What Ammo For SHTF Use?

[GS Rider]

I know that many of us have different caliber rifles that we plan on using for troubled times but I was wondering what type of ammo do you stock for those times and if hand loads can you give a brief description of the load? Lets start by saying for my 223 Daewoo(dr200) I have 1000 rounds of South African military 55 grain ball. For my AKs I have about 1000 rounds of JHP Wolf and some steel core as well. And for my 308 (FN FAL) that is my go to gun I have 1500 rounds of Port ammo but I am not all that happy with that and was thinking about trying reloading some of the new plastic tipped ammo like TAP into some once used India brass. But I am open to other opinions on what to stock. And do you guys train with the same ammo that you stock for emergencies?

[Ryder]

You don't like Portuguese 7.62(.308)? That is IMHO some of the best surplus ammo you can get for you FAL. What problems are you having with it? Also I'd stay away from the Indian brass. There are so many reviews out there stating that it is crap, I'm very hesitant to even try some. Tell ya what, I'll trade you even steven, 1500 of Indian for your port ;)

I'll break it down by caliber of what I have.

5.56(.223)- A bunch of reloaded 55gr FMJ. Some Winchester Q3131 (55gr FMJ), some Remington 55gr FMJ. Quite a bit of Wolf in varying weights, from 55gr to 62gr almost all in HP. Any new 5.56 that I buy is either HP or SP and with the heavier weight. I'm not the military, I can use Hollow Points if I want.

9mm- Mostly 115gr JHP(for plinking and training). Been buying a few boxes of Winchester SXT 147gr JHP at every show I go to. This will be my primary defense ammo.

.45ACP- Mostly 230 gr FMJ with some JHP. This is a backup caliber for me so I don't stock as much as 9mm.

7.62(.308)- Mostly mil surp(Port and SA). Some reloaded with 147gr FMJ. Working on reloading a quantity of .308 for my bolt gun using Nosler Ballistic Silvertip bullets.

12GA.- Assortment of shot sizes with #7 1/2 and #4 the most prevalent. HP slugs and 00 and 000 buck for defense.

I'm not mentioning numbers on a public forum, lets just say the neighbors would be scared if they knew ;)

I don't train with the high dollar defensive ammo like the Winchester SXT. I'll use Winchester White box pistol ammo and the Wolf 5.56 to train with.

[GS Rider]

The Port stuff is fine for shooting but I don't see how it can have very good terminal ballistics on soft tissue like German DAG or hunting ammo. I think I am just going to have to reload some 308 with Nosler and see what happens. Is there a preferred weight for 308 bullets out of an FN FAL? They aren't for match shooting but practical use.

[Beprepared]

I'll start with the fact that I shoot what I train with.

.45 ACP is a Hornady 230gr XTP with 6.2 gr of Unique behind it.

.223 is 55gr of HP. (still working on a common round, I have 1:10 and 1:12 twists to work with)

.308 is the Sierra 168 Matchking HPBT with 42gr of Win 748 behind it.

For long range rounds, I shave the bullet, the brass and hand measure the powder.

7.62x39 is whatever Wolf turns out that is cheap.

[411man]

If its specialty type ammunition you need, why not just buy SLAP, TAP, or other approprite rounds ?

[Bidah]

I think I am just going to have to reload some 308 with Nosler and see what happens. Is there a preferred weight for 308 bullets out of an FN FAL? They aren't for match shooting but practical use.

My FAL prefers bullets in the 147 to 155, but will shoot the 165gr ones ok. I pretty much have kept it at 150gr bullets as there are quite a few to choose from. The Nosler Ballistic Tips are very good bullets for soft tissue. I mostly reload the 147gr FMJ since they are cheaper, and I have loaded them to match Port out of my rifle so it trains and shoots the same.

I also reload my .223 stuff with 55gr FMJ. I also do some specialty rounds in this caliber with the heavier bullets since my rifle has the barrel to handle them.

-Bidah

[GS Rider]

Good answer bidah. That is what I was looking for. thanks

[shtfmilitia]

I buy a box of 550 rds 22 LR and 100 rds 9mm every week along with foods.
I have plenty of 30 / 30, 7.62 x39 & 20 gauge

[Bidah]

For feeding from the FAL, you come down to 3 basic choices, FMJ, OTM, and the ballistic tips. If you can avoid it, do not use the soft points in the FAL as they tend to deform the tips as they are fed giving unreliable results. Next to FMJ, the ballistic tips are fantastic. They are made for hunting, or varmits depending on weight and construction. A decent hunting bullet, such as the 150 Nosler BT, works very good. Hornady makes OTM hunting bullets as well as Match bullets. You can find one that works pretty good in the FAL, but yeah, it is not going to be a tack driver. Of course I practice on soft tissue... I hunt with mine. :)

-Bidh