[CHLChris]

Something I've thought about recently...

1) Ammo may be used as barter, but probably .22lr, not handgun ammo.
2) I'd only really need lots of ammo if there was a hot war in a civil war.
3) I'm never going to use my guns to go steal food and supplies.

Thus, once I get to some reasonable point (that point is dif for all), I really should spend my money and time on food/medical/supplies.

But, honestly, it is really hard to look at my puny pile and think it is enough, no matter the pile.

[Gator Monroe]

One guy at another forum said he had almost 2 million rounds of .22 lr . (Not sure if he was an FFL though .

[CA357]

You have an excellent point Chris. Basic supplies are critical. You can't eat or drink ammunition. It won't keep you warm or dry either.

I try to keep my ammunition stocked up to a level where I'm comfortable. But I am always adding food, fuel, hydration, medical supplies and other necessities to the larder.

[Steve65]

This might be a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway: does keeping magazines fully loaded for long periods of time make the springs get weak or otherwise cause any "aging" problems with the magazines?

[CA357]

Originally Posted by Steve65

This might be a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway: does keeping magazines fully loaded for long periods of time make the springs get weak or otherwise cause any "aging" problems with the magazines?

The general consensus is that it won't. The loading and unloading or compression/decompression is what can wear the springs.

[grunt67]

Too much ammo? I've heard that the only time you can have too much ammo is when your house is on fire....

grunt67

“You can have my Freedom when I'm done with it!"

[7.62 Man]

Originally Posted by Steve65

This might be a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway: does keeping magazines fully loaded for long periods of time make the springs get weak or otherwise cause any "aging" problems with the magazines?

The thing that kills springs is over compression and over expansion.

Your magazines will be fine loaded for a long time.

[marlas1too]

well i just finished reloading 2,000 rounds of 38 specials and that brings that cal. to over 5,000 rnds. next i'll start on the brass 7.63x39 brass i just got will have another 2,000 of them when im done to add to the cans of surpluss i have on hand too got to get more 44 mag rnds too -just got 2 sks rifles with 6 mags for them so ill have to order more mags too-----------remember its better to have and not need than need and not have

[Eric0424]

Originally Posted by Steve65

This might be a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway: does keeping magazines fully loaded for long periods of time make the springs get weak or otherwise cause any "aging" problems with the magazines?

I rotate fully loaded magazines out every couple of months to keep the springs from weakening.

It really depends on the magazine and spring quality. The link below is what Wolff Gun Springs has to say on the subject and I happen to agree with it. Not because it's Wolff, but because it's been my experience with some Hi-Cap 9mm and 45APC magazines.

Wolff Gun Springs - Firearm Springs for Semi-Auto Pistols, Revolvers, Rifles, & Shotguns

[sweeper22]

I keep enough that I can continue shooting without going broke if we encounter the type of ammo shortage we saw 2 years ago. I don't yet reload, but I'd like to change that in the near future. Here's about what I've got laying around for the calibers I shoot most often:

22lr: 5000
5.56: 2500
9mm: 2500
45acp: 1000+

Then I've got several hundred rounds 357sig, 40sw, and 12g...as those don't make it out to the range very often. Roughly 15% of each caliber count would fall into the "premium ammunition" category...JHPs, BTHPs, tracers, 00buck, Stingers, etc.