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.
The Ruger 10/22 was left out? Hat tip to Savage for make very affordable and accurate guns as well. Then no mention of the AK-47, a gun that you can’t kill.
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.
I’m keeping all the neighborhood cats fat... just in case...
Negative vibes, baby. Nothing but negative vibes on these threads.
Sorry, never surpassed by modern designs, which is why it is still here and Highly regarded/respected.
Simple answer: Whatever the blue helmeted devil was carrying when I slit his throat.
“A 1911? Are you kidding me.”
Nope. There are some very good reasons the venerable 1911 is still widely used today. And with modern HP ammunition the .45 ACP is vastly superior to the 9mm round.
L
Amazing how the blue helmets think a vest will save them…
“Almost everyone has a 9mm,…”
They may have a 9mm pistol but finding ammo for it is another story.
I’ll stick with my 1911 in .45, thanks very much.
L
My best friend of 38 years has one of those savage pump .22’s. Still runs great.
Those are fun to shoot.
“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.”
I don’t have a problem with the design, just the mag capacity. In SHTF not having to reload is an advantage.
Considering that the S&W M&P 2.0 has most metal parts (slide, barrel, molded in rails on the frame, etc) in stainless steel under a melonite finish?
I’m going to guess an M&P.
Less complicated and fewer parts also.
Not saying the 1911 isn’t a great pistol.
I agree, but not sure that would justify the capacity difference in a true road warrior scenario for me.
Freegards
You may also live behind enemy lines and don't want anyone to know you have a firearm to then become a target for a break-in. Traveling in and out of your apartment with a concealed handgun might work best.
The SHTF firearm of choice may be an upgraded version of the WW2 Liberator pistols dropped into occupied Europe. The intention was to use it in close range against an enemy and then take their gun. It needs to be reliable but also cheap enough to be disposable.
http://www.liberatorpistol.com/
A couple of 200 grain JHPs will cool the ardor of even the most determined. The rest will quickly find easier prey.
L
I have one of this laying around somewhere. Bought it for $45 IIRC back when I picked up a $100 Mosin.
L
I have spam cans of all three flavors (7.62x39, 5.45x39 ‘7N6’, and 7.62x54R).
I reload 45-70 Govt for those extra special problems.
But speaking for me, nothing can match my Colt for speed of deployment and first shot accuracy because of the single action only trigger. There's no lockworks to cycle, only the trigger spring and sear.
There's a reason those old bad boys still around. Old design for an old fart, I guess. But I love to shoot them.
Get a 12 gauge shotgun. Pump. Mossberg 500 or 590. Remington 870.
For a 22 LR , the Ruger 10/22 is phenomenal.If you want a bolt, Ruger, Marlin, etc. Lots of good ones out there.
Get an AR-15. Very common, and there will be lots of them out there with ammo.
Want a longer range gun, get a nice bolt 308. I love the Savage series now, they are accurate as crap. Price is right,too.
Hand gun-despite being a 1911 fan, I recommend a Glock 17 or 19. 9mm is dominate and common.
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