A common question when preppers begin the process of accumulating supplies and knowledge is How much ammo do I need for SHTF? Of course, if you don’t have any firearms, the question is more likely, how much ammo do you need meaning the person like me? Because anyone with a gun in their opinion doesn’t need it and any ammo except maybe a single box is too much.
That box should also be registered with the local sheriff and kept under lock and key preferably at the Sheriff’s office. For the rest of us who are able to keep firearms (for now) and who don’t have a problem with firearms, I wanted to give my take on how much ammo to keep. The typical SHTF scenario is not a limited disruption in services or power like what you can expect from a weather event. Although, there are a lot of cases recently where Hurricanes disrupt a community for years. (Haiti, Hurricane Sandy, Katrina) so to some of you this could be a real SHTF scenario in its own right. I am not really speaking to this threat, but you can glean some information for those who do find themselves in a weather caused event I think. My scenario for this post is a real SHTF type of scenario where for whatever reason, any resemblance of normalcy has been thrown out the window and there is no Rule of Law or Law and Order is severely diminished. Economic Collapse, Mutant Zombie Bikers from Mars, Global pandemic; pick one. The point I want to get to is if the stores never opened again, if you couldn’t walk down to Walmart ever and get more ammo; how much would you need on hand before the collapse? Let me first preface this with the following. Everyone’s situation is different so this is just my idea of the recommended minimum amounts. If I haven’t taken into account some of your realities, please let me know. I think this post can be a forum where we can all get more perspective from others out there. Next, this is not assuming you are going to bug out into the woods. I can already hear
SHTF Guns and Ammo How Much Do I Need?
So, to get to the point, I mentioned in another post the Top Five Firearms You Need to Get Your Hands on, so that is my battery of arms. This included one Shotgun, One Battle Rife, One Long-Range (Hunting) Rifle, One pistol and One small game rifle. For these weapons, I have the following recommendations.
- Shotgun
- Small Game – 500 rds.
- Defensive – 500 rds.
- Battle Rifle AR or AK – 2000 rds.
- Long Range Rifle – 500 rds.
- Pistol
- Defensive Hollow Point– 1000 rds.
- Practice (Ball) – 2000 rds.
- Small Game (.22) – 2000 rds.
I will go ahead and explain my reasoning for these numbers and please feel free to comment with your own opinions and suggestions. I am just like every single other person in the world out there. There aren’t any SHTF experts so it is just opinions all around. You may have a lot of experience in the Army, or the Police Force but that doesn’t make you an expert any more than anyone else.
Shotgun – This weapon has two uses so the count is fairly high. 500 rounds each for hunting game and defending your home should last a long time.
Battle Rifle – This to me is your go to weapon of choice in any type of SHTF scenario and your magazines will hold more than just about any normal magazine of any of my other choices. A decent combat load is 12 magazines at 30 rounds each (12 X 30 = 360) and that is just what you can carry on you in your vest or LBE. 2000 to me is the minimum I would strive for.
Long Range Rifle – Again, this pulls double duty along with the Shotgun. A well sighted .30-.06 or .308 can reach out and touch a lot of people at a respectable distance if they are handled correctly. This can be the weapon that bags deer for dinner or picks off a zombie at 600 yards.
Pistol – This weapon is not as powerful as the battle rifle, but it will be on your side more often I imagine. Spare pistol ammo can be bartered in a pinch, but only if you have more than your minimums.
Small Game – This is my .22 and it can be used to practice with, take smaller game and varmints if you are a good shot. This ammo is still considerably cheaper than just about any other too. Now that I have my minimums out there, how do you get started? I would download our Ammo Inventory Spreadsheet if you have Excel to keep track and budget. If you had all of these calibers and had zero ammo I would try
How many magazines do you need for each weapon?
That is another excellent question. I would say 4 magazines for each pistol at a minimum and 10 for your battle rifle. You don’t have to worry about shotguns and rifle magazines are costly too. I would say 4 magazines for your long-range rifle too but that is only after you get everything else first.
Have some ideas of your own? Id love to hear them in the comments below.
Source: theprepperjournal.com
Other useful resources:
Survival MD (Best Post SHTF Medical Survival Guide Ever)
Blackout USA (EMP survival and preparedness guide)
Backyard Innovator (All Year Round Source Of Fresh Meat,Vegetables And Clean Drinking Water)
Conquering the coming collapse (Financial advice and preparedness )
Liberty Generator (Easy DIY to build your own off-grid free energy device)
Backyard Liberty (Easy and cheap DIY Aquaponic system to grow your organic and living food bank)
Bullet Proof Home (A Prepper’s Guide in Safeguarding a Home )
Family Self Defense (Best Self Defense Strategies For You And Your Family)
Sold Out After Crisis (Best 37 Items To Hoard For A Long Term Crisis)
View Comments (7)
Do you possess enough ability to survive a gun battle? If not you don't need but one to start something you are not capable of finishing. That would b the question. If not don't wait until you fear for your life to prepare.
This simply answer here is "YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH" and IMHO that applies to magazines and the one thing you have forgotten - spare parts, without spare fire control parts you could end up with an expensive rock (in the case of one's handgun) or a club (in the case of one's rifle).
You have also neglected/omitted the subject of reloading and the ability to create replenishment of one's supply by simply making more - which does involve stocking up on powder, primers, bullets and brass.
from what i can see there will be plenty of ammo and weapons laying around after to replenish for free lol I plan on coming out and reuping after most of the fools go at it ! and if they come for me I'm ready ;) I'll take theirs too !
Two things:
1. Before moving far away to 'retire' on a balmy beach, I lived in gangbangville Los Angeles for a quarter century. The most dangerous predators in that violent L.A. jungle were not the homicidal baboonies. It was the suicidal guys.
2. What you say here makes sense. And I have made reasonable preparations for $ocialism collapse. Indeed! That was the lesson of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. However... there comes a point where a sane man might decide to NOT live in a Mad Max world. These are the most dangerous men. Refer to point one.
Excellent article. Thanks. I compared your list (and reasons) to my own and I fall short in some areas and excell in others.
The only thing I might add is a .117 caliber rifle (pellet gun)
Very inexpensive and enough 'silent' firepower to harvest small game (birds, squirrels, rabbits) without giving away your location or causing unneccessary concern within city limits or populated areas.
There is not a plate carrier in the world that has 12 30 round magazines on it
Where is the Ammo Inventory Spreadsheet?