Hurricane Isaac forced me to rethink my ammo storage strategy.

[Bluto]

Hey all!

Hurricane Isaac forced me to rethink my ammo storage strategy.

Up to now I have been storing ammo in 50 caliber ammo cans. 5.56 in a few cans, 9mm in another, etc.

We live on the 19th floor of a beachfront condo. It’s an old building without a generator. If the power goes out, we have to walk down the stairs. We have had a couple of fires in the past, and each time the elevators were out of commission. In those situations, we pretty much leave with just the kids in our arms.

In a controlled evacuation without power, I realized it would be extremely difficult to lug down multiple ammo cans to cover the weapons we carry.

I carry a 45, my wife a 9mm and we typically bring along a shotgun and an AR. That’s 4 ammo cans. Not a simple task!

I really don’t want to leave ammo in the car and I don’t have an office or secondary location where I can store it in, so home storage is our only option.

My question is: does it make sense to have a Bail Out Box of ammo? A single 50 caliber ammo can with a mix of the different ammo we would need? Does anyone else do this? Do you have any suggestions? What do YOU keep in it? Anything besides ammo?

Thanks and sorry for the long winded back-story!

[SOWT]

Why not build a backpack with an assortment of ammo, medical and food supplies. You wear it while moving the kids to safety.

[Wolf Spyder]

I have always skipped the ammo cans and went right to loading magazines. Buy more ammo, buy more P-mags. Then have a backpack full of loaded magazines.

[SeriousStudent]

Perhaps something like this?

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/weapon...an-sling-cover

Loop it over a shoulder while carrying one of the little ones in your arms. Definitely less conspicious than a green ammo can.

[currahee]

I think mixed ammo cans are the only sensible way to go. I only do 30 cal ammo cans for my "go to" so the wife or kids can carry them no problem.

Each has a hundred rounds of 9mm and several basic loads of 5.56 individually packaged in ziplocks with desiccant.

I also think consolidation of calibers, at least across your family, is the way to go.



But you're not gonna use that much ammo during a hurricane.

[CRAMBONE]

with desiccant.

Where do you guys get this stuff?

[Dave L.]

I carry a 45, my wife a 9mm and we typically bring along a shotgun and an AR. That’s 4 ammo cans. Not a simple task!

This is why my wife and I carry the same caliber. Why lug around two different types of pistol ammo in the first place

My more direct answer would be to devise a secure way to keep at least 1K extra rounds in your vehicle (down in the parking lot).

[NWPilgrim]

If you plan to bugout then you should have a secure place to bugout to. Then have a good supply of ammo, food, water, toiletries and clothes at the bugout location (family member, friend, vacation cabin, etc.).

Agee with suggestion to have some travel supplies stored in your bugout vehicle. Living on 19th floor with kids does not make it practical to store it in condo. Store what you need for bugging in situations in the condo. Store travel supplies in vehicle. Store long term survival stuff at a secure BOL.

[Armati]

Bugging out, by definition, means you wont be carrying a lot of anything. And most civilians do not have the wherewithal to hump a lot of gear. Fortunately, in most real world disasters (not Zombie Apocalypse Walter Mitty fantasies) you do not actually need that much ammo. Troops in actual combat zones will rarely go thru much ammo.

Streamline your preps and think about what real world disasters you are actually preparing for.

[filthy phil]

I have always skipped the ammo cans and went right to loading magazines. Buy more ammo, buy more P-mags. Then have a backpack full of loaded magazines.

+1
my goal is 1k in mags ready to go