I got a new Natchez Shooters Supply flier the other day and scanned their current "On Sale" Bullet Prices. They looked pretty good.

So I picked up a couple of other catalogs to do a bit of comparison and the prices I thought were good, are actually great. So, I got into the "Buy Mode". Only problem was, I didn't really know what I had plenty of and what I needed more of.

The Bullets I have are relatively all in one place, but I could not just glance at them and determine what I really needed. So, I had to do an Inventory.

I stuck the raw data in the old Excel Spread Sheet and now I know what I have and can easily see what I need.
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Do you have an Inventory System other than simply "Eyeballing" the bunch?

seperate bullet by diameter and weight-- not to replace on reorder sheet as I empty a box

Try as I might, my bullet inventory system seems to go something like this:

Where'd all these come from?

Crap, I'm almost out of those already?

I thought I had a boatload of those?

Don't store your bullets like this......



Store them like this........

quote:

Originally posted by craigster:
Try as I might, my bullet inventory system seems to go something like this:

Where'd all these come from?

Crap, I'm almost out of those already?

I thought I had a boatload of those?

X2 + Oh that's a good buy. Phone + credit card # roger

Your on the right track Hot Core using the computer and the Excel spread sheet.

I would add: Manufactures name, diameter, weight, style. Basically everything on the bullet box label and how many boxes on hand.
I would add price last payed and from where they were purchased to the spread sheet too.
Now you just have to keep the spread sheet current.
You could extend the spread sheet to include how many boxes of hand loads, you have on hand too and all their particulars.

This is probably to best solution pirate a real store database inventory software complete with bare code scanner reader.

I`m another that can`t figure out where all the 140 gr 270 cal BT`s came from and why I have no 6.5 cal 140s on the shelve.....Lets not get into brass.

I stock bullets in my reloading area in; .177, .198, .224, .243, .251, .257, .264, .277, .284, .308, .312, .323, .338, .355, .357, .400, .410, .429, .452, .458, and .729"

I am disorganized and forgetful.
No harm done.
Until a pen pal of mine, a guy on the East coast demands that I send him an inventory so we can swap "surplus".

He was divesting of moly and I was investing, so it was a good idea, except for my incompetence.

I sent him some Hornady 350 gr .458 bullets that I got plenty when they were pennies on the dollar. That shut him up.

I like Macifej's way of doing it but I don't want to invest that much money on cases to hold unloaded projos...
So, I use Tupperware type of resealable plastic containers which are available in many different sizes depending on how big of container I need for each projo type/size (ie. I have a smaller containers for .223 match rifle/9mm handgun projos and bigger ones for .308/larger caliber projos bought in bulk). When I buy a batch of projos, I will use small stick-on type of label on the side of the container and list the make/size/weight/quantity on each one. As I use/load the projos, I change the quantity label to reflect the new inventory total...
These containers stack neatly and with the quick glance I can tell what projos types and quantities I have in inventory... This is really helpfull with "blaster" types of projos like .223/.308 FMJ where you load a few hundred at a time and buy in 1000-5000 projo lots...

AT $3.00 per bullet, customers expect better packaging. For bulk shoot-em-up bullets I'd agree that plastic food storage containers are cheaper and adequate especially for smaller bullets. The smallest thing we are producing is .395" so the boxes are cheap enough at a couple bucks each.

I use craigsters system and it works just fine! At the moment I have more 8mm and 9.3mm bullets than you can imagine...

Might be a bit lowon .416´s though...better order some

I write the number remaining on the box with a Sharpie. I still ave to shuffle the boxes to read my note, but at least I don't get caught short.

I keep my bullets in their original boxs with the caliber facing me on the shelf. The top box is the only one that is partially full. Each stack is one bullet size and weight. Each shelf has a different caliber. If it is a solid of a particular caliber, I write SOLID on the end of the box, if it is not there already. All I have to do is glance at the stack, pick the top box and go from there. Good shooting.

quote:

Where'd all these come from?

Crap, I'm almost out of those already?

I thought I had a boatload of those?

Our bullet collection must be the same

Reloader

Keep track?

No one told me that we had to be organized! I just stack boxes on the back of the bench.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Keep track?

No one told me that we had to be organized! I just stack boxes on the back of the bench.

That must be a California thing, Frank roger

I have separate GI 50 caliber ammo cans for each caliber. It is easy to pull out the bullets by caliber to check the inventory, if you don't mind lifting a 50 caliber can full of lead.
Each opened box of bullets is marked as I use them.

My "good" bullets are usually purchased in the 5 box sleeves.

My .308 sized hunting bullets stay in original boxes in a stack. Top box only one opened. All same lot number as I don't shoot them up very quick.

My .224 sized varmint bullets are the same, just stacked considereably deeper. I also try to keep lot numbers together, but when one lot is gone, I usually just keep going with another lot without bothering to re-work the load unless accuracy obviously falls off. But that's only happened once.

My .45 Gold Dots are in a similar stack.

My blasting bullets, which are purchased in bulk, get stored/seperated according to caliber, weight, and type and stored in .50 cal cans. When the ammo can gets light enough to pick up with one hand. I buy enough to fill another. Lot numbers be damned

Heck, Excel is for accountants. If you forget to log your usage out, it will lie to you.

The height of the stack of factory boxes gives a foolproof visual check, and for bulk buys I empty into a clear jar for a direct sight gauge effect. (Mind you, I have a small opperation here.)

We have a store that has shelves for bullets and barrels.

They are orgenized according to caliber and weight. We have also a sheet printed with all the bullets we have on it, and each time a box is taken out, a note is made to update what is left.

Very simple really, and it works.

Macifej,
Those projos are beauties!!! I agree with you logic on those boxes with the pricey projos..
Do you turn .50BMG projos?
My current inventory of those types are from Lynn McMurdo and are of a really slick VLD/bore rider design...
Ever thought of doing those too? if looks as thought you definitely have the equipment for them...

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
We have a store that has shelves for bullets and barrels.

They are orgenized according to caliber and weight. We have also a sheet printed with all the bullets we have on it, and each time a box is taken out, a note is made to update what is left.

Very simple really, and it works.

Were I a major leaguer such as you, Saeed, I believe such a technique would not only be beneficial but mandatory. Being a bush leaguer my bullet storage is two shelves one foot apart 14" deep and 30" long. By the way--- Thanks for the forums. roger

quote:

Originally posted by PJS50:
Macifej,
Those projos are beauties!!! I agree with you logic on those boxes with the pricey projos..
Do you turn .50BMG projos?
My current inventory of those types are from Lynn McMurdo and are of a really slick VLD/bore rider design...
Ever thought of doing those too? if looks as thought you definitely have the equipment for them...

Thanks, No problem! Can do whatever you need. If you can dream it we can make it and usually in a few days. Prefer to do ultra high precision round stuff but anything goes if you got the doughs!

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
We have a store that has shelves for bullets and barrels.

They are orgenized according to caliber and weight. We have also a sheet printed with all the bullets we have on it, and each time a box is taken out, a note is made to update what is left.

Very simple really, and it works.

Were I a major leaguer such as you, Saeed, I believe such a technique would not only be beneficial but mandatory. Being a bush leaguer my bullet storage is two shelves one foot apart 14" deep and 30" long. By the way--- Thanks for the forums. roger

You are very welcome. Glad you enjoy and participate on the forums.

Actually I went over to Natchezz and no problem with inventory - they are OUT of STOCK on 50% of what I needed.

I only reload a handful of different cartridges, and those I reload for I only keep a handful of different bullets for on hand.

The bullets I buy lots of are .223 55gr Fmj. They just go in 30 caliber ammo cans, and are reordered on a volume system. When the last can looks around half empty I order a couple thousand more.

My 350gr 45-70 bullets, along with .375 softs and solids go in the plastic trays that 40 S&W rounds come from the factory in.

Everything else stays in whatever they are purchased in since generally I never have more than 100 or so of them anyway.

I hope I never have to deal with this problem, it has to be a manufactured problem..I just pile them up and buy some more when I run out. I have better things to do than worry about my reloading bench, I have come up short a few times, but I dealt with that when it happened and didn't get my shorts in a wad over it, I think I must have used my American ingenuity and loaded another bullet or some such salvation.

Bartsche , Fjold Yes it's Ditto here so it is a Kommyfornia trait . Although mine are now on the floor because of the weight !. I saw the escalation in commodity's market while converting my assets too Gold & Platinum in 05 . So I purchased Copper futures as well as lifts of tubbing . Which purchased a Mountain of projectiles with the surplus .

I used to try and anticipate what weight brand number of projectiles I would need .

I got so caught up in the mind numbing pain of keeping track , well it drove me too see a shrink !.

After listening to him and paying his bill OUCH !. I was screwed up ??. Kettle calling the pot black I think !.
I just decided it's far " Less Expensive " to purchase them ALL when ever they're on sale !.

Some people drink ,some smoke ,some gamble .

Well I away mine on weapons projectiles powder primers Hunting trips fishing trips and fixing everything that I own .

I still have a little left over for and oh and FUEL for those retched Trucks and car we own !.

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

Hey folks, Thanks for all the input.

After I got the Bullet Inventory complete, I was looking it over and realized a good many were missing from the List. I knew I had to have more on-hand somewhere, so the searching began.

Ended up finding Bullets stored in places I'd just forgot about. This getting older keeps your Tracking Skills honed all the time.

I've determined I have more than enough of some and still need to order a few for a new-er rifle.
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I already do as some of you mentioned - keep a running talley on an open box. But I didn't have an overall Inventory Sheet, until now.

Now the question is how many is the right amount to have on-hand? Obviously less than I used to need.