Whats more important, Beans or Bullets?

[SIXTO]

I'll kick off my favorite topic to discuss on the forums with the simple question, What comes first, beans or bullets?

[flagflyfish]

You gotta have beans to use the bullets, but you may have to use bullets to protect your beans. :lol: I have plenty of both, 3 cases of MRE's, stored in the front compartment of my Fifth-wheel trailer(it's always cool there). When I go to the grocery I usually buy a couple of things that will keep, dry goods, canned goods, Etc, Etc. Bullets I have been stocking up on, but food is the most important IMHO.
Rex

[SIXTO]

As much as I hate to admit it, I think to much is put into guns and ammo when people prep for SHTF and forget all about the staples.

[Bumper]

I already have the guns, still building up the stockpile of ammo and beans. Given a choice between one and the other I will take the guns. That allows me to hunt for meat and, along the way, I'll gather some other beans. They may be Mesquite beans, but you can beat them into flour.... ;)

[CopperKnight]

I read a book many moons ago about the "post nuclear" world. The book was the author's opinions about what should be stored up and how to protect it and the like. He had a list of guns you should have and equipment that should be on hand and then he commented on ammo. His observations still bounce around in my head.

Mind you, his theories were that in a post-apocalyptic world you would be defending your stocks and home against roving gangs of Mad Max (sans ugly costumes and haircuts, but you get the idea) style people who are subsisting on found properties and weaker people. He said to have ammo on hand, but there is no need to have thousands of round stored up. His reasoning was that in a SHTF world, if you need to defend your "castle" you will either win or lose (duh). If you lose, you don't need the rounds. If you win, you can scrounge from those whom you just defeated.

I understand this is but one theory of the way things would work, but it is food for thought.

[Bumper]

I understand this is but one theory of the way things would work, but it is food for thought.

It makes sense. I sure hope we don't get the opportunity to prove/disprove it, though.... :|

[Ram Rod]

When there are no more beans, you'll need bullets to get something else. I'm a meat eater personally. Bullets for me!

[laeckcrov]

I can use my bullets to get me food, but i can't use my food to kill someone or something.

[pgrass101]

As much as I hate to admit it, I think to much is put into guns and ammo when people prep for SHTF and forget all about the staples.

Most people I talk about this have lots of guns and not much else. I think you need to have your food and shelter squared away before you stock up on guns.

If you talk to most people they haven't thought anything out even the gun part.

[ppkheat]

How does the saying go? "Every society is three missed meals from anarchy". So you need the beans and bullets at the same time, one to protect the one that sustains. I'm well on my way to prepping for 8 people for one year. This includes fuel, food, bullets, medical stuff, comm., comfort items, etc. I see each of those items as one chapter in a book.....and you ultimately need them all. We're about at the point of being able to use stuff and replace it as in "rotation". We have a great rural location to hang out, if only everyone can make it here.

[HotGuns]

You will have to have food to survive and you will have to have bullets to keep what you have, because when the hordes get hungry, they WILL take your stuff if you dont have the means to keep it.

But just as important, and possibly more so, is water. When the power goes off, and the pumps stop running, water will be a precious commodity in the big citys. You can live without food for several weeks, but without something to drink you will die in 3 days.

How many of you have water filtration devices? IF you have to run and gun, you wont be able to carry much water. Its heavy, it weighs around 8 pounds a gallon and it is bulky. It is unrealistic to expect to carry what you need.

If you are a country bumpkin like me, water is everywhere, in stock ponds, wells, creeks, lakes and rivers. The thing is, most of it is not drinkable in its present state.

On the other hand, if you have the proper water filtration units, you could drink out of a puddle and be OK, stock pounds and just about any water source will keep you alive.

The smaller units can flter around 100 gallons or so, they are easy to carry, lightweight and every backpack should have one.

Everyone likes to talk about the SHTF scenarios, but for some reason or another water in never talked about much.

Trust me on this...
about the second day without water, people will get desperate and anything can happen.

[laeckcrov]

I've keep a decent supply of water purification tablets, and of course boiling water is always good. One thing is for sure, i always know where there are water sources nearby wherever I go.

[rocky]

Bullets are important but knowing how to turn the beans into crops and usable food is also important.

[HotGuns]

Bullets are important but knowing how to turn the beans into crops and usable food is also important.


That is true...
assuming you live that long...

[pgrass101]

http://www.amazon.com/Crisis-Preparedne ... 792&sr=8-2 (http://www.amazon.com/Crisis-Preparedness-Handbook-Complete-Physical/dp/0936348070/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1225284792&sr=8-2)

I strongly suggest this book for anyone who is wanting to stockpile food and water on a budget.

[Bumper]

I've keep a decent supply of water purification tablets, and of course boiling water is always good. One thing is for sure, i always know where there are water sources nearby wherever I go.

We have a swimming pool and plenty of chlorine. :)

[deadeye72]

I can use my bullets to get me food, but i can't use my food to kill someone or something.


If you eat enough beans you could.

Me personally, if I could only choose one, it would be bullets. With them I can hunt for food and protect what I do have. As far as drinking water, I have several small filter systems and the purification tablets. They should work just fine to get me to my parents house where they have a well.

[raevan]

Actually food,water,and shelter are more important then bullets. There are many other ways to provide yourself with food and or protection then shooting. Firearms and bullets are an extra plus, not a necesity. The necesities of survival come before protection. I don't need a firearm to protect myself, though it just makes it easier. In a really bad senario eventually your ammo will be gone and you will have to learn another way.

[Nelson Muntz]

If you are planning to keep a little food aside here and there JIC, I hope you don't like SPAM. Seems a lot of folks do.

The article hasn't come out yet, but they are saying Hormel cannot keep up with demand.

Someone having a block party or something? Why would that much Spam just disappear off the shelves?

[Nelson Muntz]

Found it this morning:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/business/15spam.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[HotGuns]

Fried spam sandwiches and chees. Nothing wrong with that.

[WheelMan]

With bullets I can procure all else. Someone asked me if I was stockpiling anything for Y2K (remember that end of the world apocalypse?) I told them nope. I had plenty of ammo which meant I could procure anything else I needed.

[Anubis]

With bullets I can procure all else.

One could certainly use bullets in a post-apocalyptic world to get necessities by killing owners of the desired goods, but I for one would prefer not to be a murderer.

There is another way bullets could obtain other necessities. In a world where technology is lost, any manufactured item could be bartered. Bullets, being nice small objects, would probably become post-breakdown currency.

[WheelMan]

One could certainly use bullets in a post-apocalyptic world to get necessities by killing owners of the desired goods, but I for one would prefer not to be a murderer.

There is another way bullets could obtain other necessities. In a world where technology is lost, any manufactured item could be bartered. Bullets, being nice small objects, would probably become post-breakdown currency.

Several PA movies have postulated this very point, and hence my comment. What other people assume about my open ended comment tells me about their perspective. ;-) However, my ethics don't allow me to murder someone for their stuff.

Also I could be the "hired gun" of an otherwise unarmed or lightly armed community. Even hippies will eventually see the need to have a misunderstood cro-magna man willing to do violence on their behalf.

Assuming a PA society communities will form just like they did in the past. People who can contribute will. Some will be worth keeping around even if they can't contribute.

Any who, I need to carry ammo anyway, why use my load limit to schlep stuff around I can procure? Granted pricing could be an issue, but I can't tote 30-40 years worth of food around either.

[Nelson Muntz]

My 1.27 (.02 plus tax and adjusted for inflation).
I would prefer to participate in the "protector" scenario rather than the ammo barter one. I could keep my ammo, my provisions and protect me and mine and those in my adopted clan. In addition, I would have many hands assisting in making my work lighter, and for the good of the clan.
I would hate to barter away my last cartridge and then find myself running out of goods and defenseless against those who took ammo in trade. YMMV

(From my BJ II )

[Snakedriver]

I'm pretty sure from what I've seen that Nelson will NEVER be out of bullets. I'm also with Wheelman, sadly the way it has always worked is "them with the guns, make the rules" including who eats, who works in the fields and who doesn't make it. If it comes to it, being well armed will be the answer. There'll be plenty of supplies available for thos willing to acquire them. Which will it be, wolves or sheep???

[Nelson Muntz]

Come to the dark side Snake. Join our clan, we have luxuries!!

:022:

[Snakedriver]

If there's cold beer, I'm in!!!:a36a:


Come to the dark side Snake. Join our clan, we have luxuries!!

:022:

[Nelson Muntz]

Learn to brew. It's very easy. My special 'Secure the Border' Porter is my favorite for cold, deep winters. 'Punch the Hippies' Honey Kolsch for spring/summers, and 'Obamination' Oktoberfest for fall. I've even found recipies for knock off Sam Adams. Brew, bottle/keg, stock up and enjoy.

http://northernbrewer.com/

:a36a:

[raevan]

Just a suggestion; If things get really bad looke for a Sulphur deposit and collect manure. Convert your gun to black powder. Sulphur+potasium Nitrate+carbon=Blackpowder. Also Sulphur can be used as antibiotic. Any one living in Oregon, there is a Sulphur outcropping on a road over by Fossil.

[mtcraigco]

Both would be important. I saw a very good post over on an AK forum (I think) that proposed a "rule of threes"

Basically enough ammo, food and water for 3 hours.

When all that is in place then do the same for each item for 3 days, then 3 weeks and so on.

A very balanced approach, I thought.

I will admit that I am basically starting at the 3 week point an goign from there. Also laying very heavy emphasis on ammo and certain firearms right now more due to the incoming administration than SHTF concerns.

Should have it all balanced out by Jan though.

[Bumper]

Both would be important. I saw a very good post over on an AK forum (I think) that proposed a "rule of threes"

Basically enough ammo, food and water for 3 hours.

When all that is in place then do the same for each item for 3 days, then 3 weeks and so on.

A very balanced approach, I thought.

I will admit that I am basically starting at the 3 week point an goign from there. Also laying very heavy emphasis on ammo and certain firearms right now more due to the incoming administration than SHTF concerns.

Should have it all balanced out by Jan though.

I'm setting on about 4 months right now. Not sure about ammunition, though. Depends on how much I might need and that is hard to predict. I have been looking at maps to try and figure different routes out of town that are little traveled. If the SHTF, I would not want to be stuck in Arizona....

[Divebum]

I have been looking at maps to try and figure different routes out of town that are little traveled. If the SHTF, I would not want to be stuck in Arizona....

It's a long way out of the desert isn't it! Fortunately for me I live in NE Tucson where we are already up against the mountains and park land. I can get my family through the Reddington pass, but finding water to keep going may be a problem. One of these days I'm going to go on a little road trip to find hold up areas.

[stormbringerr]

[QUOTE=CopperKnight;903]I read a book many moons ago about the "post nuclear" world. The book was the author's opinions about what should be stored up and how to protect it and the like. He had a list of guns you should have and equipment that should be on hand and then he commented on ammo. His observations still bounce around in my head.

Mind you, his theories were that in a post-apocalyptic world you would be defending your stocks and home against roving gangs of Mad Max


i saw a movie about something like that a long time ago. it was in black &white.