Posted on 07/31/2021 5:05:43 PM PDT by COBOL2Java
I don’t call the pandemic or an ammo shortage an emergency. My emergencies have been personal, not civil, but just the same, memorable.
Folks who have never skinned a deer or used a gambrel have some idea they will live off the land. They may end up dumpster diving.
Canines are stringy, so let’s hope the impending doom doesn’t come anytime soon or some of the folks may be eating dog.
A popular TV show has generated a little different type of collecting.
Several of my friends, normally well balanced, have a small collection of ‘Walking Dead’ guns.
These are firearms that have been sought out because they are ordinary, well-used, rugged firearms that would serve in an emergency.
They look like some of what the good and bad guys and girls on TWD show have dug up. Well, me too. It is a fun thing to collect these old guns.
With that in mind, I took a hard look at a few of the best apocalypse guns.
Whether the emergency is a civil disturbance or a calamity caused by dangerous weather, a sturdy firearm is good to have.
Feral men and animals invading territory they do not normally inhabit is the primary fear.
Zombies are about in the same strata as aliens on my emergency list, so I tend to think more realistically.
That is an old double-barrel at top. The Savage pump-action .22, lower, is almost 100 years old and still functions well.
That’s ok, but you can only carry so much. A simple functional firearm that isn’t likely to go out of whack is important.
You don’t need a trunk full of firearms, you need a versatile few that will accomplish several chores reasonably.
Let’s look at a few good choices beginning with .22 LR rifles. The Ruger 10/22 is just about everyone’s favorite semi-auto .22.
Reliable, accurate and easily upgraded, the Ruger is an affordable, but high-quality, rifle.
The new Winchester Wildcat rifle is an advanced and useful rifle well worth its price.
The Rossi RS22 is more than affordable, it is downright cheap. Yet, it is reliable and useful.
There is nothing wrong with a manually operated .22. The Henry and Rossi lever-action rifles are good choices.
If you own grandpa’s old pump .22, then it may be a lifesaver.
The .22 is useful for small game and even for defense if the bullet is delivered accurately enough.
The author added a Galco sling and ammunition carrier to the Savage .308 rifle.
The lever-action is reliable, accurate enough, and may be chambered in pistol calibers. A self-loader offers an instant backup shot.
I would stress that you do not choose an odd or hard-to-find caliber.
The .204 Ruger is a nice round, but the .223 Remington is far more widely distributed. My personal SHTF rifle is a Savage Scout.
With 10 rounds of powerful .308 on hand, it will solve many problems. A 200-pound animal at 200 yards is its capability.
It will cut through several car doors or light cover like a knife through butter. What it hits stays hit.
If the problem leans more toward gangs and a takeover robbery, there is nothing like the AR.
With a good ammunition reserve and fast handling, the AR is America’s rifle.
These are older shotguns from Savage and Remington. They are worn, but not worn out.
The shotgun may be loaded with birdshot and used to take tiny game weighing a few ounces, such as birds, squirrels and rabbits.
With heavier loads, turkey and duck may be taken.
With slugs and buckshot, the shotgun is remarkably effective against men and beasts at modest range.
Any reliable shotgun, even an old double-barrel, is a great gun for personal defense. A reliable pump-action shotgun is a good bet.
The .38 Special revolver is a reasonable choice for emergency situations.
The situation may be reversed and the pistol becomes the backup in a SHTF scenario.
My choice is a .45 ACP pistol, either a good quality 1911 or the SIG P220.
A .357 Mangum revolver is versatile and useful for those who can fire the Magnum accurately.
For the shooter who doesn’t have time to practice as often as they would like, a .38 Special revolver makes sense.
If you have more than one handgun they should be in the same caliber, just in case.
The author’s double double-barrel shotgun features a ‘custom’ bead front sight.
In an urban environment, a short, light, fast-handling 20-gauge shotgun might be ideal.
A rural area with abundant small game may beg that a quality .22 rifle be chosen.
With longer ranges in an urban environment, the situation would favor a trained marksman.
An urban fight may be unexpected and sometimes against heavy odds. You may need greater ammunition reserve.
A good AR may be the best choice, and the AR with a quality scope isn’t a bad choice in the outback either.
Don’t feel under-gunned if your rifle or shotgun is inexpensive.
If you can use them quickly and safely and hit your target, you are way ahead of most shooters.
The shotgun shell holder, left, and Bianchi UM84, right, are important survival gear.
A good quality belt that holds shotgun shells is something you should own.
My own emergency belt holds 25 Remington 12-gauge shells. That is a good reserve of ammunition.
The Bianchi UM84 holster may be worn on the belt or in a shoulder harness and offers good utility.
Its sturdy fabric construction is nearly immune to the elements. Take a hard look at your ready gear and narrow down the choices.
Hopefully, it won’t be needed in an emergency, but the times do get interesting.
Uh, one of each? Sounds good to me. 😬😱
Mosin Nagant carbine with the bayonet (M44 aka zombie killer) or the M38, no bayonet
“My choice is a .45 ACP pistol, either a good quality 1911 or the SIG P220.”
A 1911? Are you kidding me.
I understand there are enthusiasts who love the design for various reasons, but the fact is it’s a 100 year old design that has been surpassed by modern designs.
A wrist rocket sling shot and a pocket fisherman should be in every survival kit.
Best gun is the one you have ammo for.
I have been playing with a few, because they have been, and are, so inexpensive.
I was able to obtain a few pink ones under the Mossberg 702 label, and they have worked well.
There are several videos on line to improve the trigger with a little effort. The 10 round magazines are available. I prefer several of those to the 25 round magazine.
The current model I would recommend is the RS22L1811TH. It is the black Rossi model with a threaded barrel. I threaded the barrel on one of the 702 rifles, and it worked; however the time and trouble it took was not worth the extra $30 to buy the variant threaded at the muzzle.
That variant is available online for $149 with free shipping. (does not include transfer fee)
.22 rimfire silencers work well and are easy to make. I recommend using the ATF form 1 to do so legally, at least before the zombie apocalypse. The $200 tax is cheap insurance at this time.
You must of been dropped so many times on your head as kid that your parents lost count. My two will outdo anything you bring.
Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range.
It’s the bullet that kills, not the design of the gun.
We currently have for sale a WWI 1911, that is over 100 years old and still works.
How many of these plastic guns will still work 100 years from now?
“Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range.”
“Just what you see here pal.”
5.56mm
More then the steel frame ones.
The problem with ‘modern design’ handguns is that they are too varied, and have too many parts that can break.
The best SHTF handgun is a common caliber that you can fix yourself and for which parts can be found.
I’m going to disagree with some of this. I’d have a Ruger 10-22, an AR-15, a 12 gauge and a 9mm pistol. Forget the revolver. You can’t easily break one down and .38 will not be easy to find once the SHTF. Almost everyone has a 9mm, so you can barter for it, or take it off of an attacker once they’re neutralized. Same with an AR-15. It’s a very popular round and it’ll be much easier to get some more.
An amazingly ignorant comment.
I sincerely doubt it, but we’ll see......
Hey, just what you see, pal!
FReepmail me if you want to be added to or deleted from the list.
More 2nd Amendment related articles on FR's Bang List.
I have a Savage similar to that first .22 but mine has an octagon barrel. At least I’m pretty sure it is a Savage. It is not functional, it belonged to my grandfather who was born in 1888, but died in a house fire in the mid ‘50’s, from which that gun was recovered.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.