Don't Panic/Prepare

Back in early 2012 I woke up! It was sudden and in my search for info I became extremely Paranoid from what I was seeing!
I frantically began getting my affairs in order and threw money at it "Like there was no tomorrow"!
I began to buy into the "Fear Porn" to the point of anxiety!
Since then I have come to realize, that it was far too easy to become paralyzed by fear, and it was actually a hindrance to my preparation. Is there something to worry about? You bet your A** there is! Is freaking out gonna help? NO!
Even in the best of times there are many bad things going on in the world.
So my advice to those recently released from the "Matrix", is to Take a deep breath and think this out rationally.
Water, food, and fire, FIRST! A hunting rifle and a handgun, preferable something with popular caliber, 9mm/22 and a crossbow, IMHO, are all you really need to get by.
If an assault rifle ever became necessary, there will be plenty laying around for the taking, or one well placed arrow and you'll own everything the guy was carrying, although lets all hope it doesn't come to that.
If one thinks it through properly and can find a safe place off the radar to retreat, your chances are greatly multiplied, the more remote the better.
The reason I post this thread is simple, If I took all the money I spent being driven by fear and impulse, I could have bought a piece of land CASH!
So think it through carefully, before you run out and spend any money on anything, and in the end you'll be better off for it!

 

While I agree than one probably doesn't "need" an "assault rifle", which is a select-fire rifle like the M16, M4 or M14, when the mob comes a looting, you might wish you had a semi-auto rifle like an AK, SKS, M1A (which can also be used for hunting) more than one - or even a dozen - well placed arrows.

 

I have a 10/22 with a red dot on it, I put 25 rounds at 100 yards in a 2" diameter, I just state that a first priority would be to get a fallback location and not have to need a AR15, Bushmaster... at $1,200-$1,800 a pop + ammo one could better spend the money on land not more than a 2 day hike away.
I am X military so I know what good an assault rifle can be in combat, though I never saw any, however, the trick is to not have to engage that many people in the first place!
But to each his own but spending a chunk like that on a weapon takes away from other, more survival oriented prep's.

 

I saw AR clones at the gun show last week for less than $600, AKs are running under $500...picked up another SKS for $250

I just mentioned it because you don't get any choice in who many people you gotta engage...Murphy pretty much dictates that.

 

I gotta give you that one! 12 gauge pump helps with that as well! I saw a cheap 556/ 223 at Academy but ad a scope ....
Had a friend that had one for sale $800 but I got over ruled! My wife if pretty cool and on board But she had a valid point!

 

5.56/.223 is a varmint round. 7.62x39/51/54 gives those mutant zombie biker hoards a hard lesson on the difference between cover and concealment.

If I could only have one rifle, it would probably be an M1 Garand...or a the $250 dollar SKS I just picked up. Good round, no pesky magazines to damage/lose, can carry and load ammo from stripper clips.

 

In spite of the fact that I am pretty sure you wouldn't support a law to enforce your feeling, I still can't help but wonder why one person thinks he or she is an authority on what another needs for defense...

 

Ok, I know there are a lot of gun enthusiast here, all I am saying is instead of going out and spending all your money on guns and ammo right out the gate, that there are more important things that money could be spent on.
AND, I said in my opinion!
Anyone can do anything they want to do, But, you can't eat a gun, but I guess, you could technically eat a bullet!
I am reflecting about some folks I met 2 weeks ago here, they are my sons friends parents and another couple, that are freaking out, and it reminded me of myself.
Their son told them about our farm and they asked if they could come over and see what we had going.
My posts have changed over time, not to mean that certain things don't still really concern me, but as I feel more secure, I find that I am far less anxious.
Most of that security comes more from food and knowledge, not bullets, though as I said that is part of it as well.
If one has the money to spend, get you some! But to run out and spend money on tons of Ammo and have no food, might lead someone in a bad situation, to use the guns on me or you to get food.
Panic has never served anyone well!
I have a 338 win mag and a savage 30/06 Nice scopes I think they would be sufficient to get the point across and both are hunting rifles.

 

I like the sentiment behind your statement a lot. I tend to get panicky about things, and I'm really no good in that state. I channel that energy into canning, or garden planning, or planning. It's an important thing to remember that we cannot control our circumstances, we can only plan to the best of our abilities.

 

I've had the guns and ammo since I was just a wee widdle monkey. So other than replenishment/replacement/upgrades etc, I already had them way before I woke up and noticed the world as going to shiite.

 

Nice play on the word! Have you seen some of the 338 win mag long distance shots on youtube? Incredible, I am no where near that good, but with a bullet like that, any hit is likely to be terminal.I am not a firearm guru. I was a very skilled marksman back in the day with an M-16 A1 when they were called that, but I am still a very good shot with the rifles and handguns I do own.
My plan is to retreat as far as possible from the population as a whole and if that's not possible I am completely willing to do whatever is necessary to protect my family, with no exception or hesitation, but the point is, it's always better to not deal with any more confrontation than is needed.
I have a trailer and a big truck, which we will load as much stuff into as we can and we are going to bug out immediately at the first sign of trouble. Bank closures will be a definite get out of Dodge moment for me, chaos is soon to follow!

 

This is a 338 Lapua but still!!

 

You can learn a LOT by watching his Sniper 101 series.

I have more guns and ammunition than I will probably need, but I'm also factoring in others who will be part of things but don't know it yet. Also, remember 2 is 1 and 1 is none.

 

Here's another one of the 338LM everyone has to see.

 

DANG!!!!!!! There's one of a guy in Hungary hunting hogs. Picked a 400 lb Boar off the ground!
I was just pointing out that an assault rifle is not the only way to reach out and touch someone. LOL