mr fixit said:
Great responses!
Let me clarify now that i've had time to think about it too....
(Snip...)
What would be the minimum equipment load you must have before spending money on an additional weapon?
I try to do things in a methodical way, and prioritize in terms of expense and "potential legal complications."
Currently, full-capacity magazines are easy to obtain for the weapons that have been mentioned here, and prices are good for most of them. Never been better, for some.
They're also, after 10 years of lame BS, once again unrestricted at the Federal level. So even if you live in an unfree state, they can be obtained one way or another. But there is a chance---not a great one at this time, but that could change after the next election---that there will be another stupid law passed that will prohibit their purchase.
So buying "enough" magazines now seems a wise idea.
How many is "enough"? I would say at least a "basic load" worth for each rifle, to be placed in storage after function testing, plus a few for range/training use.
For an AR, that means 7 for a "basic load" (1 in the rifle, 6 in two 3-magazine pouches or a chest carrier) plus another 3 or 4 for range use. Say 12, just to be sure. Used magazines can be had cheaply, but there's a good chance they've been beat on by some 19 year old soldier who didn't care too much about what happened to them. OK for range use, but for the "basic load" I would start with new-in-wrapper US GI magazines. They can be found for around $10 these days.
For an FAL or HK91 I would consider 9 to be a "basic load" (1 in rifle, 8 in four 2-magazine pouches) plus the 3 or 4 for range use. Gunplumber's ammo can idea is a good one; I'm partial to the HK91 and 8 of its magazines will fit in the same can. With an FAL this is about ideal: pack a can with 9 magazines and a small cleaning kit. So, again, about a dozen magazines as the minimum. New-in-wrapper magazines can be found for these rifles for between $5-$10; used ones for as little as $2.
Ammunition is the next critical issue. There isn't an organized effort to ban it, at least not to the extent that there is to ban "assault weapons" and magzines, but it faces at least some threat of restriction and bans. Restrictions on imports of surplus or military-style ammunition are only an Executive Order away. Without ammunition your rifle is useless, so you need at least some on hand.
At minimum, you want at least enough for your "basic load." I would recommend at least a case, per rifle, as your "war reserve," and if at all possible more.. Buying in bulk is the only way to go, and it can't be just a coincidence that there's usually a better price when you buy a 1000 round case... Plus many countries' surplus ammunition is packed for long-term storage, in sealed cans, soldered tins or PVC bags. The problem is finding good quality ammunition, that has been properly stored, at a reasonable price.
What's available changes rapidly. A few years ago Portuguese 7.62mm NATO could be found for under $125/1k delivered; then there was Australian at a good price, and it seems to have dried up... And then there's crap like the Indian stuff, to be avoided at any price. Similar issues with 5.56mm. And there's always domestic GI-like ball, usually at a much higher price, but newer and of a known quality.
Ammunition deals come and go quickly, so the best plan is to be an educated consumer and have enough funds on hand to jump if something good comes along. Watch the sales flyers and websites for the big dealers to see what's available, keep an eye on the ammunition board here and on other sites to see how good the stuff actually is, and when good ammunition at a good price appears, don't want too long before buying as much as you can. There's always a way to get rid of it, after all.
Then there's all the little bits and pieces... Mostly cheap enough that there's no real need to put off purchase, but well enough off the radar that you don't need to worry about bans anytime soon. I would suggest, as the minimum for each rifle, a sling, cleaning kit and muzzle cap.
The sling doesn't need to be an uber-tactical one, just a simple strap ($3 US GI black nylon "silent sling" will do) to keep the rifle in place if you need to use both hands for something. You can always upgrade to a 3-point or such if you feel the need.
For the cleaning kit, some folks like the ones made by Otis with a flexible "rod," others prefer to use GI take-down rods. I would recommend, in either case, that you have both an "at-home" and a "field" cleaning kit: the "at-home" kit is the one you use routinely, with a good commercial one-piece rod to prevent bore damage, and the "field" kit with _new_ rod, _new_ bore and chamber brushes, _new_ cleaning toothbrush and so forth, with a _full_ bottle of oil, jar of grease, etc, package of patches, etc, all inspected and then packed away with the "basic load" magazines and ammunition, so you're not tempted to rob it when the "at-home" supplies run low.
A $0.25 plastic muzzle cap (the US GI one will fit most rifles that have the NATO standard 22mm flash suppressor/grenade launcher) is a very good idea. When you're soaking wet, scared and sleep-deprived, stumbling around in the dark, it is very easy to end up with a muzzle packed full of mud. Not good even if you notice it in time. Stow the cap in the can with the "basic load" and cleaning kit.
