Thread: SHTF gear

My economic breakdown plan is simply grab my Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm, fishin pole and my climbing/camping gear and head to the New River Gorge in West Virginia.

My zombie plan is to do the exact same thing, except im going to bring more ammo.

This thread made me curious to check how much ammo I have stocked up. I have 3000+ of .233 ammo, 5000+ of .22LR ammo, 2000+ of 9mm ammo, 500+ of 7mm ammo, and 1500+ of 7.62 x 39 ammo.

I have more ammo but it's for target shooting, the ammo I have listed above is not touched and stored in those old green military boxes ...unless I am rotating out old ammunation.

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

I think it's a very geographical thing.

I agree here. When I first started reading this thread I was thinking "what's SHTF mean??" and now I'm still wondering why exactly we are discussing it lol. I've lived in Chicago, Philadelphia, Columbia S.C. (for maybe 2 months over one summer), Boston, NYC, and now I'm near Providence, RI. I have honestly never knowingly met people who are "prepared" like some guys in this thread are. In big cities it isn't even near the back of my mind and even here in RI it isn't even close. I think owning guns and ammo will have little effect on the economy getting better. As for needing that stuff in case we are invaded from out of nowhere or if there is a civil war... in those situations I think we have bigger problems to worry about. But hey, having your own firepower is cool with me.

I have the guns and ammo because I use it regularly, I'm not a world is going to end kind of guy, but having guns and ammo allows you to do two things should for any reason there be a break down in society 1. put food on your table and 2) protect yourself and your loved ones from those that might want what you have.

I'm not surprised that people from the city don't take any steps to prepare, I know how unprepared some of my neighbors were during the big black out. We get snow storms and such where I live and since I was a little kid my parents always had basic provision around, and I still to this day. I have a fully stocked pantry that can last four people four at least 2-3 plus weeks. I have gas a generator, batteries, flashlights, Coleman stove & lanterns and fuel, gas, water containers, water filter, and I really don't even think about this stuff its just what I normally have around. I also have all my amateur radio gear too.

I've always lived in the city or suburbs myself, and no I don't have a bomb shelter dug in my back yard, but it would be cool to have one.

Originally Posted by Philadelph

I think owning guns and ammo will have little effect on the economy getting better.

IDK, I don't have a very large stockpile, but I've put nearly $10,000 into the US economy on guns, ammo and accessories.

But hey, having your own firepower is cool with me.

Originally Posted by Hutch

I have the guns and ammo because I use it regularly, I'm not a world is going to end kind of guy, but having guns and ammo allows you to do two things should for any reason there be a break down in society 1. put food on your table and 2) protect yourself and your loved ones from those that might want what you have.

Big +1 here.

I'm not surprised that people from the city don't take any steps to prepare, I know how unprepared some of my neighbors were during the big black out.

My experience is limited, but in PHX there are a lot of survival-minded people. I hadn't really put much thought into it until I moved here.

Survival doesn't have to equal guns and ammo.

Being prepared with some canned food and water suplies is a reasonable thing to do in case of storm, power outage, in-laws stopping by unnanouced...

On second thought some firepower would be nice to have!

Originally Posted by iron maiden

.....Of course, you realize if the SHTF for real...."some" ammo just isn't going to be enough, so it's good for you to be stocking up. If you haven't bought any for a while....you're gonna get sticker shock. Ammo has skyrocketed.

Yeah ammo has become very expensive. But you can find good deals if you know where to look. I just bought 1000 rounds of .233 for my AR-15 for $228.99 from here THE ARMORY guns, firearms, ammunition, ammo, accessories, equipment, reloading, muzzloading

It's Wolf ammo and a lot of people do not like it, but I've never had any problems with it. It's dirty, but if you clean your guns after each use like I do then you should have no problems at all.

I don't know.
I quite enjoy shooting, but don't have enough ammunition stored to repel a small army like some here (I have a hard time "saving" ammunition if there is an opportunity to go shoot)
Should ammunition become unavailable, it would be nice to have some already on hand, as one may find he or she is shooting to feed and or protect more people than just one's own self and family. Others may seek shelter from gangs etc. witness lawlessness that often occurs during a natural disaster-people looting, beating people to death, burning homes...it's a safe bet that a prepared, armed well adjusted citizen will have the responsibility of protecting others who cannot, and while perhaps not actually feeding them, giving them a chance to feed themselves.
At least until civilized life returns.
Personally I have means for making fire, building simple shelter, a shovel, that sort of thing-and something to boil water in.
Knowledge is the most important thing one can have, IMHO because that opens up many more possibilities.
After that, armament is only one leg of the table, which complements the others.
Stored food is always a good idea, and more than you will personally need-to allow sharing discretely with those most in need who are not of the "advertising" mindset.

Just a few ramblings.
I'm in the Azores right now, on my way east-it's a pretty place. Gardens and cattle would be a good idea if one has somewhere for them.

John P.

Originally Posted by Hutch

I'm not surprised that people from the city don't take any steps to prepare, I know how unprepared some of my neighbors were during the big black out.

Be careful what you assume.

I would also like to say for anyone reading this:

I DON'T HAVE ANY FOOD OR GUNS OR ANYTHING STORED UP. DON'T COME LOOKING FOR IT AT MY HOUSE.
IN FACT, DON'T COME TO MY HOUSE AT ALL UNLESS YOUR HANDS ARE IN PLAIN VIEW.

That is all.

Documentary for SHTF training:

YouTube - The Survivors (1983) trailer