I buy a couple packs every time I'm in Wal-Mart, but I only keep 2-3 20rd packs of any ammo type on hand at a time. :secret:
With all of the stuff that's coming up in the news, I don't generally like to talk about how much I have on hand. I will say that I have at least 5 .50CAL ammo cans full of .22LR (400rd American Eagle .22LR 38GR HP, 8 boxes fit perfectly in each can), and that on top of having "some" Wolf and Federal .223, I also reload, but I don't have a progressive set-up anymore. I had a Hornady L-n-L before and loved it, but I'm debating trying a Lee Loadmaster, and if it works just getting 3 or so, each for a dedicated caliber. I'll probably just get another Hornady though. I also keep some reloading supplies on hand as I don't buy .308 for the Remington 700, and the .223 and .40S&W are much cheaper as well.
Really, it's all up to you how much you think is enough. How much do you shoot in an average range session? How many times a week? I take that number, divide by half (one would assume you'd cut down on your range time in a crisis situation), then figure on either 3, 6, 9, or 12 months of supply. Sound odd? Let me spell it out:
250 rds per session x 4 days a week = 1,000rds\wk = 4,000rds\mo. || 4,000\2 = 2,000 rds\mo for half.
By using this, if you wanted to keep a 3 month supply, you get 6k rounds. 6 months is 12k rounds. So on, and so forth. Obviously, not everyone shoots this much or has the cash to keep this much but it was easiest to have it work out that way. If you only shoot 100 rds a month, I'd start at a minimum of 1k to be on the safe side: you want to factor in potential self-defense use as well (whether it be from wildlife or the not so wildlife biped kind). Factor in each caliber separately. The easiest and cheapest one to build will be the .22LR - the 400rd packs I buy are ~$25, but they're individually packaged in rows of 40 so when you open the package it's not an out-pour of loose rounds - $100 gets you 4k of it, and believe me that'll put food on the table for a while.
I've found it easiest to either set aside a certain amount each payday (4 packs of Wolf .223 is ~$20), and just keep that goal. Within a year at that rate you'll have 4,160rds if you get paid weekly - up it to $50 a week and you'll have over 10k rds. You could also go about saving money and buying in bulk, but it's less of a hassle and easier for me to justify spending $20-40 a pop to myself than it is spending $400 a pop.
