[Preacherman]

OK, folks, time for some fun. A group of us were having a conversation today, and the subject got around to a "survival" arsenal. These are weapons that you and your family would have with you for any particular survival situation: could be urban SHTF, could be wilderness survival (pioneer-style), could be "just in case" stuff - or all of the above! :D

We eventually decided that we'd have to select a battery or arsenal of one rifle, one shotgun, and one handgun per person. The criteria for selection are as follows:

1. Each weapon must be as simple as possible. No hi-tech add-ons, no battery-powered gizmos, no lasers, etc. - this has to last for years in the wild, if necessary, or take an urban pounding without things falling off. Accessories like scopes, etc. are allowed, but subject to the "long-term toughness" rule.

2. Each weapon must be as reliable as possible. It's assumed that you'll have to do any gunsmithing with what you have on you or available at home - no gunsmiths allowed!

3. Each weapon must be as versatile as possible. It may have to be used for hunting, self-defence, training, etc.

4. Each weapon should be in a readily-available caliber, so that ammunition can be re-supplied without too much difficulty. No fair using a .470 Nitro Express when the local dealer doesn't stock the ammo!

So, based on those rules/criteria, what would you choose, and why? My choices are as follows:

RIFLE: I'd pick something powerful enough to hunt deer (up to elk/moose size with careful shot placement), but also usable for defence if necessary. I'd choose a Steyr or Savage Scout rifle in .308 Winchester. I'd have the Leupold Scout Scope (2.5x), backed up by the reserve iron sights. This should handle any reasonable use in the lower 48 states, with care.

SHOTGUN: I'd take a Remington 870 in 12ga, with two barrels: one a 21" rifle-sighted barrel for slug or HD use, one a 28" vent-rib Rem-choke barrel (with IC, Mod and Full chokes) for hunting. I'd plan on having an extended magazine tube available for defense scenarios.

HANDGUN: I'd take a Ruger Redhawk in .44 Magnum, stainless steel, 5½" barrel. This would have a selection of ammo: full-power hunting rounds, self-defence loads, and some softer-shooting stuff (i.e. .44 Special) for ease of practice. I'd make sure I had plenty of speedloaders!

So, what would your choices be?

[jsalcedo]

Ruger MKII
Ruger 10/22

Mossberg 500

[Greg L]

Rifle: I would agree with you as far as the caliber (you want something that is readily available for scrounging if needed). It would need to be bolt action for simplicity. Also a low to medium powered scope with iron sights as a backup. Perhaps something in 30.06 if reloading was an option as that can be loaded up or down over a wide range.

Shotgun: 870 is good but my choice would be a Mossberg 500 (mainly because it is already out in the safe :rolleyes: ). Two barrels would be nice but if only limited to one (due to the restrictions of one shotgun, if I could have as many barrels as I wanted then the handgun would be a T/C with a full line of them but that would kind of defeat the purpose of the exercise ;) ) then I would chose a smoothbore. It would be reasonably short for HD use but also capable of hunting.

Pistol: Due to the other two selections being used to handle the larger game (2 & 4 legged) this one by default would have to be a .22. Probably a revolver for simplicity sake although a Ruger MkII would do well also. A .22 is needed in a SHTF arsenal if for no other reason than you can easily carry 1k rounds in a pocket or two which, if placed correctly, with gather much game and won't give your position away as much as a centerfire shot will.

If a generic .22 is a given and isn't counted against the weapon count then (going to the safe again) I would grab my 4" S&W 686 in .357. Again, with the right reloading gear, it can be loaded up or down to handle most any encounter that you will run into (at least in the lower 48).

Greg

[hillbilly]

Survival arsenal.....

Remington 870 12 gauge.....or, one of those shotgun .22/rifle combos.........

a .357 mag revolver with a six-inch barrel. Will shoot either .38 special or .357, thus doublng your ammo availablility.

A lever action 30-30......simple, easy to fix, reliable, and where I live, every outhouse, hen house and dog house has probably at least one box of 30-30 shells inside it somewhere.

Of course, this would be a great excuse for me to go buy a lever 30-30......it's part of my survival arsenal, for crying out loud.....

I could always rationalize and say the SKS already fits that niche, and that I have several cubic yards of 7.62X39 stashed around....

But it's another gun I could buy.................

hillbilly

[yrone]

10/22 for small stuff
ar-15 for 2 legged threadts
just posted about 223 bolt actions so I dunno which brand but remmy parts seem to be available
Glock 17 /19 for close in self defense
Remington 870 for hunting self defense.

[natedog]

USP 45 w/night sights
M1A
Winchester Model 12 12 gauge

[MeekandMild]

jsalcedo & Greg have the right idea for the Mark II and the Mossy, but I think I'd go with Hillbilly's idea of a Marlin 30/30 for the rifle.

But...If I had my druthers I think I'd rather swap the Mark II for a spray can of DEET and go without a pistol. Muich more chance of being carried away by chiggers and skeeters. Pistols may well be for urban protection and to keep order among the ranks of the army and not for the real survivor.

[landon74]

I'd have to go with an AR-15 (with proper ammo and shot placement, deer would be no prob) ammo readily available. A full sized .357 Mag, plentiful ammo there as well. And you've got to go with the old game-getter, either an 870 Remington, or Model 12 Winchester in 12 gauge. You can go with 7 and 1/2 for small game, up to slugs for whatever else you might encounter.

[Schuey2002]

Rifle: HK91
Shotgun: Remington 870 M&P
Handgun: Glock 17

Why? Do i really have to tell you? :uhoh: :o ;)

[sm]

1911 .45ACP
Model 70- .308 or '06
870 12 ga with chokes

[Byron Quick]

HK91
Remington 870
1911/10mm
for urban and short term (couple of years) wilderness survival.


Except for one thing, Preacherman. YEARS of wilderness survival implies that industrial civilization is kaput. Ammo is going to be pretty difficult to replace in that scenario.

If it was looking like that was going to happen, I wouldn't be buying ammo or even black powder...I'd be buying bulk sulfur. I can make charcoal. I can gather manure for saltpeter.


I might just go with a flintlock rifle, shotgun, and pistol in that scenario.

Couple of good molds for bullets.

But as I told Al, in any type of serious "the civilized world as we know it is ending"scenario...I'm going to be organizing the defense of the Plant Vogtle Nuclear Plant about twelve miles from here. Keep that running and we'll build an ammunition plant if necessary.

[duckfoot]

Rifle: flint lock black powder .50cal - hunting
shotgun: flint lock black powder - hunting
pistol: ball and cap .44 - defence
and:
tomahawk, large bowie, 150 anvil, shaping hammer, tongs and no where near a city

Survival is attitude!

[Hal]

Survival - - - The big "T's"

- Toilet paper
- Tobacco
- Tincture of Iodine
- Tylenol
- Tequila

- - Trade - -

I guar- un -tee in a years time,,, with my having a good stock of the above,,, my arsenal would be the largest. :D

[only1asterisk]

Handgun: S&W 686 w/ TKcustom 9mm/moonclip conversion.

Reason: Able to use 357 Mag, 38 Spec, 9x19, 9x23 Win., 9mm Largo, 9x21, 38 Super, 9mm Browning Long etc.

Shotgun: Rem. 870 12ga 21" Rifle Sight Rem Choke w/ mag ext.

Rifle: Marlin 1895 450 marlin, modified to allow use of brass made standard belted magnum cases.

Reason: Able to use any 7mm/300 mag ammo I find to make primed cases. Able to load with any powder. Works well with cast bullets.

All the reloading tools, primer, powder I can handle.


David

[Dave Markowitz]

My choices:

Rifle: Ruger Mini-14. Reliable, rugged, ammo easily available and powerful enough for anything up to whitetail with proper shot placement. Excellent for a defensive rifle.

Handgun: Probably my old model Ruger Single Six. Again, rugged and reliable. Handy. 500 rounds of .22 LR fit in an area the size of a large brick. Alternative which I don't have is a stainless 6.5" Ruger Blackhawk .357 with the 9mmP conversion cylinder. This would allow me to shoot .38, .357 or 9mmP. Ammo easily available and cheap. It's built like a tank.

Shotgun: Actually, I need to get this. I do have an H&R Topper 12 guage, but I would prefer either a TVM 20 gauge flintlock fowler (LH) or if off the shelf, a Brown Bess "Indian Carbine," which is a Bess with a 31" barrel. I can shoot shot or ball in either of these and make every component of my ammo.

[axeman_g]

Rifle: Marlin glenfield Model 60 with scope
Shotgun: Ithaca 37 with 24# deeslayer barrel, 12 guage
Handgun: Cant decide .. whichever is closest when I need to run ... Colt Combat Comander or FN HiPower 9mm. Both will work fine, probably lean towards the HIPO just because I am that more accurate with it and would be confident using it for defense and hunting.

[Atticus]

My first choice would be 3- Rem 870's- There's nothing that can't be done East of the Mississippi with the proper round.

But to play by the rules:

Bolt action .22 (Any reliable brand)
Rem 870
BHP 9mm

[goon]

Strictly speaking, you can pick any caliber you want.
If something big does happen, ammo will be difficult to obtain for any caliber.
Best to just have one hell of a stockpile for your guns and the necessary stuff to reload for them as well.
For my rifle, I deviate from the accepted norm. I would keep my Finn M-39. It is deadly accurate, and my stockpile of 7.62x54 ammo is always growing. I just love the gun and I would have to keep it over any other, even my Scout.
I would skip the shotgun and keep my CZ-452 .22lr. A .22 is essential. You can even take animals the size of deer if you get close and go for head shots. Ammo is about $8 for 500 rounds so you can have a hell of alot of it. It is cheaper than shotgun ammo, takes up less space and doesn't make as much noise.
I would keep my CZ-75 for a pistol. Nine millimeter ammo is cheap and available everywhere, so stockpiling isn't much of a challenge. The gun is dead reliable and accurate. I think that a stailess GP-100 would possibly be a better choice, but I don't have one yet. Reloading for a revolver is easy, and I would have the stuff to cast my own bullets. All you need then is lead.

[Dionysusigma]

It all depends on what's happened...

Total collapse of civilization:

Pistol: Crosman 1377, nothin' like carrying 20,000 rounds in your backpack, still have room for other supplies, and able to take down small game for yourself

Rifle: Swap this out for a LOT of tobacco (trading reasons, plus personal hobby) :)

Shotgun: Saiga 20ga, with slugs and shotshells

Gov't goes haywire or foreign invasion:

Pistol: Glock 17(even tho I hate 'em, you can't beat their reliability)

Rifle: Ruger All-Weather Ranch Rifle w/ a couple o' 30-rounders (if the OpFor is a NATO member), or my SAR-1 (if OpFor is from anywhere else)

Shotgun: Aforementioned Saiga

[Boats]

For years of survival?

Iron sighted black powder flintlock rifle of at least .50 cal. with synthetic stocks.
A 6" Ruger GP-100 Stainless because it is easy on brass and doesn't chuck it all over creation.
A blackpowder smoothbore.

I can see having metallic cartridge firearms exclusively, but not for "years." What I can't see is humping or successfully hiding all the cases of ammo if I had to be nomadic. It appears it would be better to go old school back to when the bullets and charge could be manufactured by hand with little more than a melting pot and a bullet mold.

[Skunkabilly]

Rifle: Springfield M1A with quick detachable scout mounted Trijicon Accupoint. Hopefully i got the bugs worked out of it.
Pistol: Beretta 92.

That's about 15% of my body weight, forget the shotgun, too heavy; I need an extra 8 pounds on me like I need a bullet in my head.

[Wanderer]

But...If I had my druthers I think I'd rather swap the Mark II for a spray can of DEET and go without a pistol. Muich more chance of being carried away by chiggers and skeeters. Pistols may well be for urban protection and to keep order among the ranks of the army and not for the real survivor.

I have to respectfully disagree, not only can you take game with the proper pistol, it is ideal for close combat, should the need arise. Also, it is more easy to cache a pistol and ammo if martial law is declared. Therefore it is versatile in both urban and rural survival needs.

Pistol: Smith and Wesson 686
Rifle: Slightly modifyed SKS
Shotgun: Mossy 590 Marine model (the stainless steel one, good for resisting corrosion)

[MicroBalrog]

Are we limited to legal weapons?

If yes:


Rifle : Pre-ban semi-auto AK-47 with 75-round drums
Shotgun: SPAS-12 semi-auto
Handgun: Glock-17 with extended magazines.

If not:

Rifle : Select-fire AK-47 with 75-round drums
Shotgun: Streetsweeper
Handgun: Glock-18C with extended magazinese.

[Legionnaire]

Selecting from what's already in the safe:

Rifle: Remington Model 7 in .308, Leupold 2-7X compact scope.
Shotgun: Mossberg 500 12 gauge, 26" vent-rib barrel (can I bring the 18.5" slug barrel, too?)
Handgun: Probably the Ruger GP-100, but maybe the Glock 23.

[Andrew Wyatt]

number4mk1.

my boomstick (20 gauge topper with shortened stock and barrel

1911.



i'd only carry birdshot for the shotgun, as i have the rifle for things that buckshot and slug do.

[El Tejon]

Preacher, someone has been reading Uncle Mel again!:D

Rifle: bolt, .308 with irons and fix low power optics, I'd pick my Mauser 66, but lots of good choices.

Shotgun: Ithaca SxS in 20 ga., very simple, even El Tejon can fix it.

Pistol: As much as I love the 1911, for "survival" (to me survival is missing Starbuck's in the morning) I would choose a revolver--Ruger or Smith in .44 mag or .45 LC, if we can/are able to reload.

Keep weapons as simple as possible. Would want lots of matches and good knives as well. YMMV.

[george_co]

Basicly I agree with Bryon. In any kind of melt down I am better off staying put and working with my neighbors. Therefore I have my full arsenal of weapons available to me. But, more importantly I will have the benefit of support of others.

In a short term disruption I have enough food at home to survive until order is restored. In a long term disruption I will need help growing crops, rabbits and chickens.

Just imagine 300 Million Americans moving to the hills. In a matter of a couple of weeks the available game animals and fish will have been consumed. Transportation systems will have collapsed so food stores won't be able to be moved to where they are needed. The next six months will be Jungle law, survival of the fittess. Starvation and disease will take care of most with the remainder skirmishing for what remains.

In order to survive you are going to have to work with others. Guard duty, defensive structures, crops, etc.

Okay, to play the game as it was intended - My M1A Scout, 41 Mag Revolver, 22 caliber pistol. With the M1A I can keep their heads down during the initial stages and hunt what game there is, the revolver is dependable and powerful and the 22 can be used for a whole range of applications. For survival the shotgun shells are too heavy and bulky so I won't carry. The 22 can get small game including birds.

With the M1A I will be able to add to my weapons stock so I am not concerned about the difficulty of finding 41 mag rounds.

Just my thoughts for what they are worth.

George

[Skunkabilly]

Hmm...in retrospect, forget my M1A. We all know that in any SHTF scenario, you are stuck with a crowbar or pipe and maybe if you're lucky, a pistol. You then pick up a pump action shotgun, then you'll find some sort of assault rifle or belt fed.

Find a rocket launcher or two and then some energy weapons!!

[45R]

After reading this post. I have again put on my tin foil hat. :) It even has a permanent marker writing on the hat that says Molon Labe across it.

Rifle:M1a
Shotgun:870
Pistol:.357 wheel gun or Sig 226 9mm.

[Tamara]

Rifle: M1917 '06
Shotgun: The only one I have. (Beat-up old 870 w/long mag tube and Choate stock.)
Pistol: 4" Model 19

Even if you were in some kind of scenario like the one in The Stand, it'll be a long, long time 'til supplies of .30-'06, 12ga, and .38/.357 dry up.

[bogie]

I'd make friends with my neighbors... Outfit several of 'em, and we can carry more stuff...

[W Turner]

If I am limited to only what is in my safe currently........

Rifle- ruger 10/22- lightweight, plentiful lightweight ammo, small game hunting and quiet sniping if necessary

Handgun- Glock 20- I have plenty of ammo and it is good for anything up to deer-sized game.

shotgun- remington 870 - with an 18" bead sight barrel w/ multiple choke tubes.

If I can have anything I want?.......

Rifle- Springfield M1A scout rifle- handy carbine for multi- purposes, very availabe ammo, reliable as long as I don't screw around with it

Pistol- Glock 34- easily found, lightweight ammo, powerful enough if I do my part, can be used for hunting anything larger than squirrels and smaller than deer as long as I am not picky

Shotgun- rem 870 20 gauge- lightweight, available ammo, powerful enough for PD, good for any game with good shot placement

Mino

[spankaveli]

AR-15
Mossy 500 w/ folding stock
92FS

[Bobarino]

H&K 91A3
Binelli M1
H&K USP Tactical

do we see a pattern here?

Bobby

[Skunkabilly]

do we see a pattern here?


HK Junkie!

[Nightfall]

Rifle: M4 style AR-15. Possibly with ACOG (TA31A). Have no experience with ACOG, so it's a maybe. :) Plenty of .223 out there, considering it's standard issue for our armed forces. Plenty of parts and such as well.

Shotgun: 870 12 gauge, smooth bore. Different chokes available. Extended tube. Probably with synthetic stuff instead of the wood on my 870 now. It's just plain more tactical! Plenty of parts and ammo for an 870 12 gauge, no doubts there.

Handgun: Gosh, this is a tough one. Probably an HK USP... 9mm or .45 though... hmm... probably more 9mm out there than .45, not that .45 is lacking in quantity mind you. 9mm holds more rounds... .45 has well, the attributes of a .45! :) Looking into the future, I'm more likely to have a .45 USP around than a 9mm, so probably the .45, if for no other reason than I'll already have it on hand.

[MeekandMild]

I have to respectfully disagree, not only can you take game with the proper pistol, it is ideal for close combat, should the need arise. Also, it is more easy to cache a pistol and ammo if martial law is declared. Therefore it is versatile in both urban and rural survival needs. Last night I watched Bruce Willis in "The Tears of the Sun". In one scene the good guys found the baddies raping a village so they put down all their heavy armament and attacked with suppressed pistols. But that was just one scene and they could have just bypassed it.

I'll still go with the DEET. I guess chiggers and ticks are too small to film.:neener: I guess I'm too thoughly indoctrinated with the concept that RAH discussed in "Tunnel in the Sky", that when you are surviving your job is to survive and not to attack.

[280PLUS]

9mm BHP

an 870 20 ga youth cut

and a bushy xm15 shorty ak

and i love them all

is that ok?

:D

[Gordon Fink]

Electromagnetic longrifle, launching hypervelocity AP sabot rounds. Suppressed, high-capacity select-fire pistol, chambered for 9mm caseless. Dual-magazine pump-action shotgun, with a variety of nifty shells (shot, slugs, incendiary, etc.) to choose from.

What was the question again? :D

~G. Fink

[Snake Eyes]

I tried to think about what I'd really want and it just about made my head explode. So I limited myself to what i currently own:

--SLR-95: Likely to work much longer without cleaning than my AR and ammo is probably even MORE available than .223 these days.

--Sig 226: Man it's hard to decide to leave any one of my 1911s behind, but when push comes to shove, I gotta believe 9mm is going to be easier to scavenge. And that 226 is just damn bulletproof.

--Winchester Defender: Pretty much useless for anything but defense since it only has an 18" barrel, but the only other shotty I own is a Stevens single 410 and that just aint gonna cut it.

I guess I need to go shopping for some shotguns. Oh Honey....about those new shoes.........:D

[Logistar]

Rifle: AK-47
Handgun: Beretta 92
Shotgun: None. (If I needed one, I'd grab a 12-gauge auto.)

[CWL]

Rifle: ruger 10/22
Shotgun: Remmy 870
pistol: M1911

Rifle will put food on the table.
Shotgun will keep BGs at a distance and intimidate those who need intimidation.
Pistol for close up work if needed.

[Bruce H]

SKS and my NEF .22. Two or three really good knives.

[TamThompson]

After reading through several survivalist sites, and thinking things through, AND trying to take advantage of used guns I found on sale, my current survival arsenal consists of:

1. Pistols: Glock 30 (.45acp) with Heinie Straight-8 night sights and grip reduction and 4 mags (I know, I know--the night sights half-life is about 3 years), Glock 22C (40 S&W) with same sights and grip redux, Ruger SP101 .357 mag with Meprolite front night sight on order. Way I see it, .45ACP and .38 sp is very common ammo to scavenge, and .357 mag and .40 will also be available from abandoned law enforcement ammo dumps. I also have a .22 conversion kit for the Glock 22C. I have about 5,000 rounds for these pistols, not including .22.

2. Shotgun: Mossberg 590 12-gauge, have about 300 rounds for it.

3. Rifles: Scoped Browning Win .300 magnum semi-auto, with about 200 rounds, for sniper shooting if necessary to defend self, family & home, and an old Glenfield .22 semi-auto. Have about 5,500 rounds of .22 ammo (also used in Glock conversion kit.)

4. Three Spyderco Delica lightweight knives, one KaBar next generation fighting knife, two fantasy knives, two swords, and untold numbers of high-quality kitchen and folding knives.

5. Lots of pepper spray.

6. Regular practice with the guns and drawing the Spyderco's out.

[Byron Quick]

In a situation where you're facing years of wilderness survival with no stores, presumably no ammo plants functioning and no surplus ammo being imported plus folks scavenging and hoarding right and left...I think the supply of everything would dry up right fast.

You'd best have a darn big supply on hand...how are you going to transport it once the gas supplies are gone? Know how to make small caches waterproof for years...under primitive conditions and with primitive materials? Know how to find the caches a couple of years in the future...without GPS? Think about your maximum hiking load and then realize that might be all you have for years. Of everything including ammo. Suddenly the shotgun needs someone else to tote it...plus some other stuff.

Community is looking better all the time.

[Ed]

If its just a survive and I'm not going to war, I'd have to agree on a flintlock rifle. Couldn't pass on a .22 revolver, with lots of ammo and again a bp shotgun. That assuming it is something like "the mysterious Island" senario. On something like "the Stand" I'd alter my choices because you could scrounge up ammo. I'd start with a M1, 1911, and 870. BTW..."the Mysterious Island" if you havent read it kinda is a shtf scenario for the 4 ppl at least in 1865.

[TamThompson]

I don't think we'll have a big problem on transport. We (husband and I) live in northwest Austin, and at the VERY first sign of SHTF, we'll bug out to my family's ranch up somewhere near Bandera, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. It borders on a small river. Yes, all my ammo and MRE's are very heavy, but we have an Explorer and a Mazda 6. And we would drive around the middle of Austin, not right through the city.
No nomad stuff, hopefully--just a rural relocation to a place my family owns.

[Mannlicher]

I really hate threads like this one.:D

Rifle: M1A, with detachable scope, extra mags, parts and tool kit. The .308 can do most everything, and you just don't know when you might need a MBR. A supply of suitable ammo.

Shotgun: Remington 870, wearing a 20 inch rifle sight barrel, with another in 26 inch with choke tubes. A supply of suitable ammo. Spare parts kit. Mag extension, sling.

Handgun: S&W Model 66. Powerful enough to stand alone, and suitable for a variety of functions. A .38 HBWC makes a very efficient small game getter. The adjustable sights accomodate different ammo choices.

[sturmruger]

The cool thing is I already own all of the guns I would need for this so I wouldn't need to go buy anything.

There is one gun that I would add to the list because it is so versatile. I am not sure who manufactured it but my buddy has a single shot gun that is a 20 Ga and a 22LR. I think that would be an awfully handy thing to have if a person needed to hunt any game at all. I would love to have one of my 10/22s along but would hate to sacrifice the Mini for that small of a caliber. If I had to I would substitute my Mossberg for the single shot gun. There is one other option. I saw this for sale at .CDNN Investments (http://www.cdnninvestments.com) They are selling it for only $699. It is a pump action .223 and 12 Ga shotgun that will shoot 3' shells. It also accepts AR Mags!!! I better start saving my pennies that sounds like a nice gun to have around. I have a pic at the bottom of my comment.


Ruger Mini 14
Ruger Security Six in .357
Mossbeg 500 12 GA


I know people look down there nose at the .223 and the 22LR but I can honestly say i have shot whitetail with both of these calibers without any trouble. The key is where you shoot them.

http://www.gengerketactical.com/pictures/600DSCN1448.jpg

I also found a magazine article on this gun. Gun Magazine (http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0BQY/19_46/65017379/p1/article.jhtml)

[Byron Quick]

I once had one of those 20 ga/.22lr drillings, I guess. For the life of me, I can't remember the manufacturer...Savage? Stevens? It's been about twenty years.

[firestar]

The guns have to serve as either urban SHTF or wilderness survival?:what:

If I had to survive on just what I could shoot, I would starve in a week. I don't think i would handle the urban survival situation any better.

Here are my choices even though I don't want either thing to happen to me.

I am going to only name guns I own because I doubt I would be able to plan for a SHTF sittuation.

Rifle: scoped CZ-452 .22lr. I would just baby it so it didn't break.

Shotgun: Rem 870 HD 12ga.

Pistol: S&W M-19 .357 mag with 6"bbl. This would be good for hunting or urban fighting.

[SRYnidan]

1. Suppressed Ruger 10/22 with detachable scope. This is by far the most versatile weapon I can think of for both foraging and defensive use.

2. Remington 870 with a 20” rifle sighted barrel and a 26” Remchoke and a couple of just spare barrels (for cutting back when the legal issues become a moot point).

This is in many ways the absolutely most versatile weapon one can own. It can hunt anything on the continent and it’s only real drawbacks are somewhat limited range and heavy ammo.

3. A 4” Stainless revolver in 357 (probably a security six).

Several people mentioned barter/trade if one is going to interact with others closely at all a side arm carried either openly or better yet concealed replaces calling the better business bureau.

And because Preacherman specified one of each per person my wife’s list would be

1. G33/40 Mauser scout in 308 with extra conventional scope. This is for when you want to reach out further but don’t mind being the center of attention.

2. Marlin lever action in 357 with a receiver mounted peep sight and a detachable scout scope. With a box of snake shot so I can call this a shotgun.

It also uses the same ammo as the pistols and fills many foraging and self-defense needs

3. A 4” Stainless revolver in 357 (probably a security six).

[amprecon]

I think I could get along with just one weapon, the others would be a distraction.

I initially thought my SLR-95, but after some thought, realized that my Remington 700 with 3X9 Redfield and iron sights in .30-06 would probably be more practical and I would have better stand-off ability with it. I could also carry more ammunition of one type.

Then I considered the 870, it would be good at gathering all types of game, but would be limited in engaging hostiles at range. I think the pistol would be superfluous in either scenario especially when a bolt-action rifle is chosen where reliability is nary an issue.

It reminds me of the Japanese holdouts in the Philippines, where they caused much havoc for decades using their issue Arisaka's and with what little ammo they had available to them.

[Byron Quick]

It reminds me of the Japanese holdouts in the Philippines, where they caused much havoc for decades using their issue Arisaka's and with what little ammo they had available to them.

I've read some of the books written about the Japanese holdouts...I recall no "havoc."

[Spieler]

Going with what I have on hand, my list would be:

Olympic Arms AR in 5.56 Nato
Winchester 1300 Defender
Browning Hi-Power

My wife would be packing:

Ruger 10/22
Glock 17