Your Choices for SHTF GUNS

[entropy]

No, you get behind cover and then switch weapons. Or stun 'em with the .22 on your way to cover, then switch weapons. Carry your primary single-point slung, and your secondary muzzle down left side. Have the weapon best suited for the current situation in your hands. Be proficient enough to get out of a jam with every weapon you have. If you are hunting small game with the .22, you'll be more likely to spot an ambush (If you're any kind of hunter) before the fact, allowing time to choose a response. (Tactical withdrawl is often the best one. ) If you are patrolling your perimeter and a deer presents itself, well, .223's will kill game if you aren't able to switch weapons. (If it's a squirrel, aim for the head, body shots with .223's or 7.62x39's tend to reduce the edible amount to 0%.)
Fantasy is all well and good, eqzet, but not everybody has or wants a Ciener converter for an AR, or even an AR. Nor are all of us as trim as when we completed Basic, and many have no military training. As for me, here's what I'd use from my current weapons:

M59/66A1 Yugo SKS
Remington 870
Star BM -The only centerfire handgun I own. Probably take my .22 snub with, as it adds little weight or bulk.

Now if were talking fantasy:

Well, one of those small choppers in Blackhawk Down, with the miniguns.

And a Kimber Tac Elite.

 

[pete f]

a 22 lr ruger with a can for small game and other needs or a small nine with a can. only becuase finding ammo in a war situatoin would be easier.

then MBR, either an AK or a AR although i have thought about finding a M40 clone with a can. much easier to stop threats at long rnage and with a reduces sound signature. a bolt with a can and a mp5 sd would be fine too and i could then delete the hand gun.

either way it would be with a rifle, a shottie has no place in defensive operations in my mind. i want to use stealth and skill to avoid contact, and if there has to be contact I want it to be on my terms. at my distances. and seeing as how in no world event as i see it, are enemy soldiers going to be operating on American soil without heavy equipment support, contact is going to followed by a) air attack b)arty or c) armor, I think the other piece of equipent is going to be a ATV, the option of cross country travel at very high rates of speed.

 

[MechAg94]

On the .22 LR conversion, are you going to have a preset sight adjustment set up for when you convert to .22?

I have a little Savage single shot that is light and accurate. My main purpose for having a .22 is for hunting with a minimum of noise. I don't need a scope for that. It would probably be too fragile anyway. If the SHTF, I would think iron sights would be better. Sniping is great, but that is not the main reason I would carry a rifle.

If the SHTF now, my M1A would probably be my choice due to more magazines being on hand with my M1 second since I have plenty of clips. I am working on correcting that situation for my AR as it is much easier to carry. If I was driving, I could load just about everything I have into my truck along with what little survival gear I have. Driving would be my first choice as there is not much place I would want to go around Houston that is in walking distance. I do need to put some effort into first aid, food, and water though. Hurricane supplies if anything. I have been lazy in getting a copy of "Backroads of Texas" as well. That would be required to get around in a situation like that.

 

[Father Knows Best]

Hmmm ... I hadn't thought of a .22LR conversion. That's an interesting idea.

I also like the idea of a suppressor for the .22. There are plenty of circumstances I can think of where you'd like to be discrete, even if it's just harvesting small game without drawing the attention of BGs.

I still think a pistol is a waste. .22LR should be as easy or easier to find in the U.S. as 9mm, even in wartime. Even if it isn't, you can stock up on 10,000 rounds of .22LR cheap, and carry a lot of it easily. It takes up very little space and weighs almost nothing. You wouldn't have much need to resupply. Include a couple of boxes of 60 grain subsonic sniper rounds to use with the can when ultimate stealth is required.

The reason for the shotgun is not really for defense -- your rifle can handle that requirement. The shotgun is for hunting. Depending on where you are, birds may be the only reliable game.

 

[MechAg94]

Might be adviseable to practice on moving targets with a .22. I don't think I have done that much.

Also, I would bet subsonic .22 LR is fairly quiet even without a suppressed gun. At least it shouldn't have some much noise down range. I need to get some to play with.

I bought some "primer only" .22 LR a long time ago. It is very quiet and sounds like a small cap gun out of a single shot. Never tried to hunt with it. You might be able to stun a rabbit or squirrel with it. Not much good for anything else. It is almost like throwing a rock.

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

22 LR conversion...

Either learn and remember the Clicks to adjust the point of impact "close enough", or get an A3 upper and simply remove one carry handle for another zeroed for .22LR, preferably with a compact inexpensive scope that could serve .223 and .22 also. Scope can be used in place of binoculars in a pinch and would adjust easily to either round...You just added maybe 2lbs(4 with a crap load of .22 ammo) and gained a heck of alot in utility...

Just keep your pistol close when using the .22 lr conversion kit(told you a pistol served a purpose ).

I think I will have to carry three guns instead of two, darn you guys. I will have to bring the 10 1/2" AR pistol and keep the .22 conversion kit in it with a holo sight mounted,in or on my backpack. I can scrounge parts to keep the M4gery running if needed(bolt carrier, bolt, firing pin,FP retainer pin, lower, springs etc) and the 10 1/2" barrel should be enough for small game, with the dot of death zeroed at 50 yards. See small game, put down the M4gery and pick up the AR pistol now in .22, and also deals with Murphy in a realistic and efficient way. Much faster than trying to change calibers on the fly(and handicapping yourself as far as defense goes,since some of us would then only have a .22 and no BUG pistol)....

PS: Unless you have a solar-powered refrigerator or a large family, you would be better served taking game that can be cleaned and eaten in one sitting, like up to small deer. .223 will do a number on a small deer with a soft point or take head shots using FMJ. Fish might be a consideration depending on your area(trout line for catfish or something)...

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

Quote From Eqzet,

"I'd sure never bother to lug around another carrying handle, or 2 scopes, much less an AR "Pistol."

I never asked you to carry anything ...I did list it as an option.
If I want to carry 4 carrying handles and 5 uppers one each in .223, 5.56x45, 7.62x39, .22, and 6.8 what should you care ?

If I want to add another option to my SHTF gear that also serves a practical function of replacement parts set for my primary rifle, small game gitter, a more quiet PDW, as well as an alternative caliber to help sparringly use the more precious .223/5.56x45 (while saving the 50 rounds of .40S&W for REAL SHT, say both rifle and AR pistol are not servicable ), how is that a bad thing? Especially when an AR-Pistol weighs less than 4 pounds, with some scope and is only 24" long. Options/Redundant safeties(like Back Up Guns, parts, and calibers) are never a bad thing, and just because you have an option doesn't mean you have to use it. So don't get a second carry handle, or an AR-pistol , don't carry a "normal" BUG pistol, don't adjust your .22 conversion kit's POA to POI and don't cry if your gun breaks and you only have a .22 conversion kit with nothing to put it into. You can always throw rocks, and sticks are free ...

PS: Shooting at birds and small mammals, a 3" dispersion at 50 yards might still be a little bit much for accurate shooting on such small game. So those clicks might come in handy. Just my opinion. Now I am off to figure out a secure way to attatch my MP-AR(ARpistol) to my right leg or thigh, that still keeps it accessable .

 

[chetrogers]

My sar-1 for many reason.I know how to fire it,easy to take apart if needed,Can piss on it and bury it in mud and pic up and fire,Holds a decent size round that will kill zombie's.Plus its just dead sexy.

Any .45acp for a pistol.Something that holds at least 10 rounds and has no external safety..

 

[dasmi]

If I had to hide out in my home, this would be what I'd want with me.
9mm, .38 special or .357 magnum handgun. (Ammo is plentiful)
9mm semiauto carbine, or 38 special, or .357 magnum lever gun. (Ammo is plentiful)
.22lr semiauto rifle. (Ammo is plentiful)
12 gauge pump shotgun. (Ammo is plentiful)
If I was on the run..
.357 magnum revolver
.22lr semiauto carbine.

 

[Travis McGee]

Ammo availability will soon become a limiting factor, no matter what firearm you're carrying. Sticking to the most common and available calibers will be crucual. Military calibers mean that warehouses and depots (which are raided and looted) will be potential sources of ammo over the long haul. So... anything in .308, .556, 9mm, .45, 38/357, 12 guage, 30-30, etc.

My point is, don't pick an oddball caliber, or you will have a useless piece of iron to haul around when you can't find ammo.

 

[cslinger]

My point is, don't pick an oddball caliber, or you will have a useless piece of iron to haul around when you can't find ammo

Course goal one should be to not have to shoot and if you do have to shoot and happen to live through the encounter scavange the enemies stuff if need be.

Remember the Liberator. Single shot POS .45. Shoot the enemy and upgrade.

Chris

 

[Stainless0ne]

Ohio-as many as i can easily carry

Definately my saiga ak, it uses what is probably (next to 22 cal.) the most readily available ammo out there, and uses high cap mags. then my winchester (pre 64) 190, ammo you could get from any wally world, and a ruger p89 sidearm (tough, never jam, plentiful ammo, and great for a close up head shot on the radioactive zombie). Bring it on!

 

[JFrame]

For invading Chicoms, reinvigorated Russkies, or whatever, I think I'd hunker behind the English boxwoods and (hopefully) let the convoys pass me by...

For George Romero zombies, a 10/22 with some 25-round magazines or my .357 Winchester Trapper should be enough. A back-up handgun would be nice... A Glock 26/27 with some extended mags, or a good ol' .38/.357 revolver... As far as Entropy's thought about his .22 snubbie -- I'm with you. I'll also pack my S&W 317 kit gun 'cause I'll hardly notice it's there...

For remake-Dawn of the Dead zombies, give me a short shotgun and any decent carbine with the fastest rate of fire I can get -- and a fortress to house all the ammo (and me!).

Mad Max scenario -- I'm back to the Winchester Trapper, back-up handgun, and .22 revolver. My hope is to avoid contact with the Lord Humongous, Toe Cutter, Bubba Zanetti, et al, entirely, while I make my way to the land where petrol flows freely...

I'm glad these SHTF threads crop up from time to time to reinforce our survival skills and mindset...

 

[50caliber123]

I'll go with what I want from what I already own.
Extreme-Long Range - Swiss K31
Medium-long Range - Yugo SKS
Marlin 1894 .44Mag
Short Range - Hi-Point 9mm Carbine
Mossberg 500 12 Gauge
Ruger 10/22
I'll split these between me and the rest of my fire-team.

 

[Sulaco]

ak

 

[Dr.Rob]

Nothing like a holiday weekend to awaken a dead horse... next what gun for zombie threads?

Just kidding. Happy holidays to those of you NOT working. (grumble mutter grumble)

 

[bigun15]

Two Desert Eagles for two hands.

 

[IndianaDean]

Browning BAR
a good 30.06 rifle with scope
.22 rifle with scope
.22 handgun
.45acp, .45 gap, 1911 with several mags or USP, Glock, etc with several higher cap mags.

.357 magnum

 

[fizzy]

You have to also lug around 30-40 lbs of other gear.

That includes portable shelter, tools, water, rations, light and fire making gear, extra clothing, body armor, etc. So, no, you won't be using 2 longarms, nor even "just" an AR pistol and a longarm. You will jettison 1 of them, within a day or two. You won't have any choice about it. Nobody can spare that much pointless extra effort.

I bet if I asked you how well you could feed yourself with a field made bow or slingshot, you'd say 3" at 30-50 ft. Yet, "somehow" 3" groups at 50 yds are not acceptable for foraging with the scoped 22 rifle.

You don't need to change the sights for the .22lr conversion unit in the AR-15. What you do is zero the "long range" peep at 150-200 yds, depending upon the length of your barrel and load used. Then you zero the short ranged sight at 50 yds, using the 22 unit, and by using a File and epoxy to make that wing of the sight a "v notch", for fast work. The POI of the 223 ammo will be close enough to the POI of the 22lr for fast work. If you need more precision than being within 3" at 50 yds, you simply take the 1 second or less needed to flip up the long range wing of the peep sight. You don't need to bother with the extra 4 lbs of the dedicated .22lr upper, nor the $400 worth of expense for same. The .22 lr unit works just fine in the 223 barrel.

No, "what gun you shoot best" is not the best choice for shtf. You may be a really mean welder, but that doesn't make you a carpenter. A shotgun might be fine at 30 yds or less, but it sucks when you have to deal with cover users at 100 yds+. It doesn't matter how much you "like" a shotgun, or what a whizzbang skeet or trapshooter you are, the tool is not up to the job for shtf. It would be like trying to drive nails with a saw. You have to look at what job needs to be done, in order to pick the right tool. When the woods are full of riflemen, foraging with a noisy shotgun is just stupid.

 

[telomerase]

FWIW, I agree completely with the bigoted anti-shotgun remarks. Remember, you need something that can punch through the snow banks when SHTF in Global Cooling.

 

[Brad Johnson]

First choice would be a combo of DA revolver and lever gun. Both chambered in .357 Mag. The reason is simple, in addition to both being able to shoot the readily available 357/38 cartridge the use of some simple half moon clips, or even a piece of small wire in the extractor groove, will allow you to use just about any .38/9mm pistol cartrdge in the revo.

Second choice would be the same combo in .454 Casull. Then you have the option of also using .45 LC or .45 ACP using the same clips/wire as above. In a real pinch, you could use .410 shotshells in the rifle (as a breechloaded single shot).

I also wouldn't mind having a shotgun. Choices, in order, are - pump 12 with an extended mag, O/U 12, single 12.

I'll stay away from any type of semi-auto guns for a simple reason - more moving parts equals more things to wear out and be difficult to find/replace. If the SHTF, I want simple, dependable firearms with the most versatility that will give a long service life and can be easily repaired with nothing more than a flat blade (used as a screwdriver) and some hand-filed parts I can make from salvaged/scrap metal.

Brad

 

[gremlin_bros]

bug out

ok if i had access to what i want heres the list for me and my wife

me
mossberg 590
carryruger 10/22 in pack
1911 style 45
small 22 revlover in pack

wife
m-1 carbine
1911 style 45
ar7 (22 cal survival rifle used in air force for pilots shot down. breaks down into stock and floats)

as far as ammo goes
200 for the m-1
50 for the 12 guage
10 mags for the 45's total for both of us 5 each
a brick of 22
a couple of boxes of shot for the 22's for snakes and such
and stashes of ammo at stragic places so i dont have to weigh myself down carrying it all.

the idea is rifle for longer range, shot gun for close in work, 45 for back ups. the 22 for game harvest due to low noise even better if i can find subsonic rounds.

 

[longeyes]

Zombies?

Two machetes.

Good steel-toed boots: zombies have weak legs.