[Chuckster]

Exactly. It’s not about what you have in the basement or garage. It’s what you can carry on foot that counts. Try loading up with basic survival gear including three days rations and water plus a rifle and just 60 rounds of .308 in loaded magazines and see how far you can walk in a morning. (Don’t over do it)

When I was 18 it was hard and I was grateful when I was given the little plastic rifle. Sure, it would break in half if you tried a butt stroke with it or used the stock to break your fall like they taught you with the M14, but you could carry 20 loaded magazines easily and the rifle felt light as a feather...at first.

[niteowl77]

When I was my mid-50's, I could still tote all my 72-hour ES gear and a bit extra, but I could not do it now without problems. The thought of doing it along with a heavy long arm and a couple hundred rounds of either full-power rifle rounds or 12 gauge buckshot loads is not appealing.

I'm to the point where I don't really enjoy carrying or shooting a long, heavy rifle firing a full-power cartridge... even under ideal conditions. I've never been a big fan of AR-based rifles/carbines, but now that I'm a senior citizen, I do appreciate them more than I used to.

[yarddog]

I am 71 and not in the best of health. I also live way out in the country. I have no intention of leaving my home even in the event that some ferals make it this far out.

Now if I were warned beforehand, I would certainly think about sitting in the woods and keep a watch on the house but only for short periods. At night I would depend on my mutt giving warning.