Ignition Overrie,
Yes, having short term surplus for continuing yur hobby backed up by long term items which are designated "emergency only" is paramont. And you are correct about the Red Dawn, Road Warrior or National Guard sowing up being a moot point. You may make a bit of a statement but once you do and they fly an Apahchee Gun Ship over your location all those extra 22 lr's and 9mm's are of no consequence. If we had complete failure of government sructure like an extended L.A. riot situation then we do have a chance with weel stocked supplies. The new "Preppers" show is goofy. Some of those people do have a clue but most have lost touch with reality. It does make for a nice comedy series. Also the M1a vs AR-15 debates are and apples and oranges debate. While there is some cross over in use, one is an assault rifle and the other is a battle rifle. My opinion is to have both. You need to have weapons in the most popular calibers to find available ammo. That includes NATO popular, 22 lr, 30-30, etc. Be able to shoot what you can find as you run out of personal inventory. Thus I have at least two of each opula caliber and more archived ammo for the non popular civillian calibers. As to meds, We have at least a six months supply of all our perscription meds, very well stocked med kits and a couple of gotta have no matter what we have a years supply properly stored. If the event goes beyond that, have to go scavaging. That is when the level 3a vest, mil surplus kevlar helmet and like product wil be needed. Don't want another scavanger popping me with a 38 special when we find an abandoned home that had some meds left in the pantry or the backwoods pharmacy that hadn'e been raided yet.
Fiddlesharp, Most cities unless farming communities have three days food supplies on the shelves If the trucks quit rolling them the food runs out. 50 pounds of rice, 50 pounds of dried beans, 50 pounds of oatmeal, 20 pounds of salt and two water filters will be a significant emergency ration. Also a coleman stove with a few gallons of fuel and just a 55 galon drum of premium fuel with fuel stabilizer.
mrvco, You dont hoard in an inflated panic economy. You put back extra a little at a time over decades when buying your normal supplies. This panic and run buy all you can is goofy. One of our local shops just restocked on range ammo. 50 round boxes of white box Winchester 9mm for 19.99 per box. They have 40, .45 and 44 mag according to flavor from 20 to 40 per box and plenty. My local market has stabilized it seems. A to the guys who think they are going to hold of the National Guard or Marines with an AR-15 have watched Rambo one too many times.
My goal is to be able to protect my family in the event of civil unrest that the LEO's and National Guard can't be at all of our homes in the event of a run on food or other basic necessitiies. Katrina type event, large earthquake, Super volcano, solar flare or whatever that disrupts the flow of goods. If it becomes a long term even I just have to outlive the freaks and the prepared individuals will learn to live with each other and share. That would be the only way for long term survival for all the good guys.
Odds of needing to be prepared to the level I am... Maybe 10% on the outside. But that 10% is enough to make the effort considering if it does not ed up needed, I use my fuel stockpile up at the end of the year and rotate fresh in. Same with the food. Same with ammo, I replace inventory now that will get shot in a few years. What I buy then replaces what wil be shot a decade from now. Keeps me playing ahead of inflation and not buying stuff that will not eventually be used. I just get to control my inventory and access rather than mass hysterial by the public over a weather or political event.
