Survival Shotgun Build - ATI shotshell holder

Perhaps the strictest limitation on the venerable 12-gauge is limited ammunition capacity. My Mossberg 500 defender holds 5+1 - and even with the SideSaddle installed, capacity is increased to 10+1. Compare this to a .22, for example, where you can carry a couple dozen rounds in your pocket without even feeling the weight. To compensate, I have decided to add an ATI shotshell holder to the outside of my buttstock.

 The ATI kit includes the shotshell holder, six mounting screws, and a template for drilling.

 Position the template as you see fit.

 Used a nail and a hammer to mark the drill holes.

 Drill the mounting holes out with a 7/64" drill bit.

 The screws mount up easily with a regular screw-driver.

 Fully mounted. Start to finish, this took me about 7 minutes.

The finished product matches my polymer shotgun perfectly. Now, if I have to "bug out", I have 15 rounds of ammo. An excellent upgrade for a low price and easy install!

The Other Other Survival Handgun

A while back we discussed having an alternate caliber handgun for backup. One excellent choice that we didn't mention is the Smith and Wesson M&P 22. Chambered in 22LR, this weapon can share ammo with your survival rifle of the same caliber, uses one of the most plentiful and cheap rounds available, holds 12 rounds, and is virtually indestructible. Worth consideration, despite its meager 40-gr. bullet.

Prep Plannig - Top Ten

The Other Survival Handgun

Few weapons can compete with the Glock 19 as a survival handgun, but we recommend that everyone own a small, concealable weapon in an alternative caliber. The logic behind this is that in a survival situation you might not be able to get your hands on your preferred caliber. The two most popular handgun calibers are probably 9mm and 40S&W, if only because those calibers service the vast majority of government small arms. Assuming a primary G19, you might want an M&P Shield in .40 as your back up piece. Another alternative is .380ACP (9mm kurtz). This ammo has the disadvantage of being far less common than either of the previous two calibers, but the advantage of being in far less demand in a large scale SHTF scenario. M&P Shield below: