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Ammo Weights for Survival Situations Chart

317K views 53 replies 39 participants last post by  daddyusmaximus 
#1 ·
I don't know if this has ever been posted here before but they were talking about it on another forum I read and thought someone here might find it useful.

This chart breaks down how many shells equal a pound for each caliber.

Interesting tidbits: AK-47 ammo weighs about 1 pound for every 27 rounds where as .22 ammo is 133 rounds per lb.
So basically you could carry 100 rounds of AK ammo which is around 3.6lbs or 500 rounds of .22 at 3.7 lbs. lol maybe the .22 survival gun enthusiasts are on to something.

Pistol Calibers

.380
Rounds per pound: 47.06
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 2.13

9mm Luger
Hornady 115gr JHP/XTP
Rounds per pound: 38.10
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 2.63

.38 Special
Rounds per pound: 34.78
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 2.88

.357Mag.
Remington UMC 125gr SJHP
Rounds per pound: 30.77
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 3.25

.357Mag.
Handload 158gr JHP
Rounds per pound: 28.07
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 3.56

40S&W
Rounds per pound: 28.07
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 3.56

.44magnum
200gr Hornady XTP HP
Rounds per pound: 22
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 4.57

.44magnum
240gr LSWC Bullet
Rounds per pound: 19.7
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 5.07

.45ACP
230gr Winchester Ball
Rounds per pound: 21.33
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 4.69

RifleCalibers

.22 LR
Remington Golden 36gr PHP
Rounds per pound: 133.33
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 0.75

.223/5.56X45
(milsurp) British Radway Green SS109 63gr
Rounds per pound: 37.21
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 2.69

30-30 Winchester (a.k.a. .30WCF)
Winchester Silvertip 170gr flat nose
Rounds per pound: 20.28
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 4.92

.243Whinchester
75gr Hornady V-max Handloads
Rounds per pound: 22.22
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 4.5

.308 Winchester
Remington UMC 150gr FMJ
Rounds per pound: 19.05
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 5.25

.308 Winchester
168gr BTHP Match Bullet
Rounds per pound: 18.67
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 5.35

7mm Remington Magnum
Winchester 175gr Power Point
Rounds per pound:14.68
Weight per 100 rounds(lbs):6.81

7.62X39
Wolf Steel Case 122gr FMJ
Rounds per pound:27.59
Weight per 100 rounds(lbs):3.63

Shotgun Calibers

12GA 2 3/4" Slug
Federal HI-Shok Slug
Rounds per pound: 10.53
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 9.50

12GA 2 3/4" #4 Shot
Remington Express 4BK
Rounds per pound: 9.30
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 10.75

12GA 2 3/4" #7 1/2 Shot
Federal #7 1/2 Shot
Rounds per pound: 10.53
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 9.75

12GA 2 3/4"00 Buckshot
Federal Express 9 Pellet
Rounds per pound: 9.76
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 10.25

12GA 3" Slug
Federal 3" Rifled Slug
Rounds per pound: 8.89
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 11.25
 
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#4 ·
This chart confirms what most of us already know:

a) Small, less powerful rounds generally weight less
b) if you have an intermediate-power cartridge in your long gun, don't carry bucketloads of sidearm pistol ammo, you'd be better off with a couple boxes for the sidearm and use the longarm as primary
 
#8 ·
I would defiantly agree with the above statement. Having a handgun/carbine that are chambered for the same cartridge does not make much sense to me, but alot of folks are under the impression that pistol ammunition somehow weighs less in comparison.

7.62x39mm is very close in weight as 357 magnum

44magnum and 7.62x51mm are also very close in weight.

11B
 
#6 ·
Good list ... it almost looks like a list I compiled and posted myself on the old rec.guns usenet years ago. It's almost identical except he excluded the 300 WSM and the 30-06 along with the 410 and 20 gauge stuff I had included. And I wonder why he substituted the rarely used 170 grain Winchester Silvertip in 30-30 rather than the much more commonly used Power Point in 150 grain I had put on my list?

I had the 150 grain 30-30 at

30-30 Winchester (a.k.a. .30WCF)
Winchester Power Point 150gr round nose
Rounds per pound: 21.52
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 4.64

That's at a weight of 0.743 ounces per cartridge which is 325 grains, which is correct given a 150 grain pill and 175 grains total of brass, powder and primer. (150 gr pill + 31 grains IMR 4895 + 9 gr primer + 135 gr brass case.)

Compare that to his numbers and it's evident that something is wrong with his math as a lighter pill does not equate to more pounds per 100.

30-30 Winchester (a.k.a. .30WCF)
Winchester Silvertip 170gr flat nose
Rounds per pound: 20.28
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 4.92
It appears to me that, perhaps, he figured pill weight only and did not figure brass, powder and primers in his total weight.

Matter of fact, as I check his "per 100" numbers it appears that he has quite a few incorrect totals.

I've got to go to the man cave and pull some cartridges and run the weights on the RCBS Charge Master ... maybe my original numbers were incorrect and I need to go back and double check them but just running the numbers through a calculator they appear correct. We might want to double-check though.
 
#11 ·
I rearranged the chart in ascending order of live round weight instead of round type.

Text Font Line Number


Basically 10 lbs of weight will get you about:

22LR - 1,400
9mm/.223 - 400
7.62x39 - 275
12ga 00 buck - 100

Or for six 30 round rifle and five 12 round pistol magazines:

180 - 7.62x39 = 6.49 lbs
180 - .223 = 4.51 lbs
60 - .45acp = 2.77 lbs
60 - 9mm = 1.53 lbs

None of this info will have me turning in my 45 and 7.62 for a 9mm and .223, but anyone planning on walking long distances and carrying 1000's of rounds may want to consider the lighter calibers.
 
#12 ·
Don't forget to calculate the average weight of a standard magazine(s) per caliber.

For an example.

.223/5.56X45
(milsurp) British Radway Green SS109 63gr
Rounds per pound: 37.21
Weight per 100 rounds (lbs): 2.69
Weight of Magpul(30) x 3.3 : 1.03
Combined weight: 3.72

Making it a 38% weight increase over the ammo alone. I find that info useful. The lighter I am (personally) the better.
 
#20 ·
Good point sir.

I have a very precise scale at the house, and have weighed various things with it, to include loaded magazines. I'm currently not able to look at my notes, but can give the following info in all accuracy due to my current place of employment...

USGI M14 20rd magazine

7.62x51mm ( M80 BALL) ........ 20 rds

Total weight for above: 1.5lbs exact.

So...... 100 rds of M80 loaded into 5- 20rd M14 magazines = 7.5 lbs


Not the lightest ammo out there, but I prefer it because of past/current experiences with what this load (along with the type of rifle) is capable of.

Note: I view the sidearm as the backup to my rifle of choice....ie....secondary

I generally do not carry near as much ammo for it with me, as compared to the rifle...ie....primary.



11B
 
#22 ·
I am a big fan of the 357 combo. In my case a Rossi 92 and S&W 686. Part of my decision process is based on reloading. Using a Lee whak-a-mole style a complete set comes in at 5 lbs, using a Lyman 310 it is about 6. 2 lb of 2400 and 1000 primers pushes it up to slightly under 8 lbs. Given my base load of 300 rounds I now has access to almost 1300 rounds, just not all at once. One of the keys to making this work is the recovery of spent cases. If you are moving a semi-auto throwing brass makes reloading impractical. I can recover 90+ percent of my brass with a lever action and a revolver.
 
#23 ·
Hey fragout, long time no hear. You still there?

Bottom line to all the above is a non lethal hit from a center fire rifle will incapacitate someone much quicker than a lethal hit will from a handgun save for a spinal cord sever/crush or cranial vault evacuation.

Assuming I will have to supply my own and there won't be any resupply sources a 308/30.06 will be first up and a 6" GP100 357 with 222 grain cast bullets as back up. For food gathering a Ruger 22 MkIII w/ 2-7X scope will do nicely for small stuff. Mine will shoot about 1.5" at 50 yards.
 
#36 ·
I have been considering a lever action lately - Cody Conagher is known for his Cowboy action shooting levers, and sells a tuned version for around $1500. What interests me is a .45 ACP version is available. (YES, .45 ACP not LC - he builds them for 'Wild Bunch' shoots.) With 18" barrel, this would be very handy, especially in a take-down version. Not cheap, but with the 1911 and this I would feel very well armed in a scenario where I had to walk from Phoenix to my BOL in Northern AZ. In reality though, a cheap Marlin .30-30 would probably be a more effective weapon, and cheaper to boot. I do love the idea of carrying just one ammo, and an 1873 clone takedown would be pretty classy you have to admit.

I would, however, likely be better off with my AR pistol and the 9mm SIG. Weapons and ammo would be lighter. As I get older though, the old school approach just kind of appeals to me, know what I mean?
 
#38 ·
Impressive effort on caliber and weight. This should be added to everyones resource material. Those who serve or have served understand the balance of ammunition and gear. The Mission dictates ammunition and gear configuration.

However, no one wants to be in a position of great firearms without ammunition. Lived in Wyoming back in the 70's, thier thoughts are that an unloaded firearm is nothing more then a club.

Also if you are looking for ammunition at low pricing and low shipping at $5.99 per order. Even with the heavy weights mentioned in the above post. Take a look at FOXTROT GEAR.

Good Luck
Best Regards
WB
 
#39 ·
My 17 HMR 20 gr weighs 0.09 pr troy oz. 2.6 g CEN-TEC gram scale.

About 120 rounds per Lb measued on a vegitable scale (not sure about it's accuricy)

As for the volume of rounds I think what some folks tend to forget is that it is not the old west any more, there are millions of people with guns now, not like it was then.
Having a few thousand rounds makes sense if it your INCH program.
There is no guarentee that you will be finding ammo laying around.
Popular stuff will dissapear the fastest ,people tend to be more conservitive with excotic rounds.
I realize that 17 HMR is not your typical battle rifle, however I have watched people take wild pig with it quite succesfuly . .
At 2550 fps, what the bullet lacks in weight ,makes up for in accuricy, and to me that is significant.
From the very small rodents to medum sized game , dammage is dammage .
In the long run, when all the large game is gone ,are you going to use a .308 to take out a squrrel ? for what shadow soup ?
 
#40 ·
I can take out a squirrel with my 3006 and not damage any meat - you just take off the top of their heads. My brother used to do it with his 44 mag. There is no such thing as too much gun....... Ok, a howitzer for ground squirrels might fit that description but you can always find an extreme case.
 
#41 ·
That's one way to do it:thumb:

Chamber inserts using 32ACP ammunition is another.

Skills at trapping small game will conserve more ammo, work 24/7, and can be cached when not in use.

I don't forsee all of the medium game disappearing either. If anything, tree rats will be gone before feral hogs....as they are everywhere around my AO.

I have dumped them out to 500 plus Meters with 308 rifles so far, but I wouldn't rely on 22lr for this purpose.

The primary function for my rifle/caliber choice is that of security. ( Not simply self defense, as there is much more to it for me and mine)

11B
 
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