Another newbie question - how many rounds?

[Dapper Dave]

I have been reloading and casting for handgun and rifle for about 20 years, never found the urge to reload shotgun. No idea why, but I haven't even owned one in years. The one I will buy for SASS will likely be the only one I ever own. It's just how I am, nothing more. 

[Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283]

Howdy

 

Sorry to be so late to the party.

 

A bazillion years ago we sometimes had stages that called for 12 rounds, sometimes even 14 rounds of rifle ammo.

 

I can recall walking off to the side and making sure I could stuff 12 rounds into my rifle magazine.

 

But that pretty much went away when 'short rifles' with 20" barrels started becoming popular. They would not fit 12 rounds in the magazine, so that is when 10 rounds in the rifle became pretty standard.

 

Yup, 10-10-4 is a good average per stage, but we used to have a shotgun stage in these parts where we had about 12 targets set out in the woods. Usually a couple of them would be poppers. It was always fun to run through the woods blasting shotgun targets.

 

But 10-10-4 is a good average for many stages, even though we sometimes need 6 shotgun rounds.

 

It is pretty easy to have enough rifle and pistol ammo, just multiply 10-10 by the number of stages.

 

So for six stages that would be 60 rifle and 60 pistol rounds. I shoot 44-40 in my rifles and 45 Colt in my pistols, so I just bring 2 boxes of each, making 100 rounds of each total. And I usually bring two boxes of shotgun ammo to be sure I have enough.

 

Yup, all that lead tends to get heavy.

 

By the way, I started loading shot gun shells about 20 years ago for Trap shooting. I still load my Black Powder shotgun shells on my old Mec Jr, a single stage press. I can crank out 3 or 4 boxes in an hour, which is plenty for a couple of matches.

 

[Dapper Dave]

Nothing wrong with a single stage, still using my single stage RCBS RS for all my loads. 🙂

[watab kid]

i like mny single stages , i have three now , the RCBS is a true one the two ;lymans are turret versions , more control and more precise , im all foranyone =using a progressive tho if your loading for a family of shooters - i wont do that but i understand the need , 

[Colt Laredo]

Hey Dave,

 

If your looking for a number for our annual match coming up, last year the min. ammo number was 55 pistol, 55 rifle, 26+ shotgun.

The numbers will be similar this year but bring extra just in case, especially shotgun.

Stages are very unique compared to our regular monthly matches. 

 

You can see what we did last year by looking at last Nov stages on our website. This year will be similar.

 

Should be a great time!

[Dapper Dave]

Thank you, Colt, much obliged. I sent you an email or two. See you Friday?

[The Rainmaker, SASS #11631]

Hey DD, you need to get out to some matches. Yes, there is a lot of good info on here from the sages, but get out and SEE what folks are actually doing. Talk to people; as you see here, folks are happy to share their wisdom. Start with what you have and what you can scrape together and build from there. Usually, you can get a lot of what you need (guns, leather, etc.) from the cowpokes at the matches who have way too much anyway. Lol

[JackSlade]

Another thing to consider is to always have a couple extra rifle rounds on your person in case you accidentally jack a round out, you can do a speed reload off your belt.

[Dapper Dave]

Rainmaker,  I am going to a BIG match Saturday,  brand new, still wet behind the ear as it were. I just want to have fun, sir 

Jack, darn good advice!

[Eyesa Horg]

Enjoy DD, you'll have a grin for sure. 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Just be safe and have a good time.  Don't overthink it.  Should have a BIG smile when its all done. 

[Windy City Kid]

I only bring enough for every stage as I never miss . . . then I wake up and hit the bathroom for the 3rd time that night.