Good (for today's measure of good) ammo prices with free shipping 12/27/2021

[RB in GA]

https://shop.tacticalshit.com/ammunition

[FeedingFreedom]

Prices seem to have settled back to a touch higher than before the last panic. Best fill the inventory now, before the next induced crisis drives prices even higher.

[JohnyMac]

Free shipping today. 52 cents a round for 1,000 rnds of 5.56 62 gr green tip...Not bad.

[Felix]

Stockpiling AR-15 ammo has a declining value as far as allocating resources when you think of it this way:  "How many magazines full are you going to use in how many firefights before you become a casualty yourself?"   Best way to win a fight is to avoid it in the first place.  If unavoidable, survive and try to make another less likely.
Yes, I have in excess of 700 rounds of 5.56 on hand.    Can't imagine surviving high number of gunfights unless very, very lucky as many engagements as that would consume.
I think attention should be spread around a bit more.   My reasoning is that ammo's value will be found as a barter item and as a hunting item.   Which means, don't blow the whole budget on 5.56 etc... also stock up on calibers that _you_ use for procuring game and/or that other folks will need more on a day-to-day basis rather than pitched fire-fight.
Oh.  And get a suppressor(s) with quick connect for the guns that might be used for shooting deer, etc. No profit in announcing you've put something down with the echo of a rifle blast echoing for miles.   Better yet, include some subsonic rounds, be sighted in for their much-shorter reach.

[JohnyMac]

At a 10,000-foot level, Felix I agree with your comments. Especially, the procurement of a suppressor for a long gun (s). 

Now down in the weeds, I recommend having more than 700-rounds of 5.56 on hand.  I have a set minimum number of ammunition on hand. When I practice, which I do often, I replace the ammo used up to the aforementioned minimum. Since ammo has gone through the roof, I have used about 1,000-rounds of 5.56 so, I am looking to replace what I have used. Similarly in 9mm.

Due to a high draft number (Remember those days  ) I never served in the military so what I have to write is pretty much worthless. With that written, I will dive into the shallow end of the pool.

Doing active training drills it is pretty easy to blow through 4-mags (120-rounds) of ammo in 2 to 3-minutes. I tend to carry 7-mags with one in my rifle so 8-mags, 240-rounds.

I am of the age that I will not be a ground pounder but part of the auxiliary. That does not preclude me from a kinetic exchange on occasion doing different tasks around the redoubt, e.g. occasional patrols, traveling between neighbors redoubts, etcetera.

Now getting back to the premise of your post Felix, why put all of your eggs in one basket. I wholeheartedly agree Sir. Like everything in life, everything in moderation. Instead of adding another 1,000-rounds to your stockpile maybe spend the same money on a set of Peltor Comtac 3 noise canceling/comms ear muffs. As already mentioned and if legal in your state, invest the money in a suppressor. Just in my opinion, the best money to spend on the bullets part of the BBB is a set of NVG's and for kicks and giggle a IR laser. These tools are game changers almost as good as having 8-mags of ammo on you when you go out on a trek.

Great thought provoking comments Felix. Thanks for posting. 

[RB in GA]

While I agree with the comments made, especially about spreading the allocation of resources around, I also see the value in the concept of "arm your neighbor when the SHTF".  Like Johnny said, at my age I'm auxillary with the implied limitations.  However, (and with judicial screening, of course) those young bucks without means to an end might need a helping hand...

As a side note, in a true SHTF situation, I fully expect game to be rapidly depleted anywhere near any urban centers, and spreading along travel routes from there when the population finally decides to boogie.  Just the sheer numbers of people will do an extintion level event of anything handy to eat.  That's when those young bucks mentioned above might come in handy.

And on that note Midway has free shipping with 49.00 purchase again, so if you looking for some of Johnny's force multipliers it might help some.

[Felix]

Ayup, replacement of practice rounds is (or should be) a consideration.   Like ALL skills, even those with "muscle memory", a little "brush up" is required now and then.   For me that translates into maybe twice a year, under 60 rounds per weapon - enough to know that I haven't slipped too badly and most of all to reaffirm confidence that groupings are where they are supposed to be, that nothings been knocked out of intended zero.   Taking a few squirrels every year (22 shp/head shots only) helps keep the "Aim small, miss small" frame of mind.
Totally agree about "extinction level" event where everybody and their surviving dog will be hitting up poor Bambi for pure survival.  But edible game's steep decline would mirror the precipitous decline of humans too, no?   Granted, perhaps many "lean years" before numbers recover, but they have in the past.   OK, so mastodons and cave bears didn't, I get that.   Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.   Keep a full file of vegan recipes, just in case.  :-)
Those good warriors over at American Partisan are more than willing to share their hard-earned knowledge and there are courses I'd like to sign up for.    But two things: bad money year, 1) my purchase of a thermal scope remains on hold and 2) this still leaves me time to fill with prepping as an auxiliary.   At age 70 (next week) I am past the Operator/Recon stage of life.   But fully embrace the truth and necessity of being part of any resistance where support of trigger pullers comes into play - see Irish Troubles - guerillas require a deep and wide pool to swim and operate in long term.
I too bought a few radios to share with neighbors, have volumes 1 and 2 of Jack Lawson's Civil Defense Manual (along with a Ranger Handbook) and try to understand who's who in my neighborhood, that a coherent cooperative force might be organized.   
So yes to more ammo.   But always in a context of multiple challenges/requirements that can't/won't be completely known until they are already upon us.

[FeedingFreedom]

Back in the days long ago, when ammo was affordable, I used to fire at least 500 rounds a week to stay in practice. I bought a laser dry-fire system and now I "fire" 150 rounds minimum a day, 6 days a week. Cut my training ammo use by 90% and I get some training every day, at least in draw, presentation, and first shot. I use my limited range time to practice things that take more space, or that I want to do at longer ranges. The dry-fire takes a few minutes and really makes a difference in my shooting, as well as reloads and weapon manipulation.

I have a minimum number of rounds that I keep for each firearm, and some people would say it's really high but once the supply chain really breaks down or hyperinflation starts, what you have is what you're going to have. Always new people that need live-fire training or to distribute your stock to several locations in case of a catastrophic loss at any one place. Plus they do make decent barter coin, but I would be cautious of indications that I had a lot of anything to trade, and I wouldn't want to contribute to the armament of a potential adversary.

Judging by what happened here during the Great Depression, the deer population will be gone long before anyone's supply of "hunting caliber" ammo is exhausted. Deer, turkey, and other edible critters will be almost if not totally extinct in very short order if large numbers of people are going hungry.

As for having "too much" ammunition, there's no such thing. Basic combat load is all the ammunition you can possibly carry, plus a couple extra boxes in your pack. No matter how much you bring, the first gunfight will make you wish you brought more.

[JohnyMac]

Felix...Happy pre Birthday wishes 

[grizz]

5.56 is also great for hunting

[Felix]

Felix...Happy pre Birthday wishes 

Thank you very much.
Besides having to deal with what so many come to realize is a teenage enthusiasm housed in a shit-show-body, I note ALL of the doctors I've been attended by are now _younger_ than me!    Talk about the "Doogy Howser" syndrome... :-0
Hey.   Pushing the "start" button on old machinery and waiting for the block to warm, the lubricants to stop the grinding and complaints... is a heck of a lot better than losing access to the start button.
What's more. we should all rejoice at timed coffee makers - they are the blessing that keeps on giving, every morning.   :-)

[Felix]

5.56 is also great for hunting

I haven't taken any game with the 5.56.   But the ballistics say it is roughly equal to calibers that I have succeeded with. 
   As always, shot placement trumps all.
In a "grid down", longer term scenario, I do plan to employ suppressed 5.56 and or sub-sonic .300 blackout.
The blackout is roughly equal to a large handgun in foot pounds delivered but with optics and rifle barrel, they are able to reach out a few yards more.   And the last 6 deer I took in Kodiak Alaska were all done with my iron sight Ruger .44 magnum.  The farthest being 90 yards.   So I _know_ 300 subsonic will do the job at ranges I'm familiar with and patient enough to achieve.

[JohnyMac]

AMEN Brother...Amen.