Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Ammo
May 24, 2015 21:46:51 GMT
Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on May 24, 2015 21:46:51 GMT
So... ...how much ammo do you guys tend to keep around? Do you just have a little bit to take to the range, and buy when you need it... or do you stock up on ammo and keep lots of it around at all times? Myself, I keep a lot of rounds and loaded mags around.
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Ammo
May 24, 2015 22:24:46 GMT
Post by demonskull on May 24, 2015 22:24:46 GMT
Sean, Don't the springs on the mags loose tension after extended use ? Something I heard a while back.
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Ammo
May 24, 2015 22:51:49 GMT
Post by DigsFossils-n-Knives on May 24, 2015 22:51:49 GMT
None, nada, zilch. I don't own a gun or rifle. My dad reloads his own so he's well stocked up.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Ammo
May 24, 2015 23:01:58 GMT
Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on May 24, 2015 23:01:58 GMT
Sean, Don't the springs on the mags loose tension after extended use ? Something I heard a while back. My understanding is the springs ware out if you load and unload them a lot. Adding and releasing, adding and releasing tension. Most of my mags just stay loaded and I only use a few of them at a time for the range. I also have different mags loaded with different ammo for use if I need any of the weapons for something OTHER then range use. Course, I could be very wrong, would like to hear what others think.
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Ammo
May 24, 2015 23:22:44 GMT
Post by brotherbanzai on May 24, 2015 23:22:44 GMT
My understanding is the same Sean. What wears a spring out is the repeated flexing, such as from unloading and loading. Keeping them loaded shouldn't be a problem. Though I have heard it said that it is, I suspect it's either an old wives tale or is based on some previous technology or system which is no longer the case for modern magazines.
I buy ammo when I find it on sale and then keep a small stockpile, enough to shoot and enough to keep shooting for a while if there is a shortage for some reason. Maybe 1500 rounds of 9mm a couple thousand of 5.56 and .22 and few hundred of .45 and other miscellaneous. But I also don't currently get to shoot very often, so I buy very little now.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Ammo
May 25, 2015 2:02:41 GMT
Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on May 25, 2015 2:02:41 GMT
Sounds like you take your ammo storage VERY serous.
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Ammo
May 25, 2015 3:36:06 GMT
Post by crazywolf on May 25, 2015 3:36:06 GMT
off hand 12,000 223 over 3 4 thousand each of 9mm and 45 acp 5.0000 308 over 20.000 of about 20 other calibers as to springs in a mag there was a 1911 loaded with mil ball in 1946 in about 2005 I think they took it out and fired it no miss fires or jams also about 2 to 3 years ago they found a German mp 40 with 6 loaded mags hidden in a wall in Holland I think gun was oiled and fired about 95% of ammo went bang and they had two or three jams so with the springs we have today it doesn't hurt them and I know guys who have had magpul ar mags that were loaded for a couple of years and test fired them and had no problem if you buy top quality mags they will out last you.
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Ammo
May 25, 2015 5:28:21 GMT
Post by ineffableone on May 25, 2015 5:28:21 GMT
I keep a minimum of 1000 rounds for each caliber I own .22, 9mm, and 7.62 X39. But then I am also a prepper, so part of the reason is to make sure I have access to a minimum amount in case access is cut off for some reason. Recently I started looking into building a 1911, so have been also shopping .45 APC bulk ammo as well as stocking up on mags for the 1911. I really like the idea of the .45 APC battlepacks which hold 250 rounds. I alreaddy have battlepacks for my 9mm. As for keeping ammo in mags. It is perfectly fine to do. As mentioned it is not keeping the spring compressed that will wear out the spring but the action of compression and decompression. Now of course I would not suggest storing 10,000 rounds in mags, but I have most of my 1000 minimum rounds of 7.62 for my AK in 25 mags (750 rounds). Not that that is all of my 7.62, but just shows how much can be stored in mags. For over my 1000 I like having spam cans for my 7.62 which can hold 640 or 700 depending on which company ammo you get. I think it is a bit deceptive to count single round. 1000 rounds seems like a lot, but that is just a little over 30 mags for 7.62 cal like an AK. When I think about how much ammo is enough to have in reserve I always think in terms of how many mags does it fill and how many mags do I think I might go through. When I go out to practice shoot, I can burn through 90 rounds of 7.62 in my AK in just 3 mag changes. When I go out to go shooting for practice, I want to spend a lot more time than just 3 mag changes! If I go through 10 mag changes that is 300 rounds, and I can burn through that in less than 30 min. If I want to make a fun day out shooting, I can easily burn through 600-1000 rounds just in my AK. Just a little food for thought for folks who don't think keeping a reserve is worth while
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Ammo
May 25, 2015 6:53:29 GMT
Post by bigpete on May 25, 2015 6:53:29 GMT
a few hundred 22, a bit of 223, hundred or so 308,and a couple of boxes of 12 guage,and about 3 dozen arrows. seriously how much more do i need ? :)
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Ammo
May 25, 2015 13:46:26 GMT
Post by aussie-rabbit on May 25, 2015 13:46:26 GMT
a few hundred 22, a bit of 223, hundred or so 308,and a couple of boxes of 12 guage,and about 3 dozen arrows. seriously how much more do i need ? Today nothing, when I was shooting a lot I reloaded, on the farm we bought .22 ammo by the case (5000 rounds) for my centrefire rifles up to 500 rounds, shotgun about the same, hand guns about twice that.
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Ammo
May 25, 2015 15:08:52 GMT
Post by Daigoro on May 25, 2015 15:08:52 GMT
I keep a little stocked. Maybe 1000-1500 each of 9mm and .22 and 250-500 of .223 and .40S&W. Don't want too much stock, need to keep my money liquid so I can buy more swords!
I don't think you have to worry about mag springs unless you have some crap like Pro-Mag magazines.
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Ammo
May 25, 2015 16:58:48 GMT
Post by L Driggers (fallen) on May 25, 2015 16:58:48 GMT
If I have the most ammo do I win a prize. Just saying a lot more than Aussie Rabbit. Have to be ready for the rabbit/fox zombies.
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Ammo
May 25, 2015 17:18:33 GMT
Post by KaOsBlaKbLaDe on May 25, 2015 17:18:33 GMT
I stopped counting, and simply go by weight now,..
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Ammo
May 26, 2015 20:56:27 GMT
Post by Cosmoline on May 26, 2015 20:56:27 GMT
I have quite a bit of 7.62x54R and some of the now-precious military 5.45x39. Ammo prices have more than doubled locally since 2008, when you can find ammo at all. You can't buy loaded ammo through ordinary channels in Alaska. You have to either buy it from an ammo store or arrange to have it forwarded up by barge. Reloading has gotten better for rifles, but handgun powder remains unobtainium even after all this time.
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Deleted
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Ammo
May 26, 2015 22:18:16 GMT
Post by Deleted on May 26, 2015 22:18:16 GMT
After a couple of trips out, I got a fairly decent sense of when enough is enough. I've got myself set up with enough magazines to last me a session, figuring in reloading each two or three times. I'll typically go in with everything loaded up and ready to roll, and wrap it up leaving two of the magazines full and top the rest off after I get home and do the cleaning thing.
I typically pick up ammunition on the way or when I know a range day is coming up, could stand to plan it out a little better and save money but it's sporadic enough that I'm not worried about it. In general I have a moderate amount that I basically keep myself at.
I have not had a single issue with keeping the magazines loaded. Maybe if you cycle them hard, in a continuous fill 'em up, flick 'em out, repeat, you'd have trouble, but I've yet to see it.
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Ammo
May 26, 2015 23:46:11 GMT
Post by ineffableone on May 26, 2015 23:46:11 GMT
Glad to hear someone else makes sure they still have a loaded mag or two. I usually shoot out in the woods, and was taught that you always make sure you leave at least one mag in case you run into some unsavory people on your way out. Which can happen from time to time when you go out to shoot in the woods. Drunks, meth heads, etc might end up deciding they don't like you and want to try and start something. So far never had a problem, but always good I feel to be safe.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Ammo
May 27, 2015 2:10:31 GMT
Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on May 27, 2015 2:10:31 GMT
I have quite a bit of 7.62x54R and some of the now-precious military 5.45x39. Ammo prices have more than doubled locally since 2008, when you can find ammo at all. You can't buy loaded ammo through ordinary channels in Alaska. You have to either buy it from an ammo store or arrange to have it forwarded up by barge. Reloading has gotten better for rifles, but handgun powder remains unobtainium even after all this time. You like that commie ammo don't ya? ;-)
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ShooterMike
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Ammo
Jun 23, 2015 19:02:32 GMT
Post by ShooterMike on Jun 23, 2015 19:02:32 GMT
I keep about 6-10 Glock 9mm mags loaded with defensive ammo, since I alternately carry a G17 or G19 and have a couple of G17s around the house as utility guns (I live on a few hundred acres and "utility" can be anything from 2-leg to 4-leg skunks and feral dogs). I usually keep about 5-10 G17 mags loaded with range ammo for those spur of the moment range trips. About the same for AR mags, usually 30-rd Magpul PMags.
As far as "stocking" ammo, I probably have around 1-5K rounds of defensive/tactical/hunting ammo for each: 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .223 and .308. I usually try to keep about two to three times that amount of practice/range ammo in each of those. I don't know how much .22LR and 12 gauge of all types, but quite a bit. And I also have at least a few hundred rounds of practice or hunting ammo for calibers like .45 Colt, .44 Mag, .44 Special, 10mm Auto, .357 Mag, .38 Special, .380 ACP, .32 ACP, .30-06, .270, .30-30, .458 Win Mag and 20 gauge.
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Ammo
Jun 24, 2015 22:41:26 GMT
Post by applejack on Jun 24, 2015 22:41:26 GMT
i don't have any guns but i do have slingshots and airguns. I keep about 5k BB, 200-1500 plinking .177 pellets, 500 of hunting pellets, 500 of long range sniper pellets, 500 glass slingshot ammo, 500 steel slingshot hunting ammo.
If i had a long gun and hand gun i would only keep with i could carry if i had to leave my home on foot/bike.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Ammo
Jun 25, 2015 5:53:40 GMT
Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Jun 25, 2015 5:53:40 GMT
I keep about 6-10 Glock 9mm mags loaded with defensive ammo, since I alternately carry a G17 or G19 and have a couple of G17s around the house as utility guns (I live on a few hundred acres and "utility" can be anything from 2-leg to 4-leg skunks and feral dogs). I usually keep about 5-10 G17 mags loaded with range ammo for those spur of the moment range trips. About the same for AR mags, usually 30-rd Magpul PMags.
As far as "stocking" ammo, I probably have around 1-5K rounds of defensive/tactical/hunting ammo for each: 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .223 and .308. I usually try to keep about two to three times that amount of practice/range ammo in each of those. I don't know how much .22LR and 12 gauge of all types, but quite a bit. And I also have at least a few hundred rounds of practice or hunting ammo for calibers like .45 Colt, .44 Mag, .44 Special, 10mm Auto, .357 Mag, .38 Special, .380 ACP, .32 ACP, .30-06, .270, .30-30, .458 Win Mag and 20 gauge.
I knew you would have an impressive stock of ammo... ;-) I have very little of the more expensive defensive ammo... typically enough for 3-5 mags + some extra. I keep a few mags of defensive ammo around for all my pistols, speed loaders for my revolvers, and mags for the rifles as well. Most of my ammo is range ammo tho... there I have a couple thousand .223/5.56, a few thousands more 7.62x39, and anywhere from 1-3k for each pistol caliber I have. Somewhere around 5k+ .22, a few hundred 12g shotgun shells and around 600 7.62 NATO.
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