Since low ammo supplies and increased prices come periodically, makes you wonder how much do you really need?

Factors that will vary per person:

1) How often do you train
       a) How often can you afford to train with higher prices
2) What is your goal: Self defense, competitive shooting, bench shooting, trap, etc...
3) Money/budget

Add in what I'm missing.

Based on friends who have bought their 1st firearm due to BLM/COVID/Riots,etc...I have a few who have yet to shoot, but have been dry firing and practicing manipulations at home. For someone like this, I would say as many mags as you can load.  Many only have what the mags that came with (handgun).  So 50rds.  This group of friends havent fired their gun in over a year or at all.

THen I have other friends who bought for the above, but go to the range every 6 months or so.  For them, I would say 50rds self defense rounds. And what ever you plan to shoot in another 6 months. So like 100rds. No need buy cases of ammo.

Personally, for us, we haven't really shot since the range closed, so I have had no need to buy ammo. But what I would do is keep about 2-3K on hand and replace as I use it.  Which means if we shoot 300rds in a skill builder/open shoot, I'm buying about that much within a week or so.  Or if I know we're shooting a few skill builders in a month, then buy a case next month.  I see no need to panic buy.

Then add in I know guys with 10K rounds of each caliber and they panic buy more cases of ammo. Most don't even shoot once every 4 months, even when the range was in full operation.

This doesn't factor in reloaders.

Whatever makes financial sense and gets me through shortages.

In general one year of ammo is a good guideline for most that are actively training.  You can buy ammo by the case which is cheaper and for match shooters you can buy by the lot#, and one year ammo will get you through minor shortages.  For major shortages, you can conserve and stretch out that ammo to two or three years.

Defensive ammo I'll shoot a box, 50rnds, to check for reliability, arm up with one box, and have one box for replacements.

I will stock up on stuff if I see a really good deal.  I bought 2400 rnds of 3006 from the CMP for 15 cents a round 20 years ago.  It's going to last me a long time tho I donated a couple cans to charity.

Whatever makes financial sense and gets me through shortages.

In general one year of ammo is a good guideline for most that are actively training.  You can buy ammo by the case which is cheaper and for match shooters you can buy by the lot#, and one year ammo will get you through minor shortages.  For major shortages, you can conserve and stretch out that ammo to two or three years.

Defensive ammo I'll shoot two boxes(100rnds) to check for reliability, arm up with one box, and have one box for replacements.

I will stock up on stuff if I see a really good deal.  I bought 2400 rnds of 3006 from the CMP for 15 cents a round 20 years ago.  It's going to last me a long time tho I donated a couple cans to charity.

I treat ammo like the stock market -- using dollar cost averaging.

if i have half a case left which I paid $300/case for, and i see it for $250, I get another case. That  averages out to $275/case.  Buying lower makes the higher priced ammo cheaper on average.

Doing that saves money in the long run.  If the price keeps dropping, and you're actually expending rounds on a regular basis, it makes sense to keep buying at regular intervals.   

When the price goes up, no need to panic.  So what if you now have to pay $350?  The lower priced ammo you have already brings that $350 price down via averaging.  If you find you have more ammo than you can use in a year, you are situated to take advantage of the next price surge/supply shortage.

Buy low -- sell high.

223/556, 9mm, 45acp, 357mag/38sp is what I shoot most, so that's what I stock up on. at least 2-3k rounds each
also shoot a lot of 44mag, but I try to reload that when I can bc it's expensive and I like to load them specially for each gun (some guns can handle hotter loads, or sometimes I like to load them not so hot bc they are lead bullets, same goes for 357)
308 I don't shoot much of either so I keep 1k of those. plus I reload that too so I like to custom load those too
I can reload any caliber I have but I like to reload the ones that are more expensive or that I like to custom load

also shoot a lot of 44mag, but I try to reload that when I can bc it's expensive and I like to load them specially for each gun (some guns can handle hotter loads, or sometimes I like to load them not so hot bc they are lead bullets, same goes for 357)

Since it's my thread, I'll go off topic. 

Even though a gun can handle a hotter load, why would you do that?  Wouldn't it be wasting powder?  I mean, guess to have more bang/recoil cause it's cool.

none

Since low ammo supplies and increased prices come periodically, makes you wonder how much do you really need?

Factors that will vary per person:

1) How often do you train
       a) How often can you afford to train with higher prices
2) What is your goal: Self defense, competitive shooting, bench shooting, trap, etc...
3) Money/budget

Add in what I'm missing.

Based on friends who have bought their 1st firearm due to BLM/COVID/Riots,etc...I have a few who have yet to shoot, but have been dry firing and practicing manipulations at home. For someone like this, I would say as many mags as you can load.  Many only have what the mags that came with (handgun).  So 50rds.  This group of friends havent fired their gun in over a year or at all.

THen I have other friends who bought for the above, but go to the range every 6 months or so.  For them, I would say 50rds self defense rounds. And what ever you plan to shoot in another 6 months. So like 100rds. No need buy cases of ammo.

Personally, for us, we haven't really shot since the range closed, so I have had no need to buy ammo. But what I would do is keep about 2-3K on hand and replace as I use it.  Which means if we shoot 300rds in a skill builder/open shoot, I'm buying about that much within a week or so.  Or if I know we're shooting a few skill builders in a month, then buy a case next month.  I see no need to panic buy.

Then add in I know guys with 10K rounds of each caliber and they panic buy more cases of ammo. Most don't even shoot once every 4 months, even when the range was in full operation.

This doesn't factor in reloaders.

none

U mean 4th factor

If you own no firearms or reloading equipment.

Since it's my thread, I'll go off topic. 

Even though a gun can handle a hotter load, why would you do that?  Wouldn't it be wasting powder?  I mean, guess to have more bang/recoil cause it's cool.

yeah, part of it is the cool factor




another part is accuracy.  sometimes the load gets more accurate the hotter it is.  but I never go outside the recommended powder level, always within powder factory recommendations
for instance, 308 is most accurate when it is near the powder limit.  at least that's what works in my guns, with the powder and bullets I am using
most calibers are not nearly as accurate at the bottom powder level as they are near the top
most times I don't load them to the absolute top of the powder level bc it doesn't make much difference in accuracy as a slightly lighter level.  if the slightly lighter powder works the same as the hotter load, then I'll just go with the less powder
my stronger guns I'll load hotter bc that's what they're for. My not as strong guns or smaller guns or ones that I cannot handle the recoil really well with, I'll load lighter
H110 is a popular powder to use for magnum handgun cartridges.  and the recommended level starts at a pretty hot level, so no choice but to load it hot.  that's what H110 is for anyways
plus, I didn't get magnum revolvers to shoot weak ammo.  I got them to shot the hot stuff.  If I want to shoot weak stuff, I'll shoot my Glock 9mm   

It also depends on the caliber. one could easily argue for a reason to have 1000 or multiple thousands of 223, 556, or 308. but not for 375h&h, 416 rigby, 6.5x55 swedish.

i say anywhere from 100-2000 per caliber. any more than that and you are just hoarding. or shooting competitively.

During the Barry Obummer years, I tried to keep at least a 1000 per caliber. After the Covid shortage I try to keep enough to take a Skill Builder/Training class every month, even though I don't go every month.

Rather than "per caliber', I was buying 'per firearm."  For 3 @ .22LR rifles and 2 @ .22LR pistols, I was stocking enough to have 1,000 rds per gun.  At one point, i had 22,000 rds of .22LR for 2 ruger 10/22s, 2 CZ rifles, 1 S&W M&P 15-22, 1 Ruger Single-10 revolver, 1 Sig Sauer 1911-22, and 1 NAA 5-shot derringer.   That would be a MINIMUM  of 8,000rds for 'stockpiling plus more for range visits.

Since .22 seems to not last as long at the range as larger calibers -- much, much more!

if you're a collector, then the rules are obviously different.  No need to stock up on ammo for "safe queens."

Then there's the "range" ammo versus "Home and Personal Defense" ammo.  IMO, cases of ammo are for the range; boxes of ammo are for ... off-range use.  Get defensive ammo for those weapons plus a little extra.  After 6-12 months or so, refresh the defensive firearms with new and use the old at the range. Always good to buy the same brand/type if you know that works perfectly in our gun/s.

For hunting guns I probably have about 50 rounds per gun.
For AR and 9MM I probably have about 500
For .22lr I think I have over two thousand.
Shotgun... I don't even know, maybe a few hundred rounds each

When I bought my first pistol, I was going to an apartment in Makiki to reload.
One of my classmates bought a rockchucker and I bought popeyes fried chicken.
It was as much a social gathering as it was a reloading party.

It seems to me that if you and your friends could do that, it would be beneficial to all of you.

Just have to make sure one of your group members is experienced enough to guide the newbies.

What's the best way to store ammo?  I got some in ammo cans with desiccant bags and some vacuum sealed.  Do you think they'll be fine 2-3 yrs from now?  Got some 223, 9mm, and a bunch of 22.

What's the best way to store ammo?  I got some in ammo cans with desiccant bags and some vacuum sealed.  Do you think they'll be fine 2-3 yrs from now?  Got some 223, 9mm, and a bunch of 22.

For long term storage (like 10+ years) ...

#1 consideration is moisture.  Use metal (surplus or new) metal ammo cans, or sturdy plastic ammo containers.  As long as they have good seals to keep out humidity and water, they should work fine.

Use desiccant to absorb moisture inside the can.  if they are reusable, make sure to reactivate them periodically.  if they are disposable, replace them periodically.

Wear latex gloves when packing ammo. Depending on your body chemistry, the oils on your skin can cause severe ammo corrosion.

Put a moisture/humidity gauge in the area where the ammo is stored.  Have it alert you when the humidity exceeds a safe level if it has that feature.  Here on Oahu, I have one in my safe.  It exceeds 50% humidity if I don't change the DampRid product monthly.  i get an alert at 68%.  The recommended level for ammo I've seen is max 25%.  That's not happening for me unless I get a central AC home with a dehumidifier.

Move bulk ammo from cardboard containers to plastic bags, like Ziploc.  Cardboard can retain moisture.

Keep ammo cans off the floor -- either on shelves or a pallet.

If there's a chance the cans can get wet (pallet on the basement floor next to a water heater and beneath water pipes?), cover it well with plastic sheeting or tarps.


#2 consideration is heat.  Below 150° F is safe.  if locked in a shipping container in the desert or locked in the car under Hawaii sun for 3 months, it might be a good idea to start rotating that ammo for range use.  I doubt this temperature concern is much of one.

For short term storage, I would advise using many of the same tips above to keep the ammo "fresh".  I actually make one set of long term storage cans, usually larger 50 cal, and smaller 30 cal cans for range use.  Keeps the lids closed on the storage cans and keeps the weight down for range visits. 

Periodically, you will take from the long term can to replenish the range supply, but cracking open those cans shouldn't happen nearly as often as the range supply.  I assume that helps prevent moisture from getting into the long term storage.

What's the best way to store ammo?  I got some in ammo cans with desiccant bags and some vacuum sealed.  Do you think they'll be fine 2-3 yrs from now?  Got some 223, 9mm, and a bunch of 22.

==========
In ammo cans it last maybe 50-60 years.
Some manufacturers are better than others.

You definitely get duds when it approaches the 100 year mark.
Not joking.

==========
In ammo cans it last maybe 50-60 years.
Some manufacturers are better than others.

You definitely get duds when it approaches the 100 year mark.
Not joking.

I've heard rumors that some fire departments have refused to enter a home where there's a good amount of ammo stored unless it's in metal containers.

i've also seen videos where people have done extensive tests to see if ammo will actually ignite and do any damage under firey conditions.  Without the compression of a round inside a chamber and barrel, if the ammo even does fire, it has no velocity compared to being fired from a gun.  Out of hundreds of rounds in this one test, they managed to get one round to fire, and it didn't penetrate the drywall it hit right next to it.

Something else to research when deciding on what storage ontainers to use.

Factors?  #1 definitely, plus factor in who you train with and if you take folks shooting for various reasons.  Like getting new(er) people into shooting, helping casual owners shoot more, etc.  #2 purpose or interest is a big consideration.  Competitive shooting requires a lot.  Could easily shoot 100+ in a given day, plus many folks would shoot 2x a week.  I got into precision rifle in the last many years and 20-40 rounds was the typical session.  Stocking up on components used to be easier, and I think to a certain extent still easier than finding common calibers during ammo "crazes". 

#3 is probably the most important and realistic.  Not everyone has the same financial situation, which includes factors like family.  I used to try to stock up on bulk ammo when I had the funds and then here and there when I got to a certain minimum level.  Trying to wait for sales on ammo, when they were available at certain prices.  Since I got back into shooting more, I've been through at least 2 ammo crazes.  The worst I remember was post sandy hook when everything was out.  Maybe you could find .40 S&W here and there, but nothing in 9, 45, 5.56/.223, .22 lr.  Even guns were selling at ridiculous prices.  Talk about price gouging?  That's why I never buy anything from Cheaper than Dirt and other shops that gouged. 

How much ammo do I "need"?  Not that much, but I try to have more than what I think I need.  Availability and recent interests are the biggest factors recently.  I don't shoot my defensive ammo much, but try to buy those on regular basis. 

What's the best way to store ammo?  I got some in ammo cans with desiccant bags and some vacuum sealed.  Do you think they'll be fine 2-3 yrs from now?  Got some 223, 9mm, and a bunch of 22.

While better to be safe than sorry, 2-3 years isn't very long for storage.  Assuming kept in factory packaging and stored indoors (dry and not direct sunlight), will be fine.  I have inherited ammo from my dad and uncles that were stored in factory packaging (most in metal ammo cans) and all shot fine.  Some .22 lr were duds, but I think that was the super cheap stuff.  7.62x39, 30-30, 30-06, .45 ACP and more all fired great.  Some were well over 50 years old.  Some still had the labels from where they were purchased, including Honsport 

I've heard rumors that some fire departments have refused to enter a home where there's a good amount of ammo stored unless it's in metal containers.

i've also seen videos where people have done extensive tests to see if ammo will actually ignite and do any damage under firey conditions.  Without the compression of a round inside a chamber and barrel, if the ammo even does fire, it has no velocity compared to being fired from a gun.  Out of hundreds of rounds in this one test, they managed to get one round to fire, and it didn't penetrate the drywall it hit right next to it.

Something else to research when deciding on what storage ontainers to use.

Like Flapp said, no danger from loaded rounds. 

However very large amounts of powder and especially primers can be dangerous.