Survival Armory Guidelines

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[Diesel]

Yeah it's one thing to know how to shoot but you must know how to repair and even load ammo..

and yes storage is super important...

2 things will be of trading value when the SHTF

Food and Ammo

[TheUnboundOne]

Survival Armory Guidelines

Dear Bug_Out,

These are all great guidelines. Shotguns and shotgun rounds, both small pellet and double-ought buck slugs, would be in order too, both to hunt game and for home defense.

Supplying weapons that need cartridges would also require powder and reloading machines, and a knowledge of making powder and of reloading would be a big plus.

There's something also to be said also for blackpowder rifles or handguns and hunting grade air rifles, not to mention weapons that aren't even firearms, such as crossbows, bows and arrows, slingshots, dart weapons, spears, atlatls, bolas, etc.

[TheUnboundOne]

Survival Armory Guidelines

Dear Bug_Out,

Oh, I forgot: Anything that fires a bullet or slug would need casting equipment, a supply of lead to make bullets, and heat sufficient to smelt lead.

Shot pellets are usually made in a huge drop-forge and something like that isn't practical for most of us to keep. :D But if you could purchase large supplies of shot pellets or even make mass quantities of tiny tumbled stones with a jewelry tumbler, that could provide for shotgun needs.

Blacksmithing skills and tools would be needed for long-term survival, to make not only spare weapons parts, but spare parts for any tool or utinsil.

A veritable mini-factory/arsenal would be the ideal for a community of people seeking to survive in "interesting times." The people who can pull it off are practically assured a good living.

[bug_out]

Dear Bug_Out,

These are all great guidelines. Shotguns and shotgun rounds, both small pellet and double-ought buck slugs, would be in order too, both to hunt game and for home defense.

Supplying weapons that need cartridges would also require powder and reloading machines, and a knowledge of making powder and of reloading would be a big plus.

There's something also to be said also for blackpowder rifles or handguns and hunting grade air rifles, not to mention weapons that aren't even firearms, such as crossbows, bows and arrows, slingshots, dart weapons, spears, atlatls, bolas, etc.

Great points! Air rifles, bows, etc are overlooked yet are great tools. I'll add them to the list.

[Diesel]

Have the air rifle, serious ones.

Been wanting to get compound bows for awhile now, amazingly overlooked for it's stopping and deadly power, not to mention silent.

[bug_out]

Have the air rifle, serious ones.

Been wanting to get compound bows for awhile now, amazingly overlooked for it's stopping and deadly power, not to mention silent.

Any suggestions on the air rifles?

[Diesel]

Well I have this one

http://www.gamousa.com/Catalog.aspx?Product=67

I liked it because of the FPS and that it came with a scope.

Since I bought it, it looks like they came out with a ton of other cool models including a silenced one.

Reason I like the air rifle is you can take it anywhere, it's legal, can takle down small game, ammo is widely available and DIRT cheap for a large amount of it, you could store thousands of rounds in a small place etc etc.

I have all kinds of lead shot, plus some gold plated supersonic rounds that actually crack int he air when you fire them.

Ony thing is i'd like a .22 air rifle also, instead of just this .177 rifle.

I'd be happy to talk more about this with you guys, let me know your questions


Check this one out too

http://www.gamousa.com/Catalog.aspx?Product=259

[das]

Having hunted with a shotgun for years (dove, quail, etc.) I can pretty much guarantee you that the EFFORT to feed yourself versus the calories is a loser. Take your money and buy a 30-06 rifle and learn how to hunt large game. That means a shot that kills in minutes and don't take all day to track down only to find the carcass beginning to deompose.

Then learn how to trap small game and net fish. MUCH more efficient means of providing protein in a survival.

[Diesel]

there are MANY scenarios where big game is not available AT ALL, and also being stealthy and not alerting people to you location is also a concern, that's where air rifles come into play

[das]

there are MANY scenarios where big game is not available AT ALL, and also being stealthy and not alerting people to you location is also a concern, that's where air rifles come into play

Yes, you are absolutely correct. My point is that hunting fowl with a shotgun is not a survival winner in the long term. Having never hunted with an air rifle I cannot speak to their efficacy. Subsonic ammo would be an appeal though. Not to mention cheaper than rifles/bullets.

[TheUnboundOne]

Survival Armory Guidelines

Dear Das,

You are correct about shotguns. Shotguns are best used for home defense or defense in a densely planted area like a woods or a jungle, especially if the shells use high-gauge small pellets for hitting either multiple targets or a single wildly moving target.

Shotguns were especially used in the war in Southeast Asia, since the VC hid in jungles and U.S. forces needed something that could hit their enemy when they couldn't see the enemy through leaves and trees.

For hunting, the rifle or the bow is best. The last I heard, the U.S. Air Force issued AR-7 .22 caliber survival rifles for hunting smaller game. The advantage of this rifle is that the barrel, action, and clip all can fit in the plastic, floating stock.

For larger game, a .30-06 or .30-30 would make excellent choices. The M-1 Garand uses .30-06 and Winchester lever-actions typically come in .30-30.

The Best of The Backwoodsman Magazine Volumes 1 and 2 and Primitive Archer Magazine both are good sources for plans on making bows, crossbows, arrows, arrowheads, and quivers.

[Rustyshakelford]

Here is what I have

1. FN/FAL and 300 rounds of ammo in long term storage battle packs. Will last longer then my life expectancy if they remain sealed.
2. Saiga 7.62 x 39 (It is a genuine Russian built AK with a hollow water proof plastic stock) with 1000 rounds in South African battle packs. Same style as the 308 above.
3. M-1 Carbine with 250 rounds. Korean battle packs again long term storage. The kiddo is quite a shooter with this.
4. A Schmidt-Rubin in 7.5 x 55. Probably the finest bolt action rifle ever made, and can be purchased for less then $200.00. Ammo is a problem if you do not load your own.
5. A Western Fields .410 pump with 200 rounds.
6. Numerous 12 guages in different configs. Probably 2000 rounds of ammo in one flavor or another.
7. Browning HP with 1000 rounds of 9mm in Russian Battle packs. Long term storage.
8. S&W Model 686 with 500 rounds of .38 handloads.
9. A Bauer takedown survival rifle. .22 over, and .410 under. Fits in a backpack. 5000 rounds of .22's
10. Old generic scoped .22. No name pre 1964.

A decent machette, a bayonet for the M-1 and a decent multi-tool

I have lee handy loaders for 308, 30 Carbine and 7.62 x 39, plus lots of powder, primers, and projectiles, plus lots (and I do mean lots) of empty cases.

An RCBS rock chucker press, dies for all calibres I have and the knowlege to load for each. I do not load for the shotguns though. Maybe I should start.

[MD3C]

Food And Ammo?

Yeah it's one thing to know how to shoot but you must know how to repair and even load ammo..

and yes storage is super important...

2 things will be of trading value when the SHTF

Food and Ammo

Thus far my plan has been to not trade or sell ammo. It would really be disappointing to have it used against you, or your group.
MD3C

[Diesel]

Thus far my plan has been to not trade or sell ammo. It would really be disappointing to have it used against you, or your group.
MD3C

yeah that's a really good point! BUT.. what if they REALLY had something you needed? And they only wanted ammo?