My questions is why wouldn't something lime ammo be considered more valuable? In the US at least, you have fairly standard calibers, most rifles are going to be .308 or .223, and a couple others. A 30-round magazine of .223 carries much more value than a gold bar, so why would anyone value that brick more than that magazine of ammunition? Once you get into a scenario where you're having to barter for goods, you're not having an organized system of governance. I see some comments about fleeing wartorn for stable ones, but I'm asking in the context of an end-of-government type scenario.