How much SD ammo do people have on hand at one time? I'm looking at ordering some, but don't want to break the bank.

I have around 200 rounds of HST or Gold Dot 9mm for my daily carry guns but I stocked up on 9BPLE +P when it was on sale for $11 per box of 50 for SHTF stuff.

Bone Frog Gun club has HST for $18 a box of 50. SGammo has them for $20. I say get enough to thoroughly function test and gun you plan for using. I try to keep 200-300 around. Have to buy more every time I get a new gun and function test.

I keep at least 500rds of self defense ammo on hand for my primary caliber (9mm). I have a few different rounds as some guns work better with a specific ammo. Rounds I have on hand for 9mm are:

Remington 115gr JHP (100 round boxes from Walmart)
Federal 124gr HST JHP
Federal 147gr Hydrashocks
Federal 9BPLE +p+
Fiocchi 115gr JHP

I keep 500 to 1000 rounds on hand for each of my primary defensive calibers:

124 grain +P 9mm Federal HST
230 grain .45 ACP Federal HST
64 grain 5.56 Speer Gold Dot

I bought a case of HST when I found it at a good price.

I doubt prices of quality hollow points will get better, and if Pelosi has her way, you'll need a permit to buy it. I'd stock up based on what you can afford. The great thing about HD ammo is that typically it's sealed against moisture intrusion, I'd expect it to last longer in storage than range/ball ammo.

another thing to consider if money is tight...

get a couple boxes to ensure your handgun(s) will digest your 'primary' Grade A choice (like Gold Dot, HST, etc). Load that in one or two mags.

then consider loading back-up / stash mags with a less expensive JHP like Fed 9bp, Win / Rem JHP from WM or whatever.

As cash allows - add to your stash of your primary choice.

We'd all love to order 1000s of rounds of the best Tier 1 ammo - but reality is sometimes otherwise. Also - as others have mentioned - watch for sales which come up from time to time.

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I usually have about 200rds in a variety of jhp per caliber. I keep more fmj than I do jhp since it's the fmj that gets shot more frequently.

300-400 rounds per caliber.

quote:

Originally posted by smithnsig:
Bone Frog Gun club has HST for $18 a box of 50. SGammo has them for $20. I say get enough to thoroughly function test and gun you plan for using. I try to keep 200-300 around. Have to buy more every time I get a new gun and function test.

Is Bone Frog reputable?

quote:

Originally posted by saigonsmuggler:

Is Bone Frog reputable?

I have ordered from them with no problems.

quote:

Originally posted by saigonsmuggler:

Is Bone Frog reputable?

Yes.

And to answer the question, it depends.
If it has a magazine (rifle or pistol) I like to have 200, not counting what's loaded up in magazines.

No magazine (revolver or shotgun), 50 is my minimum.

Even for calibers I own but don't see myself carrying (.45 Colt, .44 Magnum) I always keep some *just in case* it were to need to be pushed into a defensive role.

9mm hardball is my SD ammo,and I have thousands of rounds of it. I have no concern of being attacked by jello wearing 2 layers of denium , or what the FBI thinks about that. Overpenetration is really a non issue, a miss is far more likely than a passthrough.

1 case of 124 grain +P 9mm Speer Gold Dot
1 case of 64 grain 5.56 Speer Gold Dot

I have approximately 1,000 rounds of defensive Ammo per caliber. More for something like 9mm. My supply was very slowly built up over time buying a box or two at a time.