Ammo is precious...

Bushman · Feb 2, 2020

I've been watching The Woodsmen on the History Channel recently. It's a good show that is basically full time SHTF type living by choice with different dudes depicted. Shelters built in trees, hunting and foraging for food, bartering for supplies, etc. One thing that stood out to me is how precious ammo is to them. It comes up in a lot of episodes. One guy had to improvise a bow and arrows to hunt a deer and eat after going hungry for 3 days (he was preserving what little ammo he had for winter and defense). All of them have guns and they barter for ammo. When they find something valuable (gold, other valuables) they often times would rather trade it for 40 rounds of 30-30 ammo than $150-$200. To them the guy said in one episode, that 40 rounds means ability to hunt/eat. The ammo may be worth less than the cash in the normal world (one guy low balled them with the ammo instead of cash but the ammo was worth more to them and more useful than cash), but in their chosen situation it's worth FAR more than cash. They can't go to the store (there is no store nearby and they have no vehicle) to buy ammo any random day and they can't eat the cash.

We've all heard the line of thought that you can't eat gold and silver, etc. This really drives the point home. Not to say there is no place for it, but my point is that ammo is a truly precious metal in SHTF and off grid living. Defense, food, you name it.

But here is my biggest point. In SHTF, you REALLY don't want to be pissing away that ammo shooting 1K rounds of ammo in a single weekend like I used to when it was $60 for a case and it's bulky and heavy to store a ton of...that ammo means food, defense, etc. Sure, zero your gun, but ultimately your training will be hunting. You don't want to be pissing the ammo away doing drills with 10 loaded mags pissing it all away like you're in Afghanistan. Zero your weapon and hunt so you can eat. Realistically you want to avoid an all out fight, as you won't be likely to survive many contacts. Make each shot count in a fight when there is one. Return fire, take cover, wait for a target and aim your shots. So glad I didn't get into those full auto bump stock and trigger gadgets, I thought the full auto was a waste and inaccurate (not that I've ever shot one but from what I've seen online and reading what SF guys say about it).

Point is, don't piss your ammo away, it is precious...

Siglvr · Feb 3, 2020

To add to that great point, ammo is the lowest it's been in years. Buy cheep, stock deep. Couple of search sites.

In stock ammo, guns, magazines, and reloading supplies : AmmoSeek.com

Ammo To Go : Ammunition | Bulk and Cheap Ammo for Sale

ps, cheep is spelled as if a chicken was spelling, not a human (Cheap). Intentional, but it rhymes.

Certaindeaf · Feb 3, 2020

A ton a lead can be gotten pretty cheap most times. Worst case scenario, it'd cost $2000 right now were you not wanting to be resourceful.

Bushman · Feb 4, 2020

Siglvr said:
To add to that great point, ammo is the lowest it's been in years. Buy cheep, stock deep. Couple of search sites.

In stock ammo, guns, magazines, and reloading supplies : AmmoSeek.com

Ammo To Go : Ammunition | Bulk and Cheap Ammo for Sale

ps, cheep is spelled as if a chicken was spelling, not a human (Cheap). Intentional, but it rhymes.

SG Ammo has the same prices but MUCH cheaper shipping FYSA.

ZA_Survivalist · Feb 4, 2020

I agree, NOW is the time to buy with regular sales and zero panic buying going on.
If you got mags, buy ammo.

Member 5605 · Feb 4, 2020

According to the logic in that show, some of us are millionaires already.

trevi · Feb 4, 2020

Bushman said:
I've been watching The Woodsmen on the History Channel recently. It's a good show that is basically full time SHTF type living by choice with different dudes depicted. Shelters built in trees, hunting and foraging for food, bartering for supplies, etc. One thing that stood out to me is how precious ammo is to them. It comes up in a lot of episodes. One guy had to improvise a bow and arrows to hunt a deer and eat after going hungry for 3 days (he was preserving what little ammo he had for winter and defense). All of them have guns and they barter for ammo. When they find something valuable (gold, other valuables) they often times would rather trade it for 40 rounds of 30-30 ammo than $150-$200. To them the guy said in one episode, that 40 rounds means ability to hunt/eat. The ammo may be worth less than the cash in the normal world (one guy low balled them with the ammo instead of cash but the ammo was worth more to them and more useful than cash), but in their chosen situation it's worth FAR more than cash. They can't go to the store (there is no store nearby and they have no vehicle) to buy ammo any random day and they can't eat the cash.

We've all heard the line of thought that you can't eat gold and silver, etc. This really drives the point home. Not to say there is no place for it, but my point is that ammo is a truly precious metal in SHTF and off grid living. Defense, food, you name it.

But here is my biggest point. In SHTF, you REALLY don't want to be pissing away that ammo shooting 1K rounds of ammo in a single weekend like I used to when it was $60 for a case and it's bulky and heavy to store a ton of...that ammo means food, defense, etc. Sure, zero your gun, but ultimately your training will be hunting. You don't want to be pissing the ammo away doing drills with 10 loaded mags pissing it all away like you're in Afghanistan. Zero your weapon and hunt so you can eat. Realistically you want to avoid an all out fight, as you won't be likely to survive many contacts. Make each shot count in a fight when there is one. Return fire, take cover, wait for a target and aim your shots. So glad I didn't get into those full auto bump stock and trigger gadgets, I thought the full auto was a waste and inaccurate (not that I've ever shot one but from what I've seen online and reading what SF guys say about it).

Point is, don't piss your ammo away, it is precious...

What 1000 rounds did you buy at $60????!!!!!!

titsonritz · Feb 4, 2020

trevi said:
What 1000 rounds did you buy at $60????!!!!!!

1000 Rounds of Bulk .22 LR Ammo by Winchester - 40gr CPRN :s0139:

trevi · Feb 4, 2020

titsonritz said:
1000 Rounds of Bulk .22 LR Ammo by Winchester - 40gr CPRN

Would have fainted if it was 5.56 ammo!

Bushman · Feb 4, 2020

trevi said:
What 1000 rounds did you buy at $60????!!!!!!

Did you miss the part where I was talking about past tense, long ago? You could buy cases on handgun and rifle ammo, AK, etc. for $60 out the door many many years ago.

trevi · Feb 4, 2020

Bushman said:
Did you miss the part where I was talking about past tense, long ago? You could buy cases on handgun and rifle ammo, AK, etc. for $60 out the door many many years ago.

No, I did not miss that. I read it well, but sometimes I am surprised by the inflation of prices of things like gas in the 70s, Colt guns in the 90s, and ammo before my time of shooting sports. I had a "flashback" of what it could be like if someone paid $60 for a 1K case of 5.56. I do recall paying about $60 for 1050 rounds of 22LR.

Hueco · Feb 4, 2020

Well, see, it depends on the ammo.

My 9mm 115gr FMJ rounds are like cheap beer. Stock em up but don't bat an eye using a few boxes here and there.

Now, the HST ammo that I have, that's more like a top shelf bourbon. The .308? Top shelf whiskey.

Some things you cherish, other things you chug.

Also: 1000rds .22lr for ~$60 (it's 5000 for $239.11)
1000rds 9mm FMJ's for $183.91. (~$0.18/round. FWIW, the same site has Blazer for ~$0.165/round)

trevi · Feb 4, 2020

I am hoarding 270 Winchester, 9mm, 5.56 NATO, and 357 SIG. But I still shoot the SIG as much as possible to really create muscle memory. I need to start working on a load for the 6.5 Swede.

ZigZagZeke · Feb 4, 2020

Certaindeaf said:
A ton a lead can be gotten pretty cheap most times. Worst case scenario, it'd cost $2000 right now were you not wanting to be resourceful.

Offer to take someone's derelict sailboat off their hands for free. The last one I owned had 1500# of lead in the keel. Worst case, cut up the fiberglass boat with a chainsaw and put it in a dumpster, and salvage the lead keel.

MannyGlocks · Feb 4, 2020

I'll start watching the show, but I don't understand living like it's 1850 or 1750.

Such pretense...

If they get ill or experience a bone fracture or a serious dental problem do they simply suffer and accept death or go for modern care?

My guess: They seek modern care because up to the point of dying or suffering tremendous pain they want the best care available and quit pretending to be dan-el boone.

Hueco · Feb 4, 2020

MannyGlocks said:
I'll start watching the show, but I don't understand living like it's 1850 or 1750.

Such pretense...

If they get ill or experience a bone fracture or a serious dental problem do they simply suffer and accept death or go for modern care?

My guess: They seek modern care because up to the point of dying or suffering tremendous pain they want the best care available and quit pretending to be dan-el boone.

Anyone else remember playing the original Oregon Trail game?

- You drank from a well...got dysentery, and died
- You went hunting and got cold and wet, got pneumonia, and died
- You got bit by a snake, and died
- You woke up this morning, got cholera, and died
- You ate something, who knows?, and died

Yea, I like modern medicine.

Bushman · Feb 4, 2020

trevi said:
No, I did not miss that. I read it well, but sometimes I am surprised by the inflation of prices of things like gas in the 70s, Colt guns in the 90s, and ammo before my time of shooting sports. I had a "flashback" of what it could be like if someone paid $60 for a 1K case of 5.56. I do recall paying about $60 for 1050 rounds of 22LR.

I could have sworn 22LR 525rd bricks were $7 about 10-15 years ago or so. But yea, the good ole days....1K round cases of defensive calibers for $60 out the door. Miss that sometimes...

ZigZagZeke · Feb 4, 2020

Bushman said:
I could have sworn 22LR 525rd bricks were $7 about 10-15 years ago or so. But yea, the good ole days....1K round cases of defensive calibers for $60 out the door. Miss that sometimes...

Box of 50 .22lr for 39¢ when I was a kid.