Now that my AR is done I want to invest in good self defense ammo. I know that more ammo the better, but I can’t afford to buy thousands and thousands of rounds.
So my question is, what MINIMUM amount of ammo would you want to have stock piled up? I guess an amount that would make you feel good, maybe not great if things went to hell.
THX
For me, that was 2000 rounds. Over the years I have since colected much much more than that. But I was buying Wolf for $55/500rounds for blasting fun… You can fit 1000 rounds in a 50 cal ammo can for a grab and go box. Don’t forget about parts and mags.
Jk
Assuming I knew my rifle would run OK with it I’d be just fine with a couple hundred rounds. 1000 would certainly be nice. I’m almost embarrassed to admit what I have squirreled away.
me the minimum amount is 1000 but thats just my opinion
I probably should have more but I like to keep 1,000 rounds for my Ar and my Ak and my old .22 semi auto, 500 rounds for my Saiga -12ga shotgun, and 500 rounds for my each of my .357 Colt troopers. With the cost of .223 coming down I should get some more. But I tend to try to keep at least 3 months of food for the entire family and we keep using it and replacing it with fresh forthe perishibles. Also keep alot of water on hand as well as medical supplies since you’re talking about if the SHTF scenario.
I cant ever save any. I always shoot it. 
Couple ways to look at this.
For me, I like to have 1-3k for training on hand at all times (as I never know when I may jump into a car and go to a carbine class). For a pure defensive load, I like to have at least 1K of that (SPEER 24448 is my current choice).
Bartering. That’s a a tricky one. Generally you want ammo that people have heard of, that is reliable and will work in any number of twist rates and chambers. So for me, that would be stuff like 55gr-62gr FMJ or either of the TAP Practice Ammo. I would attempt to head towards 5-10K in this ammo (as you can always shoot it or sell it if you need the money).
C4
I keep 2000-3000 rounds of rifle ammo around the house in case a training opportunity presents itself on short notice. Same for 9mm and .40 cal. I keep about a hundred rounds of self-defense ammo for each as well, but training is all I need to stock for in quantity around here.
If you are one of a few sole survivors hiding from hordes of bandits that scour the countryside in a post-apocolyptic wasteland, then several thousand rounds with mags might be a good thing to have handy.
If you mean a normal, law abiding citizen legit self defense scenario, then one 20 round mag is more than enough, with a backup in case of malfunction. Even in Rodney King / Katrina no one even needed this much. I know those Koreans fired off a bunch of pistols, but I wouldn’t call those shootings 100% legit self defense, at least from what I’ve seen. 
I try to keep approximately 2,000 rds for AK and AR…at least 1,000 for each pistol caliber I own.
:big_boss:
For me never under 1k would be my minimum. Anything above that use for training, plinking, defense, etc.
I always keep in mind there will come a day when the Commie/Libs will launch an all-out assault on these guns and the ammo for them, if not all guns/ammo in general. So have what you need and stockpile it while the sun is shining and all is well. There may come a day when you just can’t get the stuff, at least not without paying dearly for it.
It was a 1k for me, but with going to the range everyweek for the last six months I have depleted most of that. I haven’t been able to buy in bulk because of my travel schedule. I’m forced to buy at the range I’m shooting at for that week. I don’t want it sitting on the porch and plus my wife bitches about carrying it in.
I really need to do another big purchase! Single boxes cost to much:mad:
5.56mm: 1000 rounds of mix M855/M193 for training and 500 rounds of TAP T2 for SHTF
.308: 200 rounds of Federal American Eagle for training, 200 round of 175 grain FGMM and 200 rounds of 168 grain TAP/AMAX for SHTF
9mm: 1000 rounds mix of 147/124+P Gold Dot for SHTF
45ACP: 500 rounds of 230 grain Gold Dot
These are just bare minimums. I’m thinking of switching away from TAP T2 to the SSA 77 grain OTM due to increasing scarcity of the TAP.
Grant is prety spot on for a TEOTWAWKI.
Personnaly I reload quite a bit but am very “green” in that this is modeled for recycle/reloading over and over again. That is practice and in a place where brass is very reclaimable. Typically a few K at a time before reloads.
Training for me is lowered powered russian type ammo. Your old Wolf/Brown Bear. A couple K as well in the event you have a couple training events in close proximity.
Head for the Hills…Factory Ammo - about 3K ready to go in ammo cans. Can grab at least a can on the way out the door or have just in case…This ammo is fresh and sealed. Have fired it years ago but has been “stored” as is defined as reliable, etc.
For me? Two 840rd ammo cans loaded on strippers in bandos is the minimum–which is where I’m at until I load some more today and place a bullet component order:(
Forgot I also have 12 mags loaded with 28 rounds each too:D
I could never have enough, However for strictly defense as a civilian, most likely by yourself, If you servived a fire fight that lasted long enough for you to expended 20 well aimed rounds you would be lucky.
However to feel good save up at least 2,000 for about 3 different cal.
As much as you can reasonably:
My personal minimum would be what it takes to fill every single magazine a person owns. For me, that’s about 300 rounds.
I think I have settled on a 1000 rounds of SHTF ammo and the same amount of training ammo at any given time. So far I’ve been stocking up on Speer 64gr GDLE from Grant. I have 600 rds so far. I also have 200 rds of 75gr Tap. I’m going to shoot that stuff up though. I also have 20 mags. I will probably get a few more. 2-3 here and there doesn’t hurt the wallet much at all.
That would still be more than 2000 rounds for me…
Jk