roll your own or store bought?

[Oklahoma Joe]

I am curious as to how many handload and how many stock up on surpluss for your SHTF ammo? Both pistol and rifle. I just about bet I am alone on this one but I roll my own everything. Why? Because I can load more cheaper and have better ammo for one. In rifle the main reason is that I have yet to find a store bought load that will come close to my handloads out to 600. Not to mention that I got a lot of free time.:rolleyes:

.223
.22-250 AI (for anything past 600)
.45 ACP
9mm
________
IPAD GUIDE (http://ipadguides.info)

[Bidah]

I actually do both, but the vast majority of my stock is my own loads. I can tailor what I want in a load to each weapon, if I choose to go that far.

-Bidah

[surge223]

I pretty much re-load my own. It saves money, and increases accuracy. The only thing I haven't re-loaded lately is .40 S&W. I am buying them really cheap right now, so I just save the brass for the future.

[Dr. X]

I'm just now trying to get into reloading and once I acquire the necessary items, I'll be rolling my own. I have the press, just need to round up the other paraphenalia and do some studying. And yes, Joe, you DO have too much free time! :D

as ever,
Dr. X

[tactical razorback]

About a 50/50 split.
I see advantages to both, so I keep both.
Reloads: different bullet choices (hollowpoint or lighter/heavier rounds) Tailoring to the rifle it's for.
MilSurp: standardised, better penetration with FMJ's. Packaging is better for long term storage,specially battle packs in ammo cans.

There is also the possibility of not being able to obtain Milsurp sometimes, so I usually only get Milsurp that is reloadable, that way I have the best of both worlds.

[GySgt D]

Surplus and handload. My single stage press is slow, but it doesn't matter too much when you purchase and/or load 4x as much as you actually shoot.

Gotta be ready for a rainy decade, dontcha know.

[Dr. X]

Gotta be ready for a rainy decade, dontcha know...

That's a good way of looking at it...:D

as ever,
Dr. X

[Imaexpat2]

I buy a lot of surplus and pounce on the sales when its a really sweet deal, but I do an tremendous amount of reloading as well.

Almost all of the pistol ammo (9mm, 44 mag, 45 acp) is reloads. I buy a lot of surplus ammo in 8mm, 7.62x39, .223 and .308 win. I have about 20k 308 cases and 45k 223 cases so I reload a lot of that too. All of the 224 TTH, 30-06 and 7mm Rem is reloaded ammo. Although I caught a great deal on 1 oz slugs at wally world, I cast my own slugs and reload a lot of that too. All of the 00-buck I have is reloaded ammo. Of course I cant reload 22 LR so I have purchased all of that.

[sparkky]

surplus mainly but can/have reloaded "specialty rounds" in the past such as AP and tracers.
Until recently surplus was just to cheap not to stock up. I don't know how much is "too much" but I gotta be close in .308, 7.62x39.
"More, better or dead" is a phrase I refer to alot.

[Rifleman]

Well, I'm pursuing reloading my .308's toMILSPRC standards. Developing the skill if and when I will not be able to buy ammo due to FEDGOV edict. Two types of loads; 1. Customized to the bullet launcher and 2. Fit and function any battlerifle loads. I like to keep my FAL mags loaded 10 to a 30 cal ammo can with a shoulder strap attached. Yes I will certainly buy surplus as available.

[Ryder]

Bad thing is most if not all of us can't re manufacture ammo to "military" standards. I know of no one who can put the primer crimp back in.:(

[padeep]

If you are shooting military calibers it's good to have some milsurp stored. Battle-packs, sealed bullet & primer etc should store well for years.

22cal bullets out to 600 yards dont seem to have much for ballistics. I wouldnt put much faith in kill shots w/ .223 fmj at that distance. But on the other hand, your 22-250 with custom loads and hunting projectiles would remain lethal IMO...



Pdp

[MdlMkr 7.62]

You can't really be a "Survivaholic unless you "roll your own" :p :p :p

I do both. Wally World has good prices on Winchester White box.:D Can't hardly load my own for their price

[therealsteamer]

I guess I am in the "Both" camp... I reload (most) all my pistol calibers (9mm, .45acp, .38/.357, .45 LC) However I buy surplus and new for for my rifle calibers and shotgun...

Although I am a "brass whore" and keep any and all "common" reloadable brass I come across, pistol or rifle.... You never know...:p

[Swamp Rat]

Both, for the AR's and FAL's I have milspec stuff in a load and go condition. for hunting I roll my own and for pistols I also roll my own as I tend to shoot alot

[Another Terry]

My time is money and I tend to buy when ammo is plentiful and cheap. Walmart, BiMart, Gart Bros all have semi-annual sales around hunting time. I tend to pick up handgun FMJ rounds and shotgun shells, in bulk during these times.

My rifle ammo purchases tend to be Mil Surplus ontained at the local gunshow from regional wholesalers. Again buying in bulk, which saves on shipping costs.

Look for cheap Mil Surplus, buy in bulk and purchase additional guns in cheap calibers if necessary. I did this when 7.62x39 was cheap and again with 8mm.

Terry...