SHTF Ammo Stockpiling Guide

When the time comes and you’re breaking open the food stores and weapon
cache, your stockpiled ammo will be just as valuable – and likely necessary –
as storing drinkable water. Unlike food and water, you need to store ammo
like you’ll never have another opportunity to buy or find it again. But how much
ammo for SHTF is enough?

To answer that, we need to look at calibers, types of firearms, and needs.

Finally, we’ll give guidelines for the minimum amount of ammunition you
should keep around.

How Much Ammo for SHTF is Enough?

You can never have too much ammo. If the floorboards are creaking from the
weight, move your cache into the basement or underground. You should
maintain the minimum counts of the following types of ammo:
 2,000 defensive rifle cartridges

 800 hunting rifle cartridges

 300 defensive shot shells

 600 hunting shot shells

 1,200 pistol cartridges

Plenty of other guides give out arbitrary numbers like these. So, how did we
arrive at these figures?

Let’s dive into the expectations and guidelines that made us arrive at these
numbers.

SHTF Ammo Guidelines

Part of the prepping mindset is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
If you’re a truly effective prepper, you must assume that if you wind up in a
survival situation, it will be a long-term and draconian environment.

For the sake of ammo, that means likely engaging in self-defense

shooting and regular hunting excursions.

Hand Gun Rounds

According to this analysis, a person in a self-defense situation will require 13.6

rounds fired (on average) to incapacitate an armed attacker. Keep in mind this
is for a single attacker.

In a survival situation, you will encounter groups of individuals. And those

groups share common, often competing and hostile, goals.

In fact, this statistic is likely why the FBI adopted the high-capacity 9mm
cartridge, replacing the bulkier .40 S&W for more ammo in each magazine.

You can expel dozens of magazines in a close-quarters shooting situation

when defending yourself and your property.

Rifle Rounds

In combat environments or firefights, ammo use increases dramatically with

distance and the fog of war. Statistics suggest that in modern urban combat
theaters like Iraq, an average of 250,000 rounds are required per insurgent
killed.
This average is extreme and skewed because of automatic and crew-serve
weapons. But this writer’s personal infantry experience overseas says that
you should expect to expend up to a full “battle load” (270 rounds or nine 30-
round magazines of 5.56 NATO or centerfire rifle ammo) regularly, just to kill
a single armed aggressor at engagements between 50 and 250 meters. That
covers most modern urban fire-fights.

By these numbers, you could expect to deplete your weapons’ ammo cache
relatively quickly.

You probably won’t wind up fending off attackers on a daily basis, a la Mad

Max. But is the risk of engaging in at least one to two defensive shooting
scenarios possible, even likely, as the situation drags on? Yes.

Those 1 or 2 encounters, if realized with multiple aggressors, could force you

to burn through dozens of magazines, if not hundreds of rounds of ammo.

Hunting Rounds

The average American deer hunter requires between 1 to 7 rounds fired

before he or she snags some antlers. An aggregate study of data collected
over the past few decades indicates most hunters require 3.1 shots per deer.

We’ll keep it simple. In a survival scenario that spans up to months and

seasons, a few hundred rounds of hunting ammo per gun is a sure guarantee
that you’ll never run out of the resources required to gather food.

Average Number of Guns Owned in America

All of the guns in America are owned by 25% of the population. Half of all
guns are owned by 3% of Americans. That means around 7.7 million
Americans own anywhere between 8 to 140 firearms each. What side of the
chart are you on?

The data shows the types of firearms owned typically includes at least three
centerfire rifles, at least two to three handguns, and one to two shotguns.

How Many Rounds to Stockpile

Extrapolating these data across our suggested totals for your ammo stockpile,
that leaves about a ballpark figure of 400 to 800 rounds of ammunition per
firearm.

Calculating fast n’ loose, that leaves enough ammo per firearm for multiple
defensive and hunting encounters without ever expending more than 50% of
your total stockpile.

Hunting and Defensive Shooting

Hunting and defense are the two reasons you need to stockpile ammo in the
first place. Additionally, fill your cache based on the rifles, pistols, and
shotguns you actually own.

There are endless weapon makes and models (and calibers) to pick from.
We’ve listed the cartridges we believe to be the most useful and valuable for
the SHTF-minded prepper experiencing a survival situation.

Putting the cart before the horse may make sense, here. If you’re new to the
game or you don’t yet own any firearms, use this guide as the foundation for
picking the guns and ammo most valuable for your setup.

Hunting Calibers

.22 LR

For small game, nothing beats the small but mighty .22 LR.
It’s been a favorite among varmint hunters since its inception. More
importantly, it’s cheap and plentiful.

Whether you’re in an urban environment or way out the sticks, a few boxes
of .22 LR for your favorite Ruger or Henry will be invaluable in an ‘SHTF’
scenario, no matter where, when, or how dire.

.270 Winchester

Hunters across America have used this legendary deer cartridge for nearly a
century.

It packs a load of powder to make high velocity and accuracy at distance.

Likewise, it’s suitable for most American antlered game.

It’s not as common as some of the other calibers we discuss. However, if you
already own the bolt gun and need confidence in taking game at long range,
it’s a great caliber to stock up on.

.30-06 Springfield

Once a proud battle rifle cartridge, the .30-06 Springfield is one of the most
popular non-magnum rifle rounds still in circulation today.

This is a big, expensive round. But if you’re stalking moose or bear, you need
it in your arsenal.

Defensive Rounds
Managing to snag some venison during the apocalypse could be a lifesaver.
However, investing in modern defensive rounds is what’ll truly set you apart
from disaster.

Many of these cartridges serve just as well as hunting rounds, and they’ll be
the focus of this guide.

5.56 NATO / .223 Remington

The gold standard in any prepper’s arsenal. By raw numbers, 5.56 NATO and
its commercial counterpart, the .223 Remington, might be the two most
popular rifle cartridges in existence.

Little introduction needs to be made, here. If you’re reading this, you probably
already own an AR-15 (or, like a smart prepper, you keep yours off the books
with some 80% lowers).

Even if you don’t own a black rifle, it pays off to store some of these .22-cal
centerfires.

7.62×51 NATO / .308 Winchester

The 7.62 NATO and its commercial equivalent, the .308 Winchester, remain
two of the most popular .30-caliber rifle cartridges in circulation. They have
been used by the U.S military for nearly 75 years.

More importantly, these two rounds and their available rifles comprise the
most affordable and accessible .30-caliber setup you can find just about
anywhere. The right loads can even defeat body armor. That makes them
perfect for the stockpile.

9mm Parabellum

Call it 9mm Luger, it’s all the same: The 9mm Parabellum cartridge is one of
the most popular and compatible pistol cartridges on the market.

If you can list a handgun make and model, chances are high that it comes
available in 9mm. If that’s not all it was made to shoot.

The 9mm cartridge burns its powder quickly, it packs a punch, and it can
maintain MOA accuracy beyond 100 meters with the right setup.

Many black rifles and pistol-caliber carbines like the AR-9 are now configured
using the Parabellum cartridge. So it only makes sense to keep it around for
its versatility.

12-Gauge Shot Shell

Before you cry foul that 12-gauge shells are hunting rounds, hear us out. In an
SHTF situation, you will likely engage targets with your firearms in a defensive
capacity long before you ever pull the trigger on a wild animal.

A 12-gauge is an effective cartridge for virtually any American game. In

contrast, it makes for an even better close-quarters deterrent when collateral
damage is of little concern.
Of course, shot shells take up a lot more space than any rifle or pistol
cartridge, which finally brings us to the important points.

Stockpiling Tips

Figuring out how much ammo you must store is just one half of this equation.
The other, equally important half is figuring out how to safely store all that
ammo so it never goes to waste.

Cold, Dark, and Dry Is Best

If you properly seal and store your ammo in a consistently cold, dry, dark
environment, it will outlast you.

Long-term exposure to things like temperature changes, UV light, and

moisture can break down the chemical compounds in gunpowder and primers.
Sealed primers can also fail, brass can corrode, and the result is usually a
dead round in the chamber.

It’s a best practice to store your ammo wherever humidity is below 40% and

where temperatures fluctuate by 10 to 20 degrees or less. A maximum
temperature of 75 degrees or less will preserve primers well.

That typically means storing your cache underground, like a basement or

storm shelter. If you don’t have access to either, burying your ammo is not out
of the question (just don’t bury it all; always leave some readily available).

Stockpiling Storage Options 

Surplus Ammo Cans

These cans are perfect. They were made for long-term ammo storage.

U.S. Military ammo cans are also cheap and plentiful, they’re made from
steel, coated with weatherproof paint, and sealed with thick rubber O-rings to
make them waterproof.
Not-quite-Pelican-cases, like the Condition 1 Hard Case, work just as well for
a fraction of the price, too. These TPO plastic containers are also waterproof,
shock-proof, and completely weatherproof.

They can even be buried easily, and sport locking latches to keep curious
hands away. These cases can hold thousands of rounds, potentially storing
your entire cache in an easy-to-transport box.

This writer personally recommends them, and he stores his dozens of 5.56
magazines and 20-round American Eagle boxes in one, just for that “what if”
moment.

DO NOT Forget Desiccant Packets

Often overlooked, these little silica packets are perhaps the most important

accessory for effectively storing ammunition long-term.

These packets absorb moisture and protect your ammo’s primers, gunpowder,
and casings. They’re reusable and can be baked in the oven to cook off
moisture before being returned to your cache. You need these, especially if
you live in a humid environment.
 U.S. G.I. M2A1 Metal 50-Caliber Ammo Box (Used)

1 Gram Silica Gel Packets – Rechargeable Desiccant Packets

and Dehumidifiers (200 Pack)

Resources for Gun Laws

Lastly, it’s a good idea to review ammo laws in your state. It’s important that
you don’t open yourself up to a visit from the feds. Yes, it has and does
happen – especially to smart folks like us, who tend to buy ammo in bulk.
If you want to walk that line on the law, then 18 U.S. Code § 922, especially
sections (D) and (G), is a great resource.

This research report from Connecticut’s Office of Legislative Research covers

many current state-specific ammo laws, too.

These statutes cover just about every federal ammunition law on the books.
Likewise, they will help you make sure you’re not getting into any illegal
cartridges or transactions. You’re officially armed with the ammo knowledge
you need to stockpile.

Conclusion

So, we’ve covered the big points on the burning question you’ve been asking:
How much ammo for SHTF is enough? Here are the numbers one more time:
 2,000 defensive rifle cartridges

 800 hunting rifle cartridges

 300 defensive shot shells

 600 hunting shot shells

 1,200 pistol cartridges

Remember these key takeaways: Keep at least 400 to 800 rounds per firearm
in your stockpile. Focus on storing defensive ammo more; you can use it to
hunt, too. Store your ammo in a cool, dark, dry place that’s about 75 degrees
(F) or lower. Use desiccants to absorb moisture.

Now, it’s time to stock up on ammo!