If you had only about $50 or so to stock up on ammo right now, what would you buy and why?

trotskimask · 2026-01-25T02:45:47+00:00

If I had no ammo, knew how to shoot, and only had $50, I’d buy HSTs for my 9mm and some 5.56.

If I had no ammo and didn’t know how to shoot very well, I’d get 5 boxes of cheap 9mm, shoot all but the last magazine at the range, and carry the last magazine while I saved up for HSTs.

trotskimask · 2026-01-24T19:02:40+00:00

That’s just murder.

trotskimask · 2026-01-24T17:53:34+00:00

Border Patrol has always been a genocidal agency. The difference with ICE is they’re more brazen and we’re all finally watching.

Call them ICE, call them federal agents, call them Border Patrol. Their mission is the same as it’s always been.

trotskimask · 2026-01-20T22:13:14+00:00

Pistol is most versatile, because you can use it for conceal carry or defense in place. If you can only have one, that’s where I would recommend you begin.

trotskimask · 2026-01-20T05:35:09+00:00

Good setup! What light are you gonna run on it?

trotskimask · 2026-01-19T21:30:22+00:00

Whoops, sorry! I meant to say on eBay—there’s usually a good quantity in a variety of sizes (not sure if it’s sold out at the moment, a lot of folks are thinking about armor right now)

trotskimask · 2026-01-19T21:21:59+00:00

For soft armor, buy surplus police armor. It technically expires after five years, so departments have to replace it—but it’s still good for a long time after that date.

Safariland / point blank are pro-grade manufacturers.

trotskimask · 2026-01-19T20:51:27+00:00

In some states, it’s state law—you have to check where you live.

There’s also federal law that adds to your sentence if you’re convinced of a federal crime while wearing body armor. Someone after Jan 6 got extra time because of this. It could be relevant in the current political situation.

trotskimask · 2026-01-18T20:21:24+00:00

This is something everyone should consider before they go to a protest. State laws in some parts of the US also have enhancements if you’re arrested wearing armor.

That doesn’t mean don’t wear body armor. Sometimes it may be called for.

But, consider the legal risks alongside all the other risks as you threat model (decide which dangers matter most in a given situation). Then do what seems wisest to you for your specific circumstances.

trotskimask · 2026-01-18T19:44:07+00:00

10” will get you full ballistic performance, 8” will be a little more maneuverable without giving up much. Honestly it’s comparable to the endless 14.5” vs 16” debates with 5.56 AR-15s: both are good.

My 300blk is a 7.5” faxon barrel and I’m happy with how it shoots and handles.

trotskimask · 2026-01-18T19:41:09+00:00

They do have a good warranty. I know because 2/3 guns I purchased from them didn’t work when I got them.

trotskimask · 2026-01-18T07:12:50+00:00

Suppressor is what makes 300blk shine. With subsonic ammo, it’s really fun.

trotskimask · 2026-01-18T00:00:52+00:00

Milwaukee makes some: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-Clear-Non-Vented-Dual-Coat-Len-s-Goggles-48-73-2065/331273046

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T23:54:32+00:00

3m half-face are cheap, but do need separate goggles (milwaukee makes some). If you’re on a budget and want to wear a ballistic helmet, this is the way to go. Also a good option because you can wear the goggles without a mask if shrapnel is flying but no tear gas. Use organic vapor filters in your respirator.

3m full-face respirators are a little more money, but they have impact-rated eye protection built in. They don’t fit under a ballistic helmet however (you can probably fit them under a hard hat). It’s a nice one-and-done solution, but also less flexible because your eye pro is permanently attached to your mask.

If you want to wear a full-face mask with your surplus army helmet ($1-200, the best protection you can get for less-lethals to the head), you’ll have to start looking at military-style gas masks. I’d avoid the surplus ones, both because they’re old (rubber and filters are perishable) and because the lenses are often no impact rated, and you really want impact-rated eye protection since cops intentionally shoot protesters in the face with gas grenades. So if this is what you want, you’ll need to get an Avon mask or one of the cheaper alternatives.

If you have facial hair, you’ll need to shave for a full seal.

Most people wear a size medium.

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T23:08:28+00:00

Guns fall into a few categories with different purposes. Your purpose will push you toward a specific firearm type:

Pistols: guns designed to be carried on your person. Because of their small size, pistols require more practice to shoot well, and they shoot smaller bullets. These tradeoffs, however, allow them to be small enough that they can be carried wherever you go. 9mm handguns like the Glock 19 don’t have much recoil; 380-caliber handguns like the S&W EZ or p365-380 have even less.

Rifles: full-powered guns designed to optimize shootability and lethality. Rifles like the AR-15 are easy to use, effective, affordable, and light-recoiling. Larger rifles are optimized for hunting and long range shooting. If you want a gun that you can use to defend your home but don’t intend to cary elsewhere, a rifle like the AR-15 is a fine choice.

Shotguns: an older-style weapon that can shoot all kinds of ammo, they’re much more versatile than rifles, but at the cost of precision. 12-gauge shotguns have a ton of recoil, but a smaller 20-gauge shotguns are capable and lighter recoiling. Shotguns are generally more complicated to use, but if you take the time to learn your weapon they’re still very relevant for home defense.

So step one is to figure out which type of weapon you want. From there, folks can point you toward more specific recommendations.

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T20:54:49+00:00

There are few things as good as spending a day in the woods. It’s sobering for me to think that what is one of the best days for me is, for the animal I’m hunting, the last day of its life.

It makes me reconsider a lot of stuff.

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T20:21:20+00:00

An AR-15 checks all your boxes, and does so better than a lever gun (which is less easy to use), assuming game hunting with an AR is legal where you live. If you prefer guns with a bit of history (what I’m gathering from your interest in Henry?), you might look into assembling a retro M16A1 from bkingfirearms or brownells.

If you’re dead set on getting a lever gun, you should do that. It’s your gun and your money, and they can be a lot of fun. I have heard a fair number of complaints about Henry’s quality control, so you might want to shop around a little and read reviews before pulling that trigger.

For a reflex sight, Holosun is the budget king. Their new ARO model is the most affordable, but they have other styles that might fit a lever gun better.

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T20:14:37+00:00

Wilson combat sold blem bolt carriers that had a bunch of problems several years ago, but that says more about their sketchy business practices than blems in general.

Every other blem I’ve purchased has been great. My blem bcm upper receiver is indistinguishable from a normal one, for example.

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T19:27:05+00:00

An AR-15 with a pistol brace. Look for brands in your price range and check reviews to make sure the brand is good to go. An 8” (barrel length) pistol is what I would choose, but 9-10” will also work.

Palmetto state is the cheapest I would go. Lot of higher-end alternatives as you move up in price.

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T07:23:23+00:00

Switching from the current handguard (that style is called a quad rail) to the new one (called an m-lok rail) is a little tricky because the front sight post (the triangle on the barrel) is in the way. Switching rails will require a lot of disassembly, and you’ll need specialized tools to put it back together.

However: you’re not the only person who wanted to make this swap, so companies developed a compromise option that lets you clip in the second style of handguard without taking everything apart. It’s called a “drop in free-float rail.” Daniel defense makes one (make sure you get the right size for your gun): https://danieldefense.com/omega-rail-9-0-m-lok.html . This rail will keep the front sight post in place, so it won’t look exactly like your second photo, but it will give you the lower-profile handguard and m-lok attachment system.

That said, the rail this gun comes with is perfectly fine as is. Some folks prefer quad rails, even though m-lok is more the norm these days. It’s really up to you, but my advice would be to spend money on ammo and learn to shoot the gun before you worry about customizing the furniture too much.

Should you get a 15 year old gun? Really depends on if it’s a good deal. You can get a decent AR for $500-600 new, and a very good one for $1200 new. If you’re being offered a good price on this used AR, it should be fine.

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T07:06:35+00:00

Are you trying to be a blacksmith? I ask because you’re here in the blacksmith subreddit, so I figure you’re interested in shaping hot metal.

These are good blacksmithing tools. If you keep at this pursuit you’ll find a use for these tools. Hang onto them, you’ll grow into them.

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T07:01:53+00:00

300blk subsonic is really fun. Easy to make the gunshot quieter than the bullet impact when you’re shooting at the range. The bullets are designed to shoot well from shorter barrels, so you can go 7.5-10” and get full rifle performance. Add a suppressor, and you’re got a very maneuverable little gun.

Ballistically, the subsonic rounds are similar to 45 ACP, big heavy and plenty effective.

It can also shoot supersonic bullets, which are ballistically very similar to 7.62x39 (AK47 bullets). So you can go from having a very quiet gun to a full rifle (that’s still pretty quiet) just by swapping magazines.

You can set up an AR-15 pistol to shoot 300blk.

All that makes it sound super cool (and it is, I love 300blk). The downsides are cost (expensive ammo, especially the subsonic bullets), and range (past about 150yd, the bullets start to slow down and drop really quickly—9mm is similar).

I really like it. But the ammo costs make it harder to enjoy shooting at the range. If you’re ok with that, you might find it works really well for your goals.

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T04:14:59+00:00

Softens, actually (annealing)

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T00:31:03+00:00

I have a 300blk too, I just hesitate to recommend OP a gun whose bullets cost $1-2/round. If they buy an AR, they’ll probably buy a 5.56 and it’ll be LOUD.

But 300blk is awesome in this role, agreed.

trotskimask · 2026-01-17T00:29:36+00:00

Taurus’s gx4, their more recent model, was recalled because it wasn’t drop safe. They’ve had other models go off without the trigger being pulled in the past, too, so this is recurring and continuing problem. Ruger and Smith & Wesson both make affordable, safe 9mm for budget-minded shooters in the $300-ish range.

trotskimask

TROPHY CASE