That would depend on what you expect to happen.

A general recommendation is a 50 round box of defensive ammo per year per gun for as long as you expect the situation to last.

Practice/blaster ammo? How much can you afford.

 

Depends on the individual and how much they visit the range to practice. For Self defense, especially pistol rounds, I wouldn't have very many, maybe a few boxes. If it ever comes down to where you need a pistol for defense you won't need many rounds before either your intruder or you are dead. For range ammo, I would have quite a bit but it depends on how much you practice.

 

Whatever you find great deals on! Or load whatever components you get great deals on.

 

Got all the bulk/practice ammo I realistically feel I need now. Starting to add about 10% of what I have in defense/quality hunting rounds for the rifles. I wanted a bunch on hand before I worried about quality! 4 or 5 boxes of JHP for the pistols should suffice.

 

I agree with Woodyp. If you don't have much then right now quantity is more important than quality. After you have a stash then concentrate on quality.

 

I did a better search for you. Hope it helps.:thumb:
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Asurvivalistboards.com+%3Cammo+storage%2C+stockpile%3E&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a

Al

 

for me the 380 and 38 in fmj or Jhp is about the same price at walmart. so I just rotate what I buy. and then I buy bigger purchases when I hit the gun show

 

For my CCW, I just have a box of ammunition (I chose SPEER SB +P Gold Dot) and a full mag-chamber. I plan to shoot the carry ammo up every 3 months or so, although FMJ will be fired often. I figure if I ever shoot that ammo out of it (I have fired 100+ rounds to verify that it likes Gold Dot SB +Pwell enough, at $1 a pop, I'm comfortable with that.) it will end up in an evidence locker, anyway. I just buy FMJ as I need it.

With 5.56, I have 2 ammo cans full of 64gr Gold Dot .223. I favor SBR's, and this round is tailor made for them in every way, it seems. That equates to a little over 900 rounds of it, plus a few mags full that isn't "in deep storage". These are to last as long as I live. After sighting in and occasional verification of zero, they are for flesh and blood only, against things like deer, etc. Again, at $1 a pop, I don't plan on wasting them.

I have around 1500 rounds of MK318 SOST that I use for range ammo/home-defense/whatever I need them for.

The rest is just FMJ that I order when I need it. Currently that means 2000 rounds that I ordered for a class I am taking in a few weeks. I will burn through that in about 3 days and need more again for something else, I am sure.

Shotgun ammo, I have a few hundred rounds of Ranger buckshot for my M1014.

 

for .380 i think it is time to stockpile - my mistake was i bought around 1000 rounds of .380 when they were $26-36 50 round box from different sources.

i always to replenish what i used...

buy what you can afford

personally have more 9mm than .45 acp, more 12ga than .410, more 7.62X39 than 223 or 556

mil surplus ammo are cheaper than non-mil

.22lr are way cheap to stock - 550 rounds for around $18

 

I don't have a stockpile compared to what a lot of folks here have, but I buy based on purpose and opportunity, whether that means a great price or a hard-to-find brand popping up. For years, I was strictly a 9mm and .22LR shooter, so adding .223/5.56 initially changed my buying habits as I tried different brands. Now that I've established that my new rifle isn't terribly picky about ammo, I'm able to go back to watching for certain ammo to go on sale and buy when the opportunity arises. As it stands now, I maintain roughly a 1:1 ratio of FMJ to JHP/SP, although very little of my rifle ammo is of the stated SD/HD variety. 9mm is a different story, as I've found a couple of brands that come in under $.50/round for SD/HD.

For storage purposes, I also consider the factory packaging and whether it fits the intended use. While I appreciate plastic or foam "trays" in factory boxes of ammo, those of course take up space. Although I do have a number of 50-round boxes of .223/5.56 and 100-round boxes of 9mm, I always keep a few of the small boxes (20-30 and 20-25 respectively) within easy reach in case I need to throw a few in my pocket at a moment's notice instead of fishing around in an ammo can. I consider that a bug-in vs. bug-out decision.

 

When people talk about bulk storage they mean loose packaged in things like 50 caliber ammo cans. A 50 cal military ammo can will hold 2,000 rounds or 9 MM Nato (9x19) bullets loose packed (not in boxes). A 30 caliber can will hold appx 1,000 rounds of 9 MM.

If you are asking me you need to have on hand at least 1,000 rounds of bullets for any gun you have. A box is the standard joke around the gun store. Most people come in and buy a really nice rifle and one or two boxes of bullets (40 rounds) You need 200 rounds to break the gun in and become familiar with it. If you have not shot the gun it is worthless. Each year you have the gun plan to shoot at least 200 rounds to stay proficient with it.

Also find out what feeds best in your gun before buying up the farm. When buying bullets it is very important to stick with the same type of bullet at least. For example most 9 MM Nato rounds are 115 grain. However, some are at 124 grain. Stay with the 115 grain. Same holds true for your rifles.

Keep your ammo in a closet in your house. Never store it in high temps. Most US made ammo is boxer primed and boxer primers are heat sensitive. Boxer primers are also shown as non corrosive. Corrosive primers are generally Berdan primed and they can survive about anything. I have some Berdan primed bullets made in 1886 and they still go bang. However, the corrosive bullets will eat up your barrels and your heads of you bolts. Clean corrosive ammo guns with Dawn dishwashing detergent prior to regular cleaning to neutralize the corrosive Primer and powder residue.

Most of all good luck and good shooting. GB

 

Good thread. I really need a lot more ammo. I may just have to suck it up, sell a couple of things and buy some ammo in bulk. Short term expense, but saves money in the long run.

 

I generally try to stock about 5% high quality, dollar a pop stuff. Then, about 15% value pack JHP like rem or winchester. The rest FMJ-ball ammo. In my opinion its better to have a large supply of FMJ than a lot less in high dollar stuff.

 

The 38? Lots of police were killed after shooting a criminal 'dead' with FMJ and LRN's. Go JHP. 380?? Some say FMJ more deadly if youre shot placement is right, better vitals penetration.

I'd get a bunch of cheap JHP for the 38. Fiocchi loaded with Hornandy XTP come to mind. For the 380, especially a pocket gun, FMJ is fine choice. I dont know if I'd waste money on JHP with a 380 for storage ammo. For carry ammo, get the best JHP you can. But for SHTF backup, FMJ is fine.

How many rounds? Your call. I would start at 200 JHP, 4 boxes, then go 400 and up to 1000 for the 38, especially if its your main sidearm. 100, 300, 500 for the 380. If youre just stocking JHP and shooting training ammo, youre good to go. Snub 38s do best with 125gr JHP.

 

I have half a box of 9mm laying around somewhere.....

 

Ball ammo is more cost effective.

 

I stock 90% + target ammo (cheapest price per round for brass is main criteria). I keep a couple of boxes per gun of self defense ammo. If you are using more than that, you are lucky to be alive.

I buy a few dozen boxes per caliber of self defense ammo online for barter value only. Or you can call it asset allocation (I store bullets instead of gold).

 

sgammo usually has excellent hollow point self-defense ammo for better prices because they are sold in 50 rd boxes instead of the normal retail of 20 rd boxes. I'd purchase at least 250 rounds of top of the line self-defense stuff along with at least that in ball ammo per pistol.

 

My safety gauge is in a good area when I have at least all my mags loaded with good HP ammo. But if you need a number I would feel comfortable with about 65-100 per gun. Again thats taking into account 1 mag in the gun and 3-4 loaded.

Ive stocked more due to sales and good prices.

If Im leaving, im pretty much only carrying what can fit in my mags, maybe an extra box if im feeling strong.

My primary stocking was FMJ, but that goal/target has long since passed, now I just tend to replenish what I shoot on a regular basis. After that goal was reached I started to get more heavily invested in HP.

 

In your bulk ammo stockpile do you stock self defense rounds like JHP's or FMJ range rounds.

Yes and yes.

Specifically for a .38 special and .380 and what ratio would you suggest? Thanks.

Think of it like this:
If you have a revolver (I'd be buying some sort of speed loaders and practicing), chances are you have a 6 chamber cylinder. If you stock 300 rds, you can reload the revolver 50 times.
400 rds = 66 reloads
And so on.

The same could be said of the .380. A mag holds somewhere between 6-8 rds, normally.
An 8 rd mag:
300 rds = 37 reloads
400 rds = 50 reloads

You should have a minimum of 5 mags - one in the pistol, two extras on you and two spares.

My opinion is bullet type is up to you. You can buy them in bulk or get a box of JHP's one payday and a box of FMJ's the next. It doesn't really matter as long as you have something. I think 300 rds is the minimum for every handgun except .22 and .44 and above.