The other night at dinner we got talking about ammunition caches… We discussed at a high leve what we thought everyone should have (personally speaking, of course). One of the guys brought up JWR’s guide to ammo storage. As you may or may not know, I think JWR, is a gear nut and that he is a little over the top about many things. Don’t get me wrong, JWR is the defacto resource for many survivalists and preppers, however, I think, and it is his choice to be a gear heavy guy. Not a bad thing, it is also a business for him… I have a ton of respect for him, his blog, and his business. Hell, he was one of the first resources online I found when I started prepping…
However, with his ammo suggestions I actually think he is light on the battle rifle and other options. I think that 2000 rounds is not enough. I think it should be in the 3000 — 5000 rounds, personally.… Here are my personal mods to that list:
By Category:
- Battle Rifle: 2500 — 5000 rds per
- See above, but between having the ammo storage, target practice, tactical scenario drills, etc. 2000 rounds just is not
- enough. It is easy to blow through 500 — 1000 rounds in a day depending on the type of training you are undertaking…
- Hunting Rifle: 500 rds per
- You really do not need this much unless you are hunting almost once a week for game, and if that is the case you will need to travel for your hunting as there WILL be others in your region doing the same. You are better off hunting smaller game than going for deer, bear, etc. and your .22 is a better gun for this and more economical) 500 rounds should last you years since most hunters that hunt during deer season alone, will only go through 10 — 50 rounds sighting in their rifle and taking a deer or two for the whole season).
- Primary Handgun: 800 rds per
- Minimum… I say at least 1000 — 1500 rounds. Ever go to the range and blow through 3 or 4 boxes of ammo for your primary, come home and weeks later ask yourself where the ammo went and curse yourself because you didn’t buy more? I used to do it all the time…
- .22 Rimfire: 2000 rds per
- 2500 — 5000 rounds minimum. First, it is inexpensive enough, second, you can shoot it all day for practice instead of your battle rifle and save a bundle if you are doing a run & gun, at the range or plinking aluminum cans in the woods with your buddy… Second, 1000 rounds of .22 can go in your backpack with some weight gain; but guess what, you are now holding 1000 rounds of ammunition with you for various situations… With a battle rifle most people will carry what they can carry in their magazines, and a few mor boxes, before it gets too heavy…
- Riot Gun: 500 rds per
- This one I think is subjective, because there are only specific times most people are going to use a shotgun. I happen to think a shotgun is a good weapon to own, however, even though it is scatter shot, you should still practice with it when you can… Maybe 750 — 1000 rounds here.
I bulk up the ammo requirements primarily because in a SHTF or TEOTWAWKI situation may not have gun shops open and you may literally need to raid your own ammo store and having a little more to put you at a “JWR normal storage level” after use/practice is not necessarily a bad thing. Not necessarily for “battle” but primarily for target shooting, etc. Ever teach someone how to shoot? Did you bring your own ammo? If you have, you know that you go through a lot of ammo, just teaching them how to properly aim. When they start to get better, they will use as much as much ammo as you do when target practicing. Think of ammunition as food preps. Add another person and your preps are cut exponentially. Ammo is a consumable like food, and I feel should be treated as such.
Hey Suburban,
I believe you wrote a post on battle rifles awhile back. Either that or it was a guest. Regardless, I am trying to convince my wife I need a rifle and am looking at a Mini-30 instead of a Mini-14. Would you make an argument for a 7.62 versus a 5.56?
@PrepperJim — I do not have much experience with 5.56. Although, I will ask Cam from GAPPNJ.COM if he can do something…
While there are better rifles chambered in 7.62x39 and 5.56, the ruger minis are a good choice. The cartridges themselves are similar in many ways. The accuracy of each gun is comparable (but dont expect much accuracy past 150 yds with the mini platform). The weight difference for carrying ammo in a bugout situation is negligable. The cost has come down considerably on 5.56 and is comparable to 7.62 now. So the big factor is terminal balistics. Simply put, the 7.62 has more downrange energy which means better ability to kill game, punch through weak cover and maintain shape, etc. Its going to boil down to a personal choice, but you cant go wrong with either cartridge.
Thanks for the quick response, Cam!
Thanks Cam.
One issue for me is getting a battle rifle that does not look like a military weapon. I have a “public relations” issue with my wife and guns. I had to fight to get another pistol and a shot gun. I want a .45 Glock, a Mini-30 or Mini-14 and round it out with a .22 rifle. Then I will be done.
It is not like we don’t have the money; she just does not like guns. I vowed never to hide anything from her so it is either continue to negotiate or just buy it and inform her. Of course, the survival of my marriage is much more important that having another gun. 🙂
5,000 — really?
If the world fell apart into Mad Max perhaps. But realistically that isn’t likely.
If something like a OWS riot came down your street you really going to take on a mob like that??
It’s not about taking on a mob. It’s about being a good shot, practicing, etc. and having the resources you need when you need them. Ammo, like food is a consumable, so when you use it, it is gone. Therefore, having an ample supply for hunting, etc. makes sense. What happens when you have to teach that child coming of age to shoot a rifle to hunt if you have little ammunition to do so? It takes quite a few rounds though the rifle to get someone used to firing it comfortably. Once you are intimately familiar with the Rifle, then you can scale back on your ammo consumption/use…
As an FYI, two of my ‘battle rifles’ can easily double as hunting rifles that can take down game such as bear or deer if need be. I bought them to be used as such…
If a OWS riot came down my street, I think my shotgun would likely be the best weapon. Of course, having a Mini-30 with 30 rounds would be preferable to my 870 with 6+1.
Could you imagine the consequences of running out of ammo in a survival scenario? I’ve gone hunting with just a few shells before and run out. It was a horrible feeling that I never want to repeat, but it didn’t cost me my life or the lives of loved ones. I think those numbers are fine for home storage. Of course, you’re not going to bug out with cases of ammo but I have cases of ammo at home that I bought when it was cheap before the economy went down the crapper, and now I’m very glad that I did. I could never afford it all now.
The day may come that ammo is extremely valuable. It’s a portable, easily divided consumable that can protect your life. Ammo may be more valuable than guns some day. Just as gasoline could be more valuable than a vehicle if everyone has vehicles and no one has gas.
Something that is often left out is the actual training involved with firearms.
What level of training, and what reasons do you train> if I may offer a couple suggestions.
1. Appleseed, LEARN cheaply and well from an established set of criteria that allows you to become a true rifleman!, TAKE prodigious notes.
2. Clinics, occasionally local persons will teach free or low cost clinics these are good for adding ideas to practice, TAKE prodigious notes.
3. Collective learning, local ranges and shooting clubs are a plethora of information- mostly terrible, occasionally gems- the time invested for the occasional gem is well worth it. TAKE prodigious notes!
I am a man of the gun, I practice, train and teach — for over ten years I have done this for others for little or no cost. I train with or train local military, LEO and more…and have learned that the most important thing is simply being willing to learn more…one can never be the know it all end all of it all…
TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN — 10 feet and a popcan is training IF you do it with purpose and to become better…