A few high-speed or many low-cost?

[Gifted]

I encountered an interesting discussion on another board. I thought to get more opinions from here, since the other board is smaller.

The thread starter asked about two ways to go: a few expensive, or alot of cheap guns for SHTF scenarios, the generic social breakdown type thing. There were several thoughts, and I figure I'll go over a few of them:

Your're probably in a neighborhood, and a bunch of people view you as some sort of divine figure, because you have guns, food storage, stuff of that nature. How big of a group will be sticking together?

Most of those people don't have guns, and probably wouldn't know a muzzle from a butt.

Depending, they will either be trying to steal from you, want you to protect them, or want you to help protect the neighborhood. There may be outsiders wanting to rob/murder/whatever you.

Reflecting on these:

You may want several cheap, easy to use guns to loan out. You'll have to teach these people to shoot, most likely, and supply them with ammo at least for a little while.

You may have to fend them off of you and yours. You'll want something that'll work well for this.

Ammo will be a problem. You want something easy to aquire, and you want it to work in as many of the available guns as possible.

You'll want to be able to get parts for the guns. More common guns will be easier to maintain.

 

[jefnvk]

I'm thinking about a crate or two of SKS's.

 

[whm1974]

I stock up on guns that are not only common enough to easy to get parts for but known for durablity as well, and not to mention low cost enough not to empty the wallet.
Another one is that ammo for said guns most be common enough to find anywhere.

Some examples:

Milspec AR-15

Ruger Mini-14/Mini-30: However parts and hi-cap mags maybe hard to stock up on.

I'll also get both a .22 rifle and handgun. Ammo is cheap and can put alot of it in a small space. Good for small game hunting.

-Bill

 

[sm]

I prefer the term inexpensive or great buy instead of the word "Cheap".

I prefer "Serious Situations" instead of the 4 letter acronym.

This includes, but not limited to, redundancy in firearms for when one is broken, lost , stolen , destroyed in a fire or one has their primary kept at the DA because it was used in a shooting.

Gun statutes get to a point where obtaining additional firearms - or getting them fixed is too much of the Gummit's Business.

Folks get married , have kids , grandkids, and they need guns - Again the Flavor of the Land might have changed...The ability to provide down the road is just being responsible.

I have always believed a dozen .38spls in Med Frame Revolvers were something worth investing in. Single stage Reloader and components to make ammo.

The Gov't Model of the 45 lends itself to this role very well. It has proved itself in this role. As JMB designed it , the 1911 is easily field stripped without need of tools. Maint and parts - easy.

Same reason for having other Self contained firearms, not dependent on Mags to run, or something else to break.

One of the big 4 shotguns, Lever action Rifles....22 rifles like the Marlin 60.

Don't rule out the single shot shotguns, or .22 lr rifles.

For $1k one can buy multiple .38spls -or- shotguns -or- lever actions -or single shots...bolt rifles...

I could care less about mutant ninja zombies. I am concerned someday Freedom as we know it may not be. Some stuff is not suposed to be mettled with - don't care who " re-interpretated" , how fancy the paperdrill is, fancy uniforms with cute helmets, or how "intimidated " I am supposed to be.

Besides that $1200 black shotgun is still just as "used" as the old Wingmaster found for $175. They both fire a 12 ga round.

Phil Carson, Ranya and others thought about this too.

 

[patent]

I would want a one or two high end firearms for people who know how to use them and can take advantage of their increased accuracy and utility, and lots of cheap reliable stuff for those who just need something that goes bang.

patent

 

[junke]

i live in the country, not in a "neighborhood" if a SS (serious situation) were to arise my close friends and i would become a tribe. unfortuantly my friends (and there wives) are not quite the junke's i am so they are not nearly as well "supplied" as i. i have always had the "need" to have two of everything. this lends itself well to the his and hers setup.

me and mine M1A's (full Sz, Me, bush, wife, socom, son, daughters are age 3 & 1 i guess they can have the 10/22's)
the jones's AR's
the smiths ak's
the so n so's sks's

so if i want to make more friend i guess ill have to get some more toys i have been considering a couple fals or clones

 

[eab]

I personaly (if you are searious about this) go with a bunch of SKS. THen a TON of ammo. For the cost of 3 ars you can have on the low count 18 SKS. Then the ammo for an AR is roughly the same as that for an SKS.

That with a couple "deer rifles" (savages in .308 not mausers, to hard to scope and ammo is not as easy to get as .308) to get you out past 200 yd and you should be fine.

However if the da Goverment comes roling into town you an't gonna be doing any hold outs ala Waco or Ruby Ridge. You are going to want to stay low or head to the hills. Cause no matter what ant know way a rifle is going to stop a Bradly.

I would not worry about sidearms for everybody. Maybe just for you and your family. A Mak with a barrel for .380 might do the trick though.

 

[Chris Rhines]

You have got to be kidding me.

There. Is. No. Way. In. Hell. That I would be handing out guns to my neighbors during some period of general social disorder. I'd kind of like to make it through said social disorder alive, and having a bunch of armed, untrained yokels around is not going to help me towards that goal.

Anyone who wants to band together for mutual support is going to have to procure their own firearm and ammunition. That may be a useful indicator that a person is motivated enough to be an asset, rather than just a resource sink.

Still, that ain't no guarentee. I'd be very leery of hooking up with anyone with whom I didn't have a pre-Distopia survival plan worked out...

- Chris

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Not that I particularly enjoy quoting Stalin, but.......

"Quantity has a quality all of it's own"

 

[dfaugh]

Got it covered

2 x .22s
1 12 gauge(variety of ammo)
2 X SKSs (LOTS of cheap ammo)
1 Hi-Point 9mm carbine (LOTS MORE cheap ammo)
2 Mausers and 2 Mosins (Still MORE cheap ammo)
1 Sporterised Mauser with 6-24x scope, for those long range boogeymen

If I can't handle whatever comes up with all that, well I'm FUBAR anyway....

And my neighbors are all a$$holes, so their on there own, my kids know to come to the fort, and how to use all the weapons at hand...And the dogs (5 GSDs) are in charge of the first wave.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

I think Chris summed it up rather well:

There. Is. No. Way. In. Hell. That I would be handing out guns to my neighbors during some period of general social disorder. I'd kind of like to make it through said social disorder alive, and having a bunch of armed, untrained yokels around is not going to help me towards that goal.

Anyone who wants to band together for mutual support is going to have to procure their own firearm and ammunition. That may be a useful indicator that a person is motivated enough to be an asset, rather than just a resource sink.

Not to mention the fact that in a time of extreme social unrest, it may be your neighbors who are the first to come bashing at your door. Why would I hand a firearm to someone I may need to shoot?

As for the local god stuff -- as far as I know, none of my neighbors has any idea that I own any firearms, and I have no intention of enlightening them on the subject. What's inside MY house is MY business.

 

[JeepDriver]

For me it has been quality. I have 2 AR's and an M1A for my wife and I.

I do have a SAR-1 that I'll loan out to one of the the 2 people I know that might need to borrow a long gun.

 

[NMshooter]

If you think it is hard to get people to organize for any reason now (such as in support of any random political issue) just think how difficult it would be in a really bad situation.

Not to mention the difficulties inherent in turning a non-shooter into someone capable of defending themselves in the middle of a big mess.

Get yourself some guns that will go the distance, then maybe one or two to use training others to shoot (.22LR is the best for this).

And then practice as much as you can.

If you can't help yourself you certainly won't be able to help others.

 

[The_Antibubba]

The deeper question is, " Why don't my neighbors have any guns?"

Is one a felon? Are they weak-kneed antis? Are they people who you would've handed a gun to in a more civilized time? Unless I'm in a firefight and absolutely desperate, I'm not handing out guns.

Remember, there are plenty of other jobs in a SHTF situation. you'll want someone in charge of sanitation and hygiene, medical people, etc. If people of unknown quality are with you, and they truly want to help, then give them grunt duty. If they're seriously having a change of attitude and outlook, they'll do what you ask. If they're just whiners, you'll find that out quickly, too.

 

[HI express]

Duplicates

Gifted,
This is why I have been testing my guns, running it through the mill for reliability and accuracy. When I finally find one that really works all the time in snow, rain, muddy conditions, etc, etc. I then get at least one duplicate if not a third for muscle memory(ease of use whenever I pick a weapon up.) All my handguns have a frame mounted safety (H & K, CZ's, and 1911's) and have proven themselves in those conditions.
Also if worse case, one can be cannibalized to keep the others running.
In the BOB, I have .308 for the rifles for reaching out there, .22's for small game hunting, and .40 for the handguns. (some 9mm just in case.)

In past Neighborhood Watch meetings, I found three guys who have military combat experience and I spotted their fanny packs which indicate they are packing heat.
Before Y2K we somehow got together quickly, figured out assets, and worked out a plan of defense. Figures...everyone lived in a high ground perimeter that covered all approaches to our hillside...and we all had plans to E & E if it got too bad.
We still have the same agreement to this day.
Nice to know that you have others of like mind in our neighborhood.

 

[Wildalaska]

I want to have all the guns and ammo...

Me...

Just me....

I will invite people into my compound, selecting them by intelligence, ability to obey my orders and of course, young beautiful women at a ratio of 2-1.

The men will be further selected as to useful skills such as brewing beer and TV repair. Women will be slected by skills such as....never mind.....

I will wear a toga while my acolytes will wear loincloths. I figure that within 20 years, I will be able to repopulate a sufficient area with my progeny that I will train in warfare. We will spread slowly across the world, and all will hail me as the living incarnation of a diety that I will chose later on.

I will be benevolent and all will obey me.

WildihavespokenAlaska

 

[Wildalaska]

I will add that Spiffy will get a toga too, as the thought of him in a loincloth is too appalling to comtemplate.

WildihavespokenagainAlaska

 

[c_yeager]

SO what your saying is that you have a bunch of ammo, shelter, guns and various other supplies. ANd that you then wish to give firearms to a bunch of people around you who have none of those things? Sounds like an innovative way to commit suicide, i think. I know an SKS in untrained hands doesnt amount to much but, you put them into enough untrained hands and you end up with an army. An army that isnt necessarily on your side. There are a very few people who I know to be unarmed that i care about and trust enough to give weapons to. Those are the ONLY people that can expect to get any kind of firearm from me.

I go for quality over quantity every time. The fact is that I can only shoot one gun at a time and it doesnt do me any good to have 50 of them in the safe if the one I am holding is a piece of garbage.

 

[sm]

Wild- you gonna have Pink High Heels with the Toga's ?

Theme Song : Low Spark of High Heel Boys -Traffic

 

[JeepDriver]

I want to have all the guns and ammo...

Me...

Just me....

I will invite people into my compound, selecting them by intelligence, ability to obey my orders and of course, young beautiful women at a ratio of 2-1.

The men will be further selected as to useful skills such as brewing beer and TV repair. Women will be slected by skills such as....never mind.....

I will wear a toga while my acolytes will wear loincloths. I figure that within 20 years, I will be able to repopulate a sufficient area with my progeny that I will train in warfare. We will spread slowly across the world, and all will hail me as the living incarnation of a diety that I will chose later on.

I will be benevolent and all will obey me.

WildihavespokenAlaska

Where do I sign up! I'll bring guns, ammo and a few college girls. As well as a pick up truck full of beer!

 

[mack69]

Re:

WA....I'll keep your puters and electronics operatin but it's gonna require at least a toga...maybe a full bear skin coat....cause I'm thinkin ya'll ain't gonna want to see me self in a loin cloth Come to think of it...not sure anyone would want to see any of us in loincloths...yes....I've seen some pics!!! maybe the ladies .....mack

 

[lwsimon]

Hey WA, you got an airstrip up there? I could requisition a Citation III in a "SS", and could meet you up there, with say.... Me, SM, Hillbilly, and fill the rest with random girls from the University here! Now, the question - do I fill the cargo area with ammo, or liquor?