More ammo or more guns?

[Sins]

Right now I have 3 guns in my arsenal.

A 12 gauge shotgun
A .22 rifle
A 9mm pistol

I would like to add more to my collection. Primarily a larger caliber bolt action rifle and a carbine. However I am spending a lot of money on ammo and can't afford a new gun right now. Each month I spend about $150 in ammo. Some goes towards range ammo and the rest gets stockpiled.

My question is, how much ammo is a sufficient amount to have stockpiled, and how much ammo should I go through at the range?

Currently I go through about 400 rounds 9mm, 100 .22, and 100 shotgun a month in range practice.

Stockpiled I have about 1000 fmj 9mm, 100 SD 9mm, 50 buckshot, 50 slugs, 50 birdshot, 2000 .22

I figure if I cut back on my ammo spending I might be able to afford more guns. Suggestions?

[Silent Kube]

I personally don't allow myself to buy a new gun until I have enough ammo to feed the last one but I'm also a little OCD. lol

[GraphicWave]

If you really want a new gun why not, cut back on ammo like you said. But don't use the stockpiled ones, save them for any emergency...you never know.
I suggest you focus on not running out of ammo just for a new gun though.

[AKFTW]

You need a good carbine before anything else. AK or AR, whichever flavor you like better. Fill that need and you will have all the bases covered, then resume your ammo spending. I like to keep at least 2k rounds around for my AK, more when possible.

[omega_man]

Well, AKFTW beat me to it Carbine, then stockpile--stockpile I say I also think going through 100 rounds of 12ga a month is a tad excessive, unless you compete in skeet/trap events.

[Werespaz]

The answer, as always, is more training.

[UndeadInfidel]

The answer, as always, is more training.

Well you DO need ammo for training, right?

[Edward78]

You do need a good rifle but don't let you ammo reserves suffer to by one.

Ed

[Kutter_0311]

Save enough to buy a top-notch rifle, like an Arsenal, buy a dozen mags, and 2-5k ammo. Then get some training. If you have to limit your shooting for a bit, do that.

[Werespaz]

The answer, as always, is more training.

Well you DO need ammo for training, right?

So, the answer is "Ammo AND Training"? Damn, now I have to start all over again.

[omega_man]

The answer, as always, is more training.

Well you DO need ammo for training, right?

So, the answer is "Ammo AND Training"? Damn, now I have to start all over again.

No; it's: PSA carbine, ammo, then training

[raptor]

Shoot more .22lr and less 9mm. That or learn to reload the 12 gauge and 9mm.

[AKFTW]

Shoot more .22lr and less 9mm.

Plus one! Get a .22LR slide for your pistol, saves you metric fuck tons of cash and still allows you to get more trigger time.

[pahwraith]

How tight is money? If you can easy spend the cash for a carbine plus the 1-2k for ammo and cost of trainong class to start with, then I'd do that. Since a carbine is more flexible that a shotgun.

But if you dont happen to have a spare 1500-2000 or more dollars lying around (which you said yourself) I'd concentrate on improving your stock of ammo for the guns you do have, since that is a sunk cost.
700-1000 dollars buys a nice amount of ammo and it's not like a shotgun isn't effective for 99% of the times you'd need a gun for. The remainder of the money could go to other preps that are just as importants as guns.

I'm not sure what your preps are and i dont want to insult you, but I'm speaking more to the general masses at this point or the newbie prepper who are probably in a similar situation.
You could buy a top of the line water filter, an inverter so you can appliances from your car at idle, a solar battery charger, and a several month supply of food for the cost of of a full rifle setup plus all the extra goodies you "need" to have (red dot, various gear carriers, and etc) Not that they aren't nice and useful, they are but I would pursue them after I have my water, food and backup power situation sorted out.

It's really the difference between what is ideal and expensive vs what is good enough and within your means. That's a battle that is constantly fought in our heads, no matter how much money you have. There's always something better that you feel you need, but you don't....you just want it and there's a big difference between the two.

[nacho]

The answer, as always, is more training.

Well you DO need ammo for training, right?

No, not necessarily; hike, run, walk, dry fire w/ snapcaps. Spend money on food and water, then ammo / a carbine.

[UndeadInfidel]

The answer, as always, is more training.

Well you DO need ammo for training, right?

No, not necessarily; hike, run, walk, dry fire w/ snapcaps. Spend money on food and water, then ammo / a carbine.

I assumed we were talking about proper firearms training, not whatever that is.

[nacho]

Physical Training, IMO it's more important then standing in a low stress environment and shooting at a paper target.

[azrael99]

Right now I have 3 guns in my arsenal.

A 12 gauge shotgun

short and medium range, versatility, stopping power, can bring down medium games

A .22 rifle ,

good for small games, can easily carry hundreds of rounds

A 9mm pistol

good for close quarter, defense at short range again attacker , could also be used again small games.

My question is, how much ammo is a sufficient amount to have stockpiled,

how much can you afford to buy ? how many can you stock ?

and how much ammo should I go through at the range?

as much as you need to feel comfortable to shoot and , as much as necessary to have that "natural" reflex when reflex shooting.

[Kutter_0311]

Physical Training, IMO it's more important then standing in a low stress environment and shooting at a paper target.

Yeah, but that ain't what we were talking about when we said

Then get some training(LINK!).

[Einher]

Right now I have 3 guns in my arsenal.

A 12 gauge shotgun
A .22 rifle
A 9mm pistol

I would like to add more to my collection. Primarily a larger caliber bolt action rifle and a carbine. However I am spending a lot of money on ammo and can't afford a new gun right now. Each month I spend about $150 in ammo. Some goes towards range ammo and the rest gets stockpiled.

Sounds like you're off to a good start and you're interested in expanding your capabilities.

My question is, how much ammo is a sufficient amount to have stockpiled, and how much ammo should I go through at the range?

That is an incredibly difficult question to answer, because it is so strongly defined by the needs and resources of any given individual.

Currently I go through about 400 rounds 9mm, 100 .22, and 100 shotgun a month in range practice.

Stockpiled I have about 1000 fmj 9mm, 100 SD 9mm, 50 buckshot, 50 slugs, 50 birdshot, 2000 .22

Sounds like a healthy start.

I figure if I cut back on my ammo spending I might be able to afford more guns. Suggestions?

Well if there's nothing else in the budget, or anything you can sell to raise the capital, or anything left over each month that goes into a rainy day fund you can pillage your options are kind of limited to what you have suggested

In my personal opinion if it's one or the other I'd cut back on ammo purchases for a few weeks to sock away for the additional firearms you have your eye on.

"You'll buy the gun once, but you'll be buying ammunition for it forever."

[nacho]

Physical Training, IMO it's more important then standing in a low stress environment and shooting at a paper target.

Yeah, but that ain't what we were talking about when we said

Then get some training(LINK!).

As it ends up I was referring to the post directly above my last post when it was questioned what hike, run, walk... referred to. Sorry I didn't quote everything, my bad. The OP has an economics issue related to the amount of ammo expended each month, I wish I had the opportunity to go to the range every month and burn 1000 rounds, but I don't so I try to train in other ways. My point was there is a lot of training one can do that will make them a better suited to survive a situation where they may have to exchange fire that has nothing to do with putting lead down range. Training in a simulated environment is great, but sitting at home with some snap caps running failure drills, and familiarizing yourself with your firearms, and doing good old PT is something that's important and won't diminish your ammo supply.

[Kutter_0311]

there is a lot of training one can do that will make them a better suited to survive a situation where they may have to exchange fire that has nothing to do with putting lead down range. Training in a simulated environment is great, but sitting at home with some snap caps running failure drills, and familiarizing yourself with your firearms, and doing good old PT is something that's important and won't diminish your ammo supply.

This is all very true! 1k of ammo wasted on training that doesn't push your skills is a waste.

Much better to PT and work dry-fire drills while saving for a class that will teach you things you can't learn on youtube.

[Rebel Pariah]

IF I MAY INTERJECT?

I am currently in a similar conundrum,

MOAR AMMO!....
OR
MOAR TOYS GUNS!.... ( oh noez teh gun ban is comin )
OR
MOAR MAGAZINES!...


I personally would like to have probably 6 pistol mags for my berreta px4 ( sooo fucking $$$ )
probably 8-10 [url]GOOD[/url] mags for my 1911 (8rd)
not too bad with my pmags at the moment (6 +2 gi's) but another 4-6 would be nice (in the right color that matchs my rifle green )
and probably 3 more mark iii mags,

having 1k+ rounds of ammo isn't helpful, if you don't have something to load it into the gun with, unless your planning on reloading your magazine in the middle of a firefight....

I just need to figure out which to spend money on
I am leaning towards mags, since my pistols only have a 2-3 each
but boy I can't wait to buy a,
1022TD,AK,Glock19\23,second AR as a KISS rifle,700sps tactical

*but seriously though, any brief mention of gun bans\more gun control... no matter how slight the chances, just whispers to your inner gun hoarder..... "you should buy _____ now while you still have the chance"

[Kutter_0311]

I'm good on mags for now, though another 10 G22/35 and 50 AK mags would be nice

If I can unload the Sig 556 and Kimber TLE/RL, I may have 13 green PMAGS and 12 brandy-new 7rd stainless gov't 1911 mags available