SHTF More ammo More Guns ?

I have used the Adams conversion kit on two AR-15 builds and have one Adams AR308 (still unfired). The AR-15's have worked flawlessly. Too bad you missed out on the "blem" sale through Bud's - Adams overstocked during the last scare and blew them out through Bud's at a little over $600 a pop.

 

I've been dead set against using arms or ammo for barter/sell/trade in a post SHTF world. I can never say never, however I will say it would take a literal life or death need for me to consider it-just me.
This is a bug in location so I'm not too concerned about stockpiling too much in the way of ammo/weps to carry. All I will say is that caches are wonderful things. The list goes something like this:
Primary firearms in 5.56 and 7.62
Side arms in .45ACP and 9mm
Shottys in 12 gauge and 20 gauge
game getters in .22 LR integrally suppressed

Specialty weapon systems
Bolt guns in 5.56, 7.62, .300 Win mag, .338 Win mag
Semi autos in 7.62, .50BMG
Carbine type weapons in 9mm(integrally suppressed) and .45ACP
A pair of Hitler's buzzsaws

 

@3M-TA3 I would definitely consider trying one of those kits on the Colt DI I have...I wouldn't want to do it until I have another rifle though. I didn't even know they made such a thing. What's the normal price?

 

@Tully Mars "A pair of Hitler's buzzsaws"
A....pair....of....Hitler's buzzsaws?!?!? I am not even going to spell out the nomenclature for fear of...not even going to say!

 

It usually runs around $250, but I got mine on sale (forget the price) and it only added about $50 total to each build. Otherwise, I'd have gone DI. I posted mostly to give my endorsement of their system. I wish I'd have picked up four of the "blems" when they were on sale.

 

So, these 'blems' are DI guns that have been converted to piston? Please forgive my ignorance but know I am hanging onto every bit of education you send my way. I have just been go for so long and there was no need to stay up on these things.

 

Wondered if anyone would catch that

I call them the Deutschland Duo.

 

Back on the subject - I think most of us are following this pattern
Determine the firearms you need to outfit yourself/family/team. This includes spares, parts, tools.
Purchase ammo and magazines to whatever you set as your minimum for each type
Next, get extra ammo and reloading supplies.

I think most of us will have more $$$ in ammo than guns at the end of the day. Hopefully the vast majority will never be used except for plinking and practice.

 

Ohhhhh my yes! That sentence flew off the terminal into my face...words almost went into my mouth because it was hanging open onto my chest. LOL!

 

One topic that I haven't seen come up concerning how much arms and ammo is that it might be in your best interest to arm your neighbors also. In that case, more is better... I really don't think the majority of the folks keep thousands of rounds of ammo around the house.

 

The "blems" were piston guns from the get-go. Adams simply made so many during the last panic that they wound up selling the inventory cheaply. The only difference between the kits I used and what Adams puts on their complete rifles, is that my gas block/piston housing is held in place by bolts whereas the complete rifles use pins.

 

To me that would really have to depend on the location AND the neighbors. In any case, I wouldn't arm them or tell them anything until AFTER a SHTF event. In our case that's kinda already covered since all the neighbors are immediate family and like minded.

 

I do my planing with certain neighbors in mind, but just preparing my immediate family with guns, food, water, first aid, meds, etc is already a huge challenge. If you have to arm your neighbors, they aren't laying anything else away either and will also expect a share of everything else. If I spread my net that wide I'd never get there.

I do think adding a less expensive second tier primary rifle might be a good thing, but that's likely to complicate your armory and ammo situation.

The only think I do have for my neighborhood is comms - The MotoTalk phones in BTPosts featured article. I might supply a neighborhood checkpoint with arms if needed, but only if needed.

 

Yes, I understand and that makes good sense. I certainly wouldn't PLAN on arming my neighbors (or allocate money towards it) but if something went down I might not have a choice and have to team up with them or...die. So, maybe a few of my extra given to neighbors would be well worth it.

 

Much as I would hate to leave any of my guns behind having to abandon the fort There is only one I will be holding onto for the duration, and that's the one I have the most ammo set aside for, not so much for power but for volume I can carry, compared to any other round one might imagine .
By volume the 17 HMR is 5 X smaller in volume than the .223 .
So even if it should have to take 2-3 -4 rounds to accomplish what a .223 can do in one or 2 I'm still further ahead. You see I don't anticipate being able to pick up ammo from the dead ,it is likely they won't have much any way.
With the volume of guns out there, and liberals buying them as well as Muslims and other aggressive organizations ,2 sides fighting is bad enough but 10 sides fighting and all hell breaks loose .
I don't anticipate there being much in big game to worry about either, in the long run, the 1929 crash decimated wild life to extinction of some species and that was the population then, the population now is exponentially larger and more selfish that any other generation. and small game is going to be quite wary at distances .22 is not capable.
And larger calibers might reach out there, but there wouldn't be much left out of it to eat.
Shot gun is completely out of the question so far as any range in these matter go. IMO
Animals get smarter and their senses are sharper than ours having to depend on them all the more than most humans.
I have rat traps that even peanut butter does not tempt them any more .
They don't linger in the open any more either, knowing they will get shot if they do.

If I am not forced from my home, than having a good selection of weaponry and surveillance is valuable especially for very aggressive distant and close range attacks that may occur.
One good reason I keep binoculars in my BOB .
I will tell you this , it is almost impossible to defend a building from the inside. ( It is best to meet the enemy away from the BOL.)
The enemy has the freedom and cover from any where around that dwelling, and the power to leave , and you may never know if he's left.
Who in your group is skilled and expendable enough to find that out ? RQ(rhetorical question)
If the attack is against the house and by vehicle then the heaviest weapon is appropriate ..454 or .50 cal if they are armed with auto or machine than having same is appropriate ,but expensive . (not yet acquired)
The more you must protect the greater selection of equipment is required.

 

Quality guns and lots of ammo. We dont own any cheap rifles any longer and that means we dont need as many backup guns. I am in the 22 long rifle camp for game gathering and we went real deep there. There was an entire year when we bought between 1 and 2 thousand rounds a month . I dont have enough for my AR yet but am working on that.

 

along with my 2 rifles and one shot gun and 3 pistols and I have started to stock up on black powder as I also have one rifle and 3 pistols in 45 cal. so while bp is still cheap for a pound I will stock up IMHO you only need one rifle one pistole and one shotgun but you can see I have more than I need but I can always give some to my son but you will need lots of ammo in a shtf so stock up while you can and if you reload then stock up on powder,primers and lead to cast your own bullets--wheel weights work and you should be able to scrounge up them

 

Actually, wheel wieghts are becoming rare in lead form. Steel is the new version, and zinc. Also, most garages are now recycling any and all scrap.
Cleaned and cast lead in soft and hard bars, are available on ebay, but at @$2.00 per pound.
A local tire company is buying used/scrap lead/acid batteries for just above core charge prices, and is reclaiming lead.