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What Ammo Types Do You Really Need for When the SHTF

1000 rounds of 12 ga (2 3/4) needs a space 9" deep, 13" wide and 16" high, I just measured it. Basically, you could put 1000 shells in a foot stool in front of your recliner, but make sure the bottom box has rollers, it will be heavy!
I agree, go with the most common ammo, 9mm and 5.56 I would think. My brother-in-law is on his own!
 
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This book was mentioned on another forum. It interested me so I bought a copy of eBay I think I paid $10 for it.

I've only just started the book so I can't give you my full opinion of it yet. Here's the overview.

Book overview
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The risk/reward equation and how it affects your preparedness
Becoming a harder target no matter what the danger
Early warning systems for a wide range of threats
The role for Situational Awareness
Planning for self-defense and home/family defense
Dealing with the severe trauma emergency
The risk of fire, both home and wild
Planning for natural and man-made disasters
A look at public attacks and how to avoid them
“Bugging out” and “bugging in”
The emergency kits you really need
A threat many don’t consider: job loss
The legal, financial, and psychological aspects of after-disaster recovery
Being “Everyday Ready”
How to know when you’ve done "enough"
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Just for normal SHTF stuff, a 12 ga., bird shot, 00 buck and 1 oz. slugs, for the other aspect, .308 AR10.

If you can't get'r done with 1000 rounds, you're not going to, you're supposed to police up what's left behind, 'cause they won't need it anymore!
I think such articles are good for historical purposes, but given advancements in ammo and weapons in the past 50 years, I'm not going to use tuning advice for a 1970 440 Roadrunner for my 700+ hp computer-controlled Hellcat.

FMJ ammo... nothing wrong with it, especially if you buy GOOD stuff. It also feeds better and if you buy mil-spec rounds, you're good to go. While I have a lot of modern Hornady, Speer, etc. defensive ammo, I also have quite a bit of 124gr 9mm FMJ that's NATO-spec. It feeds flawlessly in my GMMG Mk9 and all 9mm pistols.

One of the reasons the military has constantly downsized ammunition calibers is to allow combat fighters to carry more, yet still effective, ammunition. While .308/7.62 is great, it's also pricey as are the corresponding quality rifles. Shotguns are all over the map, so it's a lot easier to choose a firearm in that category.

As for "not being able "get'r done with 1000 rounds" are you considering an event that will last a month or two or years? The amount of ammo anyone needs is typically stated as 1000-1500 round per rifle. Handguns, perhaps less unless you don't have long guns. Finally, a person needs the space to store their gear, and whether or not you live in the country or the city makes all the difference. Floor space limits how much you can stockpile.

In the end, one size doesn't fit all, although a shotgun is about THE most practical weapon to own. I'm of the belief that if you run out of pistol/revolver/rifle ammo and need to source any, the most common calibers are .22LR, .223/5.56 and 9mm are the top three. But I wouldn't rely on the "If I run out, I can always find it [here]" school of thought. I say you will have what you have, period. Assume no restocking will be possible.

BTW, I have some 33 Whizbang for sale or trade, if you know anyone who's interested. :-)
 
1000 rounds of 12 ga (2 3/4) needs a space 9" deep, 13" wide and 16" high, I just measured it. Basically, you could put 1000 shells in a foot stool in front of your recliner, but make sure the bottom box has rollers, it will be heavy!
I agree, go with the most common ammo, 9mm and 5.56 I would think. My brother-in-law is on his own!
Exactly. Hence my post #17.
 
Its also a location thing with cartridges. Im pretty sure 9mm is generally universal with 45acp a second and 40SW, 38/357 distant follow ups. There will always be a place for 22LR, much less so for the other rimfires.

Rifle cartridges are more location dependent for popularity. 30-30 vs 300 WinMag' but 30-06, 270 and 308 can generally be found across the lower 48. Hop to Alaska and youll find 375 H&H. Closer to Canada and 303British is popular.

There are other shotgun sizes; but 12 gauge is by far the closest to being universal

AND yes it does depend on what you expect. A month or two disruption because of riots requires a lot different preps than a total collapse from say a global EMP burst
 
And speaking of storage space, if you can afford it, I broke down and rented a storage space, 8x12 in a secured commercial facility, it will have a few things chained up and locked along with ammo and some other duplicated preps. Not really to bug "out" but not putting all my eggs in one basket.
 
Fifty years ago Mel Tappen wrote what was perhaps THE best book on the subject: SURVIVAL GUNS. His writings on the subject still holds true. He broke the topic into TWO categories, guns for DEFENSE and WORKING. Defensive guns typically work best with FMJ Ball ammo. FMJ also tends to be cheaper. Working guns are guns for hunting, so soft point ammo is called for; but FMJ can fill the void if necessary. Shotguns can fall into both categories, so light to medium shot sizes, Buck shot, and slugs.

Youll have to decide how much hunting youll be doing and what youll be hunting. Hunting requires energy and time from you, so will you be expending time and energy hunting birds and squirrels. Shotgun ammo is large, do you have the space to store large stockpiles. One positive about shotgun ammo is it tends to be cheaper than rifle ammo.

Your choices should also be location dependent. Are you in a location where you might need a big bore for dangerous game? Are urban based and more concerned with violent 2 legged animals? Do you live in an area where high capacity and hollow points are banned?

Along with ammo remember youll need magazines and gear to carry the ammo. Then theres the supplemental gear like optics.

As for cartridges, Id stick with common cartridges available at local hardware stores and Walmarts. Specialty ammo wont be available, no matter how much better it may be. How many of your neighbors
shoot 33 Wizbang? They wont want your oddball rounds for trade or have any to trade to you

One last category is the "Brother-in-Law" gun. Hes the guy that constantly makes fun of you for talking about SHTF. Hes more worried about his lawn and his new car. So when SHFT happens, you know you have to help him or your wife will go spastic, so you give him a Mosin Naghant and 100 rounds of 762x54R then send him back to his manicured lawn and fancy car.
Until he loads it, turns around and caps you! Sorry BIL, but you are SOL.
 
And speaking of storage space, if you can afford it, I broke down and rented a storage space, 8x12 in a secured commercial facility, it will have a few things chained up and locked along with ammo and some other duplicated preps. Not really to bug "out" but not putting all my eggs in one basket.
If the ballon goes up, hope you can get to that stash in time (and that it's still there)!
 
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