What would yall consider a “Lifetime worth of ammunition” for a double rifle?

Hello, I’m looking to source and or load ammunition for 2 double rifles I am having made. I have recently had the urge to just bite the bullet and purchase a “lifetime supply” of ammunition from the get go and have designated airtight containers for each one for long term storage.

I obviously won’t be using the rifle professionally so in my head I won’t be running through huge amounts of ammunition and currently don’t expect to go on a safari or hunt with the big bore rifle more than once every 2 years.(could change to once per year at most if finances improve)

I am just curious on what y’all would consider a safe lifetime supply of ammunition would be.

As of now I have priced out:

200 Rds of expanding soft points(either Barnes or Hornady) and 100 Rds of solids(300 Rds each caliber total) in

500 NE
470 NE
450/400
375 Flanged

Also, I’m planning to purchase 1,200 rds(3 cases) of Sellier and Bellot 173 grn 7x57r ammunition since I’m sure it will be used a hell of a lot more for practice and on a lot of the smaller game(especially at home for whitetail and wild hogs). This is the cheapest at less than $1 per round so I would be more inclined to purchase more of this up front if warranted.

I’m guessing the consensus will be that 300 rds of each isn’t going to be enough but I figure if my supply is exhausted I could go about getting some more loaded decades later with the brass I’ll save. Thoughts? Thanks!

For new rifles think 200 rounds for break in then 40 rounds a year plus whatever you use in a hunt. That is assuming you are using less expensive calibers for practice.

What is barrel life expectancy? That is the target.

I would buy about 2-3000 bullets for reloading, per caliber. That would be my answer to this question.

Reload as necessary.
Have 500-1000 cases per caliber.

mark-hunter said:

What is barrel life expectancy? That is the target.

I would buy about 2-3000 bullets for reloading, per caliber. That would be my answer to this question.

Reload as necessary.
Have 500-1000 cases per caliber.

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Do you think someone could shoot enough rounds out of a big bore double to wear out the barrels in a lifetime?

I would understand if it were a PH and he was using it/shooting daily but for an average joe? I don’t even know what a barrels life expectancy is for a 500 NE or similar.

Do most of yall shoot 50 to 100 bullets a year out of your big bore doubles even if your not hunting?

My POV and thought process was coming from using my deer gun and shooting less than a 10 rds a year through it, 3 rds to verify scope didn’t move before season opener and then the other handful on actual deer. Now like a 22lr or shotgun I’ll run a lot more though.

200 rounds seems like not enough to even learn the fundamentals of shooting a double rifle. Also, 200 rounds breaks down to 10 rounds a year for 20 years, how long do you plan on hunting and shooting it?

Tdsmith517 said:

200 rounds seems like not enough to even learn the fundamentals of shooting a double rifle. Also, 200 rounds breaks down to 10 rounds a year for 20 years, how long do you plan on hunting and shooting it?

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I have another double in 416 Rigby I am learning on, so I’m not too worried about the fundamentals(admittedly probably naive of me)and one of the rifles is a 375 flanged/7x57r combo so I was expecting to shoot the 7x57r a lot to get more practice.

I suppose I have a flawed understanding of how much people shoot rifles, I grew up only shooting my deer rifle less than a box a year.

I mean you can learn alot of the fundamentals in other rifles or even a double barrel shotgun to be sure. But when the rubber meets the road and you are staring down the barrel at a buffalo or an elephant let alone one that is not happy you are there, you might want to have some familiarity with the 470 or 500NE barrels. While the gun handling and manipulation is the same, getting the full effect of the recoil and muzzle blast of a nitro express cartridge is not something you learn how to do on Game Day without practice.

I mean, the obvious first question is….

How old are you?


Yep. There’s always that one…..

Lifetime supply of ammunition depends on you and how much you plan to shoot and enjoy shooting. If you’d shoot 200 rounds through a 470 or 500 in Africa hunting in a lifetime I’d be surprised. You are still really young. Lifetime supplies of anything put in long term storage get lost, misplaced, and forgotten about. Priorities also change every few years. Most of the calibers you suggested are still readily available. Maybe consider having a backup supply in reserve (something like 100 or 200 rounds) rather than a lifetime supply.

I’m willing to bet the average PH shoots less in a year than I do. They hope not to have to shoot on any hunt. And the ones I’ve talked to don’t practice a ton between hunts.

If they’re involved in culling or PAC that obviously impacts their usage.

For context I bought my 450/400 in December. I put 300 rounds through it in load development and preparation. During the same time I put 200 rounds through my 375. This is usually in the form of 8-10 rounds through each a couple times a week.

Now that the loads are developed I’ll probably shoot them less and focus on fundamentals with smaller calibers and ramp back up with both as my next hunt approaches in 2028.

So for me I would say components of loaded ammo of at least 1,500 rounds to truly feel like a lifetime supply. That’s probably high but I’d rather have some left than run out.

I usually shoot 100rds thru the DR I'm taking just before I leave. When I also take a bolt gun usually shoot 20 rounds or so before leaving. One-two trips per year. I leave for Tanzania in 4 days with 2 DR
for multiple buffalo and hippo (will borrow PHs Rigby if a bolt is needed, unlikely).
Once an individual DR load is established then at least 500 cases and 2000 bullets each.
Have a brand new Heym 450 3 1/4" I was hoping to take but the only brass I was able to obtain was absolutely the worst brass I've ever experienced. No other option other than Hornady loaded ammo to demil for brass and was able to get 500rds same lot # and another 260 solids. Just ran out of time so it stays home and 470NE and 450-400 get to make the trip.
Components and even loaded ammo is getting harder and harder to obtain, buy it when you can. If you don't shoot it up there will always be a market for it.

Russ16 said:

I’m willing to bet the average PH shoots less in a year than I do. They hope not to have to shoot on any hunt. And the ones I’ve talked to don’t practice a ton between hunts.

If they’re involved in culling or PAC that obviously impacts their usage.

For context I bought my 450/400 in December. I put 300 rounds through it in load development and preparation. During the same time I put 200 rounds through my 375. This is usually in the form of 8-10 rounds through each a couple times a week.

Now that the loads are developed I’ll probably shoot them less and focus on fundamentals with smaller calibers and ramp back up with both as my next hunt approaches in 2028.

So for me I would say components of loaded ammo of at least 1,500 rounds to truly feel like a lifetime supply. That’s probably high but I’d rather have some left than run out.

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That plus ammo isn’t readily available and very expensive to them outside South Africa. I’d be very curious what an apprentice PH would ever shoot before their exam. They couldn’t afford 300 rounds.

375Fox said:

That plus ammo isn’t readily available and very expensive to them outside South Africa. I’d be very curious what an apprentice PH would ever shoot before their exam. They couldn’t afford 300 rounds.

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Agree. I left basically all my 375 ammo with the appy at the end of my hunt. I think he appreciated those A-Frames as much or more than the tip. He had just passed his shooting test by ammo was clearly precious. The PH said the going rate is $15 a round.

Flipper Dude said:

I mean, the obvious first question is….

How old are you?


Yep. There’s always that one…..

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23 so long life ahead of me

Noah Hutchens said:

23 so long life ahead of me

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Not if your wife finds out about those DR and all that ammo!

Noah Hutchens said:

23 so long life ahead of me

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I have shoes older than you!

At that age, I would get into reloading and get your loads developed and set and then make sure you have the cases and bullets and powders. Then you have an endless amount...thru reloading.

Hornedfrogbbq said:

I have shoes older than you!

At that age, I would get into reloading and get your loads developed and set and then make sure you have the cases and bullets and powders. Then you have an endless amount...thru reloading.

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Best advice so far.

300 rnds of loaded ammo or at least brass with another 600-900 bullets mix of softs and solids is a good start. Depending on caliber I would say the bigger the caliber the smaller the supply you will need if it’s a double you plan to hunt plainsgame with along with dangerous game then you will need more.

I'm a bit different. I think you need 10-20 rounds per hunt. If you go on 10 safaris you need about 200 rounds. THEN plus practice rounds. Hard to know which load/round your guns will like. Only you will know how much until you are comfortable. If in doubt, the "extra" rounds can go to the next generation of owners. It sounds like you have a pretty reasonable amount. It's a great problem to have.....

My floor is 200 rounds.

Since, DR's are usually regulated with only one factory loading, you should get them while they are available.


I've been able to work up good reloads with mine, but I think you should purchase 200 rounds of the ammo for which it was regulated.