Posted: 2/7/2008 4:42:44 PM EDT
| How much ammo should I keep in case a real SHTF happens. Just wondering what some of the old pros think about this situation(stocking up on ammo). I know there is a Survival forum but I wanted to hear from my local pros. What do you store your ammo in? I have a bunch of 855 ammo cans. Are these good enough or is there something better? When I was in the Army that was all we had for storage and all that I know of. Thanks again. ----------134thSIGNAL |
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Ammo cans work great for ammo storage. They are reasonably sized, airtight, made to stack, affordable, and have handles. The size works in two ways - big enough to store a decent amount of ammo each, yet small enough that even when fully loaded they can be moved easily. The front latch flap is a perfect place for a caliber label - label maker, duct tape with magic marker, or little label envelopes from the office supply store. I use mostly the .50 cal size, but the .30 cal cans hold a row of M-14 or HK-91 mags almost perfectly. Yes, that's a real book. Get it, learn it, it might save your life some day. Get as much ammo as you can afford. I find my stash serves well for the impromptu range trips - I'm always ready to go, no mucking about with going to the ammo store first plus I'm ready for the coming zombie invasions or Y2K. |
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and components - if you feel a need to have 1k or more rounds in a particular caliber, do yourself a favor and also start stocking components to make more of the same. My BOB has a 2 cheapo lee loaders (hand loaders) in 223, and 308. Not fun to use, but it will keep you in ammo if need be. Couple of boxes of primers, 5 pounds of ramshot tac, and some pulled bullets and you're set. |
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Buy it cheap and stack it deep...or maybe we should change that to buy it cheapER than it will ever be...... Stashing ammo isn't just about fending off the zombies, for me its about the realities of unstable supply and dramatically rising prices. I have stashed a bit over the last few years so I don't have to worry that no one has any 223 in stock locally when I want to go to the range or, if they do, finding out the price has jumped another 20%. The two worst SHTF scenarios in recent years are probably Katrina and the LA Riots. If you head over to the survival forum and search you should be able to find accounts of those who actually lived and protected themselves through those events. I would never presume to tell anyone what they "need," this is America still and we all have the freedom to determine for ourselves what we need--mostly. But the reality of those accounts is that a few mags would put one in the HIGH END of the spectrum of what anyone actually fired defending their homes/businesses/families. I would feel pretty confident with a full can of 855 you describe. The key is to make sure that ammo functions in your weapon and put it away and never touch it unless SHTF. The first rule of "preparedness" is prepare for the most likely scenarios first. If the zombies show up, or if Red Dawn happens, you'll be wishing for cases of ammo and multiple rifles to arm yourself and your band of wolverines. If you feel that is a likely scenario, then prepare for it and the answer to your question is you can never have too much ammo, unless you are swimming  Scarcity and rising prices scare me way more. |
Ya just can't carry it all. Seriously, though, there is never "too much" but the issue of propper storage and and cost is certainly an issue. Back40: I agree with your comment on the grounds that most folks don't know how to aim AND pull the trigger for fast follow up. That, or they tend to crap their pants instead of drop in a fresh mag when needed. 
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I am NOT one of them... but, I am working towards that distinction. 5K of various 223/5.56 loads and counting. Hope to be up another 3500 here by some time this spring. |
+1 Room to store it is also a plus. Gonna crank out 5k this weekend. I now drink the Blue Kool Aide. Have loaded 8k of 9mm, 6k of .45ACP and 2k of .357mag so far.
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Yup! I wonder how many people have 10-20 thousand dollars worth of guns, ammo, optics, mags, LBE gear, etc, but not a single extra canned good or bottle of water? What about a generator and some gas in a can? You're more likely to be without power for more than 24 hours than you will be needing a gun to defend yourself. |
 Some neighbors stopped by the shop last night to help me dispose of some beers. The Blue Machine of Greatness caught somebody's eye, and I gave a quick demo. Do believe there will be a couple more drinkers of the Blue Kool Aide... 
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It is not exciting to talk about having a 3 months supply of food and water on hand at all times. I do need to buy a generator. |
Althought lights might bea dead give away
Damn right. Honda's rule. I have a 2K Watt Honda that is the size and shape of a small Igloo cooler. Damn near silent. Powers my cabin / shack all weekend on two gallons. Have a larger one for here at the house that is slightly noisier, but still quite. Then there is the Coleman. It does 5800 watts, and sounds like it's powered by a 350 V8 with headers only. I'd rather sit in the dark, than listen to it. |
You hit the nail on the head. I bought my Honda last spring and have already used it twice. I've had guns for much longer than that, and never needed one yet. Does anyone know if LaRue makes an EU2000i mount for a flat top? I could be really tacticool then. |
Please step back from the keyboard and calmly brush your teeth.  I have a coleman Powermate 1850 (suburu engine, not the noisy B&S) and used it once last fall. Kept the fridge and freezer running while I used the 12v to power/charge the cell phone while we waited for NSP/Xcel to fix what they had broken by accident. Not as quiet as a Honda, but, at 1/2 the price and I can position it where the neighbors won't care... its all that matters. As far as food/water/gas, we got a 2 week supply of each in town and "slightly more" up north. As soon as I clean out some shelf space in the basement, we are going to up our local reserves to a full month. |
Very true statements here! I try to live by the most likely scenarios first rule also the rule of threes . |
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Thats when the guns come in handy. If we need light my wife has a billion candles on hand. And they smell good too! |