A shit storm’s a comin’. And I don’t mean bad weather. Don’t waste your time or money on guns that you can’t scrape together ammo for. Stick with the tried-and-true standards – AR and Glock. Alright – Beretta M9, too, for all you ex-military guys. Use the time we got left to practice your shooting skills and get proficient at field stripping and cleaning. Break em’ apart and reassemble ’em by candlelight. You know the drill.
The Iroquois first used, of course, bows and arrows as well as War Clubs and knives. They were excellent archers. It became obvious to them, however, that guns were the future of warfare. So – they went and got some. They attacked their adversaries with the traditional weapons they had on hand – then took the guns, shot and powder from whomever they defeated. The Iroquois tortured their prisoners into training them with the new armaments (then shot them) and proceeded to impress the British with their prowess as an armed guerilla force. Eventually the British supplied all the Iroquois Confederation “Nations” with English long guns and these American Indians even fought along side a 22 year old George Washington. He was then commanding a unit of British “colonials” under the Command of British General Braddock, without much success. In 1754 he was a relative unknown and an absolute failure as a combat officer.
We all remember the daring raid by radical Abolitionist John Brown in 1859 on the Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (later, West Virginia). Why did he raid an Armory? Because that’s where the rifles were. And pistols. And Ammunition. Brown planned on looting the Federal Armory of sufficient weapons to outfit a band of like-minded Abolitionists and freed slaves to mount an insurrection against the United States. His goals were simple: use the Federal weapons stock to arm his men with guns of the same caliber, quality and range as those the US Army used so that their fight would be fair. Brown knew that using random firearms cobbled together from the stocks of farmers and local gunmakers would result in a patchwork of firepower that would weaken their battle effectiveness. Uniform weaponry was his mission; good quality long guns with component parts that could be swapped out in the field and accept the ammunition already being used and carried by their adversaries. They’d push through from victory to victory, taking their vanquished enemy’s ammunition and weapons as needed.
The Harpers Ferry raid was thwarted by US Marines led – oddly enough – by Robert E. Lee (who was still in the Union Army). His energetic cavalry Commander – George Armstrong Custer – performed with such valor, he was ultimately elevated to the rank of Brigadier General.
John Brown’s failed raid on Harpers Ferry Armory galvanized the country and – one year after Brown’s hanging (1859) – the United States would find itself in a Civil War. Robert E. Lee would leave the Union Army to command of the Grand Army of the Confederacy.
Confederate Civil War guerillas like Bloody Bill Anderson, WIlliam Quantrell and the Jesse James Gang would perfect a system of lightening attacks against conventional Union Forces in order to inflict brutal losses and then abscond with the very latest in firearms technology and ammunition paid for by Abraham Lincoln’s Union Government. The South fought for years using stolen Union armaments – with great success. Rebels were, generally, better riders, better marksmen and able to withstand grueling marches, punishing hunger and physical privation better than Yankees. They knew their terrain, could live off the land and survive inhospitable conditions that would make Union conscripts desert. Weapons hardware, ammunition and logistics was the weak link in their chain. So they got creative. They took it from those who had it.
One thread that runs conspicuously through history is how underdogs adjust, adapt and evolve in response to their circumstances. Some instinctively intuit their most efficient and effective way out of dangerous situations. Their solutions are usually direct and simple. Standarization of weaponry “liberated” from adversaries is a staple – “Rule No. 1”. Read Chairman Mao’s Little Red Book.
Why do you want a weapon you can’t scrounge up ammunition or parts for when everything goes catawampas? If you can’t buy, beg, borrow or steal what you need – what good is it? When it comes to guns, you want what the government has. Well……at least your own platforms of what the government has.
These days, Civil War breech-block Springfield rifles or Sharps Carbines are not going to be stocked in Federal Armories or Police Stations throughout the United States. The US long gun of choice is the AR15 platform (the US Armed services calls it the “M4”). The AR15 / “M4” used by the United States is usually chambered in .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO. Both rounds are similar – though not entirely interchangable. 5.56 NATO has a higher velocity than the .223 round. If you pick up an AR15, it’s either chambered in one round or the other. 223 is a good deer-hunting bullet. It’s generally used to bag whitetail, mule deer, javelinas and feral hogs. Professional hunters tend to use bolt-action hunting rifles chambered in .30-30 WInchester or .30-06 Springfield for hunting elk, moose and black bear. These are heavier loads for game requiring significant stopping power. Married to the AR15 platform, however, 5.56 NATO has a bit more punch than .223 Remington.
Most Federal law enforcement departments use AR15 Platforms with either .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO as standard issue. They use Glock 19 (Glock “platform”) handguns chambered in 9 millimeter Luger (9 millimeter is traditionally called “9 millimeter Lugar” because the Germans invented it). The US Military also uses the M9 Beretta 9 millimeter and a new SIG model modular 9 millimeter. Federal SWAT teams use HKMP5 handguns chambered in 9 mil. Lugar. The US Marshall’s Service use .40 caliber Glock 22s, as do some Navy Seal Units. The .40 cal Smith & Wesson cartridge is more potent than the 9 millimeter load. Generally, however, 9 millimeter rules the roost in Federal Law Enforcement and US Armed Services. It’s the go-to caliber for everybody these days and the one caliber you can’t go wrong with. Easy to obtain, good stopping power and manageable blow-back (kick). Very tolerant of most shooter experience levels.
Note: 9 millimeter and .40 caliber ammunition is generally available anywhere – just buy it in judicious amounts. Don’t buy a truck-load at once. Build your supply slowly. Huge purchases of ammunition gets you on FBI radar right quick.
My choice? AN AR15 platform chambered in 5.56 NATO and a 9 millimeter Glock 19. Standard stuff. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezie. Why? The same reason John Brown raided Harper’s Ferry. Use arms and caliber ammunitions that are easy to find, repair, replace and rebuild. Most of the AR15 patents are expired. Everybody builds an AR15 platform – and all the parts that go into it. You can customize or personalize it to your heart’s content. Add additional sights, Picatinny rail attachments, shoulder stocks, different triggers, etc. AR15 magazines are also plentiful. The AR platform is so forgiving that you can even swap out parts (in some) to make it accept .223 Remington loads if you have ammunition supply chain issues. It’s like customizing a 1957 Chevy or 1968 Mustang. Create your own Franken-gun. It’s a Swiss Army Knife that shoots bullets.
When I’d travel to Las Vegas I’d shoot an AK47 chambered in 7.62 X 39 Warsaw Pact. That cartridge packed a whallop. The AK47 is the easiest weapon I’ve ever field stripped. It’s typically Russian – simple and effective. It’s a gun you can throw under a garbage truck or steam roller, pick up and spray lead all day long. Nothing will break an AK47. It’s indestructible.
Similarly, I’d shoot a 9 X 18 Makarov handgun – another Warsaw Block weapon – in the Las Vegas desert. This design was also rock solid and reliable – all steel, simple to tear down and reassemble. Never jams. Good stopping power cartridge. Another Russian winner.
But – can you spell Achilles Heel? If things go to Hell in a bucket, where are you going to find 7.62 X 39 Warsaw Pact loads or 9 x 18 Makarov ammunition? Even if you can’t buy 9 millimeter handgun cartridges or 5.56 NATO AR15 ammo you may be able to get your hands on some by “other” means. It’s stockpiled everywhere. Catch my drift? If it’s the end of the world – do what you gotta’ do. The best answer, of course, is to always be prepared – have your own weapons and ammo cache. Keep it well stocked and current. But it doesn’t hurt to hedge your bet. You may have to forage – so get a weapon that uses common ammo. Uses the same magazines that the G-men have. The most popular calibers and platforms are best. Nothing hinky or “unique”. Again – what’s the goal? Pick up on the run. Simplicity.
Now I’m not advocating that you rob and loot government armories – or anybody else – if the shit hits the fan. But I am saying that this ammunition (9 millimeter Lugar and 5.56 NATO) is so ubiquitous that you can start acquiring it regularly and amass a comfortable supply without breaking much of a sweat. Of course, all you need is cash. And once purchased, under certain conditions, this ammunition will be so high demand – so valuable – that you can use it for money, ie. barter it for goods or services. Trade a bullet for a night of pleasure with a sweet young thing…..put one in the collection plate at church……push a round over the bar for a “shot” of whiskey. Don’t ever think there’ll come a time when bullets are worth more than paper currency? I hope you’re right. But, then again…..
If the worse case scenario comes to pass, you’re may to have to get creative. Start laying your groundwork now. Don’t be a fool. The time to buy things is when you can. Time windows, unfortunately, close. Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakie.
Over and out. Keep your powder dry.
