If you knew what you know, how would you start prepping now?
Mar 12, 2014 8:41:46 GMT 10
Ausprep, SA Hunter, and 2 more like this
Post by shinester on Mar 12, 2014 8:41:46 GMT 10
If you knew what you know, how would you start prepping now?
For me, as with all things, with experience you get better at something. I want to highlight what we would do if we were to start from the beginning again, with an Australian perspective. Share your thoughts.
-------------
My thoughts.
0. Start learning
Learning can be done for free at mostly only the exchange of time. Learning how to do various things can be helpful in making decisions of where to spend the budget on prepping. If you're truly on a very low budget, this is the first place to start. It will cost you nothing and is the best investment of all.
Firearms practice - I used to practice before I had my first firearm with a piece of timber.
First aid - you can't learn enough here.
Gardening - excellent way to bring food
1. Start process of long-arm firearm and start saving.
If you're new to prepping, you will soon realise that in the unlikely event of a SHTF situation, if you don't have a gun then collecting preps is a waste of time as people with guns can and would rob you. As is shown in the US, most times a criminal with a gun who comes up against a gun, they go somewhere else. In owning a firearm it is also a good idea you know how to shoot it. You can do much practice at home, doing dry-fire exercises [NOT .22s!!!] as I can attest to myself, has made a good impact on my shooting when I do make it to the range. It helps if you enjoy shooting it too, to which many people do enjoy. Ideally you would also want to get some reloading gear because ammo in Australia is quite expensive and there is very little in terms of surplus around. You will soon make back the costs in set up. You'll want to get a .308 [or similar] as your first.
It's worth noting that in a 'normal' situation with a firearm that is kept in a safe separate from ammo as the law requires wouldn't be very practical in defending yourself even in a life-or-death scenario. This is obviously to restrict criminal and accidental issues and whilst I do disagree with the laws here, following them is the wise choice. Only in a lawless situation when I didn't have a choice would I choose otherwise.
The main thing here is to START the process of getting a firearm, it takes a while generally.
Firearms Recommendations
1. Bolt action rifle of decent calibre - It has range and power.
- Howa/Remington 700 bolt action [$600-1200] with decent scope [$300-1000] with at least 200 rounds. If you have the budget for them, these are the better options. They are both well respected for good reasons. Having a scope allows you to reach out further.
- Lee Enfield with iron sights. Sporterised versions to my eye look ugly but they go pretty cheap second hand [$200-300] for something decent. Iron sights are inherently more difficult at longer ranges to shoot. At least 200 rounds also. The downsides are ammo is harder to come by, the upsides are the ex-military gear, the cheapness of clips [to reload quickly]. It's not an ideal weapon compared to what's available but it's reliable and will get you something useful for very little money if budget is an issue.
2. .22 rifle, typically bolt action
- Again there's lots of options here but basically you want a rifle that is cheap to shoot and will teach you the skills and get you the experience of shooting whilst not costing you a lot of money. .22 goes for about 10c/shot and .308 for about $1.50/shot. So it's easy to see you can shoot a lot more .22 for the experience. I'm not convinced that a .22 is essential, I sure wouldn't be letting people know where I am in a SHTF situation but I a convinced it is a practical tool for learning. Something that is important today. You can pick up pretty decent ones for around $400 second hand. With all firearms there is no limit to your spend.
Reloading Gear
- realistically reloading your own ammo is the only way to go here in Australia. The budget is going to get a hit to get going and you will want to save your brass and try to source extra brass so that you can reload. Even if you don't start reloading and buy ammo, keep all of your spent brass until such time as you do. You can't reload .22 of course but anything bigger you can. Even spending wisely you will need at least $500 to get going when you consider powder, primers, bullets and brass.
-If I were starting again, I'd get a Sporterised Enfield, 200 rounds and reloading gear enough to do 1000. - $300+350+850=$1500
2. Water
You can't live long without water and it is arguably the prep least worked on and yet most needed. One of the main reason it isn't worked on is it also takes up the most space. I can easily have 2 months of food in 3x 20 litre buckets and for water you would need four times the space. Regardless it is cheap and a good and important start to prepping. Start with a weeks worth of water which is 28liters of water/person and expand from there. I STILL have to get more water personally.
-If I were starting again, I'd get 2 weeks worth in bottles or containers. Aldi have 10L containers for $4, I'd get 6 for a total of $24
3. Food
I'd first start with stocking up with most of what you would need for 2-3 weeks worth in addition to your normal shopping. We're not talking fresh veggies here but imagine you were going away camping for a few weeks and you had to go to the supermarket and grab what you will need for that time. Get the normal foods you eat and then simply replenish what you use over time. Keep looking for specials and buy your normal 3-4 weeks worth when you see them. The idea here is having 2-3 weeks of normal foods at all times, even on shopping day.
Bulk goods - Having lots of 'Beans and rice' [and other items] is the next stage. We're looking to build up stores so we have a cheap and practical supply of food that lasts and lasts. They have to be stored correctly and this means kept cool, dry, dark, and without oxygen. This can be done in many containers that are sealed and the oxygen can be purged with a tea-candle before you put the lid on. Oxygen absorbers and mylar are more expensive but are a good way also. You'll want at least 3 months, enough time for the first crops to come through, though having more will give you much more leeway and safety.
-If I were starting again, I'd get a couple of weeks of normal food in cans and normal items I buy first. $120
4. First aid
As with most things in prepping there's no end to how far you can take things. A starting point is having a decent first aid kit. Many people these days don't even have that at home. Knowledge here is very important, as per the old adage 'First do no harm'. Even over the counter medicine can be very practical and helpful. If you've ever had a head-ache and not had a panadol you know what I mean.
-If I were starting again, I'd get a basic first aid kit and some cheap over the counter medicines $30
5. Equipment
Basic tools are a good start, as are gardening equipment, communications [at least a wind-up radio!] and so on. If I were starting again, I would get a wind-up radio. You'll need ways of cooking, ways of lighting, items to make repairs and secure areas.
- if I were starting again, I'd get a wind up radio, propane camping gear, tea candles, rope - $100
For me, as with all things, with experience you get better at something. I want to highlight what we would do if we were to start from the beginning again, with an Australian perspective. Share your thoughts.
-------------
My thoughts.
0. Start learning
Learning can be done for free at mostly only the exchange of time. Learning how to do various things can be helpful in making decisions of where to spend the budget on prepping. If you're truly on a very low budget, this is the first place to start. It will cost you nothing and is the best investment of all.
Firearms practice - I used to practice before I had my first firearm with a piece of timber.
First aid - you can't learn enough here.
Gardening - excellent way to bring food
1. Start process of long-arm firearm and start saving.
If you're new to prepping, you will soon realise that in the unlikely event of a SHTF situation, if you don't have a gun then collecting preps is a waste of time as people with guns can and would rob you. As is shown in the US, most times a criminal with a gun who comes up against a gun, they go somewhere else. In owning a firearm it is also a good idea you know how to shoot it. You can do much practice at home, doing dry-fire exercises [NOT .22s!!!] as I can attest to myself, has made a good impact on my shooting when I do make it to the range. It helps if you enjoy shooting it too, to which many people do enjoy. Ideally you would also want to get some reloading gear because ammo in Australia is quite expensive and there is very little in terms of surplus around. You will soon make back the costs in set up. You'll want to get a .308 [or similar] as your first.
It's worth noting that in a 'normal' situation with a firearm that is kept in a safe separate from ammo as the law requires wouldn't be very practical in defending yourself even in a life-or-death scenario. This is obviously to restrict criminal and accidental issues and whilst I do disagree with the laws here, following them is the wise choice. Only in a lawless situation when I didn't have a choice would I choose otherwise.
The main thing here is to START the process of getting a firearm, it takes a while generally.
Firearms Recommendations
1. Bolt action rifle of decent calibre - It has range and power.
- Howa/Remington 700 bolt action [$600-1200] with decent scope [$300-1000] with at least 200 rounds. If you have the budget for them, these are the better options. They are both well respected for good reasons. Having a scope allows you to reach out further.
- Lee Enfield with iron sights. Sporterised versions to my eye look ugly but they go pretty cheap second hand [$200-300] for something decent. Iron sights are inherently more difficult at longer ranges to shoot. At least 200 rounds also. The downsides are ammo is harder to come by, the upsides are the ex-military gear, the cheapness of clips [to reload quickly]. It's not an ideal weapon compared to what's available but it's reliable and will get you something useful for very little money if budget is an issue.
2. .22 rifle, typically bolt action
- Again there's lots of options here but basically you want a rifle that is cheap to shoot and will teach you the skills and get you the experience of shooting whilst not costing you a lot of money. .22 goes for about 10c/shot and .308 for about $1.50/shot. So it's easy to see you can shoot a lot more .22 for the experience. I'm not convinced that a .22 is essential, I sure wouldn't be letting people know where I am in a SHTF situation but I a convinced it is a practical tool for learning. Something that is important today. You can pick up pretty decent ones for around $400 second hand. With all firearms there is no limit to your spend.
Reloading Gear
- realistically reloading your own ammo is the only way to go here in Australia. The budget is going to get a hit to get going and you will want to save your brass and try to source extra brass so that you can reload. Even if you don't start reloading and buy ammo, keep all of your spent brass until such time as you do. You can't reload .22 of course but anything bigger you can. Even spending wisely you will need at least $500 to get going when you consider powder, primers, bullets and brass.
-If I were starting again, I'd get a Sporterised Enfield, 200 rounds and reloading gear enough to do 1000. - $300+350+850=$1500
2. Water
You can't live long without water and it is arguably the prep least worked on and yet most needed. One of the main reason it isn't worked on is it also takes up the most space. I can easily have 2 months of food in 3x 20 litre buckets and for water you would need four times the space. Regardless it is cheap and a good and important start to prepping. Start with a weeks worth of water which is 28liters of water/person and expand from there. I STILL have to get more water personally.
-If I were starting again, I'd get 2 weeks worth in bottles or containers. Aldi have 10L containers for $4, I'd get 6 for a total of $24
3. Food
I'd first start with stocking up with most of what you would need for 2-3 weeks worth in addition to your normal shopping. We're not talking fresh veggies here but imagine you were going away camping for a few weeks and you had to go to the supermarket and grab what you will need for that time. Get the normal foods you eat and then simply replenish what you use over time. Keep looking for specials and buy your normal 3-4 weeks worth when you see them. The idea here is having 2-3 weeks of normal foods at all times, even on shopping day.
Bulk goods - Having lots of 'Beans and rice' [and other items] is the next stage. We're looking to build up stores so we have a cheap and practical supply of food that lasts and lasts. They have to be stored correctly and this means kept cool, dry, dark, and without oxygen. This can be done in many containers that are sealed and the oxygen can be purged with a tea-candle before you put the lid on. Oxygen absorbers and mylar are more expensive but are a good way also. You'll want at least 3 months, enough time for the first crops to come through, though having more will give you much more leeway and safety.
-If I were starting again, I'd get a couple of weeks of normal food in cans and normal items I buy first. $120
4. First aid
As with most things in prepping there's no end to how far you can take things. A starting point is having a decent first aid kit. Many people these days don't even have that at home. Knowledge here is very important, as per the old adage 'First do no harm'. Even over the counter medicine can be very practical and helpful. If you've ever had a head-ache and not had a panadol you know what I mean.
-If I were starting again, I'd get a basic first aid kit and some cheap over the counter medicines $30
5. Equipment
Basic tools are a good start, as are gardening equipment, communications [at least a wind-up radio!] and so on. If I were starting again, I would get a wind-up radio. You'll need ways of cooking, ways of lighting, items to make repairs and secure areas.
- if I were starting again, I'd get a wind up radio, propane camping gear, tea candles, rope - $100
far easier to stash a laptop and memory stick, and a few dozen books ^_^ (solar is something im working on, to power my devices should i need them)
tia ^_^
