Posted: 11/8/2009 5:20:49 PM EDT
|
After careful thought & planning for SHTF(whatever THAT may be...) I have compiled MY list "go to" weapons. While your taste in firearms may differ from MINE I believe that my choice of weapons is sound, realistic & responsible. So without further adue...
Rifle - COLT AR-15A2 "20 HBAR w/ A1 furniture.(I prefer triangle handguards & the shorter buttstock) Spare parts & ammo forever Shotgun - REMINGTON 870 MARINE MAGNUM Closest I can get to a stainless steel 870. shoots 2 3/4 & 3" shells, parts aplenty. Pistol - COLT 1911 Government Model 5"bbl STAINLESS ruged, proven, reliable, parts forever, low/ no maintainace (stainless remember) Utility weapon - RUGER 10/22 light, reliable, parts forever Knife - Bayonet for the AR & a good skinning knife. + 1000rnds for each firearm. Do you guys (& gals) agree or do you have better options? i can find no fault with my choices. These are all weapons that I can easily carry all at the same time. & the ammo I can hump most of that too as well. |
|
Rifle can be an AR, that's fine. Configuration is personal of course. Good for foraging or defense. Shotgun I second an 870. I personally think it's a better option in the long run than a semi auto, although others may disagree. Good also for foraging or defense. Handgun, I disagree. Even though I don't own one, I think a Glock 9mm is a better choice. Cheap, rugged, reliable, more ammo likely to be about. Finally I think you should add a .22 LR rifle or handgun for foraging. 10,000 rounds takes up little space and would last a loooong SHTF situation and while keeping your pots full and saving .223 for more "important" things. |
| I would only add a last resort long gun. Something like a levergun or milsurp rifle. My choice for this is my British Enfield .303 Jungle carbine and a somewhat smaller stash of ammo for it. Holds ten rounds and can be cycled pretty quickly in a defense situation, yet can take large game. good out to about 200 yds. |
|
Where is the "meh" option?
I don't think those are bad choices, but I don't think I'd go as far as "Top Notch" either. For example I like 1911's alot, but if I have to have something truly SHTF worthy (assuming long term in any way) it's not going to be a 1911.... I also agree with the .22 sentiment above. I've got a nice little Henry survival that was cheap and does the job. I can also get to a nicer lever action if need be. It also doesn't hurt that .22 is cheaper than dirt (when you can find it) |
|
Quoted: Quoted: I agree with all of it, but I'm stuck on whether the 1911 is the way to go or a Glock 19. 1911 has more plusses than minuses in its favor. (thats NOT to snub GLOCK though) ( don't care to debate PREFERENCE) Many people could debate the pluses and minuses though, but since I don't have experience with either gun, I'll let someone else do the arguing. |
|
Quoted:
Rifle can be an AR, that's fine. Configuration is personal of course. Good for foraging or defense. Shotgun I second an 870. I personally think it's a better option in the long run than a semi auto, although others may disagree. Good also for foraging or defense. Handgun, I disagree. Even though I don't own one, I think a Glock 9mm is a better choice. Cheap, rugged, reliable, more ammo likely to be about. Finally I think you should add a .22 LR rifle or handgun for foraging. 10,000 rounds takes up little space and would last a loooong SHTF situation and while keeping your pots full and saving .223 for more "important" things. You're right! .22 SHOULD be added to my arsenal. I'll fix that now.... |
|
Rifle choice is good, I'm an AK man myself but in a pinch I feel I'd have an easier time scrounging up .223 or 5.56 than 7.62x39. When SHTF, ammunition and spare part supply will count for more than anything else.
Likewise with the shotgun; as far as I honestly care 12gauge pumps are pretty much the same all across the board. 1911 vs. Glock 9mm, is like apples and oranges. Ammo for both is easily found, spare parts for either might or might not be a royal pain in the ass to find, and they're both reliable and usable with proper maintenance. Personally I'd take a .22 semiauto for hunting small game and as a last-ditch weapon against two legged critters; .22 kills just like .45acp does. |
|
Quoted:
Where is the "meh" option? I don't think those are bad choices, but I don't think I'd go as far as "Top Notch" either. So what are YOUR "top notch" choices? 
For example I like 1911's alot, but if I have to have something truly SHTF worthy (assuming long term in any way) it's not going to be a 1911.... 85 yrs as US military sidearm is pretty "worthy" to me explain please. 
I also agree with the .22 sentiment above. I've got a nice little Henry survival that was cheap and does the job. I can also get to a nicer lever action if need be. It also doesn't hurt that .22 is cheaper than dirt (when you can find it) The Henry is a WAY cool pack gun. 
|
|
I might dump the H-bar and go w/ a 16" instead, and I'd definitely replace the 1911 with a double stack 9mm (not bagging on the 1911; I'm just saying that for bare essentials, that's the way to go). The 870 is fine.
But yeah, that's what I'd say if you asked me. And you did. 
|
|
I think you have all of the bases well covered, i would only change a couple of things. I would go for a Glock 19 simply because it is 9x19 and ammo might be more plentiful for it. I would also add in my M1 Garand, simply because you can't beat a semi-auto 30-06.
|
|
Would work for me, the only change I would make is the shotty, I love my Remingtons but for a tactical shotty I go with the 590 or Benelli.
I would want a rifle that had some penetrating power out too 500-600 yards though. List of common possibilities. Remington 700 Savage 110 M1 1903/03a3 91/30 k98 |
Thanks!
|
Quoted:
You need a .30 caliber rifle. I can't give that my approval until you have a .30 caliber rifle. You have everything else, you might as well get one. I have PLENTY of .30 cal M1A .308/7.62mm
Garand 30-06
1917 Enfield 30-06
1903A4 Springfield 30-06
FN/FAL .308/7.62mm AK 7.62x 39 
G3 .308/7.62mm
M70 Winchester 7mm REM MAG (not .30 cal but but it's PLENTY powerful)
M700 ADL Remington 30-06
.30 IS superior in reach out power but I can't tote them all NOR can I carry 1000rnds of .30 very far. ( that stuff is HEAVY) So THATS why I went with .223/5.56x45mm |
|
I think you made a wise choice of a traditional direct impingement AR. You will never have trouble finding parts for it. I suggest a bunch of good M revision Magpul PMAGS to finish it off.
The 1911 is also a sound choice, but I have to say I would rather see you with a Glock 17 or perhaps a Glock 22. Glocks require no gunsmithing to replace worn or broken parts, where a 1911 can sometimes require a little TLC from a trained pistolsmith if something breaks. As far as the Glocks, the 17 is a 9mm which is military, but most cops use .40 S&W like the Glock 22. Get both??? Ruger 10/22 is a great choice. Keep it simple and use Ruger factory 10 rounders. They aren't sexy but they work great and last forever. Remington 870 is the ultimate shotty, with the Mossy 500 a distant second. |