[Diamondback]

Over in a Pac NW-area gun forum, this question came up, so I thought I'd see what the BTDT's of this community have to say about the question as opposed to saome of the chest-thumpers over there.

Personally, I joke about that warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark being "a good start", but when I seriously think about it my gut right now drifts toward a starting goal of a sealed case (1000 rounds) per gun, with another 250-500 or so preloaded into mags and/or stripper-clips, and possibly some more for proficiency work and where applicable Home D ready-rack storage.

Your turn to sound off, gents--what do you consider "adequate reserves"?

 

[TommyGunn]

I realize this may be a disappointing answer, but we're all men here, not little kiddies, so I will tell you the truth and spare nothing;

NO ONE will EVER have ENOUGH AMMO ..... no matter what. The term "enough ammo" is, in fact, an oxymoron.

 

[stand watie]

Diamondback,

A ammo can full of 30.06 M2 ball for the M1 Garand, plus my Mills belt full of loaded clips (The Danish Garand is my SHTF rifle of choice), 50 rounds of #1 Buck for the 12-gauge pump-gun, 4 boxes of .38SPL for the revolvers & 200 rounds of 9mm JHP for the Sig-Sauer P225, is what I keep at home as "basic load".

Is that enough?? - That I'll tell you AFTER "That Bad Day" (should it arrive) & I'm around to answer the query later.
(In the event that things appear to be "really getting out of hand", I'll see my lady "checked-in" at the Med-center at FSH & then see if I can "join the party". - The FSH police won't turn away a retired Mike Papa & his disabled lady, so "the old folks" will be FINE & "push come to shove", they'll send an ambulance/police cars to get my lady. = We're about 2 miles from the hospital gate.)

Addenda: At the mountain lair in WV, we have about 10,000 rounds of ammo in the family vault (as help is a long way off, across a narrow river bridge & then up 5 miles of winding/narrow "semi-improved road".).

yours, sw

 

[Robert Service]

So if one depletes water source before ammo horde, what does it matter?
Just asking.

 

[csmkersh]

There is no such thing as enough ammo.

 

[CaptainGyro]

I tend to look at ammo like any other commodity (hi-cap mags and reloading components, fall into the same category), i.e., the only sane long-term strategy is to buy low, sell high.

I'm not a prepper, nor do I foresee the collapse of society anytime soon, but I do tend to buy ammo when it's ridiculously cheap (9mm is starting to look like a "buy" right now) and am perfectly willing to sell it when the insanity returns.

When thinking of ammo as a commodity, you also realize that, in dark times, it has value over and above the number of zombies you can kill: like any commodity, it will be valuable as a barter medium, in case you find yourself short of some other necessity.

 

[stand watie]

Captain Gyro; All,

I'm NOT a "prepper" either & don't expect society to collapse BUT I was present in the aftermath of TWO major natural disasters, where (in the aftermath of the storms) that "roving bands" of thugs were "out & about" & seeking something to steal and/or someone to prey upon.
(Fwiw, those thugs were the same creeps that on other days, break into houses, shoplift, steal cars, do vandalism, buy/sell/take drugs, commit armed robberies & other crimes.)

In both incidents, I found myself, while armed with a handgun & shotgun, protecting my property from those criminals.
(In neither case, did I have to fire a single round of ammo but the sight of a householder, simply seen holding a shotgun, convinced the criminals to "go elsewhere & bother somebody else".)

yours, sw

 

[Javlin]

So if one depletes water source before ammo horde, what does it matter?
Just asking.

I guess that's when you build alliances or plunder early.The one with the most wins with some luck and Divine guidance.

I don't even fit DB's criteria have about 10k but 15 or so rifles.Never enough as Sam says always good barter material along with liquor.

 

[leadhead2]

To much is never enough........
Denny

 

[M118LR]

How much ammo is enough is determined by how much ammo you have used in the last engagement.

Someone that is required to expend 100 rounds a day, 365 a year, through their primary weapon may require a little more than a weekend shooter. But as a general rule I'd have a standard Battlefield loading for every weapon I owned as the "Battle Reserve", and expand upon that when it was at a cost advantage.

 

[roashooter457]

only as much as you can carry if...it comes down to that

 

[csmkersh]

only as much as you can carry if...it comes down to that

Nope. You should have a fully stocked fall back or rally point too.

 

[roashooter457]

"Nope. You should have a fully stocked fall back or rally point too."


oh I have far more than I can carry...but if you are forced to walk away....
__________________

 

[M118LR]

Could you explain what it was that forced you to walk away while you still had ample supplies of ammo available?
Perhaps I'm a bit slow on the uptake?

 

[Diamondback]

I think Top's saying to keep most of your ammo in your Fallback Position and retreat to there. Have some at home/vehicle/personal load to get you there, but the main store in your "head for the hills" bolt-hole.

How'd I do?

 

[threefeathers]

I realize this may be a disappointing answer, but we're all men here, not little kiddies, so I will tell you the truth and spare nothing;

NO ONE will EVER have ENOUGH AMMO ..... no matter what. The term "enough ammo" is, in fact, an oxymoron.

As always Tommy hit it on the head.

 

[M118LR]

As I've already admitted "I'm a little slow on the uptake", but how much unexpended ammo do you need? No matter what it's location is? Could anyone explain to me What the use of the ammunition I've been issued is? Is there any use for a single round that I can't expend in anger? Perhaps how much I have used to get to this question is of little relevance, but how much I have left to reach my objective might be of more concern? JMHO.

 

[Snake45]

The concept of "enough ammo" can only be judged in retrospect.

If you die of old age/natural causes and free, you had enough ammo.

If you don't, you didn't.

 

[csmkersh]

I think Top's saying to keep most of your ammo in your Fallback Position and retreat to there. Have some at home/vehicle/personal load to get you there, but the main store in your "head for the hills" bolt-hole.

How'd I do?

Yup. Sometimes you have to have ammo spotted at several places. How do you know if you have enough? Fight is over; you won and your piece isn't empty.

 

[Phenix]

I can't give a firm number or formula, until the government stops screwing with the supply and threatening to record all ammo purchases, taxing ammo, banning lead, threatening outright ammo bans, etc.