Hey guys, something I've noticed when people stockpile ammo, they tend to stockpile target or practice ammo. 500-1000 round batches of ball or lead or reload etc. I know it is much much more costly, but wouldn't the most logical thing to do, if stockpiling it for defense/end of world type scenarios, be to stockpile the good stuff? Now I know that sometimes we're just stockpiling due to cost and availability, I'm talking about when guys say they're worried about martial law or revolutiona nd want it for that, then buy ball ammo.

thoughts?

Red

I would think so.

I agree with your logic. For many though it is probably a price point issue.

The "good" stuff is not ball ammo. I'm not a signatory to the Geneva Convention and if I plan on shooting someone, I plan on doing maximum damage and that would not be using ball.......Matchkings, maybe.

Brown Tip/Optimized, 70gr TSX.

Perry

exactly what I mean, when i buy ammo for my handguns I buy practice ammo, but I also buy various defensive rounds, glaser safety slugs, corbon etc. it is very pricey, but it would seem to me that having thousands and thousands of rounds of ball is not as wise as having hundreds and hundreds of rounds of black talons (or equiv. just an example).

I stock pile both paractice is important one might still have to train someone how to shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
I stock pile both paractice is important one might still have to train someone how to shoot.

And, what if you are outfitting others. not a bad idea to have extra cheap stuff for those who do not prepare.

Perry

My "stockpiling" ammo is reloads with XTP bullets in them. Cheaper but still effective. You can get a couple thousand rounds in a 30mm can and still be easy to carry. For training, I reload either ball or lead.

Sorry perry, if someone doesn't come to my camp prepared and with a useable skill, you don't stay in the ultimate scenario. But then everyone in my family from my youngest daughter to my 77 year old mother can, and does, shoot regularly and well. I don't outfit others.

If it gets that bad, I'd rather have a full mag of ball than nothing. I do not stockpile ammo, but I do have color coded guns w/ caliber specific color coded ammo for each. larrys' ammo can idea works great. Mine are color coded also.

Ball ammo would make good currency. No use trading the "good stuff".

I keep both on hand. Generally target shoot with ball or hand loaded, carry Hydra Shok, or Gold Dot. Test any ammo before trusting it to carry and periodically shoot your carry ammo and replace it with fresh. That means if you load one mag and carry a spare shoot them both and reload both mags wih fresh.

AS, I am not a survivalist end of the world type (prepared and skilled, not paranoid); but why would you trade ammo to someone who doesn't have it? Isn't that kinda helping out the opposition?

quote:

AS, I am not a survivalist end of the world type (prepared and skilled, not paranoid); but why would you trade ammo to someone who doesn't have it? Isn't that kinda helping out the opposition?

There are several reasons. Yours neighbor might be a nice guy, who has some ammo, but not as much as you do, but has other things that you could use. Maybe it's antibiotics, gasoline, toilet paper, coffee, or the booze from his still. Who knows what he might have. Sure you could risk a raid on your nice neighbor who you really like, and try to take his stuff, but then again, you might end up needing a whole lot more medical supplies. I would choose trade over warfare, and begin rebuilding the bonds of community. I suspect Gasoline and ammo will be two of the most valuable commodities, but I would still suggest you keep the good stuff.

I can see the neighbor point but we'd be working together anyhow. In an extended community a neighbor could be a stand alone village/compound. I guess in any society there would have to be some establishment of trust eventually.

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
My "stockpiling" ammo is reloads with XTP bullets in them. Cheaper but still effective. You can get a couple thousand rounds in a 30mm can and still be easy to carry. For training, I reload either ball or lead.

Sorry perry, if someone doesn't come to my camp prepared and with a useable skill, you don't stay in the ultimate scenario. But then everyone in my family from my youngest daughter to my 77 year old mother can, and does, shoot regularly and well. I don't outfit others.

I agree BUT, that is easy to say from behind a keyboard. Your out numbered and someone shows up to help with no ammo...you ammo him. If you are over run and left dead with 1000's of rounds of ammo the ammo doesn't do you much good. The body has many parts to make it up and the person with out ammo may have something to offer at some point. if they are the dead beat, mooch, wife's cousin...kick them to the curb.

Perry

Perry bring up a good point.
My house has more windows then I can shoot out of at one time. And I can't recon/hunt and protect the home at the same time. In a true EOTW scenerio the most important skills will not be shooting, they will be negotiating and diplomacy, both of which are much more effective when you work from a position of strength.

Yup. If they come without ammo, they probably have no gun either. Not much help. That's why I also said without a Useable skill. That can be lookout since I can't stay up 24/7, open fire cooking, canning, water (you will most likely run out of that first). In a true EOWT scenario, negotiation is useless because what you have THEY think is theirs. I saw it on a small scale in a tornado that wiped out a good portion of the city of KCK. The first thing that happened within 5-10 minutes of the tornado leaving was the people breaking in the houses that were left and demanding everything that anyone who was left had. The ones that had guns ended up ok, those without ended up robbed, beaten or worse. When people get hungry, they WILL take what they want without asking. Your stuff will be theirs period.

I have a couple friends who are really non shooters. They have been buying target/practice ammo at Walmarts by the case but have no defense ammo. Oddly I've found that defensive ammo is not as hard to get as the target stuff.

If you are of that mindset, think hard about buying a couple strings of belt fed 223. The orange tip ones are tracer. Ever wonder about what it would do to body armor or a car in the fuel tank area?

I agree with stockpiling the good stuff. If it ever comes down to needing it the extra price you paid for the hunting ammo will be of little concern.

"just because your not paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you"

Hi Red.

What I have done for a number of years,( since Clinton in 92 )

I have the pistol packing ammo, it is the factory Speer Gold Dot, or or just pick your posion.
I then reload ammo with the same bullet, that is the stuff I shoot and practice with.
I also have reloads with cast bullets, that is just plinking stuff.
And stashed is a case of factory ball ammo for a last chance back up.

As to rifle ammo, I shoot mostly reloads, I do have some factory ball put away as well.

Saw that you have applied for your carry permit, good thing, just stick to it and wait it out, and never let it drop. I went in the week I turned 21, and have kept it up all these years.

James Wisner

I keep plenty of both types of ammo on hand. Truth is there are times you dont need or want to send the very best. Also, if I put a round between your eyes the only difference between the two will be the size of the exit wound. The end result will be the same. It isnt always about the best product but rather the best shot placement. True, the better stuff leaves a lot more room for error.