I have a question for those of you with SHTF guns.

[flip180]

We all talk about zombies, invading armies, the government breaking down (like in hurricane Katrina) and all that. Some, if not most of us have some type of SHTF gun whether it be an AK, SKS, AR, FAL, M1A, Mini-14/30, M-1 Garand/carbine, bolt action, lever gun or something else for that kind of situation. My question is, How many of you with SHTF guns keep then ready at a moments notice. I mean a multitude of mags loaded with a but load of rounds handy. I have a case of ammo for my AK but only two unloaded magazines. I guess I'd be screwed if I looked out the window and saw a hoard of the living dead parading down my street. Just curious about what you think.

Flip.

 

[grimjaw]

Don't be silly, of course I don't keep a loaded AK47 in the house.

The perimeter alarms, smoke grenades and trip mines will give me time to load up.

jmm

 

[Mr. Chitlin]

I keep 7 30 round mags loaded for my AR at all times, 3 in the safe with the rifle, 4 more in an ammo can with several hundred more rounds on strippers. I don't keep a mag in the rifle due to tight confines in the safe, but it is on the shelf within 6 inches of the rifle.

 

[jerkface11]

You don't need to keep loaded mags around for zombies. They move slow you'll have time to load up.

 

[Freelance Tax Collector]

I put 200 rounds on strippers for my SKS, when I go out shooting, the session probably ends when I have shot them all. Just as much of a habit as cleaning my rifles are, I'll load up another 200 rounds on strippers when I go home. Then, the rifle is locked in the safe and the rounds are put into LBE's which I take to the range with me anyway.

So in short, my emergency gear also doubles as my range gear.

 

[critter]

"Ready on the right!"

 

[cslinger]

I cannot imagine a survival scenario where I would need more then a couple loaded magazines and I have a few loaded.

Looters - mostly proven to be opportunists and the first rounds of return fire usually send them looking for new prey.

Rioters - Area fire dropping the first few are most likely to send the rest scrambling.

Home invasion - Once again I can't envision trading 30-60 rounds.

If a Katrina happens chances are I will have enough time to load more ammo if I am on the run I can't carry much more then 4-8 loaded magazines anyway and if I am in the truck I will grab the loose ammo and load on the go.

If we are talking blue helmeted, chinese, zombie, shock troopers then I am pretty much screwed no matter what.

 

[BusMaster007]

I guess I'd be screwed if I looked out the window and saw a hoard of the living dead parading down my street.
Flip.

flip180,
You oughtta cop your own quote for a sig line...that's a classic!

 

[444]

The next question is, do you have some GOOD way of carrying the loaded magazines if you had to leave ? Web gear, tac vest, belt mag pouches: real way to carry them and not pockets or a grocery bag ?

Oh, and my answers:
No
No

I should. I have talked about it enough. But, that would take more effort than sitting on the couch.

 

[lee n. field]

I got about 600 rounds on SKS stripper clips, in bandoleers.

d'zat count?

 

[DMK]

How about two ARs with loaded mags in the rifle and one on the buttstock, a loaded 1911 in a holster, four more 1911 mags and two more AR mags on a pistol belt, a Fal with a mag in the rifle and one on the buttstock loaded with Hornady TAP, a Mossy 12 guage with 7 in the tube and four on the buttcuff, three bandoliers of loaded SKS clips, a box of 30 loaded FAL mags, three ammo cans and a bunch of bandoliers with about 800 rounds on Garand Enblocs, a rucksack full of 30 loaded AK mags, three 50 cal ammo cans of loaded AR mags and an ammo can with about 20 more loaded 1911 mags.

Oh yea, plus a Brno #1 .22 with three loaded ten round mags and a brick of Winchester Dynapoints in case of attack by mutant zombie squirrels.

 

[flip180]

I had thought about getting five extra magazines with some sort of stuff sack or web gear like 444 said to put them in in case I needed them. I probably wouldn't load them up but, it would be nice to have them in hand in case something did happed . Seven mags seem like a good number since that was the standard combat load back in my 11B days.

Flip.

 

[Atticus]

I used to...but the S never hit the F...so I gave up.

 

[itgoesboom]

I used to keep 4-5 mags loaded for my CETME, but I don't currently.

Instead I have 150 rounds loaded on stripper clips.

That should buy me some time to load up my CETME and other weapons.

I.G.B.

 

[MechAg94]

If you need more AK mags, get one of those 4-packs of used Com bloc mags. CDNN or one of those companies had the set for $30. Mine all work fine though at least one only holds 29 rounds.

I have several mags for my AR. Reloading mags goes along with cleaning rifles. I have a little nylon pack with pockets that holds 6-30 round mags. It is convient for SHTF and an easy way to store the mags.

I have a little satchel that holds 8 or 10 mags for my M1A, but it is so damn heavy I would not likely choose that rifle if I was on foot. I can carry much more 5.56 ammo. Running out of ammo is not an option.

 

[MechAg94]

Has anyone bought one of those vest packs that has mag pouches, holster, and such? I have thought about getting one for a while, but they were too expensive. However, Tapco and now another company carry one for $60 or so. I was just curious if the cheaper one was worth buying or just cheap.

 

[beerslurpy]

I have one on backorder from a place that sells surplus russian web gear. He takes about 3 months to ship though, and I am only halfway there. Pain in the ass, but I cant find any place else that sells the stuff.

I keep about 8 rpk mags (40 rounders) loaded for the AK. Half with 154gr JSP, half with regular FMJ.

I dont have any helmets or armor, and I should probably pick some up, just in case. If you never need it, it isnt a big deal, but when you do need it, youll be sorry for not having it. Does anyone know if civilians can get ahold of military medical supplies like the clot-inducing bandages and likewise?

Oh yeah, I keep about 2-3000 rounds of ammo handy for my primary, and a few hundred for my various pistols and the shotgun. Once I get some hi-cap saiga mags, I will probably be buying a lot more buckshot in bulk. The S&B 00 buck is good stuff. Recoils hard and is very clean.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

12 30 rnd .223 mags loaded, plus 1 in the rifle. Only 1 Fal 20 rnd mag. About 200 rnds of 9mm loaded in mags not including my carry (34 rnds) and the pistol under the pillow (11).
I need more ammo.

 

[Preacherman]

I have a load-bearing vest set up with a holster for my handgun, two pouches for extra handgun mags, two pouches for six long gun mags (3 in each), a few pockets for other emergency equipment, etc. It's kept loaded (with loaded magazines), and I rotate the mags every 3 months. The SHTF rifle is kept with the vest, ready to go at a moment's notice.

At the first sign of trouble, I can slip on the vest over whatever I'm wearing, put a handgun in the holster, grab my rifle, and I'm good to go.

 

[clange]

AK mags are cheap, so yeah, I've got a lot of mags loaded up ready to go in mag pouches.

 

[mustanger98]

I bet nobody on here can tell me where I can find a 200rd bandoleer for .30-30Winchester. I could use one or three.

See, the way I figure it, if I consider my old .30-30 to be my SHTF rifle, I don't need all them AK mags and mag pouches.

I still like my M1 Garand though. Just need a handier way to carry those en blocs than in a .30cal ammo can.

 

[flip180]

I'd look at www.midwayusa.com. I know they have them for .45 and .38 cal leverguns. Nice looking leather to. I thought about getting one for my 1894C.

Flip.

 

[mustanger98]

Hey Flip, I see on page 441 where Hunter offers cartridge belts to fit .38, .45, .30-06, and 375 H&H. It looks like a good deal for a belt for a boltgunner with a big knife (kinda like Quigley Down Under with that belt of .45-110), but .30-06 is a little bigger around than .30-30. I have a couple of cartridge belts (.38 and .45) from Oklahoma Leather and they're a decent factory job. For that .30-30 bandoleer though, I may have to build my own and be the only guy in my part of the country who has one.

I'm reminded just now of Fredrick Russell Burnham- an American who wound up in British service in what's now South Africa and Zaire. He had an 1875 Remington .44-40 and a .303 Lee Metford. He had a Rhodesian bandoleer modified to carry both .44-40 and .303 British.

 

[ocabj]

AR-15
Five 30-round magazines fully loaded
One ammo can with 480 rounds (Four 4-pocket bandoliers with three 10-round stripper clips per pocket) of XM193
One ammo can with 480 rounds (Four 4-pocket bandoliers with three 10-round stripper clips per pocket) of M855

 

[Rexrider]

Has anyone bought one of those vest packs that has mag pouches, holster, and such? I have thought about getting one for a while, but they were too expensive. However, Tapco and now another company carry one for $60 or so. I was just curious if the cheaper one was worth buying or just cheap.

I bought one of those vests from Tapco. Holds 8 AR mags on the vest, 3 extra handgun mags on the vest and 2 more hangun mages on the belt (or can hold small flashlight).

The handgun holster lousy. I removed it from the vest and bought a nylon holster on put it on the belt (don't like leg holsters either). I have a 3 mag pouch and surplus water bottle that can be added to the belt.

I have no idea how long it would hold up to real world abuse in the field, but it is better than nothing.

To be honest, it is a poser vest. No doubt about it. I bought it to have fun when we are out in the desert and to have "something" for a worst case senerio. I can't image what it would take to have to actually bug out with the vest. But then again, it's what you can't see/imagine that gets you. It's a "have it and not need it" type of thing.

To answer the orginal question. Yes. I have ammo cans for every caliber. I have a plastic storage can (not surplus) with 1k rounds (loaded mags and bandoleers of stripper clips) for the two ARs. Along with additional ammo cans of just ammo. If I had to go in a real hurry, I grab the ARs, ammo cans, and a small storage bin with assorted gear (including the vest). If there is more time, then we can grab more stuff.

P.S. Don't forget, in a SHTF/zombie situation, there are other things you need along with firearms and ammo. Water, food, boots, clothes, etc.