Thread: How much ammo

Just a couple of questions out of curiosity. How much ammo would you typically take with you on a hunt, and how much on a pest control mission?

Originally Posted by blip

Just a couple of questions out of curiosity. How much ammo would you typically take with you on a hunt, and how much on a pest control mission?

If you are going by @Tahr standards you take a truckload and probably a spare barrel or two.

I take 10 on a regular day hunt gives you a few to play with if you need a re sight if you give the gun a good thump .

If you are going by Olympic marksman champion title holder standards (as many here are), you take only one round and probably a spare camera or two to record yourself over and over again

Typica deer hunting foray I take 10 to 12 rounds max. Most deer I have shot in one day is two. Most rounds I have used in one day deer hunting is six.
The only pest control I have done is culling goats. I would usually carry up to 100 rounds. On a very few days I have used them all but more typical has been 40 to 50 rounds.
All the above getting about by shanks pony. No bike or 4WD vehicle use except to access the area.

For an evening deer hunt I take about 8. If things go wrong you can actually get through a few.
A day deer hunt, a dozen.

Pests - like everyone probably - as many as I think I will need. Nothing worse than running out. Depends on the context but I take up to about 80. You can churn through it pretty quick.

Usually about 10-12. If I get into trouble and need to attract attention, having only a couple or 3 may not do the trick.

Depends. If it's couple of days rabbit shooting near Otago at least a brick of 22lr

I take 4 in the mag and three spare in the daypack

Most day or half day hunts 12 rounds.

That's 4 in the gun and 8 spare.

I have 2 of the 8 spare in my fleece, one in each chest pocket so they don't rattle together.

For duckshooting if I'm jump shooting 2 boxes, paddock shooting from a blind or opening weekend I just bring a slab

Day hunt - 10 in an old WWI pouch on the belt, 5 in the mag.
Had a situation years ago where we split into 2 parties (and lost sight of each other, don't tell the FSA) and on returning to the agreed meet up point on dark the other pair were not there.
Did the 3 shot routine and ended up backtracking back a few ks to where we thought the sound of their return shots came from and managed to make voice contact. They were bluffed so decided to spend the night there, we went home and returned the next morning.
The 3 shot routine chewed thru a fair bit of the ammo we were carrying.

For pest control, well the sky is the limit, depending upon your pest and the quantity of them.
I typically carried 5 in the mag, my WWI pouch of 10 and another purpose made leather pouch on my belt that took the inside of a 20 round factory box. Back then they were partitioned cardboard so no rattle.

If out deer hunting take 20 rounds, old habits die hard. Pest control day shoot, up to 100 rounds. If more than one day I carry 200+ (223). Nothing worse than running out of ammo when on walkabout.
As Zimmer states above, 3 shot routine chews through ammo.

20 is not a bad number if you can fit it and it's not to heavy.
Mainly for signaling if the worst happens.
I did land SAR for few years and a string of 3 shots every 15 mins certainly gets people attention if it's needed.

Latley Ive been taking 8 round 4 in rifle an 4 in belt. A pack of 20 wouldnt go astray in pack for siginaling. Usually take 100 rounds when possum shooting for the night

Got about a dozen left of the ammo I sighted the 8x57. If just a day type trip from camp or hut or just a day hunt, Mag full and one up the spout if I can be bothered trying to slip the extractor is either 5 or 6. I don't see that many deer.
Only got 4 rounds left for the 416 but that's 3 in the mag and one up the spout. That's a different thing altogether though.
Not really the tool for pest destruction although I'd imagine if I loaded up some 400gr solids I could shoot 3 or 4 if I lined them up lol