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I’ve got an older Marlin 989 22 rifle, a Stag Model 1, and a Bersa Thunder 380. I’m looking to sell the Marlin because I just can’t get it working quite right and I think that for the investment it would take to get it working right I could go and buy a Ruger 10/22 and be done with it. I also plan on getting a Taurus PT1911 for when the SHTF. I think the 1911 paired with the Stag should prove sufficient for one of those moments. However, I’m trying to convince my lady that we should get a shotgun as well, but she’s already not too crazy about the 3 guns in the house now...

I’ll add a concern for the budget conscious. If you’re seriously considering a weapon for a SHTF scenario and you don’t want to spend over $1200.00 for a rifle and shotgun, seriously consider a Remington 870 combo gun. This is available in 12 and 20 gauge. I’d get the 12 because the cartridge has more power, but if you have people in your family who are sensitive to recoil, the 20 is a good choice. It is also lighter, in case you had to take it out hunting and had to walk for some time. The ammunition choices are almost equal, with more buckshot loads available for the 12 gauge.

The combo includes a rifled barrel with sights and a 26” or 28” smoothbore barrel. Get the 26”. It’s a little easier to swing. You can get these guns for $400.00 if you shop around.

It comes with a modified choke. Spend $15.00 and get an improved cylinder choke tube for it. This is a better choke for a lot of small game hunting.

Now get a tactical barrel. This is a 20” barrel with a smoothbore so you can shoot buckshot. If you look around, you can get one of these for $125.00, or less, in excellent condition. This is for the 12 gauge, although they make similar barrels for the 20, but they will cost more.

Now get a magazine extension. It costs $40.00 and increases the capacity of the shotgun to seven rounds from five.

You now have a shotgun that can put food on your table. You can attach the 20” smoothbore barrel and use buckshot for close up protection. You can attach the rifled slug barrel and now you have a gun that is accurate and deadly out to 150 yards. It will kill a moose, a deer, a bear, or a two legged predator.

You’ve spent $580.00 and the whole thing will fit in a dresser drawer. Don’t forget the ammunition.

I’ll also add that if you’re really concerned about the world coming to an end, buy yourself a couple of cases of .22 LR cartridges. If the world as we know ended, money and gold would not have worth. Ammunition would. .22s are cheap and compact.