Dear Sir,
When stockpiling ammo, should one focus on FMJ and soft nose/hollow points or FMJ only? FMJ is a better value per bullet, plus it’s supposed to be a lot more accurate and reliable than SP/HP, but of course, it sometimes comes at the cost of stopping power.
I’m packing a semi-auto in 308/7.62×51, and to my knowledge, there haven’t been many complaints about the stopping power of the 7.62×51 ball cartridge in military circles; many complaints come mainly from the kick and weight. Add to that the fact that after TEOTWAWKI, shooting through cover and mass fire will become the norm and FMJs look pretty appealing. Not to mention the fact that most bulk sizes of ammo only come in FMJ.
I’ve been stocking both so far, but with money getting a bit tight, I’m looking at switching over to just FMJs, so is this a good idea? Your input is appreciated.
Oh, one more thing: Do you know of any places that offer tracer rounds and which brands are the good ones? My rifle bolt doesn’t lock back when the magazine is empty, so I’m wanting to emulate the fictional Doug Carlton from Patriots.
Sincerely, – D.S.C.
JWR Replies:
As with all of your other preps, balance is the key. There is no point in buying all premium ammo. Logic dictates that you will need some inexpensive ammo for target practice and some “middling” quality ammo, for barter.
For handguns I current recommend this mix: 80% jacketed hollow points (JHPs), 18% FMJ (aka “ball”), and 2% exotics (tracers, frangible, KTW or Arcane AP, etc.)
For most military caliber rifles I currently recommend this mix: 70% FMJ, 10% spire point soft nose, 10% Match (preferably HPBT), 5% AP, and 5% exotics (such as tracer, incendiary and API.)
For most civilian (hunting) caliber rifles I currently recommend this mix: 90% soft nose, 5% Match (preferably HPBT), and 5% AP handloads, if bullet weights, bullet diameters, and bullet point styles are compatible with pulled military AP bullets. Note, for example, you cannot use pointed bullets in tubular magazine lever action rifles, even if the bore diameter and bullet weight is correct.
Some of my favorite ammo sources are:
Dan’s Ammo,
Lucky Gunner,
Sunflower Ammo,
Cheaper Than Dirt,
UNAC
and Keep Shooting.
I also buy some ammo directly from manufacturers, mostly here in the American Redoubt. I recommend:
Black Hills Ammunition,
BVAC Ammunition and Components
HSM (aka The Hunting Shack)
Buffalo Bore Ammunition
and Patriot Firearms and Munitions
Oh, and by the way, SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson recently mentioned that one of his favorite sources is BulkAmmo.com. (They currently have a good deal on Federal 5.56 ball.)
The Talon brand tracer ammo is decent, but given the uneven burning of the tracing composition, the accuracy of virtually all tracer ammo accuracy will never be quite comparable to military ball. The Lake City arsenal tracer ammo is excellent, but it is hard to find. The last time I checked, Lucky Gunner had some, as did UNAC.
There is a great on-line reference site now available, for comparison pricing: Ammo-Seek.com. Be sure to check it out!