You have prepared to survive your own brand of the “End of the
world as we know it” scenario. Its 30 days in the cities are looted and your
survival rations are running low. The few survivors are armed, dangerous and
hungry. It’s time to bug out to a safer rural location. Which of your EOTW guns
and how much ammo could you carry?
Logically you would want a pistol so let’s say 1000 rounds of
9mm = 30lb (approx.)
You would want a rifle so let’s say 1000 rounds of 5.56mm = 30lb
(approx.)
That’s not a whole lot of ammo for an EOTW situation and would
be easy to take if you have transportation. But what if you don’t? What if the
roads are impassable or you have no gasoline and you have to walk out? Suddenly
those 60 lbs of ammo and the space it takes up is a limiting factor on what
other survival supplies you can carry. I don’t know about you but the thought
of hoofing a hundred pounds of gear around all day every day is a pretty
daunting task, especially on limited rations.
I chose 9mm and 5.56mm for this example because they are very
common rounds. If you can scavenge ammo, they are the calibers you are most
likely to find and if your rifle is 5.56mm you can use .223 with it too. We
need a defensive capability and a hunting capability. Using our firearm will be
a tool of last resort simply because ammo will be hard to replace. Avoiding
confrontation will be our primary goal. So if our primary ammo need is hunting
lets drop the 9mm to 200 rounds and the 5.56 to 400 rounds. We cut our weight
down by 45lbs and saved a load of space. I can hear the shrieking and wailing
that that is not enough, so I will give you something in return.
Enter the old relic most people don’t consider worthy of
consideration as a serious EOTW Gun. My old Winchester Model 57A. Old and
extremely well used, yet totally reliable. With basic iron sights and a bolt
action the gun is simplicity itself and has the added benefit of being
chambered for .22 S,L,LR.(.22 is the most popular target and plinking round so
should be easier to scavenge) Add 650 rounds of .22 LR whole package weighs in
at 10lb giving me a net weight savings of 35lbs.
In our post-apocalyptic world small game will be our main source
of food the .22 will adequately take care of this. We still have our 5.56 for
occasional larger game, but remember even if you get that Buck or Boar, how,
would you preserve or even carry your kill.
If surviving in the long term is going to be an issue I will
take the little .22 rifle every time over carrying an extra 35lbs of ammo I may
or may not need.
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