Proper preparedness purchasing procedure

[MountainRaven]

Or, "What order should you buy stuff in?" But I like being alliterative, when I can.

Inspired by this post:

You need mags, lots and lots of ammo, body armor, helmet, a duplicate of your battle rifle and pistol. Comms, NVGs, lots of batteries, water, a reliable vehicle, and a lawyer on retainer with enough cash to post 10% of a very high bond.

There are plenty of posts and articles and YouTube videos and what-not about what order to buy guns (for self-defense) in. And what should be the priority in buying support gear (lights, slings, holsters, magazines, optics, &c.) for them. But nothing about what order to get the ancillary non-firearm equipment in.

So if we add in NODs, armor, and so forth, what order does it go? And not just, "Guns, NODs, armor," or whatever but... just as we've broken down the order in which firearms are acquired, what order do you get the individual components of armor or NODs?

So if we take the general order that I've seen used for acquiring firearms:
1- Pistol (generally Glock 19 or similar)
a- Holster
b- White light
c- 5-10+ magazines
d- Magazine carrier(s)
2- Carbine (generally LE6920 or similar)
a- Sling
b- White light
c- Optic
d- 10+ magazines
e- Magazine carrier(s)
3- Pistol (similar to first pistol, but not necessarily identical, eg if Pistol 1 is a Glock 19, then Pistol 2 could be a Glock 34, 17, 19, 26, &c.)
a- Holster (if different from Pistol 1)
b- White light
c- 5-10+ magazines (if different from Pistol 1, otherwise double supply for Pistol 1)
4- Carbine (similar to first carbine, but not necessarily identical, eg if Carbine 1 is configured with an RDS, then Carbine 2 could have a LPVO, ACOG, &c. or be setup as a varminting rifle, a pistol, SBR, &c.)
a- Sling
b- White light
c- Optic
d- 10+ magazines (if different from Carbine 1, otherwise double supply for Carbine 1)

&c., &c., &c. For our purposes, I'm going to establish a hypothetical fifth and sixth items to demonstrate what I'm after:

5- NODs (PVS-14 or similar)
a- Rifle mount for PVS-14
b- Skull crusher head mount for PVS-14
6- IR laser/illuminator for Carbine 1 (MAWL or similar)

And of course, lists need not be:
1-Guns
2-NODs
3-Armor
4-Transpo

They can be:
1- A good car
2- A pistol
3- Armor (vest)
4- Carbine

&c.

The chief idea, in my mind, is to break it down into a sort of procedural list of what to buy. So if you have a constant source of income, and you're starting from scratch, what do you buy? And why in that particular order?

Alternatively, let's say you have a lump sum (say $5000 or $10000 budgeted - maybe per year, maybe because everything went up in a housefire or a tragic boating accident or whatever) and you're starting from scratch, what do you buy with that lump sum?

[Diamondback]

Excellent question, one I've been musing on myself for a while as part of a piece I'm writing for my "non-GunNut" readers at Redstate. So far all I've tackled is the Rifle piece, but I'll throw out what I have for consideration and maybe we all as a community can use it to help build out into something bigger.

The building blocks here are in terms of "Basic Combat Loads" (BCL)--assuming 5.56 NATO and 30-rounders, seven loaded mags, 21 stripper-clips or 210 loose rounds; adjust accordingly for other calibers. On this chart, it's more important to "build out than down"--three shooters with three rifles and two BCL's each beats one guy with one rifle and a ton of ammo. The idea is that as you use down at one level, you pull forward from the next to replenish; order a replacement "Stage 5" case when the first is used down to half.
1. A rifle with one set of load-bearing gear and one BCL of full magazines for each able-bodied adult in the house, with one additional BCL of loaded mags each in a drag-bag that goes with the rifle anytime it leaves the house. All rifles should be a common caliber and action type, and should be in a serious caliber (5.56 NATO, .308 Winchester or 7.62 NATO--NOT .223 Rem or any of the "boutique" rounds. .300BLK MAY be okay, but I suggest sticking to something widely available off-the-shelf. Ammunition choices should come from the Molon or Doc Roberts lists.
2. For each rifle, two BCL's of loaded mags in an ammo can.
3. For each rifle, four BCL's of stripper clips in an ammo can, and one can with two BCL's of empty magazines.
4. For each rifle, four BCL's of bulk ammo in an ammo can.
5. For each rifle, one sealed factory case of bulk ammo.
NOTE: Stages 2-5 can be expanded as storage space and budget allow; these are what I consider personal "minimums" to start building toward. Like Abby's Lab Rule #9 says, "ALWAYS keep a spare!"

[OH58D]

Are we talking preparing to hunker down in one location, or on the move? One person or multiple persons? My planning involves staying put in one location or setting up remote camps with food, water, water purification, clothing for different seasons, ammo and guns.

My planning involves freeze dried food supplies for 25 year storage and ammo. I'm not investing in high tech stuff like NVGs or Red Dots because my survival skills are more low tech. I won't be going commando, but for defensive needs. Thoughts of hit & run attacks would be something out there, but I'd be equipped for short term engagements.

[Diamondback]

Are we talking preparing to hunker down in one location, or on the move? One person or multiple persons? My planning involves staying put in one location or setting up remote camps with food, water, water purification, clothing for different seasons, ammo and guns.

My planning involves freeze dried food supplies for 25 year storage and ammo. I'm not investing in high tech stuff like NVGs or Red Dots because my survival skills are more low tech. I won't be going commando, but for defensive needs. Thoughts of hit & run attacks would be something out there, but I'd be equipped for short term engagements.

Excellent question--part of my thinking was "enough stash to hold you for a bit, but still small enough that you're not excessively anchored down if it becomes Time To Leave"--in an environment like the Cascade Mountain foothills and river-valleys where you face lahar/mudflow threats that might force evacuation on a few moments' notice, you need a lot more agility than the stable geology and topology of AZ/NM. Also goes to the Rural/Urban question on "Bug Out or Bug In," too.

[OH58D]

Excellent question--part of my thinking was "enough stash to hold you for a bit, but still small enough that you're not excessively anchored down if it becomes Time To Leave"--in an environment like the Cascade Mountain foothills and river-valleys where you face lahar/mudflow threats that might force evacuation on a few moments' notice, you need a lot more agility than the stable geology and topology of AZ/NM. Also goes to the Rural/Urban question on "Bug Out or Bug In," too.

My philosophy, spending as much time as I do in the rural back country is "Bug Around". It's a concept of having a base of operations, but the ability to operate in a area with a pre-determined radius for placement of supplies in hidden places for flexibility. Kind of like Army mobile field supply depots or FARPs (Forward Army and Refueling Points). Never keep all your stash in one place if you think it might be at risk.

[AKDoug]

My philosophy, spending as much time as I do in the rural back country is "Bug Around". It's a concept of having a base of operations, but the ability to operate in a area with a pre-determined radius for placement of supplies in hidden places for flexibility. Kind of like Army mobile field supply depots or FARPs (Forward Army and Refueling Points). Never keep all your stash in one place if you think it might be at risk.

You and I already live where 90% of the people that are "bugging out" are going to try and get to. They will be surprised when they get here.

[OH58D]

You and I already live where 90% of the people that are "bugging out" are going to try and get to. They will be surprised when they get here.

I have been to Alaska once. Flew to Anchorage then caught a smaller plane to Kotzebue, which is north of the Arctic Circle. Had a high school friend whose Dad worked for the FAA and he was transferred there. Alaska is beyond the sticks - it's wide open nothing, and a tough place to survive.

People trying to bug out to places where they have no skills in operating will die in assorted ways - cold, starvation, disease, dehydration, heat stroke, prey to apex predators, etc....and running into other people who are better prepared for that environment not willing to share resources. It's the law of the jungle.

I am part of a rural group in this area who are not militia types, but meet monthly in sharing planning for natural disasters and such. Many are professionals or skilled tradesmen in various fields. It's not a cult or doomsday group, but families of all ages of similar thinking people, planning for potential hard times in the future. Each person brings some talent to the group. Our group includes medical professionals, an animal vet, blacksmith, woodworkers, electrician, former military, automotive mechanical tech, geologist, etc. We share our expertise including everyone who chooses gets firearms training. It's a select group that includes children and grandchildren. You don't have the tin foil hat weirdos or wannabe Rambos. Strictly a cross section of normal society.

I would think this could work for others around the US - a tight group of networked individuals bringing their individual talents to the larger whole.

[Averageman]

There are a lot of folks buying a lot of high tech gear, and preps who are missing the boat on simple items like soap, hand sanitizer and disposable gloves and a few face masks.
Hygiene and clean water is more likely to save you than an extra 1000 rounds of 5.56.

[grizzlyblake]

No kidding.

What I would say for the average American household:

1 normal AR, any reputable manufacturer
Sling for AR
5 ea 30rd mags, 500 rounds ammo

1 Glock 19
Kydex holster
250 rounds ammo

Kerosene heater, 20 gal kerosene

LED flashlights, lots of batteries

4 ea 5gal water jugs

5 flats bottled water

First aid kit, basic OTC medication

Lots of canned goods

Toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags

Full set of hand tools

Recovery kit in each vehicle (tow straps, etc)(4x4 vehicles)

4 ea 5 gal gasoline cans

Chainsaw with 5 gal premix fuel

Assortment blue tarps, plastic sheeting, duct tape

Sleeping bags for each family member

5 ea 1 gal bleach

5 ea 10lb fire extinguishers

The gun stuff is really fun to read and talk about, fun to buy and play with, but the reality is that there is so much more that is boring but actually way more likely to be useful in any emergency scenario.

[OH58D]

Here's one thing to avoid for long term storage - fruit and citrus juices in cans. You're lucky to get a year or more in normal cool storage. Something in the acid of the juice turns the contents black and undrinkable. I've tried different brands and the same result, with different times. Cans are good for beans and vegetables.