How much Ammo is “Enough”?

[Franco]

Simple, there is no such thing as "Enough ammo".

 

[ACE (in CT)]

Someone mentioned having ammo for guns you don't own ...

Many years ago, When cleaning out my grandfather's stuff, I found a mostly full box of .32 Winchester Special ammo. Not knowing much about it, and never having known Pop to shoot anything but .35 Rem for deer, I of course decided I had to keep it. I had. the thought in the back of my head to look for a deal on a Model 94 ... but it never happened, Seems everyone with a model 94 thinks it's made of gold. The box sat in a gun safe for maybe 15 years until a conversation with a friend lamenting having a .32 with no ammo available anywhere. I don't think he truly believed I knew the difference between a .32acp and a .32WS until I handed him the box, still tied up in an old bakery string, like a proper Italian does it. I should ask him if he ever shot anything with it, I had forgotten all about that story.

Anyone else have old ammo for a gun you don't own, or never owned?

 

[krish]

That is reasonable minimum at first glance but the problem is for storage space and for some calibers the price.
If you have 10, 20, 30 rifles or more, then it becomes the issue of storage capacity.
I have seen some collections of people on the forum, and it would be impossible to have that amount of ammo with all those guns at home!

Then the price:
Imagine 700 NE? impossible to have 2k quantity of ammo. (for 100 USD per round, 200.000 USD worth of ammo for one caliber only)

Lets put it this way:
I have ammo that all my safes are 100% full.

I agree with you. I dont have doubles or calibers like 577 which cost $100 a round.
For most of my Big bores j keep sabout couple of hundred factory rounds. How ever I keep enough components to be able to load 2k rounds.
Krish

 

[krish]

That is reasonable minimum at first glance but the problem is for storage space and for some calibers the price.
If you have 10, 20, 30 rifles or more, then it becomes the issue of storage capacity.
I have seen some collections of people on the forum, and it would be impossible to have that amount of ammo with all those guns at home!

Then the price:
Imagine 700 NE? impossible to have 2k quantity of ammo. (for 100 USD per round, 200.000 USD worth of ammo for one caliber only)

Lets put it this way:
I have ammo that all my safes are 100% full.

You are right.
I dont have any caliber that cost $100 a round. Most is about mid $20 a round. For such calibers i keep about 200 factory rounds and keep enough components to load 2k rounds.
Krish

 

[rookhawk]

Very interesting thread called ‘How many Guns are Too Many?’ Some also took the opportunity to discuss/ comment there about ‘How many guns are enough?’ That got me wondering, How much ammo is enough?

Some ammo is easy to find, or usually is. Years ago, I’d just replace what I had shot after a hunting trip or range session and call it good. Oh sure I might pick up a little extra here and there, or buy something new but since supply was almost. Always available, I was never worried. That changed drastically and I suspect many or most of us started buying and storing more, when we could find it.

For example: I ended up with my Grandfather’s deer rifle in .35 REM, I had just 1, not quite full, box of 200gr Corelocks. That became a quest, and several years later I think I’m set for another generation or 3.

So, what’s your thinking on how much ammo is enough? I’m looking forward to the (expected) very varied Comments.

For near extinct calibers, I don't think you can have too much. My definition of near extinct would be: 318WR, 333 Jeff, 350 Rigby, 280 Ross, 577NE, 450/400 3.25", .465, 425NE, 475, 600/577 REWA, etc. (And double it for those above that are rimless but a rimmed version also exists)

For non-extinct, 100-200 pieces of brass and the correct bullets for the caliber are enough. (e.g. 470NE)

For the super-common calibers, I don't worry at all about having all the goodies, I spend my money owning enough of the popular powders, primers, and brass to not be a victim. You can always figure out later on that you needed more powder for one than another, or more primers for one than another, provided you have enough unassembled components.

 

[ACE (in CT)]

During the last administration, when the ATF had it's zero tolerance policy, a small LGS owner died, and his daughters were too afraid to continue the business, for fear of getting in trouble.

They had a slow and long "going out of business sale" for everything except firearms, that probably lasted 4+ months. I bought some odds and ends, mostly some ammo, magazines and some Black Powder/MZ components, but I resisted the urge to buy cartridges in calibers I was pretty certain I would never own guns for. I guess truth be told, I was probably afraid I might just have to buy some real expensive rifles since he had a fair stock of big bore stuff.

I remember 9.3x??, .416 and .458wm specifically, but there was some other oddball stuff. That was before I had been to Africa, and found this forum, Looking back, I bet I would have been about to pass along a few boxes to guys here. Oh well, an opportunity missed.
Not the first or the last one I'm sure!

 

[MS 9x56]

Depends on what you are using it for.

 

[Safari Dave]

Someone mentioned having ammo for guns you don't own ...

Many years ago, When cleaning out my grandfather's stuff, I found a mostly full box of .32 Winchester Special ammo. Not knowing much about it, and never having known Pop to shoot anything but .35 Rem for deer, I of course decided I had to keep it. I had. the thought in the back of my head to look for a deal on a Model 94 ... but it never happened, Seems everyone with a model 94 thinks it's made of gold. The box sat in a gun safe for maybe 15 years until a conversation with a friend lamenting having a .32 with no ammo available anywhere. I don't think he truly believed I knew the difference between a .32acp and a .32WS until I handed him the box, still tied up in an old bakery string, like a proper Italian does it. I should ask him if he ever shot anything with it, I had forgotten all about that story.

Anyone else have old ammo for a gun you don't own, or never owned?

This has been my "Achilles Heel," a couple of times.

My brain thinks that only way to handle that precarious situation is to buy a gun that chambers it....

Can it be dealt with another way??????

 

[MS 9x56]

If I don’t own a rifle in that caliber I don’t buy it. My issue comes up when I trade a rifle and no longer have a use for that ammo. I usually give it or sell it to a friend that has a rifle that uses it.

 

[MontanaGrant]

Some harder to find ammo I will pick up if it’s a decent deal. I like oddball stuff and if you want it, often it is super expensive IF…..you can even find it.

I just picked up some 400/350 nitro express and .240 rimless Magnum Kynoch ammo.

I didn’t need it but I figured someone on here may need some at some point, or I may come across a good deal on a rifle in that because ammo isn’t available for it.

An example being .458 Win magnum. I had 8 boxes of ammo before I ever got a gun in that caliber. But I had less than $300 in the ammo! Sure beat paying $100 a box because I needed ammo when I got the gun.

As far as quantity: I just bought another 14 boxes of S&B 6.5x55 softpoint. $15.75 a box, I can’t even handload it for that price.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Very interesting thread called ‘How many Guns are Too Many?’ Some also took the opportunity to discuss/ comment there about ‘How many guns are enough?’ That got me wondering, How much ammo is enough?

Some ammo is easy to find, or usually is. Years ago, I’d just replace what I had shot after a hunting trip or range session and call it good. Oh sure I might pick up a little extra here and there, or buy something new but since supply was almost. Always available, I was never worried. That changed drastically and I suspect many or most of us started buying and storing more, when we could find it.

For example: I ended up with my Grandfather’s deer rifle in .35 REM, I had just 1, not quite full, box of 200gr Corelocks. That became a quest, and several years later I think I’m set for another generation or 3.

So, what’s your thinking on how much ammo is enough? I’m looking forward to the (expected) very varied Comments.

@ACE (in CT)
You can never have to much ammo.
Read reloading components as I very rarely but factory ammo. Only 22lr have around 3-4000 rounds and shotgun ammo, about 300 slug loads and 1,000 trap and game loads mixed.
All other ammo I reload and have enough components for my lifetime and half my sons lifetime. Enough to load around 6-6,500 rounds of various calibres.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Flewis.
Forget the Peterbuilt.
Give me a nice W model Kenworth with a 609 cat, 20 speed spicer and two speed Eaton diffs.
The reason for the spicer box is now days most have autos, a few can handle a road ranger and fuck all can drive a spicer.
Your ammo would be safer because no one could drive the truck to steal it.
Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Scott CWO]

Wow! I guess I better stock up compared to some of you guys!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Every year before season starts I reload 20 rounds .300 Holland & Holland ammunition with my Lee Loader. When I am able to shoot more than 15 deer/chamois with, it was a good year. When I shoot more than 20, it was a very good year and I had to reload again.

HWL

@HWL
Some one once asked me what the difference was between 4 used tyres and 100used condoms.
I didn't know.
Answer.
4 are Goodyear's the 100 are a bloody great year.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Never shoot a large caliber man with a small caliber bullet.

@SaintPanzer
Mightn't kill him but put enough lead in him and it will slow him down enough for you to get away if'n y'all have good running shoes.
Bob

 

[Flewis]

@Flewis.
Forget the Peterbuilt.
Give me a nice W model Kenworth with a 609 cat, 20 speed spicer and two speed Eaton diffs.
The reason for the spicer box is now days most have autos, a few can handle a road ranger and fuck all can drive a spicer.
Your ammo would be safer because no one could drive the truck to steal it.
Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

Bob: there are still some of us left who can handle the twins. My first 4 trucks had two sticks.

 

[Pondoro]

Hmm..some ex. mil vehicle/truck without electronics is a good idea.. to remain mobile after an EMP:...

 

[Paul K]

Bob: there are still s.ome of us left who can handle the twins. My first 4 trucks had two sticks

4X4, Quadra Plex, Tri Plex, 5 and a 4.

 

[Northern Shooter]

In terms of my big game hunting ammo I have the following:

458WM - I bought 660 rounds when I first bought this rifle, plinked away 2/3rds of that in a couple months.

375HH - 120 rounds, lots of cheap PPU and some Norma for hunting.

416 Rigby - bought 200 rounds

470 NE - bought 200 rounds

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

Someone mentioned having ammo for guns you don't own ...

Many years ago, When cleaning out my grandfather's stuff, I found a mostly full box of .32 Winchester Special ammo. Not knowing much about it, and never having known Pop to shoot anything but .35 Rem for deer, I of course decided I had to keep it. I had. the thought in the back of my head to look for a deal on a Model 94 ... but it never happened, Seems everyone with a model 94 thinks it's made of gold. The box sat in a gun safe for maybe 15 years until a conversation with a friend lamenting having a .32 with no ammo available anywhere. I don't think he truly believed I knew the difference between a .32acp and a .32WS until I handed him the box, still tied up in an old bakery string, like a proper Italian does it. I should ask him if he ever shot anything with it, I had forgotten all about that story.

Anyone else have old ammo for a gun you don't own, or never owned?

I wouldn’t say I have a lot of ammo for guns I don’t own but I’ve found that non-shooters will sometimes give me ammo they somehow have come into possession of. They don’t know what to do with it and I am happy to take any free ammo. I can give it away to someone with that chambering later or I might own a gun in that chambering down the road.

On the more uncommon end I recently got a box of old 300 weatherby magnum. Pretty cool packaging with a tiger on it. I’ll almost certainly never own a rifle in the chambering but who knows? One box hardly takes up any space.