Four Firearms Every Family Should Own: When the World Comes Crashing Down, Protect You and Yours

Associated Content ^ | 10/10/2008 | Loran Montgomery

[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.

[SkyDancer]

.32 Beretta pistol

.45 Springfield 1911A1 pistol

30-30 Winchester Model 94 lever action

12ga. Winchester Defender pump.

IMHO

[tnlibertarian]

bfl

[cowboyway]

When the SHTF this will be my bug out group:

1) AR-15
2) M1A
3) 1911/XD

[FBRhawk]

9mm = .45 set on stun.

[Domandred]

Did my own blog post months ago about the four firearms, in a $1000 budget. This is what I had in order:

Shotgun - Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 - $175 (less if shopped)
Pistol - Kel-Tec PF-9 - $270 (slightly used)
Rifle – Mossberg ATR - $300 (new)
Rifle – Remington 10/22 - $250 (new)

Total ~$995

[antiRepublicrat]

I don’t see anything good for long-range hunting of game the size of deer and up. No 30.06 or something else in that class.

Also, a Marlin is a better choice than the 10/22. It’s the most plentiful .22 rifle in the world with over 10 million sold, so parts are very easy to come by. It also carries 18 rounds.

[Billthedrill]

Mmmm....zombies! BTT.

[ataDude]

Unfortunately, I sold every one of mine years ago.

[Terabitten]

Actually he does mention wheelguns and says they are too hard to reload.

Actually, that's not what he says in the article. He says, quote: "I would not recommend a revolver because any revolver requires more practice to reload quickly than most people are willing to give." He didn't say it was hard, he said it was hard to do as quickly as a semiauto.

[Richard Kimball]

He mentions revolvers, but comes down in favor of a semi-auto for the speed of reloading. Since he kept the list to four weapons, I could come down on either side of the revolver/semi-auto. Revolvers don't jam like a semi-auto, but do take longer to reload.

I don't know how long this has been out, but a couple of other Freeps and I have posted very similar lists in the last few days. Where we varied from him was that we said have a revolver and a semi pistol, revolver in the .357 range and the pistol in .40 or .45, we also recommended a .22 pistol. A couple of guys recommended something in a .223, as if it's really an end of civilization scenario, most of the ammo available will probably be stuff scavanged from NATO or UN sources.

Whether bolt or semi-auto on the rifle is not a huge consideration to me. I have semi-auto, so will stick to it. If I had bolt, I'd stick to it.

[PROSOUTH]

I’m in middle TN and the Walmart’s are stripped of guns and Ammo (ALL)This may be another case of to little to late for many in the preparation dept.

I’m also in law enforcement and have no problem with home defense, it is the law of the land IMHO. The level of action needing a weapon will be when the food runs out, those out of food, with or without weapons, will come for those with food and their weapons; those with the defense weapons will defend their food supply and family. I hope it never comes to this but in the situation at hand we never know.

[Kryptonite]

bump for later

[stevio]

I couldn’t agree more with this article.

[OKSooner]

What you said.

Exactly what you said, as a matter of fact.

I'll take a pump shotgun, .357 revolver, .30-06 bolt-action and a nice, high quality Kimber .22 myself.

Basic, easy to clean and maintain, they'll shoot any ammo ('specially the revolver(s)) and difficult to break.

AND THEY DON'T GO FLINGING YOUR EMPTIES ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN YOU GO SHOOTING!

(JMHO. YMMV.)

[ottbmare]

I have all those already. But now I’m bored.

[randomhero97]

I'm actually selling my AR and getting this:

PTR91SC

I want something with a little more knock down power.

[Terabitten]

A couple of guys recommended something in a .223, as if it's really an end of civilization scenario, most of the ammo available will probably be stuff scavanged from NATO or UN sources.

My end-of-civilization rifle is a .223, for exactly that reason.

[willgolfforfood]

The shotgun is a great tip, but for smaller and/or more dainty women, perhaps a 20 gauge would be more realistic. For home defense, if your lady has to plug a perp from 15 or 20 feet, a direct hit with a shot gun will put the guy down, and I mean DOWN, even if it’s a “mere” 20 G. And the recovery time will make it much easier to get that next shot ready to go, for small women.

[AFreeBird]

I guess I’m covered then.

[Richard Kimball]

Shotgun--Winchester Defender
.22 pistol--Any of several Ruger models
30.06 --I like Remington
.45 --Glock model 29
.22 Rifle -- Remington nylon stock
Revolver -- S&W Model 36 (small enough to conceal. Only used for close range defense anyway.)