How much reloaded ammo is too much?

[fstdraw]

I've been reloading for several years and have accumulated a bunch of reloaded ammo. I do also have some factory ammo I keep for trading purposes. I've reloaded about (and have on hand) 3000 rounds of 7.62x39, 2500 of .223/5.56, 1500 rounds of .45 ACP, and misc. large amounts of .38 40, .44 40, .45 Colt and of course the proverbial large amounts of factory 9mm, .22, .380 and the like. Is this too much reloaded ammo? It's good stuff and I don't have misfires to speak of. I can't seem to stop and I enjoy it.

Thoughts?

Have a very Merry Christmas!

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[Knobgoblin]

Between 5 and 10 thousand rounds of the 2 " intermediate " combat rifles rounds is appropriate.

 

[gmerkt]

Reloaders I know never seem to have an upward limit. Every unloaded case is a mental challenge until it too is reloaded into finished ammo.

We've had this discussion before on this site. My preference is to do all the case prep, then leave most of my stuff in component form until a time closer to when it's apt to be used. The case prep is the most time consuming process; the rest goes fairly quickly.

My reasons are: (1) If for reasons foreseeable and non-foreseeable, plans change, it's easier to dispose of components than it is finished reloads. (2) Sometimes reloaded brass doesn't stand neck tension all that well over the years. (3) Change of direction in your shooting hobby.

Lately I inherited the gear a friend of mine had. Including ammo. I won't have to load handgun ammo for years to come at current rates of consumption. Not to mention I already had my own stocks of 9mm which consisted of buckling shelves. Which was the exception to my general practice mentioned above. I did have to rework some .357 and .44 Mag ammo he bought that I didn't like.

 

[Pepe-lepew]

I learned the hard way to not bulk load until a new load is fully tested for function and accuracy and not to bulk load more than I plan to use the next year. It is much easier if a problem occurs with the loaded cartridges to deal with it.

I loaded 1000 pistol bullets with my standard charge weight then found they were horribly inaccurate. I bulk loaded a couple years worth of 30-06 rounds for rifle matches then found out the primers were defective and piercing. Recently I have seen a couple forums where guys are having cracking issues with older handloaded bottle neck cartridges. When problems like this creep up it is less of an issue if you don't have 1000's of rounds already loaded.

Hand loads are less valuable than the separate components. If your shooting interests change, hobbies change or you keel over and die, the components sell easily and not much less than new. Handloads sell for much less.

 

[Nosferatu]

No such thing.

 

[oremike]

My personal stocking level is a 50 cal ammo can per caliber. Easy that way to grab this can and that gun and head out. I own an ammo company so when I see a can is getting low the next time I make that ammo I add in some more for me.

 

[fstdraw]

Perfect, glad to hear that reloaded ammo is a part of all our shooting lives.

 

[Mono1]

"Too Much" is a mythical concept.

Snap Out of It.

 

[saxon]

, 1500 rounds of .45 ACP,

rookie numbers you got to pump them up i mean 5,000 minimum

 

[DizzyJ]

Sounds like you need to shoot more

 

[Ben B.]

Enough to last a year of shooting at current rate, minimum. I tend to load until out of components, and then the press will sit idle until I see the need in another caliber, and then switch up the press and load for that until out of components. Bullets are generally what gets used up first, and are generally easy to get when needed.

So far, I've been able to stay ahead on primers and powder and brass. It's a balancing act keeping enough components AND finished ammo to not get pinched in one of the periodic shortages, yet not get burdened with evermore STUFF that sits around.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

 

[Catfishmoon]

I share the same philosophy as mentioned earlier in the thread; I stack the components deep (have large amounts) but I only assemble enough to cover my shooting for about the next two months...
One of the odd aspects of reloading (compared to other activities) is that once the labor is added and the individual components are assembled into ammunition, the completed product actually declines in worth and has less resell value than the un-assembled components...
If I were to pass away, my family could resell most of my primers, powder, and projectiles for what I paid, I tend to buy in bulk during sales.

 

[gmerkt]

to not bulk load until a new load is fully tested for function and accuracy

This ^^ absolutely. For revolver cartridges, for example, I load 24 for initial testing.

Recently I have seen a couple forums where guys are having cracking issues with older handloaded bottle neck cartridges.

Yes, this is what I've experienced more than once. Rifle cartridges loaded 25 years ago, take them out of the box and some bullets finger tight (or loose!), Necks cracked over time sitting there under tension. RP and PMC have been the culprits. Routine annealing might reduce the likelihood of this. But I've had it happen on once fired RP brass which you wouldn't think would need annealing. Of course RP brass is the thinnest in the domestic industry. Metallurgy on PMC seems such that it embrittles sooner than some. Including handgun cartridges.

 

[Cerberus Group]

I read an article many years ago, it was an interview with one of the Rockefeller's. One of the questions was " How much money does it take to be comfortable in life?" His answer "Just a bit more than what you have."

I've applied this philosophy to ammo...how much ammo does it take to be comfortable...just a bit more than what you have.

 

[Spitpatch]

View attachment 2007768

Wrong thread. She's referring to female orgasms.

 

[Mikej]

Wrong thread. She's referring to female orgasms.

Seeing as YOU brough this up. For me, making/assembling ammunition is the most exiting, feel good, part. The finish (unloading that ammo) doesn't have the pay off that all the work up to that point provides. Does that make ME weird?

 

[orygun]

No such thing.

Agreed.

 

[fstdraw]

Excellent to hear all of this. My wife always says that lead is the new gold! I need to up my game from reloading 200 or so rounds a week to to to well, lots more!

Merry Christmas!

 

[deadeye]

I usually have one can full in mtm boxes of each and stock up on components for same. Spend time cleaning and prepping brass for replenishing as needed. I like to keep components available for possible load development for new rifles/pistols that may not like what is already loaded. I also like having primers available and not tied up on one caliber when several use the same one. Dont get me wrong I do enjoy reloading, but I only have so much space for ammo cans especially when I have a large supply of factory stuff too. I load for about 20 different calibers so space can be an issue when you have to store that many.