Being able to rebuild an engine or perform basic surgery requires a fair amount of training.

Most preppers understand that fact.

This is when there may be the need to defend not only property but loved ones.

Shown here is a prepper with Springfield SAINT rifle as he pulls his canoe out of the river. Complete prepping involves preparing for a wide range of threats — from job loss to major catastrophe. Firearms are a realistic portion of comprehensive preparations.

Complete prepping involves preparing for a wide range of threats — from job loss to major catastrophe. Firearms are a realistic portion of comprehensive preparations.

Firearms also require a great deal of responsibility, and that means following laws and regulations.

Being prepared doesnt exempt anyone from local, state, and federal firearms laws.

Nor does fear for home and personal safety mean that laws can or should ever be broken.

Shown in this digital photograph is a sealed surplus ammunition container with Russian writing on it. It holds 440 rounds of 7.62x39 ammunition for long term storage.

Surplus ammunition can be an affordable way to stockpile ammo for difficult times. So-called “spam cans” are specifically intended for long term storage. They tend to be available in just a few calibers.

That being said, even many responsible firearms owners still lack anything resembling defensive shooting skills.

Preppers need to know how to deal withshooting in low-lightconditions as well as foul weather.

The fact remains that bad things are all the more likely to happen when the sun isnt shining.

Shown here is Richard Johnson, the managing editor of The Armory Life, shooting a Springfield Armory Emissary 1911 pistol. The Springfield 1911 is a modern version of the M1911 pistol used by the United States of America.

Owning a gun is only part of the equation. You should invest in quality firearms training and practice regularly to gain proficiency.

Whether the threat is from humans or animals, it can easily happen at night.

Yet, that should be still seen as the absolute bare minimum, and doing less is never advisable.

If youre counting on your firearms, youll want them to be clean and ready.

This photo is of a woman drawing a Springfield Hellcat OSP from a CCW holster. The woman is wearing denim blue jeans, a pullover blouse and a red suit jacket. She is also wearing a black leather belt. The strong side outside the waistband holster is made of Kydex.

Prepping can include the ability to deal with seemingly common threats including muggers. You are more likely to encounter one of these threats than a complete breakdown of civilization, so preparing for it is a good idea.

That brings us to the next point.

Preppers should know how to field strip as in take apart and put back together all of their firearms.

This can ensure that every part is in working order and gets the TLC required.

In this photograph, we see Richard Johnson, the Managing Editor of The Armory Life, with a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol. The semi-automatic pistol is perfect for self-defense and personal protection. Richard Johnson is wearing a ballcap hat and a weatherproof jacket. It is raining.

Major storms — such as hurricanes and tornados — can disrupt communities. Violent felons may take advantage of these situations as they know that law enforcement response can be extremely delayed.

It may also not be a bad idea to consider the calibers of your firearms.

While you might have a variety of guns in the arsenal, it is worth considering the calibers.

Without a supply of ammunition, a rifle is just a club or with a bayonet, a spear!

In this full color photograph we see a Springfield sa-35 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a Hoppe’s cleaning kit. The gun and the kit are sitting on a large cleaning map that has a political map of the Earth on it. The sa-35 is based on the original P-35 handgun designed by John Moses Browning. The gun is better known as the Browning Hi Power. It is a single-action firearm that many people say is superior to the M1911A1.

A cleaning kit should already be in your shooting supplies. Consider adding additional cleaning supplies to your inventory for times when these things may not be as readily available.

Many basicgunsmith toolscan also be used to service firearms.

With the addition of a few specialty tools, preppers will be ready to service their firearms.

Of course, preventative maintenance only goes so far.

Shown are gunsmith tools. In this photo we see Wheeler Engineering punches that were specially designed for for gunsmith work. They make it easier to repair guns or upgrading them with new parts like triggers and sights.

Many shooters are capable of undertaking basic gunsmithing tasks. The various tasks are made easier when you have the right tools like these punches specifically made for firearms work.

Things will break over time, and when they break someone needs to repair them.

Thats why John BrowningsM1911is still being produced its truly a timeless design.

Professionals know how to operate tools like drills and lathes.

Shown in this photo is a man installing the magazine release on an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO. Learning how to build a firearm from an 80% lower can help you with basic gun repair skills later.

Replacing parts on a firearm is generally easy to do. Learning how to build an AR-15 today can give you the skills to repair one in tough times.

However, hobbyists can get by with learning how to rivet and correctly form a spring.

A lot has been written about handloading so there isnt the need to go into the hows or whys.

The key is that it does not require a huge sum of money to get started.

In this photo, we see where a prepper disassembled a Springfield 9mm pistol. We see the trigger assembly, slide stop, pins and other parts next to the polymer frame.

Guns like the Springfield Hellcat are relatively easy to work on. Having a good set of screwdrivers and punches will help you accomplish many, if not most, tasks.

For a few hundred dollars, you’ve got the option to acquire solid tools and supplies.

Of special note is the Classic Lee Loader.

The kits cost less than $50 often less than $40 not including the component costs.

Here we see the various parts of a centerfire pistol cartridge. The bullet is a Hornady XTP hollow point bullet, ball smokeless powder, a brass case and a Boxer small pistol primer.

Centerfire cartridges consist of four parts. Shown here theparts of a cartridge: the bullet, powder, case and primer.

Go to forum thread

Lee Precision, Inc.Classic Lee Loader

HellcatSeries

In this photograph, we see three different bottles of smokeless powder developed for handgun cartridges. We see smokeless powder for reloading cartridges from Alliant Powder, Hodgdon and Accurate. Each formulation offers different benefits.

Smokeless powder is a critical component for reloading cartridges. It’s something that cannot be recycled or made by a hobbyist. If you don’t stock up on it, your reloading efforts will be short-lived.

Lee Precision, Inc. Classic Lee Loader

Hellcat® Series

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