Posted on 02/19/2009 1:32:54 PM PST by terabyte
Given the instability of the world today and the very real possibility of worldwide economic collapse, let us accept that every family should own at least one firearm. There are more reasons, of course, and those have been discussed ad nausaeum on more websites than could possibly benamed here. Since our budgets will allow most of us to own only a few (or potentially just one) firearm, we should choose wisely.
The criteria is simple. The firearm must be very simple to operate. Ammunition must be plentiful, even in a scenario in which law enforcement and traditional retail markets have broken down. The firearm must be inexpensive, versatile, and be completely reliable. Each of the four firearms listed below has good marks in each of those five categories. There are too many excellent firearms on the market to compromise on any of those criteria.
1. The first firearm in any home should be the American standby, the twelve-gauge pump shotgun. There are numerous makes and models on the market, but the best is the venerable Remington 870. With easy-to-change barrels, it can switch duty from defending the home to putting food on the table in less than a minute. With the ability to fire a wide variety of birdshot, buckshot, and slugs, it can handle hunting duties from all but the smallest of small game up to deer-sized animals. Its stopping power is legendary. There is very little this shotgun cannot do. Buy one inexpensive 870 for around $250, and then simply purchase an extra barrel or two for the ultimate in versatility.
2. The second firearm in a home should be a high-quality pistol. The pistol should be in a caliber no smaller than 9mm Parabellum. Anything smaller than that is simply ineffective for anything other than target practice.
(Excerpt) Read more at associatedcontent.com ...
“A gunsmith can fix that and make it easy to pull.”
Really?! Do they have gunsmiths at large shooting ranges do you think? Or do I need to go to the Yellow Pages, LOL!
“4. Mosin Nagant 91/30 (for that long range, reach out and plug someone ability.”
Not to mention that they are dirt cheap one for each member of the family is not unaffordable. Stock up on extra ammo which is also reasonable priced
If you don’t have a family, get you some of those photo frames from Walmart and K-mart. Leave the the pictures of people in em until you get yourself a family. =)
My Marlin is 37 years old and is still working perfectly.
I've found that every five hundred rounds or so it's good to hose off the action with cleaner.
If you purchase detachable mags for your SKS (like I have done), take each one out and use it, to be sure it functions properly. Both of the thirty rounders I purchased (metal, never plastic) needed a bit of file tweaking to work properly every time. Youy load two thirty rounders up for stand-by and you’re good to go. I bought a paratrooper model years ago and have put two or three thousand rounds through it and it is just like the first time I took it out with the ‘after market’ polymer stock. The SKS is a tremendously durable and functional rifle. With well tuned detachable mags I would match it to any non-Soviet AK.
When you start adding more zeroes and decimal points to calibers, it indicates that’s the correct size.
The Remington is simply a .44 and the Zouave is a .58.
Then I'll truly be a Sovereign Individual...
I have no objection to anything on the list but I’d add a high power rifle - something with a little more punch than 5.56 or 7.62x39. Maybe an M1A or FAL if the cash is there or a $300 Yugo Mauser for the budget conscious.
An SKS or M4 will keep the wolf from the door but a .308 will also keep the bear out of the bedroom.
There ya have it! You can get this firearm in several makes and models, it is very versatile, and may set you back a little as a few hundred bucks, less if purchased used..
Give 'er a go, and don't forget the 4 basic rules of firearm safety.
Not to sound dumb but a .38 special is a pistol or revolver or 9mm?
Never mind, I just went to Wikipedia and it looks like a revolver. Will check it out. Thanks!
Come to think of it, my Remington 870 12 Gauge will do the same thing. LOL
I just wanted to thank all of you that have taken the time to give me some suggestions and I am going to take all of them seriously and try my hands on them.
Again, thanks!
What about a shotgun for the small female who BTW is left handed: Remington for the Youth
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/youth/
What brand of stock is on those?
1. A .22LR pistol will prove more useful than a .22LR rifle in an apocalyptic scenario.
2. I'm weary of the AK being presented as the most reliable long arm ever devised. It's hardly the case, though some can indeed be very reliable. Many of the post-ban/no-ban AKs in modern times can't hold a candle to the old pre-ban imports in fit, finish, reliability, or accuracy -- even many of the recent builds made using domestic US receivers and small parts. I have seen many AKs that have cycling problems and also have seen those that have been shown to break small parts.
3. I disagree with the author's choice of automatics over revolvers for his reasoning stated. Of course, I don't really know how he's imagining this SHTF world he starts his article by premise where he thinks he needs to shoot and miss and reload faster with a 9mm bullet than to hit convincingly the first time at longer range with a 310gr .44 Magnum.
4. For 'high-powered rifle', he chose one that is 'moderately high-powered' with generally unreloadable ammunition. Personally, at the price that a lot of ARs and AKs are at this time (though I realize that he wrote this article very shortly before the Obama firearms market panic when prices were much lower), he might have looked at an accurized bolt-action with quality optics that would serve a fellow lots better in this 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome' scenario that he's got bouncing around inside his head. I think that if I could have one high-powered rifle, it would be a Sako TRG-42 in .300 WinMag with a NightForce scope. Why choose an AK that splatters bullets on an area the size of a 50 gallon drum at 300 yards when you could have a rifle that would shoot the top hat off Abraham Lincoln at 1000 yards? In a truly SHTF world, you want to be a rifleman.
5. Finally, wiser and more notable men than this fellow have made more useful lists along the same lines.
The SKS is an inexpensive alternative. I’m getting a composite stock for mine.
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