Mossberg 500 SHTF

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So I'm been assembling my 'Bug out' bag and Its got to the point to where I now need to consider my options for a viable firearm.

When I say SHTF I mean a realistic scenario; Natural disaster, wide spread disease/biological contamination, governmental collapse and etc. In the very worst scenario (no power, limit or no law enforcement, and) I will no doubt be heading north, thus essentially living of the land until things get better.

Because of this, I've been considering my options for a firearm that'll suit me. I'm looking for something that is more practical for hunting and survival than defense. The way I figure, any firearm I train with can become a devastating self defense firearm so I'm not too worried about that. I'm not fighting hordes of Zombies here....

I also want something cheap (broke college student) so below $400. I also prefer something light as I would be mostly on foot.

I'm not into the assault rifle craze and have been considering more tradition routes.

I've been really interested in the Marlin 30-30 lever action. But then my dad offered me his old 20ga Mossberg 500 shorty for $100 (18.5 in and 24in barrels and olive full stock) . I'm half tempted to purchase instead of the Marlin 30-30 because of the price tag.

But I'm concerned it will be ineffective for what I need it for (being a short ranged firearm system). So my question is, would you suggest a Mossberg 20ga for SHTF purposes, specially hunting for both large and small game?
 
I've been really interested in the Marlin 30-30 lever action. But then my dad offered me his old 20ga Mossberg 500 shorty for $100 (18.5 in and 24in barrels and olive full stock) . I'm half tempted to purchase instead of the Marlin 30-30 because of the price tag.

But I'm concerned it will be ineffective for what I need it for (being a short ranged firearm system). So my question is, would you suggest a Mossberg 20ga for SHTF purposes, specially hunting for both large and small game?
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Absolutely YES is my opinion. The 20ga will serve you well for taking small game, protection, and taking larger animals with slugs. Don't do it because of the price tag, do it because it is the better choice.

Look - there is always alternatives and choices to be made. I lived for a number of years with a single firearm that done it all for me, and that happen to be a short barrel 20ga Mossberg 500.

The details of what is the best choice for you is in the specifics of how you see things happening. Living off the land seems to be the common theme plan for a lot of folks - it may get crowded out there . In many cases I think a 22 rimfire rifle might be an even better choice.
 
The beauty of the shotgun is the ease of reloading, it is easier to load than metallics, and can literally use rocks (pee gravel) for ammo. It can burn black powder you can even buy a muzzle loader barrel for the Mossy,

VERY versatile platform.
 
The beauty of shotguns is the variety of loads available enabling one to hunt most critters from bunnies and squirrels up to deer. Mossies are reliable and easy to field strip and maintain. Money saved at purchase can be used to buy ammo for practice. Sounds like a winner to me.
 
I vote for the shotgun for two reasons:

1. Superior SHTF all around gun
2. It's $100... if you don't like it sell it for more than twice that and get something else
 
The Marlin is a good choice, but the Mossberg priced at $100 it's a no-brainer for a college student low on money.

Get some buckshot and some slugs. Pattern the buckshot out to 25 yards or so, and shoot the slugs out to 50. Then get some birdshot and go shoot some clays to get practice at manipulating the gun.

Even in a SHTF situation if you're being realistic, any legally defensible use of the gun is going to be at short range.
 
$100 is a great price for anything in a Mossberg that is in working condition. Also a good choice for the specified use.
 
I love the Mossberg shotgun. I think they are very simple and pretty bullet proof. Same for the Marlin .30-30. I would have no problem using the shotgun, but would much rather have a 12ga. 20ga is harder and more expensive to find around my parts. It is well stocked during hunting season, then not so much. There is virtually no SD 20ga ammo stocked at any time. You have the ability to order online in order to build up a stock pile, but trying to find it after a disaster my be a challenge.

That said if the SG is in your price range and gets you started towards your goal, then go for it. You can always add a Marlin down the road. Be sure to check pawn shops for the Marlin; they can usually be found in abundance.
 
I will no doubt be heading north, thus essentially living of the land until things get better.
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While I do not know where your north is I am sure there are likely people already living in that area. They will block the roads and prevent strangers from entering in a SHTF scenario. Why would they do that. To preserve what is there for their own uses and also to keep armed strangers away. I know I would if I lived in such an area.
But assume you have a way of getting to your utopian rural area. If you have kill something about each day to survive with your shotgun that means on any day you do not succeed you will go Hungry. The amount of land needed to feed a hunter 365 days of the year is a lot of land. If you use all sorts of traps and are willing to eat wood rats and snakes, yes you might make it. Most of the people with such fantasies of living off the land are usually people that are use to eating very well from the supermarket and really know not too much about survival. Any 12, 16, or 20 ga pump mossberg will do the job. Why someone would ask is interesting. I would be asking about the best traps and trapping techniques myself. And you need to be willing to eat what ever you catch even if it is only a fox or coyote.
Me I will shelter in place. I have gardens, and an orchard. I will also store food and I have water available. I have a couple of neighbors that think similarly to me and I will talk to them when and if the time comes.
 
I'm looking for something that is more practical for hunting and survival than defense.
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Get the Mossy and add a rifled barrel.

Then for $263 you'll have a great HD shotgun, a good shotgun for shooting clays and birds and a pretty decent deer rifle. You know deep down you'll never have to bug out to the "north" and feed yourself off the land. You will however, have a very versatile firearm that can do a lot of the things you will want to do when the S never HTF.
 
Doing the math, how many birds / squrrels / rabbits will you see for every deer?

That should dictate your choice, not to mention that birds-even sitting ones-are harder to hit with a .30-30, and if you luck out, there won't be much left to eat anyway.

Shotgun works on deer too, even without a scope, within short range.

The .22 is really your "only 1 gun" best option, with lots of (cheap, light) ammo.

In a situation like that, rules of sportsmanship and fair chase go out the window. Birds on the water or ground are just as nutritious as the flying ones. With a scope, you can hit them in the throat, and not ruin any meat.

Also, some brass snare wire to take with you is cheap, light and deadly on rabbits if you know what you're doing.
 
Hard to beat at that price.

With slugs, it's good for upright walking predators.

With shot, it's good for game. Just practice your stalking and woodsmanship.
 
The trouble with a shotgun - any shotgun, is the weight and bulk of the ammunition. With a need to carry different kinds of shells along with other gear, you won't be able to lug very many of each. If I were doing it, I would choose a Marlin "papoose" take down .22 automatic and a brick of ammo. The rifle sells for about $250 or less.
 
When it comes to a Jack of all trades weapon/hunting tool the shotgun is it IMO, also if you want to further enhance the versatility of your shotgun take a look at some of the more modern sabot slugs and rifled slug barrels they can turn your old mossberg into a 100 yard gun easy.
 
Bolt action or pistol in .22lr with 5000 rounds of ammo and a PGO 12ga mossberg.
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Why a PGO? I can't imagine why you would want that when space limitation is not an issue.
 
Quote:
Bolt action or pistol in .22lr with 5000 rounds of ammo and a PGO 12ga mossberg.

Why a PGO? I can't imagine why you would want that when space limitation is not an issue.
__________________
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If space limitations are the issue then just get a floding stock. It maybe a little bulkier on the side but being able to hit what you aim at it always a plus.
 
Bolt action or pistol in .22lr with 5000 rounds of ammo and a PGO 12ga mossberg.
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Seems a bit much from a carry stanpoind.

Looking at all of the responses so far, it would seem a combo gun, like the old Savage 24C Camper's Companion, in .22 and 20 gauge would be the ticket. Easily breaks down for travel, gives you .22 for small game and a shotgun for other/large game
 
I would look at getting a .22 rifle of some kind for the survival needs your interested in and a inexpensive tactical 12 gauge for self defense. The thing to keep in mind is that if something like that ever happened one of the first things that people would be trying to get and hoard would be ammo. So it would be hard to find ammo in an event like that. Also you wouldn't want to be loaded down with a ton of ammo or mags if you have to "bug out" on foot. And remember that once your ammo is gone good luck finding more. If it were me and if I really believed that something like that would happen in my lifetime I would want to know how to do hand to hand combat and how to fight with other weapons besides firearms. But to get back to your question I would rather have a few case's of 22 ammo for hunting and survival because it's light and you can carry a lot of it compared to high powered ammo. But I would also have a couple of belts of say 25 to 50 rounds of 12 gauge for self defense. Odds you would have to use a gun in CQ combat more than anything eles so the shotgun is great. You also don't have to worry about mags like with a hand gun of rifle. That's just my 2 cents.:rolleyes:
 
Preparing for a worse case scenario is definitely on a lot of people’s minds these days. You don’t have to look far to see the evidence of that. Good for you to be thinking ahead. I think some of the other responders made some excellent points. Do you have the skills needed to spot, stalk, kill, clean and cook wild game? Have you educated yourself on foraging? What about water? Water is very heavy to carry but may be hard to find along the way. How far are you going to have to walk? How many miles per day do you think you can cover through unfamiliar terrain and unknown obstacles? How many detours will you be forced to take? Can you navigate without roads? Do you really know how much gear you will need and how much that will weigh? Have you practiced carrying that load and living out of that pack? And on, and on, and on. Bugging Out, except for short distances to a pre-prepared location or predetermined rally point, should be approached as an absolute last resort.

Back to the firearms question, there is no perfect choice and there is no right or wrong decision here. However, do not discount redundancy. Machines fail, things get lost or damaged. It is highly likely under the scenario you describe that you could get into a situation where you absolutely need a highly concealed weapon of last resort on your person. You won’t always be able to spot danger from 100 yards off and you may be forced to drop your gear and run for your life. Two is one, one is none.

My recommendation, take the 20 gauge for now, save for and buy a common caliber sidearm of some sort and work your way up to a 12 gauge later because “found” ammo is more likely to come in 12 gauge than 20. In the meantime, consider all the points in paragraph one and think long and hard about finding allies and a safe location closer to “home”.
 
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