Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Ammo Preparedness Fail

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Ammo Preparedness Fail

    I pride myself in being able to handle most situations with preparedness and training combined with a healthy dose of experience. I made it thru the first magazine ban with being ok on my rifle and the green machine sending me to the country right next to the country where my pistol is made so I came out ok on that because I always learned the language of my hosts as much as possible and soon developed relationships with locals. I learned from this experience and applied it to future preps.
    Fast forward a bit where the antigunner crowd began to grow again and started cage rattling. I began to preach "having enough" and limiting calibers so you could do so without financially breaking yourself. By having enough my concept was to "have enough" to battle with. It might be a battle with a burglar 20 years after the ammo purchase, hunting until the day I go out or enough to fight them that would take whats mine after a SHTF situation or maybe a Red Dawn scenario where I'm fighting the next American invasion. I have done well in this as I have more ammo than I will probably be able to use before being killed in battle or die of other causes. I'm a realist in things and don't truly believe I'm a 9 lives ninja like many.
    Now to today and the failure. I failed to maintain enough for long term goals with training myself and others around me, continued general practice as these skills are perishable and even smaller things over extended periods of time such as optics replacements and ensuring the weapon works properly after mechanical fixes or upgrades. These things will eat away at the stocks quickly.
    It appears as of right now, though it could change quickly, that we will survive this round of political attacks and maybe, just maybe, things could get back to "normal" if the panic subsides.
    I will not fail again and I will not ignore the other things that still need doing or purchasing while doing so.
    Knowledge is Power, Practiced Knowledge is Strength, Tested Knowledge is Confidence

  • #2
    There is a fine line between "too much" and "not enough." When I see some folks with 100+ fully loaded mags along with another 25K rounds sitting in cans, I tend to ask myself "is this too much?" Or are they smart enough to prepare for any eventuality? (although I'm thinking 100 loaded magazines for one person tends to be slight overkill lol)

    There isn't a magic number out there for the right amount of SHTF storage ammo, primary defensive ammo and training ammo. But there is a number you can put on it that makes you comfortable. I'm not entirely comfortable with what I hapen to have on hand, although some might consider that to be excessive. And I've been lucky over my career in the Air Farce has provided me additional opportunities to train on my primary rifle over the years in addition to what I do myself so my training ammo hasn't always been completely on hand. But since my .mil career is nearing the sunset, I have to reevaluate my training stocks and plan accordingly. But what I might consider sufficient for training might be excessive for someone else. Or not enough. Your level of training, experience and weapon of choice are the deciding factors.

    But overall, one has to decide for themselves what number you can put on the overall stocks you keep. And, as Matt always says, you have to get out and "do" before you can determine the exact requirements you need.
    Experience is a cruel teacher, gives the exam first and then the lesson.

    Comment


    • #3
      I also am feeling that I may not have enough. I though that I would have plenty of .22 for practice and training. Need to reevaluate the budget also.
      Survival question. What do I need most, right now?

      Comment


      • #4
        I just want to see .22 on the shelves around here again.

        My buddy told me they had some X39 at Wally World in Forsyth the other day. He took a double take, then bought it all
        You know what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like this?

        Comment


        • #5
          saving up some bucks in case supply reappears.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by rockriver View Post
            saving up some bucks in case supply reappears.
            +1 on that!!!
            "Common sense might be common but it is by no means wide spread." Mark Twain

            Comment


            • #7
              This latest scare has also shown me how important it is to have extra. For instance, if I'm happy with X amount of each caliber, I should have on hand X + Z in order to be able to barter/sale/profit. I have some friends who sold off some of their extra inventory during this scare and did well for themselves. It shows the power of ammo in bartering if things ever did get bad.

              Comment


              • #8
                We go through a lot of ammo in training and practice. I bought more ammo last fall because I wanted to keep that up without the guilt of "oh this costs an arm and a leg now."

                In years gone by, I've watched many of my friends and training buddies get all chincey and not train when ammo got expensive. The key to this, like most preparedness purchases is BUDGETING.

                We need to budget a couple thousand rounds a year for practice, training, etc. This way we won't waffle, chince and be a jew about getting out and using some in practice or avoid training opportunities because of lack of training ammo. Or we won't "have" to buy ammo at inflated prices (like right now).

                I think much like in 2008, prices will go back down A BIT, but not back to normal. If I had a guess, I would say that after the smoke clears, the "normal" price for a case of X39 will be at least $250. a white box of 9mm at Walmart will be $25-28. per 100 , etc.

                Mags would be my concern right now, they seem to be the focus. New people guffaw at paying $29. now for a Glock 9mm mag, yet I remember people paying $75. for one in 94.
                www.homesteadingandsurvival.com

                www.survivalreportpodcast.com

                "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed..."

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Lowdown3 View Post
                  Mags would be my concern right now, they seem to be the focus. New people guffaw at paying $29. now for a Glock 9mm mag, yet I remember people paying $75. for one in 94.
                  Mags are simple objects that really dont see much stress. The most "complex" (or hardest to reproduce) part of a mag is the spring. Magazines can many times be Printed in 3d printers (Metal printing or plastic printing). Plastic 3d printers can be had for as little as $5,000... They how have successfully produced Lowers receivers, Mags, Pistol Grips and many other parts with these printers. The first couple of revisions on the receivers were not very durable but they now have fixed that and have run hundreds of rounds without problems... This was started by Collage Kids in a garage and they dont have enough money to test thousands of rounds but the idea is that the "Cat is out of the bag".

                  Just as you can print a Bible and Our Constitution (which I suggest you download a .pdf of both) at your house with a printer you now can print a 'weapon'... The power of freedom!

                  The following is NOT Legal advice:
                  As far as Big Brother is concerned the "Gun" of an AR is the Lower Receiver (the part that has a SN).
                  You as a private individual can "make" your own gun (given a few limitations like NO Full Autos, NO Pistols and NO SBRs), for your own use and you dont sell/transfer/trade it.

                  So you could make yourself many Lower Receivers and magazines if you had access to a 3d printer?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    But can you pickup your 3 d printer and run off to the woods with it? :)

                    I'll stick with real magazines for now.

                    FWIW, never had any spring failures in most factory or military mags over 25 years of regular shooting. That even includes AR mags believe it or not!

                    Any spring failures I've had in magazines was BS knockoff mags like the KCI/Glock knockoffs and some of the old USA mags for various other pistols and Mini 14.
                    www.homesteadingandsurvival.com

                    www.survivalreportpodcast.com

                    "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed..."

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Lowdown3 View Post
                      But can you pickup your 3 d printer and run off to the woods with it? :)

                      FWIW, never had any spring failures in most factory or military mags over 25 years of regular shooting. That even includes AR mags believe it or not!
                      I am not planning on running out into the woods if I can help it, nor did I suggest that and I don’t think you are planning on running out into the woods… So I am not sure where that came from?

                      I did not suggest that magazine springs failed often either. By mentioning the springs I was suggested that they are the hardest part of most magazines to reproduce due the specialized “metallurgy” in springs.

                      My point was that, just like our other preps, we should consider alternate means of supply/resupply with magazines and other specialized products (like lower receivers or really anything that we all currently buy). I was merely offering a possible way to produce your own. I meant to suggest that you should be thinking:

                      Do I know a machinist with a machine shop?
                      Do I know someone with access to a CNC Machine?
                      Do I know someone with a 3D printer?
                      Do I know someone with a Metal Press/Stamping Machine?

                      What can be done with that equipment that I have 3rd party access to?
                      Metal Press can make many types of magazines bodies and some types of Receivers (like AK's and H&K G3's)
                      CNC Machine can make Machined Receivers like an ARs
                      3D Printers can make Mag bodies and some receivers

                      What will I need to be able to best use that equipment? For example:
                      To get a machinist to make something you need some detailed drawings…(Download-able currently off the Web)
                      For CNC Machine you need “G-Code” usually the person who operates the machine can produce “G-Code” from a .DXF File (again download-able)
                      Last edited by Not_Yet_Prepped; 03-20-2013, 03:43 PM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Yeah, the 22LR I built up over the last decades by buying an extra brick here and there used to look like a lifetimes worth, but when you can blow through 200 or more on a good range day, I see it getting smaller and smaller of a stash... My best "fond ammo moment" was years ago catching Walmart putting all their 22LR CCI Velocitors on clearance for $2.00 for 50... I bought the whole lot! That is now my WROL stash... Now I see some on Gunbroker paying over $20 for that same 50 rounds... Crazy times we live in!

                        I do confess that I am not shooting as much as I would like due to the cost of replacing the ammo I use up, if I can even find it...

                        Rmpl
                        -=> Rmplstlskn <=-

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          My thoughts on the 22 situation are this:

                          So I've done this stuff for a long time and in the recent years, more so than early on, since the "prepper" movement, it seems that many are big fans of "bartering". In almost every personal contact, post, website, blog, thread and tv show SOMEONE, if not many, will state they are stocking 22 shells for barter. While I preach don't barter with ammo it is usually met with sour notes.
                          So my question to the barter crowd is where is all the 22 you have stocked up for barter and what do you want for it? S has HTF and it's time to trade while things are still relatively safe and there is great value.
                          So far in personal contacts that have made these statements I can find none for trade. In fact people are now either hoarding and denying that they in fact have any 22 rounds at all OR is it they did not prepare as stated OR is it that it's just one of those things they were going to get around to that sounded good in the FICTION books they read.

                          Thoughts?
                          Knowledge is Power, Practiced Knowledge is Strength, Tested Knowledge is Confidence

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            i recently managed a swap meet among a bunch of fellas.
                            the guy next to me brought a bunch of ammo.
                            762x39 for 400 and
                            .22 for 45$ a brick

                            clearly he had dug down into his stash..
                            we had another gathering last night. a fella wanted to know how to contact the fellow with the ammo. he had bought one brick and wanted additional for he and friends.

                            i helped him make the connection.

                            matt, i think the answer to your question is that folks with ammo realize they have a valuable commodity hidden away. very few fellers brought out ammo to the swap meet.
                            they could see how fast it disappeared off the store shelves. i think they decided they'd rather have .22 than the dollars they could get.

                            that thought of get things instead of get dollars is becoming prevalent in my area.

                            example: i know nothing about archery. a fellow at the swap meet had a lot of archery stuff. at the end of the day, i approached him about buying a lot of arrows, and repair goods for arrows.. he had prices marked. BUT didn't want cash. he wanted to trade his arrows and additional archery equipment for one of my items.
                            i think he had the right idea.
                            for both of us.. the items we went home with were worth more than the diminishing value of our countries frns.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by rockriver View Post
                              i recently managed a swap meet among a bunch of fellas. the guy next to me brought a bunch of ammo.
                              762x39 for 400 and .22 for 45$ a brick clearly he had dug down into his stash.. we had another gathering last night. a fella wanted to know how to contact the fellow with the ammo. he had bought one brick and wanted additional for he and friends. i helped him make the connection.
                              Awesome, well that answers a question or 2

                              Originally posted by rockriver View Post
                              matt, i think the answer to your question is that folks with ammo realize they have a valuable commodity hidden away. very few fellers brought out ammo to the swap meet. they could see how fast it disappeared off the store shelves. i think they decided they'd rather have .22 than the dollars they could get.
                              Kinda what I was driving at. The plain ole "barter" isn't because the realization of "oh ... there aint no more" sets in. The "barter" will have to be something of extreme value like medical services or something to make them turn loose. There wont be a kumbaya community swap meet where goods, especially ammo, are just flying around freely for other items.

                              Thanks for the feedback
                              Knowledge is Power, Practiced Knowledge is Strength, Tested Knowledge is Confidence

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X