Can't sleep

[Bob92]

Almost midnight here in oklahoma. Hope the shtf never happens but trying to be ready. Not worried about water supply, got that covered. On the right track with home defense. (12G-Glock 9-22 rifle and over 2000 rounds [need more 12g ammo]).
My first question is do i invest in a hunting rifle is so what kind? or invest in more 12g slugs?

Working on a food supply to last 3 years. (right now have one for six months). Also have a seed supply started. which leads to question number 2. Do i Wait a year after the shtf to pant. My thinking is there will be less people to defend my crop against.

Well hope to hear from everyone

[tech]

Don't feel bad, Bob...you aren't the only one not sleeping well.

No one (normal) wants the s to hit the fan, but being ready for degrading societal issues is just being prudent. As far as getting a hunting rifle, the big question is - do you hunt? If not, I would say invest more in food - canned, dry pack, not necessarily LTS, but items that don't require refrigeration. A six month supply is nothing to sneeze at, but not enough to get through a failed crop season.

Speaking of which, I would say plant now. Find out what crops do best in your area. And remember, it can take a couple years to get a garden's soil suitable for good yields. Also gives you a chance to work on your seed-saving skills.

But that's just my $0.02 :)


BTW, welcome to the Forum!

[Grand58742]

Sleep is overrated lol But I work nights, so it's natural for me to act the part of the vampire.

Like Tech said, nobody wants something to happen. Just being prepared for it helps though. As for your rifle situation, nothing on this continent that can't be taken with a 12 gauge slug. However, to echo what Tech said (spot on post BTW) if you don't hunt, the money might be better spent on the long term food stuff. However, learning that skill (hunting with a rifle) is good to know.

Your .22 will help you learn more about hunting with a rifle too. If you ever do take up rifle hunting, you are already ahead of the game with ballistics and trajectory, windage, shot placement, etc. Same principles transfer from a .22 to just about any rifle caliber.

Planting now means you also learn what grows good and what needs a little more care. No sense in discovering 6 months after the collapse your seed storage doesn't like the soil out here and needs additional fertilizer or even might not grow at all. Best to do a test on what you have when the stakes aren't as high. Good practice too.

[MustangGal]

Definitely plant now! Gardening comes with a learning curve, one you may not be able to afford after the SHTF. It isn't as easy as my dad makes it look! lol

I think in your situation, I would want a good rifle, particularly if you live in the flat part of Oklahoma. You might need to really "reach out and touch something or someone." I'm no gun expert, but I would choose a common caliber (I like my .270) with good range.

[monkeybird]

When I first began prepping I was full of anxiety and worry. I feared not having enough time to prep. The only thing anxiety does is wear you out and sap your strength. I've had to discipline myself to let go of the anxiety, yet continue to prep.

I began gardening for the first time 3 years ago. Every spring planting has tried my commitment to learning how to grow food. It takes work and knowledge. You can read all the gardening book you can find and still have a failed crop. Experience is the key.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I love me a 12ga slug for serious work however it kinda depends on what you need to do. A sledge hammer will break a mirror but so will a key. A slug though accurate it isnt a surgical instrument and the rifle will allow you to take more precise and longer shots. Dunno which side of the state you are on or what you are hunting as to which rifle to recommend. If it's deep SE alot of folks think the 30-30 is the brush gun to have but in western okla where shots can go forever and it's way underpowered. I like one gun that can do it all and thats why i love my 30-06. Yes at 40 yds it leave fist size holes in bambi but i spend little time tracking which is a plus in my book and a good trade off for meat loss. I know they are DRT (dead right there) when i shoot them up close. I can put 3 shot with all rounds touching at 100yds and can take deer a 500+ and it will kill any animal in CONUS and properly used will take those that escape the zoo post SHTF too. Elephant and zebra the other other white meat!
You will get bout a gazillion opinions on the rifle so do some research and chose wisely.
On planting, dont wait. You always need to stay ahead of the game on farming because alot happens. You have btter odds in vegas than growing and raising sometimes. Seems like everything is against ya
IMO dont wait on SHTF either you should be growing right now. This isnt something you can just start and all will go well. Growing is hard and sometimes luck as many things like disease, critters and weather will take more than golden hoardes. I wish half even of the seed bank holders would actually try and grow whats in the can because there are gonna be some real dissapointments because of improper weather plants. The companies just stick the cheapest on sale seeds they can in there and make claims of the theorectical acres of food it will grow. I never even heard of half the stuff in there so i wouldnt know how to grow or even eat it. I'd be better off saving dandelion bulbs LOL

[WiseOwl]

Listen to the knowledge these people speak. I dont have much to add other than start small in your gardening. Start out container gardening. Hell, buy veggies already grown from you local nursery. Learn how and when to pick and prune. Learn your bugs. They are worse than any hood zombies. After you have container gardening down, start planting from seed. Then start learning how to save seeds or create seeds (the rotting mater) for saving.
Down here, I go to Dollar General in the fall after farming season and get seeds at .02 cents a pack. I usually buy the whole display. I sometime feel like that stoner guy on Dumbsday Preppers with all the seeds....:)

Matt hit it on the top with the rifle advice. Here in GA, we have trees and trees and some fields. I almost bought a .270 for that reason but went with the .308 for versatility. Practice with that .22. Iron sight practice. I know now, that within 75 yards I have a good chance of hitting something. Over 100 yards, I am 50%. Once i get a scope on it, I should be better. But this .22 is teaching me how to shoot.

I know Tess Pennington has a great article on 52 weeks to preparedness. Do a lil each week to hit the goal.

http://readynutrition.com/resources/52-weeks-to-preparedness-an-introduction_19072011/

All I can say is good luck and stay with it. And pray.

[Bob92]

Thanks to all of you. I have three Gardening spots ready to go had them planted last year, just have a cover crop in them now. Will plant a fall garden this year. I hunted most of my life but mosty birds thinking about expanding to bigger game, just to be ready, thats why i was asking about the slug vs rifle.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I hunted most of my life but mosty birds thinking about expanding to bigger game, just to be ready, thats why i was asking about the slug vs rifle.

Glad your already ahead of the growing game brother
Big game is awesome but small game will feed the tribe in most cases. If you look at things like Lewis and Clark you will see that small stuff and lighter loads and their state of the art BB gun fed them most days. In a total collapse deer, cattle, horses, elk etc will be short lived and wiped out. Again i can reference a time of the depression in the 30s where game was all but wiped out in Oklahoma. Only in my lifetime have the deer rebounded due to increased crop production and watershed projects. When I was a kid western Oklahoma didnt even have a deer season, now it's almost out of control and limits are higher than ever.

https://www.survivalandpreparednessforum.com/showthread.php?3374-Whats-Really-On-The-Menu

The measly 22 should not be underestimated and many a game critter and livestock animal has fallen to it behind my rifle. Check your PM and holler if you want any help with selection or want to try any different stuff. I'll even let you come over and clean my deer, oops i mean get trained on a serious survival skill set hahahahaha https://www.survivalandpreparednessf...-Game-Cleaning

[miked2345]

Bob...

You sound like me in the defense area.. 12G, 9mm handgun, 22 rifle.. and lotsa rounds.

Like everyone else said, start the garden now... I found thru trial and error that just because the store sells certain seeds, doesn't mean it's gonna grow in my area! Or at least in my dirt! Also, you have to consider what the growing requirements are for what you're planting. On my property, I have a dozen trees and only one spot that gets sun for 5 hours a day. If I plant something that needs 8 hours of sun, I'm wasting my time.

On the other hand, just forget about prepping!! While visiting my mother today for Mother's Day, she told me nothing bad is gonna happen... She also said "You're not one of those people storing cans in the basement, are you?!?!?" (I didn't compromise OPSEC) This coming from a woman who was born during the Great Depression!! Oh well, what can ya do.....

[JUSTIFIED]

Definitely plant now! Gardening comes with a learning curve, one you may not be able to afford after the SHTF. It isn't as easy as my dad makes it look! lol

I think in your situation, I would want a good rifle, particularly if you live in the flat part of Oklahoma. You might need to really "reach out and touch something or someone." I'm no gun expert, but I would choose a common caliber (I like my .270) with good range.

I've got a .270 also. I figure I can use it for larger game, if needed, and long range protection. I've got a .410 too. I can usually drop any small game within about 30 yards with that one. I'm looking for a good .22 rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun to add to the collection.


Lots of good advice in the above posts. Prepare in every way you can. Some basic areas I continuously think about are:

1. Food
2. Clothing
3. Medical(including 1st aid, prescriptions, etc...)
4. BIL and/or BOL
5. Transportation
7. Security

[Bob92]

Keep the great advice coming. Just picked up 20 pounds of pinto beans to add to the food stores. (also may help in the production of gas, lol).
Have one question tonight. If you vacum seal do you use oxygen absorbers?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Keep the great advice coming. Just picked up 20 pounds of pinto beans to add to the food stores. (also may help in the production of gas, lol).
Have one question tonight. If you vacum seal do you use oxygen absorbers?

are you using mylar?

[Bob92]

Thats what im trying to decide. Just started adding dry goods like rice and beans. The weekend project is gong to be the long term packaging of them. Right now i just havea standard vacum sealer.
Matt your in oklahoma where is the best place to get mylar in this great stat of ours?

[JUSTIFIED]

I've got a .270 also. I figure I can use it for larger game, if needed, and long range protection. I've got a .410 too. I can usually drop any small game within about 30 yards with that one. I'm looking for a good .22 rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun to add to the collection.


Lots of good advice in the above posts. Prepare in every way you can. Some basic areas I continuously think about are:

1. Food
2. Clothing
3. Medical(including 1st aid, prescriptions, etc...)
4. BIL and/or BOL
5. Transportation
7. Security

Just noticed...number 7. should be number 6.