Basically, the best gun is the one that you can find replacement parts for.
See now I would have said the best gun is the one least likely to break/jam/malfunction. This puts the Mini high on my list. The second quality for me would be availability of ammo. This also puts the Mini high on my list, but also includes any 5.56 gun.
OK, here's my list:
Mini-14 in .223 Rem
Remington 870 in 12ga
Glock 22 or 27
Note the absence of the 10/22. I own one and they're buckets of cheap fun. A well placed shot will kill or mortally wound a person, but the chances of doing so from rifle range at a moving target are small. It won't stop a single zombie from any range.
Yea mine is a FA91 and it eats anything I stick in it. As far as weight it aint to bad but then again I was a Machine Gunner in the Corps so I am kinda used to humpin a heavy hunk of iron.And hopefully I would be riding my ATV or in my Bronco instead of walking.
Have you done anything to the trigger? I'm kinda thinkin' about asking Doc to look at mine, it sucks like a Hoover.
all manner of good guns listed here.
a centerfire carbine chambered for pistol round is good and matching pistol
12 or 20ga mag even break-open single or SXS (pump likely better for the experienced)
.22LR repeater even bolt or pump action. or something like the Savage over/under .22LR or Mag with 20ga mag atop and consider that for shotgun.
OK guys some folks need to use some critical thinking here. Which combo would you have more faith in?
1. A guy who has an M1A, AK-47, and a benelli M2. He has fire 500 rounds through each and got them sighted in.
2. A guy who only has one of the above and spent the rest of his money on ammo and practiced.
My ancestors the Lakota Souix killed many enemies and plenty of large game with bows and arrows that would be a joke by todays standards in bows. The point I am trying to make here is you can have plenty of fine weapons that will do the job but still suck with them. I think most of us would agree that a G3 rifle is far superior to an SKS. G3 costs about $3k and the sks cost about $200. The SKS with the other $2800 spent on training ammo and actually used in a good disciplined training regimen will be a hell of alot better than 5 $3k safe queens.
Zydeco76,
I don't think anyone here would disagree with you. Further, I don't think anyone here has listed what I would call a "safe queen". I have two guns that spend too much time in the safe; a Winchester 1400 20ga and a Beretta 303 Special Trap. Neither is what I would call a SHTF gun, though both have their own good qualities.
Still, it's a point that can't be said enough. Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. Please practice with your guns.
Mini-14
1911 .45
I'm gun poor. I only have four. A .22 Buckmark, 8mm Mouser, 1911 and a Mini-14. The Mini-14 is my do every thing gun. I hunt deer and pig with it and it spends a lot of time at the range. So it would be my 1st choice in any SHTF
situation.
I guess another point I was trying to make and did'nt very well would be that SHTF can be many many scenarios. SHTF means to "me" you are operating under extreme stress and at unkown ranges and terrain against unkown targets. At this point any fire arm could be equal to almost any other. Each does something better than the other. An example would be an AR v mini. Most would agree the AR does everything that a mini will do and do it better. That holds true untill your trapped in a sand pit for days surounded by zombies with no oil or cleaning kit. You may have a perfectly tricked and tuned M1A and need to hunt for survival food and only be able to find birds to kill. You may have a great shotgun but need to engage a badguy armed with an SKS at 200 yards. You can only carry so many guns. One gun can only cover so many scenarios. Skill and training will be a benefit in any situation.
how come nobody has mentioned one of my perennial favorite rifles: the fn-fal,preferabably backed up my my 10/22,uzi and remington 870.
Good question. The answer is probably because of weight. Most people think SHTF means runnin and gunnin, otherwise you have access to ALL of your personal arsenals in your house if your position is static.
I personally would not want to run around with a 10lb battle rifle and accompanying 20 round 308 mags. I'd be happier dragging the 8lb ready to go AR15 with 10 - 30rnd mags. Not to mention you "blend" better with law enforcement, a concept I don't think was mentioned yet.
In a true SHTF scenario, my personal belief is "anything goes." In that scenario, it really is every man for himself. So if it means putting a "County Police" patch on the back of my pack for safer passage, so be it. Doing so while lugging an AK47 copy is a bit difficult. Hence, why I own one of every gun that my local PD has.
It would depend on if it was a bunker in and stay put until things blow over type of situation, in which case it wouldn't matter as I'd have everyting I need at the house. If I had to move out, it would probably be my Robinson Arms Recon carbine (5.56) and a Walther P-22 w/suppressor. (cause you never know when being quite will help). If I was able, I'd also grab the Glock 21 for up close defense.
The Robinson is extremely reliable, takes AR mags and is acurate enough for what I may need it for. All of the calibers (espicially .22) are widely available. In a pinch, the Walther could harvest small game and while it's not as good for this particular job as a .22 rifle, it still beats a rock
I guess another point I was trying to make and did'nt very well would be that SHTF can be many many scenarios. SHTF means to "me" you are operating under extreme stress and at unkown ranges and terrain against unkown targets. At this point any fire arm could be equal to almost any other. Each does something better than the other. An example would be an AR v mini. Most would agree the AR does everything that a mini will do and do it better. That holds true untill your trapped in a sand pit for days surounded by zombies with no oil or cleaning kit. You may have a perfectly tricked and tuned M1A and need to hunt for survival food and only be able to find birds to kill. You may have a great shotgun but need to engage a badguy armed with an SKS at 200 yards. You can only carry so many guns. One gun can only cover so many scenarios. Skill and training will be a benefit in any situation.
Thats a good thought, I think some here are mistaking SHTF for a "red dawn" scenerio. BGs in a SHTF scenerio will most likley retreat when faced with an armed and determined opponent, so you could be TOO heavily armed if you dont have a pack mule to carry around all these guns/gear/ ammo. A good solid rifle and maybe a sidearm is really all thats called for. If you had someone with you who was not a "gun person" than a simple 12ga pump is just right for them. Also, trying to "blend" with law enforcement would not be wise as the would be NO law enforcement in a SHTF/TEOTWAWKI scenerio, and you would might me mistaken for it.
Again, much love for the sks.
Location: Oragun-still clinging to my religion,guns,and sour mash!
Posts: 4,053
IMOHPFO-if it is SHTF-then all NFA rules will be out the window and all types of combo guns will be "out there" for any purposes.One that comes to mind is what some of us older guys can remember from use in "NAM".My personal preference would be a 12 ga pump stick with a "shorter bbl" attached to the bottom of an AR,or a M203-but ammo will be hard to find for the latter.It might be a bit heavy-but it will take care of close quarters-no problem.
See now I would have said the best gun is the one least likely to break/jam/malfunction. This puts the Mini high on my list. The second quality for me would be availability of ammo. This also puts the Mini high on my list, but also includes any 5.56 gun.
I agree with this completely. I have fire 500 rounds through my mini 14 without cleaning with zero failures. I used cheap dirty ammo also. In fact, I have been shooting my mini 14s for 15 years and never replaced anything on them. I have spare springs, extractors and firing pins for them but have never used them.
The mini 14 is one rugged machine. I have total confidence in the mini 14 over the AR. The only thing that the AR has over the mini 14 is it looks more intimidating. So if looks are more important then reliability then the AR would be the right gun.
It seems to me, that if SHTF, no matter the scenario, the transportation infrastructure of this country will be out of commission (eg zombies, aliens, invasion, mutants or dinosaurs would stop all transportation). With no shipping, food would be in short order, and riots and overall civil unrest will only amplify the initial problem.
The idea of being the lone ranger, hero and saving the day sounds good, but in practicality, all I would want to be doing would be protecting those individuals in my life who matter the most to me. The best way to do that is to band together with others, to some extent. Keep the groups small and well armed.
My point here, is that while I have my preferred weapons, I will make sure they compliment whoever I am with, and vise versa. Basically I would follow the three laws of a gun fight:
1) Bring a gun
2) Bring friends who have guns
3) Bring multiple guns if possible
Since I am in love with my 18 inch, parkerized Remington 1100 shotgun (which is almost maxed out ), I would probably pack that, along with my 30-06 (since I am a much better long range shot than most, I would probably fill the role of sniper). Whoever I am with probably will already have a mini-14, sks, ak or ar, so mid range rapid fire is taken care of. If not, then they can borrow mine.
My list would then be:
1) Friends with guns
2) 1100
3) 30-06
4) 1911
5) Plenty of amo
Springfield M1A Scout Squad Rifle is the way to go in my opinion. It's ample .308 round will handle any SHTF scenario and even disable vehicles if S is really hitting the fan.
It is right about the same length as the mini-14 with its 18" barrel yet it is still well capable of handling targets out to 600+yards. It is extremely reliable and it's basic design is tried and true. Plus it's pretty sweet looking:
I would also bring along a sidearm (whatever fits your taste really) and certainly a bolt action 22 for game and those situations where the artillery like report of the M1A may be just a little excessive.
How about spotting aggression?
If muggers, carjackers etc reveal a weapon or dangerous object at more than about 50-100 feet, if that far away, it is hard for me to imagine.
For those of us who live inside, or on the edges of cities and don't own any open land, just living in a house on a regular lot, why would a reliable semi-auto rifle need any top accuracy/power (more than a 7x39) at 100 yards + ?
If one has no handgun, how about a Mini 14/30 or SKS (each uses common ammo) and a powerful/handy Mosin Nagant 44?
If I lived in or near a city (and I'm very glad I don't) and the stinky stuff hit the big twirling thingie, I'd be haulin' tar-paper for the hills. In any case, I definitely would be looking for some stand-off distance, clear fields of fire, and room for FPF.
"For those of us who live inside, or on the edges of cities and don't own any open land, just living in a house on a regular lot, why would a reliable semi-auto rifle need any top accuracy/power (more than a 7x39) at 100 yards + ?"
You wouldn't, in my mind that is the 7.62x39s area to shine. And maybe why the 6.8 SPC is being developed.
I am VERY new to shooting, but I figured when I bought my first few guns that what would be needed was ammunition. The Ruger mini's aren't made to be tack drivers; but they are reliable, and they can hit a target that you aim at; although you may not hit it in the exact same spot. I don't need to make the zombie pretty when I hit it; i need it to fall down! So anyway I got the Mini 30. I would have got the 14, but 7.62x39 is cheaper than .223.
I then decided what do I need for a handgun? Everyone I knew said "45; cuz it makes big holes".. and another idiot said "I take a 45 cuz they don't make a 46"
Whatever... 9 mm is the cheapest; so I went with that. I am used to a Beretta 92FS from my time in the Navy, so i chose something that was familiar and bought one.
I then found a Mossberg 590 in 12 guaage because everyone I spoke to said "a good shotgun is always a good thing. You don't have to be an expert with a shotgun if someone is looking to hurt you; just point in there direction and shoot. Generally the results are positive" Unquote.
I would like to get a mini-14 just to have for .223 ammo, but I don't know if that will happen cuz i'm poor and it took me forever to get what I currently have.
Finally I have a .22 rifle (Marlin) cuz again its cheap to shoot.
What would i carry in a hurry? All of them; cuz again the ammo is very common and cheap.
A few questions:
1. Why the 10/22 Ruger?
2. Is 7mm magnum a good round? Is it common? Is it cheap?
3. How much to set up with a reloading system generally?
1Likes
IMOHPFO-if it is SHTF-then all NFA rules will be out the window and all types of combo guns will be "out there" for any purposes.One that comes to mind is what some of us older guys can remember from use in "NAM".My personal preference would be a 12 ga pump stick with a "shorter bbl" attached to the bottom of an AR,or a M203-but ammo will be hard to find for the latter.It might be a bit heavy-but it will take care of close quarters-no problem.
), I would probably pack that, along with my 30-06 (since I am a much better long range shot than most, I would probably fill the role of sniper). Whoever I am with probably will already have a mini-14, sks, ak or ar, so mid range rapid fire is taken care of. If not, then they can borrow mine.
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