How Much Ammo, and Why?

Vanity | 3/8/10 | dagogo redux

[dagogo redux]

With all the talk about the Second Amendment, the ammo shortage, and about what might lie ahead after November (or before), I thought it might be a reasonable vanity post to ask what sorts of quantities of ammo are practical for a person or household to stock for an “emergency”.

A few months ago, for instance, someone here said 6000 rounds for each firearm. More recently, someone said (I think) 3000 rounds for one’s primary battle rifle, and 500 rounds for each handgun and shot gun.

Answers may depend on many factors: for instance, the scenario you think most likely, or most worthwhile to prepare for, as well as the role you might see yourself playing in such a scenario (home defense, active maneuvers, underground resistance, etc), so posting these thoughts may help explain your reasoning.

"The more the merrier,” will occur to many, but practical answers would be more helpful. And HOW did you arrived at your answer - is it calculated in some way, something you were taught, a hunch, collected wisdom, etc? If you say 5000 rounds, why not 2500 or 10,000, etc. and what do you base that on?

Thanks for tolerating another vanity, and thanks for educating us with your answers.

[Armedanddangerous]

I know an older couple who, when they moved from Alabama to Texas, had to make a totally separate road trip to transport their ammo.

They filled a small UHAUL trailer full of ammunition. floor to ceiling.

The wife told me theyve never tried to seriously count it all, but she thinks theyve got at least 100K rounds of 45acp, 38 super, 9mm, 308, 7.62x39 and 5.56. Until recently, the wife shot 3 gun matches in IPSC and it wasnt unusual to fire 1,500 rounds of 38 super over a long weekend.