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.
ContrAry to popular belief, about the worst gun you could give to a woman, other than a strong or trained one, is a short barreled/snub nosed .38.
While some say the round isn’t worth a darn, NYPD killed quite a few with it. Is there better? Yes. But it’ll still work.
But a .38 snub nosed is a lot to handle and you have to know how to handle the recoil. Whereas a beefy, heavy, with its ergonomics, hells quite a bit in that category
Hope your mom had fun. I know mine does.
That’s true.
There’s a reason it’s the most replicated pistol in the world.
I had a 9mm Browning high-power in the army. I can shoot a 1911 faster and better than the 9. Also 45 hits like a truck.
“When the SHTF you won’t be able to buy any ammo..”
Which is why we reload.
L
As we saw over the past couple years and will likely see again soon, the best gun is anything that goes “bang”, for which ammo is available.
The 1911 v. striker-fired plastic debate will go on forever. My go-to defensive pistol is my 1911. I am faster and better with it than with anything else. It seems to aim itself. That said, if I need to reload, I’m switching to my Glock with 33 rounds. If I need to reload, I’m not counting shots again once I run out in the 1911.
The 1911 is obsolete. All modern designs have the feed ramp on the barrel so as not to jam with HP. Modern designs have a coil spring instead of leaf spring extractor which is far more durable.
This is why I choose the Hi-power over the 1911, because it corrects these design flaws.
The 1911 works. I've taken numerous defensive pistol courses and the 1911 always places at the top. Only the 38s revolver afficianados come close. It's the long sight radius that enhances accuracy.
Plus, the 45ACP makes a big hole without the need for expansion.
I chose the 40SW in the 90's in light of dismal 9mm performance and I wanted a "modern" operating system". I live with my decision.
With the advent of excellent 9mm expanding defensive ammo, today I'd choose an HG designed around it.
Don't be censorious. More important that caliber or cartridge are defensive HG skills. Most "experts" are seriously lacking in this regard. HG skills are perishable and need constant refreshing. So, take as many defensive HG course as reasonably possible. And do not neglect Q-shoots, if they are offered. If not, then devise your own.
I had many name brand 1911, and none were feed reliable. They have to be throated to feed HP well. All modern designs have the feed ramp integral to the barrel and a coil spring extractor.
This is why I choose the HP over the 1911, it corrects these design flaws.
My kimber and sig have had zero issues with thousands through them. I have heard of that, but mostly on knockoffs.
Without going into great detail, suffice to say that I am the best armed than I have been in my entire adult life, including my military years. ;)
One thing I still want is a Savage 24V Over/Under 30 gauge shotgun. I used to shoot skeet and got to use my BIL’s one weekend and it was awesome!
My handgun is a Browning 1911 .22 which fits my small hand beautifully, and I’ve decided to get Beau an air pistol for Christmas (maybe His & Hers?) for practice so we don’t waste ammo, as was suggested on one of these threads by a very smart FReeper. :)
Also, Beau chose me above the other contenders (HA!) because I had more ammo stashed than he did when we met. *SMIRK*
What exactly did you have to click on?
"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."
Guess you missed that line, 2nd paragraph...
Sigs and some others have feed ramps integral to the barrels. Your Kimber is a nice gun and probably throated.
I wouldn’t say it’s been surpassed except maybe in terms of magazine capacity. There’s a reason almost every firearm manufacture makes a 1911 variant. They’re also pretty easy to work on and replace parts if you need to.
Old Brook is being
Voted Off the Island!
Ha!
1911 is choice.
I’ve seen useable 1911
Mags for $5 each,
Stackem’ Deep!
They’ll both hit 4” steel at 75 yards. Of course I’m lobbing it a bit, but nice pistols and triggers.
Of course a pistol is only for getting to your rifle.
Cannibal Raiders!
.
You’ve seen the Movie;
“The Road.”
.
Yummy.
30 Gauge!?!
Wow, You are Smokin’ Hot!
I got a .22/20 with
16” Barrel O/U.
One of my Favs!
And that 30 gauge of my BIL’s was gentle as a kitten; absolutely no problems with it hurting my shoulder at all. Of course it helps to know HOW to fire a shotgun in the first place, LOL!
I need to ask him again if I have the right brand; I want that EXACT same shotgun. I’d ask him to sell it to me, but he’s as fond of her as I am! ;)
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