Be Prepared. Especially with the DEMS in '08. That scares me more than anything else in the world right now. Those people, say we are nuts, well I quote the all too familiar: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good..." Karl Marx's long lost daughter, Billary Clinton. |
that's what i'm sayin'!!! I'm stocking up now because I honestly think I wont be able to afford to in the future. Ammo can last a mighty long time, so I look at it as guaranteeing my shooting fun for then rest of my adult life. |
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I would not feel comfortable using ammo as a trade item during an extended SHTF event. Someone might use it to try and relieve me of the rest of my stuff. I have well over 10 K of M855 and M193 mix. This was bought a few years ago when I would complain about paying $150 per K. I listened to some of the advice here at that time. Glad I did. Normally I am not that smart. When talking about SHTF stash of ammunition, I always tell people my minimums are 1K per rifle/shooter or the ability to reload all your magazines three times, which ever is greater. Having said that... My SHTF stash of ammo though consists of an 8 mag chest rig, a 6 mag chest rig, 2 mags to load into the guns, and two 50 cal cans containing 3 x 120 rd bandolieers and 4 loaded mags in each can (also has 200 rds of 9mm per can). This is all Hornady 75 gr TAP (5.56mm version). This adds up to a little over 1,400 rounds of the 5.56mm TAP. This is for two people and two guns. Though I plan on adding another 1K of 75 gr TAP in a couple of months, as funds allow, I feel comfortable with the amount of ammo I have on hand for emergencies (TAP). In theory, I could use some of the M855 or M193 loads if I ran out of the TAP. In reality, I don't think it would ever come to that. The worse the situation became, the more important it would be to maintain a low profile, especially with a family. I am a LEO and am able to purchase directly from Hornady, which is one of the deciding factors as to why I went with Hornady over Black Hills. While at work, I use the Departments weapons and their ammo, or I don't won't have a job. My stash is for to and from work, while off duty, and for my family. Another way of looking at things is that with the current pricing, there is not that much difference, price wise, between good mil spec ammo (M855 or XM193) and a good performance round such as the TAP. When people ask $500 per K for M855 with a straight face, well then mil spec doesn't look as attractive. |
Family ecause well they are family but the rest of them should have been prepared or not Anti's turned Pro-Gun because of need. If they are getting anything from me they better be doing something that benefits me
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Besides shooting zombies, think of how much a box, brick or case of ammo will be worth to the tards who did not plan ahead. Note that that does not mean "ammo whore", it means prepared. I figure I will need more than enough to kill those who want to take what I have, support friends and family and trade for 18-year-old women. A big pile of ammo is not just for shooting. Your money will be worthless. |
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