Prepare: Bulk Buying Assault Rifles

I mentioned on a recent post about the new availability of AR15 rifles on several gun sale sites. Since last summer or so, the AR15 and AK platforms have been next to impossible to get online or in person.

The prices are still high, but AR and Ak rifles are slowly coming back in stock. Blame good old greed for the sudden increase in supply. There is money to be made when the shelves have something available to sell. Up until recently, gun stores, both online and in the brick and mortar world have had nothing to offer save paint guns, air soft, holsters and 12 gauge shells.

I generally check Impact and Classic Arms (because I like the owners and their philosophy) for the latest news on what's really available. Both companies feature new and surplus AR and AK rifles on their sites.

The latest twist has come from investors getting in on the American firearm buying rage which is sweeping the land. If you are a collector of anything, coins, comic books, art, Beanie Babies, you know that when an object attracts attention and a potential high rate of financial return, the "speculators" come out of the woodwork to get a piece of the action. The Wall Street Journal put up a story about assault rifles as an investment recently so that means more deep pocket buyers will be checking potential market returns soon.

Then I found how the suppliers are reacting to this development. Check out what Impact is doing.. Those are some fine looking rifles! And why stop at one when you can get a great price on ten. Keep one AR15 for yourself, one for the wife, a couple for the kiddos and sell the rest for a handsome profit.

That's right. A 10 pack of Colt M4 rifles for the discriminating buyer. And specifically marketing to the investor seeking a safe place for his hard earned FRN's in our tumultuous financial times. Perish the thought of investing in beach front condos, fine art or blue chips, the practical and savvy investor is putting his money in the bang bang market. Hey, Colt is one of the best blue chips I can think of.

Some of these AR's might even get shot once in a while, but most likely will sit in their "original packaging" for even better returns.

For the rest of us, this may mean something else down the line to consider. Imagine going to the estate sales of the formerly rich and famous and coming across a rack of Colts finest available to the highest bidder? Strange times indeed.

Prepare: Guns SHTF Which Gun

The headlines scream about the numbers of AR this an AK that which are "flying" off the shelves at the gun stores nationwide. It's true, there have been a lot of semi's being sold in the past 9 months.

Next, the gun stores are reporting high sales in every other type of rifle and handgun as well. One could estimate that millions of weapons have been sold in the past year alone. All of those firearms are going home to first time buyers as well as several into the hands of savvy investors too.

Then comes the kicker: Ammo. There is none to be had say the arms merchants. Stories abound of Walmart stocks being bought out on the loading docks by greedy gun store owners. Of whole cases being auctioned off in secret sales before a single round makes it to the shelves.

True or not, ammo is indeed hard to get and only small amounts have been available when at all.

Since last year, I have been keeping tabs on the best locations, due to sheer number of stores and volume, in my area - Walmart. Walmart typically carries in the glass case any number of caliber desired and generally, the prices are good on most major manufacturers.

Starting last fall, the shelves started getting some holes in the stock. First went 5.56 (they kind fired by semi rifles like the AR15) and 7.62 x 39, the kind used by AK rifles.

Then the handgun calibers ran low. .380 and 9MM went first followed by .38, .357 and later .45. All this occured slowly, over a 6-8 month period by my calculations.

Over this past weekend, I stopped off at two Walmarts in my area. Let me temper this by saying, I live in one of the top gun-friendly states in the Union so firearm support i.e. retail availability has never been a problem.

At both Walmart locations, here was the scene. The glass ammunition case was stocked on each shelf, except for the top shelf and one of the middle shelves, with 12 gauge shells. Bird shot, slugs and buckshot.

There were three boxes each of 30-30, 30-06 and 270. There were about five boxes of 7MM. The top shelf had about ten boxes of 22 magnums. That was it. Everything else was 12 gauge.

Need a box of 9's? 38's? Forget it. Judging by the stocking, this was the case at most Walmarts and will probably remain this way for several months.

So what's the verdict? In all seriousness, if you have not purchased a firearm for preparedness, my advice is to pick up a pump action 12 gauge shotgun in short order. Not only is the shotty a versatile and handy firearm, there is plenty of ammo to feed it obviously.

Now, you can still purchase several types of handguns and other long guns, but there simply is not enough ammo to feed it beyond range time. Which means either your practice takes the hit or your stocks for post-SHTF. Not a fun place to be.

So consider getting a shotgun and take advantage of the plethora of ammo for that particular beast while it is available.

An interesting side note: There are more AR and AK available from the big online retailers once again. Before, places like Impact and Classic were reduced to only having Mosin Nagants, an odd Mauser and some knock off accessories. Not the case now. In fact, Classic has CETME's in stock again! Wow.

However, most of the ammo and nearly all the surplus ammo is gone and I hate to say it, it won't be back any time soon. Forget about South African and Lake City leftovers. It is not coming back.

So stock up on what you can get now and keep your eyes open for extras when it comes available. Ammo is definitely coming to be, as Col. Jeff Cooper calls it, ballistic wampum for the new world.

SHTF: AR or AK?

There are a bunch of holy war type conversations which all would do well to avoid..

Mac vs PC
Kirk vs Picard
Mary Ann or Ginger?

Topping that list in the preparedness and self defense world is the Holy Grail of decisions - AR (as in AR15) or AK (as in AK-47).

The AR-15 is the civilian version of the United States main battle rifle, the M-16. First introduced during the Vietnam War specifically in the 1960's, the AR has become one of the most popular sporter rifles available to the avid shooter.

The AR-15 uses a .223 (NATO 5.56) cartridge which has a muzzle velocity of 3,200 ft/s and an effective range of 600 yd.

The AK-47 (and other variants) was first introduced shortly after World War II. There AK fires the 7.62x39mm cartridge which has a muzzle velocity of 2,300 ft/s. There is not a civilian separate version of the AK-47 in the United States.

Both rifles can be equipped with larger capacity magazines in the 20 and 30 round range and larger.

So which one is best post-SHTF?

There are arguments from both sides.

The AR-15 is used by civilian police departments and fires the same cartridge as the military's M16. Between police and military stock, this means lots of ammunition for the AR is available.

In addition, the AR is manufactured in the U.S. by several manufacturers as are the magazines and ammunition. Which means a good chance for spare parts later in life.

The drawback is the durability and inherent technical problems associated with the AR. During combat, many of our military have complained about the effectiveness of the .223 cartridge, that it has a difficult time penetrating material other than people.

Further, dirt, dust and water can quickly jam the AR and make it a "thousand dollar club".

"Do you really have enough food stocked when the SHTF?"

The AK fires a larger round than the AR15. In addition, the AK has a reputation for being reliable to the point of extreme. Allegedly, it can be submerged in water, filled with mud and buried for a month, and still fire from the get go.

Finally, the AK is the standard throughout most of the developing world. Supposedly, there are more AK variant rifles in existence than any other firearm.

So which is best for post-SHTF?

My own opinion is that the AR if the better choice. The ammunition is available and manufactured here in the States. With a stroke of the pen, the Federal Government can ban the sale and importation of foreign firearms and ammunition.

AK owners depend upon low cost ammo and magazines from former Soviet countries to feed and maintain their weapons. If that lifeline is shut down, than those rifles will get hungry fast.

The AR is a U.S. standard which means to me, new ammunition supplies can be obtained at retail outlets "before" and from supply locations "afterwards". There is a good chance some ammo, magazines and even rifles may be in a prone position on the ground and available for salvage.

Yes, the AK has a high survivability rate due to its durability, but I worry about the supply line feeding it. Unless we are invaded by hordes of third world soldiers which will make me switch to the AK in a heartbeat.

You tell me.. comments welcome..