For more than 25 years, this column was written by a man who had forgotten more about firearms than I will ever know, a man who was a glider pilot who flew into France in 1944, a member of the Army Corps of Engineers and who was later a soldier of fortune who saw service in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
He passed away in February 2019 at the age of 96 and I, as his boss of 16 years and friend of 32 years, took over this column. Lord willing and the creek doesn’t rise, I will continue to write this column, but the focus will not be as much on firearms and such. I will write about the things I believe to be in the best interests of the readers of this publication. Yes, there will be some firearms stuff to tell about, but I want to pass along what I think to be helpful information. So, with all that in mind …
Ammunition prices have settled (for now) at a level that is about 40 percent higher than they were in early 2020, in the Pre-COVID days. Given inflation and three years of time, the prices are not bad. I have said it before and I will say it again: Try to end up with at least 1,000 rounds for each caliber firearm you have and with 10,000 rounds of the caliber firearm you shoot the most or have the most of. For Modern Sporting Rifles and AK’s, I would try to end up with a minimum of 2,000 rounds. Even if you never fire them, bullets are a commodity when times are really bad since you can always turn bullets into food or other goods if the world goes south. Pray and hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.
In the way of a “life hack” … seriously, take care of yourself. A broken sheepdog can’t do everything he needs to do for his sheep. Law enforcement officer suicides happen more often than line of duty deaths. Find healthy outlets for your emotional stress — exercise, personal quiet time, pursuing something higher than yourself. Do those kinds of things, often. For financial stress, set up a budget and stick to it, diligently. And don’t think about adding a second job without first considering the cost. A person’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
Stay safe out there, and stay well.
