The premise behind prepping is to be ready for anything. That means planning, and stocking up supplies like water, food, and ammo. Just as it’s possible to make mistakes when building up foodstuffs (panic buying being a prime example), it’s easy to make mistakes when building up your ammo reserves. Today we’ll show you some common mistakes when buying up ammunition and how to avoid them.
Location
People put their ammo supply in one place all too often. This is one of the most common mistakes made when storing ammunition.
If someone does break into your home, and they cut you off from your ammo supply, you’re now limited to whatever is in your gun. By spreading your ammo throughout your house or your property, you’ll be able to reload if needed.
If you have one, this extends to your bug-out location as well. If you plan to bug out, you’re not going to be able to carry a large amount of ammo. Even if you drive a vehicle, you have to think about the possibility of that vehicle breaking down. If that happens and you have 500 pounds of ammo, chances are you’re not going to be able to carry that.
You should try to include one box of handgun ammo and two boxes of rifle or shotgun ammo with every supply cache. This should be enough to cover your needs as you move from cache to cache.
Money
Expenses have a lot to do with how much ammo a person can buy. If possible, it’s best to buy ammo in bulk. Unless the ammo is on sale, buying 50 rounds of handgun ammo doesn’t exactly scream “bargain”.
If you can find a low-cost retailer, you’re gonna get a better deal. It’s not uncommon to find good deals at gun shows and other firearm events where you can buy ammo by the can from small-scale ammo manufacturers. This is probably the best deal you’re going to find, as you are buying from a low-cost retailer and in bulk.
Storage
Where you store your ammo pile is important, but how you store it is just as important, if not more. Despite advances in technology and how tightly packed rounds are these days, ammo isn’t moisture-proof. Accidentally allowing moisture into your ammo containers can ruin everything inside, so store your ammo in cool, dry areas.
This is another reason why buying ammo by the can is ideal. Not only are you getting ammo, but you’re getting a moisture-proof container as well.
Remember you’re planning on keeping this ammo for as long as possible. To think that it’s not going to be subject to moisture at some point is naive.
Quantity
The saying “the more the merrier” is applied a lot when buying ammo. Be careful though, there is such a thing as buying too much ammo.
This is especially true when it comes to handgun ammo. It’s unlikely you’re going to use 1,000 rounds of handgun ammunition; most people carry a couple of extra magazines at most. Buying 1,000 rounds for your side-arm is a bit overkill, especially if it’s not your primary weapon.
Rifle ammo, on the other hand, is different. Your rifle is going to likely be used a lot more and unload more rounds than your pistol. You’re probably going to use more than 1,000 in a SHTF situation, so it’s hard to go wrong with getting an excess stockpile of rifle ammunition.
Calibers
If SHTF, it’s unlikely you’re going to use more than a couple of firearms. Most arsenals include a rifle, a handgun, and probably a shotgun.
Can you have more than that? Absolutely. Just think about which guns you’re buying and what they’re chambered in.
It’s best if you buy guns that have common calibers such as 9mm, .45, 5.56, and even .22LR. Having these ammo types in a SHTF situation helps when it comes to scavenging and bartering as well.
Having the same caliber between both sets of guns is even better. This way you don’t have to buy 10 different types of ammo. So, if possible, avoid buying multiple guns with varying calibers. Variety is good, but not when you need to survive.
Ammo is just as important as food, as it could become vital to acquiring food at some point. Knowing how to properly store your ammo will save you headaches and money, potentially your life. In the end, how you store your ammo is really up to you because you’re the best authority on how to handle your personal situation.
Do think it’s necessary to stockpile ammunition in case of an emergency? Reply to your email and share your thoughts, we would love to hear from you!
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