[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Equipment Standardization Question (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 10/20/2012 8:51:18 PM EDT
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I guess I'm late to the game, but I've just started reading Patriots.
My question is, how does everybody feel about gear standardization? As far as my group goes: We all have AR's of one brand or another. We have some longer range precision rifles, that range from bolt guns, to SR-25 pattern, to FAL's to M1A's. We all have our own individual sidearms ranging from 9mm to .45. For the most part we all have plates, but almost nobody has the same carrier etc etc. For your SHTF clan, do you all make sure you have the same kit? I totally and completely understand the concept behind it, but is a common caliber enough or does everybody need to be the same across the board? |
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We have more or less standardized our weapon systems (rifle, shotgun and handgun) for commonality of spare parts/ammo/mags etc. Our choices are AR-15, Rem 870 and Kimber 1911's.
For gear and camo we are in slightly different places with some MOLLE FLC and ruck setups in Woodland and some chest rig and ruck setups in Multicam. Uniforms are also a mix of woodland and Multicam but everyone is in process of switching to MC. ETA: These aren't the only firearms in the group of course. There are several bolt actions, .22's and other non standard type firearms but expectations are that spares and ammo are stocked individually for them. The only exception are for our semi standard AR-10's and Rem 700's (in .308) dedicated to long range, quasi sniper work. |
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everyone having the same gun is a vacuum, many different weapons styles in the same group offers coverage over many different levels. different guns cover the shortcomings of others. That is why I don't like standardization. It makes logistics tougher to have multiple platforms, needing to have parts and fixes for each different one but that is the job for the individual, to have spare parts and backups. It also makes an issue for for cross platform training, but its worth it... creates better shooters.
And finally, if your group has standardized on ARs and someone doesnt have one or means for one, are they then not allowed to join? how about if they're an expert bolt gun shooter and doctor? Standardization makes sense on paper but its generally too ridged for my taste. -Sefus |
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I think your group will be better off if all of you have your lives in order. What good is a standard rifle if a person in the group is always pawning theirs because that person cannot control themselves financially? Hey if you want to have an AR owners club and play zombie fantasy shoot at the range, then knock yourself out. There is much much more to being prepared than having an armed gang with matching zombie gun uniforms. Are you going to require everyone in the club to drive the same car? Say your group picks the Toyota Tacoma pickup. Are you gonna get kicked out if you have one more baby than the Taco can legally seat? |
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I've put a lot of effort into standardizing my own gear, as well as gear for my friends and family. Weapons and their spare parts was the easiest first step. After that I began standardizing backup comms-not just frequencies but consumables and battery chargers, speaker mics, antennas...that sort of thing. I gave away most of my oddball gear, and replaced it with identical copies of what I already owned.
Looking through my gun collection, radio gear, flashlights, water filters etc makes me look like the most unimaginative SOB on the planet, but there is a method to my madness. The logistics of keeping spare parts and consumables are a helluva lot easier once you have standardized 
I'll post some pics once I get back in front of my laptop. ETA: Backup comms, standardized but still backwards compatible with others for interoperability: 
Training and defensive 200m carbines: 
Can all be serviced with these parts: 
I should probably point out that there is no requirement among friends and family to standardize gear...nothing of the sort actually. A one-size-fits-all mentality would never work in the real world. For me it's all about ease of maintenance, spare parts, and commonality of consumables. Nothing more, nothing less. In an emergency it's all about bring what you've got-just know that I may not have the parts or tools needed to fix it if it breaks. |
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I guess I'm late to the game, but I've just started reading Patriots. My question is, how does everybody feel about gear standardization? As far as my group goes: We all have AR's of one brand or another. We have some longer range precision rifles, that range from bolt guns, to SR-25 pattern, to FAL's to M1A's. We all have our own individual sidearms ranging from 9mm to .45. For the most part we all have plates, but almost nobody has the same carrier etc etc. For your SHTF clan, do you all make sure you have the same kit? I totally and completely understand the concept behind it, but is a common caliber enough or does everybody need to be the same across the board? It looks like you got it goin on, to me. In a group like yours: what is the age spread? .mil guys? Same neighborhood? How'd you all meet? Any ammo level requirements? |
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I think your group will be better off if all of you have your lives in order. What good is a standard rifle if a person in the group is always pawning theirs because that person cannot control themselves financially? Hey if you want to have an AR owners club and play zombie fantasy shoot at the range, then knock yourself out. There is much much more to being prepared than having an armed gang with matching zombie gun uniforms. Are you going to require everyone in the club to drive the same car? Say your group picks the Toyota Tacoma pickup. Are you gonna get kicked out if you have one more baby than the Taco can legally seat? I will echo this. Also, don't base your plans off of a reading of Patriots... I think there are alot of higher priority items than setting up your perfectly uniformly-equipped militia... At any rate, if you are going to focus on that, you should devote 90% of your efforts into training as a group and maybe 10% towards equipment. It doesn't matter one whit how well thought out your logistics scheme is if you don't know how to operate as a group. Hopefully to that end you have some military/ex-military guys in the group. Military weapons training is sorely lacking but the USMC and Army excel at small unit tactics, and your .mil guys should be bringing everyone up to speed. Otherwise you are just a well-dressed bunch of bubbas who will fold at the first sign of well-organized opposition, regardless of how well armed you are. But yeah, this should be very low on the priority list. Most likely first, zombie apocalypse somewhere way down the line... |
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Quoted: There is much much more to being prepared than having an armed gang with matching zombie gun uniforms. Thank you. The shtf gun/rifle/rambo questions get real old. Especially if from guys that just found the forum, don't have anything but want to get started on which rifle to get. |
| The group I work with is not standardized, but we recommend things. For example, we use GMRS for some types of communications. We have a specific make/model that we recommend. This helps in training. Unless the group is geographically close and share in the funding of communal spares I don't see a great cost advantage. |
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There is much much more to being prepared than having an armed gang with matching zombie gun uniforms. Thank you. The shtf gun/rifle/rambo questions get real old. Especially if from guys that just found the forum, don't have anything but want to get started on which rifle to get. If the OP is just asking in the context of zombies, Thunderdome, and Red Dawn BS I completely agree with you. If he is asking about more realistic scenarios like communicating with friends after a severe weather induced cellular outage, fixing a broken buddies gun during a carbine course etc then I think standardization-or at least commonality or compatibility-is pretty important. In the realm of comms in particular, having a bunch of oddball gear that can't talk to each other is worthless-but I'm preaching to choir on that here. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Standardization is a high priority if you expect that you will be getting in firefights, but training as a team is even more so. Being able to swap mags, common parts, etc is gonna eliminate a lot of potential confusion.
Another item often overlooked: FAKs. Remember that your kit is for you, not the next guy. Use the next guy's kit on him. Do you have the same or similar FAK's? Does everyone carry theirs in the same place? Has everyone had at least first aid training? Is it current? Can you work on a family member without freaking out? Lot to think about.. Ops |
My Kimber is a safe queen due to standardization.  When my wife traded in her Ruger for a Glock 17. I got one so she could throw me a mag if I needed it. I tuned my Glock to have the trigger feel similar to the Kimber and have become very accurate with it. Standards among the team is paramount. Two people are in a firefight and one has an FAL and one an M1A. One needs a mag. Do you have time to fill the magaizine from another? NO!
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I will echo CJan.
I have standardized my own equipment and have backups and spare parts for firearms,comms etc. I also don't have a true SHTF group.What I have is a loose confederation of individuals/families that me and my family could count on in the event of a SHTF in my AO. |
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First let me apologize in advance about the fallowing rant. But why is it when ever someone asks a question people jump on them about how they need to be financial prepared or bashing on them about how you have to have this or that before you need to be worried about the subject of there post when they could have all the other basics covered and for all you know better then you do. Its almost like you have to describe every prep you have before some people will give an answer and that a bunch of BS. If you don't have something to say about the topic don't say anything. Its a waste of your time and there's it also turns new people off to prepping.
Rant over! OP It sounds like you are fairly well set up. I wouldn't worry about a standard pistol if you are down to having to use a pistol you wont be able to ask a buddy for an extra mag. And as far as webgear let everyone use what they like with the exception being the FAK as was pointed out your FAK is for use on YOU so you will want to standardize your FAKs so everyone know what is in it and how to use everything in it if you need any help with FAKs just let me know TM |
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I will echo CJan. I have standardized my own equipment and have backups and spare parts for firearms,comms etc. I also don't have a true SHTF group.What I have is a loose confederation of individuals/families that me and my family could count on in the event of a SHTF in my AO. This just might be my personal bias showing, but I'm almost leery of the word "group" in this context. It conjures up a mental image of a shadowy militia plotting to rob national guard armories or something. For me, the words "mutual aid pact among like-minded families" is far more accurate. During the past couple of extended utility outages we stayed in frequent contact, and if a family needed a genset, fuel, or backup heat etc we'd all work together to make sure the family in question got what they needed. Recently, through an almost absurd confluence of events both of my family vehicles were in the shop-and my family was without transportation. A local ARFcommer generously offered us his spare SUV, and after calling USAA to make sure it would be covered under my policy I almost took him up on it. Fortunately we got one vehicle fixed sooner than expected, so I didn't have to burden him with that favor. It's important to cultivate relationships and take care of your friends. You never when you might need each other Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: There is much much more to being prepared than having an armed gang with matching zombie gun uniforms. Thank you. The shtf gun/rifle/rambo questions get real old. Especially if from guys that just found the forum, don't have anything but want to get started on which rifle to get. If the OP is just asking in the context of zombies, Thunderdome, and Red Dawn BS I completely agree with you. If he is asking about more realistic scenarios like communicating with friends after a severe weather induced cellular outage, fixing a broken buddies gun during a carbine course etc then I think standardization-or at least commonality or compatibility-is pretty important. In the realm of comms in particular, having a bunch of oddball gear that can't talk to each other is worthless-but I'm preaching to choir on that here. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile TaylorWSO, yes some questions get old, but I bet you asked them at some time ... it may have been long ago and you may have only been 10 but I bet you still asked them. It was a while back for me and there was no interwebs then, so all y'all were spared from watching me work through some of the noob stuff. Anyway I think it is bad form to treat folks roughly just because they just found the SF ... but I also think that it is bad form for a noob to fail to progress on to more thoughtful questions. Like I said there is much much more than guns and your paintball team to think about. CJan, I was trying to encourage the OP to look more deeply at life. |
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Quoted: First let me apologize in advance about the fallowing rant. But why is it when ever someone asks a question people jump on them about how they need to be financial prepared or bashing on them about how you have to have this or that before you need to be worried about the subject of there post when they could have all the other basics covered and for all you know better then you do. Its almost like you have to describe every prep you have before some people will give an answer and that a bunch of BS. If you don't have something to say about the topic don't say anything. Its a waste of your time and there's it also turns new people off to prepping. Rant over! Some questions just typically get asked in a certain order when folks start to be survivalists. I know of a survivalist that had to answer the OPs question about guns with 30-30s because the 30-30 lever-action carbine was the best tactical carbine available then. Decades pass but the question stays the same. I don't think anyone on the SF knew me when I was asking these questions, but like I admitted in my previous post, I did ask them. So please don't be offended Mr. texas(I'm in the gotta get a bol right now halp phase)medic if I try to help you get through that phase as quickly and as cost efficiently as I possibly can. So that someday you and the OP will in turn be able to help some noobs. Remember mister tacticool 30-30 that I just mentioned? Well it turns out that he helped his grandson and his grandson helped me. So think of some of my posts as paying forward. |
PA I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU JUST ASKED SUCH A NOOB QUESTION"|
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First let me apologize in advance about the fallowing rant. But why is it when ever someone asks a question people jump on them about how they need to be financial prepared or bashing on them about how you have to have this or that before you need to be worried about the subject of there post when they could have all the other basics covered and for all you know better then you do. Its almost like you have to describe every prep you have before some people will give an answer and that a bunch of BS. If you don't have something to say about the topic don't say anything. Its a waste of your time and there's it also turns new people off to prepping. TM The problem some here have - especially those new to this - is that they have unrealistic ideas about what to expect and what to plan for; there are MANY people on this site who think being prepared is more about having a full armory than a full pantry or full bank account. There are people here who focus almost exclusively on the tactical side and figure "fuck it, I'll just take what I need post-SHTF". I am not saying you or OP are that type, but this question often gets asked (no this is not the first, or second, or probably even the twentieth time this question has been asked) and often by those types. There is nothing wrong with popping in and giving a "make sure you prioritize and cover the other bases too", since the OP didn't preface the question with a "so I'm OK on food, water, other basics etc and am wondering about group standardization" or something along those lines. FWIW my contribution was more along the lines of a "don't worry so much about the gear" suggestion. Too often people focus on the gear and not what they are going to do with it and how it will be utilized. Like I said gear is a *small* part of what is needed with a group; assuming everyone has the basics - whatever those particular basics may be for each individual - it is more important to focus on training and organization and development of roles within the group as well as tactics to be used. That is usually ignored. A well organized and trained group will usually beat a better equipped group, all else equal. As for standardization I personally don't see a need for everyone to have the exact same shit. Let each individual use whatever works for them. Let them stock their own ammo, spares, their own mags, etc. If they can't do that they probably won't be of much use anyway, because that is basic individual logistics. Assign roles based upon what they are good with / at (find out what they are good at if you haven't already). Crosstrain, too. There's more to a group than matching multicam digs. |
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I guess I'm late to the game, but I've just started reading Patriots. My question is, how does everybody feel about gear standardization? As far as my group goes: We all have AR's of one brand or another. We have some longer range precision rifles, that range from bolt guns, to SR-25 pattern, to FAL's to M1A's. We all have our own individual sidearms ranging from 9mm to .45. For the most part we all have plates, but almost nobody has the same carrier etc etc. For your SHTF clan, do you all make sure you have the same kit? I totally and completely understand the concept behind it, but is a common caliber enough or does everybody need to be the same across the board? there are big advantages to everyone, having the same thing. especially if your the one buying it ALL. such as outfitting a family of 4. why buy 4 different rifle, that use 4 different mags, and 4 different calibers, and 4 different kinds of replacement parts? when you can buy say, 4 sks rifle, or 4 ar15 rifles, or 4 , mini 14 rifles. then its all the same. much easier. at least with your basic stuff, handguns, rifles, etc. clothing, and sleeping backs and packs not so much, unless you just want, or need to look alike. its pretty useful from a tactical standpoint, to look alike, and have the same uniform, so you can spot a outsider immediately from your people, but few of us have a rifle squad sized element, much less a platoon. |
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There is much much more to being prepared than having an armed gang with matching zombie gun uniforms. Thank you. The shtf gun/rifle/rambo questions get real old. Especially if from guys that just found the forum, don't have anything but want to get started on which rifle to get. i dont think it gets old. not everyone has 14,000 posts on arfcom. new people, always ask simular questions, and are usually looking for guns first. I dont mind them, and i love the zombie gun, what gun should i buy questions. Honestly, buying a gun first is not a mistake. even if all you have is a week of food, and a job to go to, if your not armed, and trouble happens, its too late to buy a gun.. ( la riots). Yes, food, financial security, are more important than a gun collection, but why always assume the people asking do not have those already? |
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Quoted: TaylorWSO, yes some questions get old, but I bet you asked them at some time. Noop. Had the question, yes. Asked it, no. I search and read the archives before I asked the "same question". I think there might be a rule or suggestion about doing it at the top of this page. Like I said there is much much more than guns and your paintball team to think about. Yes there is a lot more to just guns, but everyone seems to think that is the first step to prepping. If you were a newbi and opened the SF and saw most threads about "which gun," "is this firearms better than that firearm" wouldn't you think that was the most important to prepping? |
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When I first came to the SF forum here I was most worried about guns... Now I have a couple months worth of food, large gardens, lots of firewood, and several of the other essentials. I am moving to my new house in a couple months... Upgraded from a double wide on 10 acres to a newer house on 40+ acres. As of yet I still don't even own a semi auto center fire rifle... Can't really afford to waste the money on one. Not if I want to live in my semi remote gated homestead... If I can't get it done with my 1911, pump shotgun, and bolt action hunting rifle then chances are I am pretty much screwed. But if an ice storm sweeps through knocking out power for several weeks I am good to go. I have a generator that will power my deep well pump and gas to feed it. If that doesn't work I can walk down to the stream and get some water there. Need more heat? well other then the several cords of wood I put up each year I can fire up the jeep or atv and skid some wood from my property. Not to say I don't own more firearms then I really need or more ammo then I would ever use in a SHTF situation but the fact of the matter is, the need for rice+beans and band-aids is much greater then a new fancy AR15 exactly the same as your buddy's.
With all that said I did just order my first semi auto center fire... kel-tec SU16. Its no fancy AR but it is a light weigh "ranch" style rifle that will do more then I will ever need. Maybe someday I will build and AR but at this point, I concentrating more on getting out of debt vs building and armory. |
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Quoted: Have you not read this board for more than a year? If you look at the post its always about guns/ammo and when people ask about food/money you get crickets. Most questions about the best guns, this one in particular would best be served in the training forum. Hell you even had a off topic thread about the 338 which is basically worthless for 99% of any type of survival. When you do that, the forum gets clogged with junk that others have to wade through. If you fill up the first page with gun stuff it takes away for the intent for the forum-Go read at the top.Yes, food, financial security, are more important than a gun collection, but why always assume the people asking do not have those already? One of the best posts was by one of the members where they lay out what should be done first and the most probable events. Real prepping is mundane and boring, most people will not do that, it's just how society is. If some think I'm too rough with questions or responses to gun post so be it. Maybe someone will wake up and realize they are wasting time when they could be doing a lot better to secure a better position if something actually happens. And BTW you don't have to have 14K post to "know everything" You just have to be disciplined and read more than posting, rather than just ask questions-kinda like the rules at the top say you should. I |
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Quoted: Quoted: TaylorWSO, yes some questions get old, but I bet you asked them at some time. Noop. Had the question, yes. Asked it, no. I search and read the archives before I asked the "same question". I think there might be a rule or suggestion about doing it at the top of this page. Like I said there is much much more than guns and your paintball team to think about. Yes there is a lot more to just guns, but everyone seems to think that is the first step to prepping. If you were a newbi and opened the SF and saw most threads about "which gun," "is this firearms better than that firearm" wouldn't you think that was the most important to prepping? Ok so you did what I had to do. I had no one to ask when I went through that stage, so I made a decision and moved on. In other words I asked myself, then did some research then made an educated choice. We are on a gun board ... umm ... I think you can see that being on a gun board would kinda make folks start at the "OMGOMGBBQ I gotta get teh pufect gun for zombies" square on the game board. Now if we were on some gardening board ... all the noobs might begin with "What rototiller for SHTF...." Now y'all have me wanting a radiant green set of gardening equipment.  |
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I will echo CJan. I have standardized my own equipment and have backups and spare parts for firearms,comms etc. I also don't have a true SHTF group.What I have is a loose confederation of individuals/families that me and my family could count on in the event of a SHTF in my AO. This just might be my personal bias showing, but I'm almost leery of the word "group" in this context. It conjures up a mental image of a shadowy militia plotting to rob national guard armories or something. For me, the words "mutual aid pact among like-minded families" is far more accurate. During the past couple of extended utility outages we stayed in frequent contact, and if a family needed a genset, fuel, or backup heat etc we'd all work together to make sure the family in question got what they needed. Recently, through an almost absurd confluence of events both of my family vehicles were in the shop-and my family was without transportation. A local ARFcommer generously offered us his spare SUV, and after calling USAA to make sure it would be covered under my policy I almost took him up on it. Fortunately we got one vehicle fixed sooner than expected, so I didn't have to burden him with that favor. It's important to cultivate relationships and take care of your friends. You never when you might need each other
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile For me and my family a "group" like what is in the book Patriots is not feasible .As for BOL with the exception of a true catastrophic event (NYC gets nuked,Hurricane Katrina hits my AO,you get the idea) I am not taking my family on the road. I agree with you CJan cultivating friendships with people in your AO and even outside your AO will only benefit both people when something bad happens. |
| If you have a "Group" then its not a bad idea to all have one of the same weapon for ammo,mags, etc but if its a deal where you freak if someone shows up with something different then you've gone too far, also all wearing the same uniform will really scream cult/militia thus maybe getting the wrong attention |
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I try to standardize common calibers. Within those calibers, common magazines.
Standardizing to military specifications (Beretta M9 and STANAG magazines) is overboard IMO. Use what works for you, and what you feel will protect you best. The idea behind prepping is NOT having to rely on scavenging, so to base your choices off of the thoery you can resupply off of government forces is foolhardy. It shows flaws in your overall stratagy, and limits you unnecessarily. |
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In my case, my friends - term used loosely to describe the individuals I have chosen to place my trust with, close family I will coordinate with, and those I truly consider my friends - we've all chosen the AR-15 rifle by pure happenstance. One selected it because of his military service, another selected the platform because its the single most common semi-automatic intermediate caliber rifle on the US market, with an abundance of parts, magazines, and ammunition readily available from most sources. Myself, my brother, and others chose it for many of the same reasons for the most part. The same can for the Glock series of pistols, namely the 17 and 19 models.
Clothing wise, we train in our every day wear and expect to wear the same should a "grid down" situation arise. Jeans and other durable pants and T-shirts in earth tone or otherwise neutral colors rule the day. Fighting loads and packs are all personal preference. My brother and I prefer the Maxpedition Falcon II and Condor respectively, with Blackhawk eight magazine chest harnesses, carrying between three and six rifle mags with a radio in the rightmost primary weapon mag pouch, with a flashlight in one pistol mag pouch and a multitool in the other. One of my buddies uses his issued FLC in Universal Camouflage Pattern and his MOLLE II pack in the same. Another prefers using a belt with a Kelty pack. Typically, it's up to whatever the user prefers. We stick with the same model of comm gear for ease of use, everyone has enough parts to keep their primary and secondary go to weapon's functioning, and some of us are in the process of getting medical training. Otherwise, we do have plans in place for coordinating food/water/fuel/consumables should the need arise, and providing community security, and I'm not talking about patrolling the neighborhood in full gear with rifles. Quick tip. Learn to cook. If your food preps are centered around freeze dried stuff and MREs, life is going to suck more in a grid down situation than it needs to. Stock up on food you and your family would like to eat, learn to cook it. There're books on this very subject and lots of good info out there especially on Youtube and here. |
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Quoted: <Snort> Wait a minute. I haven't seen the OP post here since starting the thread. Did we scare him off? Bah happens often ... I am happy when someone stays. If they are just here because they got an adrenalin rush from watching red dawn, then they often do not last. |
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<Snort> Wait a minute. I haven't seen the OP post here since starting the thread. Did we scare him off? Bah happens often ... I am happy when someone stays. If they are just here because they got an adrenalin rush from watching red dawn, then they often do not last. I prefer "the book of eli" or "the road" 
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its also the weekend and some people dont spend all there time on the internet  Unfortunately I only get weekends off a couple months each year 
Reference to the topic I don't have a "group" to standardize with... Just me and the wife. I did standardize my calibers: 22lr 9mm 45acp 223 308 30-06 20G The calibers I stock in bulk are 22lr 9mm 223 and 20G. |
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<Snort> Wait a minute. I haven't seen the OP post here since starting the thread. Did we scare him off? Nah, I'm pretty hard to get rid of. It's that work, family, stuff to do thing that prevents me from staying online. To those of you that offered it, I appreciate your input. I'll admit, I'm a noob to the idea of prepping. I got drafted so to speak. In being a new to the subject, I'll apologize in advance for questions that I may ask that have been asked by others before. |
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Quoted: Quoted: <Snort> Wait a minute. I haven't seen the OP post here since starting the thread. Did we scare him off? Nah, I'm pretty hard to get rid of. It's that work, family, stuff to do thing that prevents me from staying online. To those of you that offered it, I appreciate your input. I'll admit, I'm a noob to the idea of prepping. I got drafted so to speak. In being a new to the subject, I'll apologize in advance for questions that I may ask that have been asked by others before. Hey welcome to the SF  This might help a bit  |
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If everyone has glocks and ar rifles then it becomes simple to try out new stuff. Someone buys a 22lr conversion then they can let others try it out and see what they think. Just trying various holsters can also be nice. Now that the ar has all kinds of magazines available being able to see how the new magpul mags compare to the older surplus mags might make a difference to some folks. Same goes for other stuff that while it might not cost a lot it is stuff some folks might buy and test out. Used to be awfully simple to afford a case of ammo. These days being able to order ammo by the case and split the cost might help some folks out when stocking up. But I consider a group to be a hard thing to find. If you have a wife who is into shooting and prepping then that is pretty decent and worth going into common stuff on. But when I think of a group I think or at least 3 or 4 different folks and maybe a few more on top of that. Lots of groups don't function well long term and fall apart and some folks get mad about having standardized with something they never liked in the first place, but it is what the group chose to standardize on. |
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If everyone has glocks and ar rifles then it becomes simple to try out new stuff.
Someone buys a 22lr conversion then they can let others try it out and see what they think. Just trying various holsters can also be nice. Now that the ar has all kinds of magazines available being able to see how the new magpul mags compare to the older surplus mags might make a difference to some folks. Same goes for other stuff that while it might not cost a lot it is stuff some folks might buy and test out. Used to be awfully simple to afford a case of ammo. These days being able to order ammo by the case and split the cost might help some folks out when stocking up. But I consider a group to be a hard thing to find. If you have a wife who is into shooting and prepping then that is pretty decent and worth going into common stuff on. But when I think of a group I think or at least 3 or 4 different folks and maybe a few more on top of that. Lots of groups don't function well long term and fall apart and some folks get mad about having standardized with something they never liked in the first place, but it is what the group chose to standardize on. I agree with a lot of the above... |
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I've put a lot of effort into standardizing my own gear, as well as gear for my friends and family. Weapons and their spare parts was the easiest first step. After that I began standardizing backup comms-not just frequencies but consumables and battery chargers, speaker mics, antennas...that sort of thing. I gave away most of my oddball gear, and replaced it with identical copies of what I already owned. Looking through my gun collection, radio gear, flashlights, water filters etc makes me look like the most unimaginative SOB on the planet, but there is a method to my madness. The logistics of keeping spare parts and consumables are a helluva lot easier once you have standardized
I'll post some pics once I get back in front of my laptop. ETA: Backup comms, standardized but still backwards compatible with others for interoperability: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/EMCOMM_Project.jpg Training and defensive 200m carbines: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/training_carbines_and_glock.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/6920_Class.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/LMT_Class.jpg Can all be serviced with these parts: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/Parts_bin1.JPG I should probably point out that there is no requirement among friends and family to standardize gear...nothing of the sort actually. A one-size-fits-all mentality would never work in the real world. For me it's all about ease of maintenance, spare parts, and commonality of consumables. Nothing more, nothing less. In an emergency it's all about bring what you've got-just know that I may not have the parts or tools needed to fix it if it breaks. Your a sick puppy
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| just a thought about standardization... Say for isntance the EOTWAWKI really does happen. And your "group" does patrol type activities, even if it is foraging. Wouldnt you want mixed weapons i.e. AK-47 and a .308 MBR to augment Ar-15s? My thoughts on this are... While AR-15s go bang! the former go BOOM!!! a lot more distance and punch per shot. Since we dont have M-60s or M-249s etc... it would seem that having bigger rounds to augment the poodle shooters would be smart. ??? |
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TaylorWSO, yes some questions get old, but I bet you asked them at some time. Noop. Had the question, yes. Asked it, no. I search and read the archives before I asked the "same question". I think there might be a rule or suggestion about doing it at the top of this page. Like I said there is much much more than guns and your paintball team to think about. Yes there is a lot more to just guns, but everyone seems to think that is the first step to prepping. If you were a newbi and opened the SF and saw most threads about "which gun," "is this firearms better than that firearm" wouldn't you think that was the most important to prepping? Ok so you did what I had to do. I had no one to ask when I went through that stage, so I made a decision and moved on. In other words I asked myself, then did some research then made an educated choice. We are on a gun board ... umm ... I think you can see that being on a gun board would kinda make folks start at the "OMGOMGBBQ I gotta get teh pufect gun for zombies" square on the game board. Now if we were on some gardening board ... all the noobs might begin with "What rototiller for SHTF...." Now y'all have me wanting a radiant green set of gardening equipment.
great pa, thanks.. now they will have lime green, zombie tillers at lowes this spring......... well if walking dead uses a rototiller to kill a zombie, we WILL have lime green zombie garden stuff. 
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We like AR15's with EOTechs that use the CR123 batteries and we use Streamlight TLR-1 lights that use the CR123 batteries which have a long shelf-life. The AR's are .223/5.56 but I have one AR in 6.8spc that Is scoped out. I really like the 6.8spc round!
We like Glocks because they are dependable and shoot just fine. I am a fan of the 40S&W but others have the 9mm. |
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I used to scuba dive a lot and one thing that was common practice was common gear placement. The gear didn't need to be from the same manufacturer. But the releases needed to open in the same direction. The knives would need to be accessible to some else to assist you if you were entangled. You need to know where the fak is on the injured person to provide care.
This concept works on the range, in the field and in extreme situations. When care/action is needed, the most important thing is that you have the training to proceed and using that training have prepared a path to success. |
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<Snort> Wait a minute. I haven't seen the OP post here since starting the thread. Did we scare him off? Nah, I'm pretty hard to get rid of. It's that work, family, stuff to do thing that prevents me from staying online. To those of you that offered it, I appreciate your input. I'll admit, I'm a noob to the idea of prepping. I got drafted so to speak. In being a new to the subject, I'll apologize in advance for questions that I may ask that have been asked by others before. Some of these guys are just cranky. They just don't want to leave the impression that guns are survival by themselves. I encouraged my family to buy Ar's because I could afford a lot of mags and ammo to feed them. We have lots of guns. Not many of them are tactical. Most of us choose not to worry about it that much. |
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I used to scuba dive a lot and one thing that was common practice was common gear placement. The gear didn't need to be from the same manufacturer. But the releases needed to open in the same direction. The knives would need to be accessible to some else to assist you if you were entangled. You need to know where the fak is on the injured person to provide care. This concept works on the range, in the field and in extreme situations. When care/action is needed, the most important thing is that you have the training to proceed and using that training have prepared a path to success. Excellent points. A lifetime ago when I was an active EMT our jump kits were all set up the same way-so at an MVA we could work out of each others if needed. It's funny how that habit gets burned into your brain. I haven't ridden sideways in an ambulance in nearly twenty years, but the kits in my vehicles and home are still set up the same way A few years ago my wife replenished the supplies in our big house FAK, and after she did I took it apart and rearranged it the "right" way.Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |