Rethinking SHTF Rifle And Ammunition Stockpile

[HerkyBird]

Great post. I got away from the most demanded calibers (.223, 7.62x39, etc) a few months ago. My primary is now a customized M1 Garand (Shuff's Mini G...Google it). I've got plenty of Greek surplus, it's still available, and there is always 30-06 on the shelf. And thanks to the Schuster gas plug, I can shoot modern ammo. My backup is a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Nowhere near enough ammo for it, but I've been buying a box here and there to stock up. Thankfully, it is still widely available and the price is stable. It is very nice not to have to worry about the availability of feed for my my rifles.

[Levant]

Originally Posted by bill97222

If you got caught totally flatfooted... or even if you didn't but you haven't gone here yet... you might take a look in this direction.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoot...3Bcat104503680

Not the best self defense option, obviously... but these guns do have an attribute that no other commonly available firearms shares... they leave no paper trail.

Cabelas will ship it straight to your door... be here on Thursday...

I have a number of cap and ball revolvers and a 58 caliber carbine as part of my prepper arsenal... I also stock caps, ball and both real black powder and black powder substitutes... diversity is a good thing.

What I highlighted is a paper trail. If you bought it with other than cash, there's a paper trail. If you bought it with cash, there's likely a photo trail since stores have been asked to consider cash transactions an indicator of possible terroristic intent.

[saskcop]

It hard to argue with the .30-30 on any level as it is available and the rifles it is chambered for are the handiest of guns. The .303 British in a number4 lee-enfield is also a battle proven gun with a very capable cartridge.

[MS45]

Im seriously looking at a 30-30 seems to be one of the only calibers on the shelf these day adn reloading seems like it would be very easy for this cartridge.

One of the cool things about the 30-30, or any lever gun, is that most will shoot lead really well. Even if you had to buy gas checks for them they're dirt cheap. Same with .357, .44. 45/70 etc. Personally, I think that they're very easy to reload for.

Last time I checked, the primers were still in stock. Powder is still there. Molds are still available. In fact, the only thing that I haven't been able to find is brass for them.

35 Remington is another popular lever gun around here. I've read, never tried, that you can load them with 357 pills and they work just fine.

[Colt]

Just remember.. just because you can't buy it at walmart doesn't mean it ceased to exist. All that ammo is going somewhere and I don't think much of it is being shot. In fact the ammo is becoming MORE available. TEOTWAWKI-wise it's still the best choice because if you neighbor got sick and died, he's still got the 2k rounds of .223 he panic-bought back in 2013. Or of course it becomes an easy trade item.

Especially after the panic gun shows are going to be overflowing with people trying to sell off all the ammo they bought during the panic that they couldn't afford and will never shoot off. Consumption will also go WAY down as everyone already has a massive stockpile and most people won't save that stockpile once the panic is over. So, prices will drop and you can rebuild your own stockpile then.

BTW, Something I find interesting about the reloaders... you reload so you never have to worry about buying ammo when you can't buy it anymore. Okay. So, you could maybe cast the metal parts, but how are you going to get more powder and primers in a world where you can't get ammo?

[lowlife]

I have a little different perspective. Ammo is not/ has not been a concern as I am "prepped" now that being said I buy something every time I go shopping(usually Fleet farm)

I have been able even up to today of getting 7.62x39 in pretty much any quantity I want, but I also buy a little of the ammo that is abundant on the shelves. 30-06 270 243 etc and just "throw it on the shelf" I think someday that ammo will not be around either even if don't fire it I have friends that may.

[Jaba1017]

The ammo drought is interesting. But some of this is being manipulated from above. It is deer and duck season so big box stores are making sure hunting calibers and shells are on the shelves. Personally I suspect the Administration has asked retailers to pull the ammo for the weapons of war but not to kick the hunters in the nuts while gun control is pushed through. The hunters will get pinched in phase two after some psycho puts a bipod on the bolt gun and goes sniper. Bipods, optics over 2x, red dots, projectile speeds greater than 2000 fps will all be the next "weapons of war."