Build Your Basic Arsenal

[SalukiFan]

Okay, there are a lot of knowledgeable folks on this forum and I’d love to hear your opinions. Suppose someone came to you and told you that they would like to defend themselves and their family. Assume this person lives in a state where concealed carry is an option and he or she is eligible for a permit. Assume they have a basic knowledge of revolvers, autoloaders, shotguns and rifles and can safely handle, maintain and shoot any of them and they will train regularly with the weapons they purchase. This person can free up about $1,000 a year for the next 3 years ($3,000 total) at most to purchase their defensive arsenal.

What types of handguns/long guns, edged weapons, O.C. spray, etc. would you advise them to get and in what order?

You can be as specific or as general as you want. Ammo doesn’t count toward the total. You don’t have to get out your calculators or Blue Books but if you could stay under the $1,000 a year (you don’t want our theoretical family to starve do you? ) that would be ideal.

Sample List:
1st year: For concealed carry: Concealable autoloader or revolver, Fox Labs O.C. Spray, quality folding knife (Benchmade, Kershaw, Spyderco, etc.)
For home defense: Pump action 12 gauge shotgun
2nd year: For concealed carry: Add night sights to concealable handgun, purchase BUG
Save the rest of the money for Year 3
3rd year: For homeland defense/SHTF scenarios: Black rifle (example: an AR 15 with some goodies)

What’s your basic $3,000 arsenal?

 

[HankB]

SalukiFan, welcome to The High Road. You'll find we're a diverse bunch, and you'll no doubt get a number of very different responses to the question you pose.

1st Year: For concealed carry, Glock 19 with night sights, standard capacity mags, and a CompTac CTAC holster. Cost should be under $700. (A BHP would make a VERY nice alternative to a G19.) Since this will do well for all home defense scenarios short of a Rodney King riot, I'd save the leftover balance for the 2nd year.

2nd Year: EBR - RRA, Armalite, or Bushmaster. Flat top, short barrel. (I'd look hard at Bushmaster's Modular Carbine - and shop for discount. I've got a whole year, right?)

3rd Year: Tossup - Shotgun or Airlight J-frame S&W, depending on my situation. For a shotgun, I'd take a Benelli M1S90 with short (18"-21") barrel, upgraded with an extended magazine tube. On the other hand, an S&W 340SC with Crimson Trace laser grips makes for a great "always" gun for pocket carry when even an IWB holster may "print" too much with the G19.

 

[Japle]

Interesting thread except for one thing:

An "arsenal" is either a building used for testing and/or storage of weapons (usually military), or a news reporter's description of the guns owned by anyone who has more than 3 guns.

Anyhoo, Year one: Kel Tec P3AT, EAA Witness .45 Compact with steel frame & Wonder finish, a Yugo SKS and an NRA membership.
Year 2, Dillon 650, brass, powder and primers and an NRA membership.
Year 3: They won't need my advice; by then they'll be hooked and spending over $1000.

John
Cape Canaveral

 

[Minnesota Shooter]

1st year.
-A snubnosed revolver with an internal hammer so it wouldn't catch onto anything. A Smith&Wesson or a Taurus would be ideal. 350-500 dollars tops.
So thats around a third to half of the budget right there. so with the remaining, I would purchase a nice low profile holster, the conceal and carry permit, several classes for conceal and carrying, and loads of fmj ammunition for rangetime.
Either that, or I would cave in and buy a .40 caliber H&K USP compact,
beautiful piece of machinery. I would put some trijicon night sights on it and just leave it as it is, and buy some high cap magazines for it.

2nd year.
-After being down here in New Mexico for a couple of weeks at my uncle's house/ armory, I am now officially a sucker for benelli super 90s. Price tag be damned, I would pick one of those up and give it an extended mag tube as well as a very bright tac-light mounted on the front grip. After all that is taken care of, I would blow the rest of the money, hopefully at least 100 dollars, on slugs and No.4 buckshot rounds.

3rd year.
I used to be more of an AK fan, but once again, after being here, and riding shotgun in my uncles police unit, which had a rather nice colt m4 carbine installed in the front by the steering wheel, I have a preferance to them.
I really can't tell the difference between the different companies versions, i.e colt, rock river arms, dpms. I would just get one of those and go from there, with a tac light as well as some extra magazines.

 

[Texian Pistolero]

Year One - Glock 19 ($530) and Remington 870 (black low end model with 18.5 inch barrel, $240 at discount sporting goods store (less on SALE!) , NO other useless assessories for scattergun!)

Year Two- Short barrelled Bushy ($800) or Romanian AK ($350), as pocketbook and taste may dictate.

All other cash for ammo, mags, holster for Glock 19, shoot a lot!

Five hi-caps for Glock 19, 12 30-rounders for rifle.

 

[SalukiFan]

Thanks for the welcome HankB. THR does seem to have a very diverse crowd and that's one of the things that I like best and I like a lot of what I've seen so far.

Great posts everyone, with a lot of thought put into them. Keep 'em coming!

An "arsenal" is either a building used for testing and/or storage of weapons (usually military), or a news reporter's description of the guns owned by anyone who has more than 3 guns.

Aw shucks Japle - you're right. What I should have titled this thread was "Build your $3,000 toy collection ('No really honey, we need this for self-defense')"

 

[entropy]

Welcome to theforum, SalukiFan! Very thought-provoking question.

Year 1; Springfield Armory XD or XD compact, your cal. choice. Several holsters. CCW costs and training. Good folder, Spyderco type.

Year 2; Duplicate of the first pistol for spouse. CCW & training for spouse.(This assumes spouse would carry. If not, go to year 3's choices.)

Year 3; M4gery carbine and your choice of sighting device for it. OR, AK/SKS rifle and Rem 870 with smoothbore slug bbl. plenty of $ left over for practice ammo. If acquired in Year 2, then 2 P3AT's and 870, or AK or SKS if AR already owned. (Rifle for spouse)

The carbon fiber Bushy is hard to beat, but $$, might go over budget unless you save both 2nd & 3rd year for it. The SKS is hard to beat for rifle price, simplicity, ammo capacity, and ammo price, as well as light recoil and ease of maintainence. (And the fact they don't need much of that.) Same for AK's just more $ to buy 'em.

 

[taliv]

Y1: police trade-in SIG (you pick the model), NRA/GOA memberships, 2000 rnds ammo, good holster, CCW
Y2: 7000 rnds ammo, NRA/GOA memberships
Y3: 7000 rnds ammo, NRA/GOA memberships

 

[DirtyBrad]

Arsenal is defined by Merriam Webster first as the building, second as a collection of weapons, and third as a store or repertory (like a comedian's arsenal of jokes or a team's arsenal of players).

tunk, did you really say that a shotgun "is too limited in use"? I'm trying to think what my 870 won't do.

 

[tunk]

[deleted]

 

[jobu07]

Don't forget the armored wheelbarrow gunkid, err, tunk.

 

[GEM]

I would buy a Glock 19 for $450 and some version of an AR for $800. Then I would spend the rest of the money on quality tactical training. The spacing out makes no sense, sorry. Oh, buy a knife $40 and and a Surefire - $35.

Basic knowledge isn't good enough, IMHO. They will train - how - punch paper?

For $1500 in TX, you could take about 4 quality tactical courses and learn to use those two guns and that will be much better than layers of hardware.

Too much tech and not enough trainining, IMHO

 

[taliv]

best practices for home defense and ccw:

let's see...

use a class III suppressor? check, definitely a hit with the plantiffs' lawyers
conceal in clothing? check
use your rifle or pistol one-handed? check
if any of your hallways are over 200m, make sure they have 14" ceilings to accomodate bullet drop and mount wind flags every 50m? CHECK and CHECK

etc. etc.

 

[DirtyBrad]

I seem to be able to think. I think I can, anyway.

I guess I got a little crazy with my language there. I did type that I can't think of anything that it won't do, but that's not exactly what I meant. I am not always strictly literal.

I actually can think of several things it can't do. It can't water-ski, fall in love, or argue on internet forums to name a few. And a shotgun does have its negatives, which is why it isn't the only firearm I own.

However, a $250 gun that can hunt about every type of bird in this country, deer-sized game, is good for skeet and trap, can be used for home defense, can be used with multiple sized shot or slugs, can even be used with less-than-lethal rounds, uses ammunition available pretty much everywhere, and is extremely rugged and reliable seems -- even to a non-thinker such as myself -- to not be "too limited" to own.

Granted, it will be difficult to obtain a headshot at 100 meters and doesn't accept GI mags. It wouldn't be the first weapon I'd chose to take a tour of Iraq with, but I think that the average American homeowner would find it versatile enough to do a few things.

There might even be a few people around here who have one and don't think it was a complete waste of money.

 

[1911 guy]

Good place to start

1st year: Handgun of choice (mine's a 1911), holster, and even though your scenario said ammo doesn't count, 1,000 rounds for shooting plus whatever our man needs for carry.
2nd year: reliable shotgun (i like pump 12's), accurate centerfire rifle (bolt or semi-auto) and a .22LR rifle.
3rd year: Start buying specialty or niche items that you like and are useful. For example, you like your shotguning, so buy a trap gun and join a club. Or buy a service rifle and start on high power competition, maybe a varmint rifle to pop woodchucks or prarie dogs. Your'e going to find in the first two years that there's something you enjoy more than others.
About the NRA membership, do it and go with the 5 year membership. Cheaper than one at a time. Or, spend year #3's allowance on a life membership.

 

[taliv]

doh! I missed the ammo doesn't count toward the total part... i'll try again

yr 1: police trade-in SIG (225 or 228), used mossberg 500, used SKS or AK
yr 2: AR15 (self-assembled using stag or comperable receiver, in a basic m4gery style, salted to taste)
yr 3: upgrade your CCW to a quality 1911; either a used wilson CQB or RRA 1911 or the like, or start with one of the springfield G.I. models and have it customized

 

[Brian Williams]

all used
S&W 642 $300
unclemike pocket holster $12
1 speed loader $5
1 Bianchi Speed strip $6

S&W 13 or 65 $350
Used Pancake holster $20
2 speed loaders $10
1 bianchi Speed strip (see above)

Win 1300 22" VR barrel $165
Cyl, impcyl, Mod choke tubes $30
Extension tube and clamp $40
Sling $15

thats $853, exactly what I spent
$50 for a good Knife
$97 for a good set of eyes and ears and a cheap cleaning kit

2nd year
1911 Sistema $325
6 mags $90
new front sight $25
Holster $10
$450

Marlin 1894C $360
Marble's tang peep sight $95
Merit Peep disc $75
sling and swivels $20

$550

3rd year
whatever

 

[cslinger]

Year 1 $1010.00
Remington 870 Home Defense 7 shot. $305 OTD
Smith 642 $375 OTD
Ruger 22/45 $270 OTD
CRKT M16 Knife $35
Uncle Mikes Pocket Holster $10
4 Bianchi Speed Strips $15

Excellent carry setup, wonderful HD shotgun, great knife, and lots of fun and practice with the Ruger.

Year 2 $1075
VEPRK 7.62x39 $600 OTD
4 30 round magazines $30
CZ75/2 15 round mags. $445 OTD

Great SHTF rifle that is easy and cheap to stockpile ammo for, not to mention there is something to be said for blasting away with 7.62x39 5 magazines will do fine. One in the gun and four in a pouch.
CZ75 is a classic wonder nine and should cover any semi auto handgun needs.

Year 3 $1000
CZ Kadet Kit. $300
Savage 10FP .223 CDNN special $700ish (Scope, bi-pod, case etc included)

This is basically your have at it year. I like .22s so I put the Kadet kit down for the CZ. I think everybody needs a nice bolt gun and the Savage set up above will easily keep up with the average rifleman's skills for quite some time.

Course I would probably prefer a nice .22 scoped rifle instead for fun. But this is basically your toy year.

So basically I went over the limit by $85 over three years. Eat Raman noodles for a few weeks out of each year. All prices are for NIB items and I have links to all items I pulled from Gunbroker. I included shipping and my FFL's transfer fees in all pricing so in reality you could probably save a few bucks here and there by shopping around.

Chris

 

[chunk]

mmmmmil surp...

get a few cz-52's a few yugo sks,what the heck,a few mosin m-44's & bookoo ammo... all for under 1000 bucks

 

[ZeroX]

1st year: Whatever pistol they like (9mm minimum), a pump shottie, an SKS and some kind of .22.

That'd pretty much do it.

 

[onrhander]

1st.year;pistol BHP,1911. BHP's used or the Argitine FM are selling in the $300-375 range. RIA 1911 start about $325,Charkes Daly $400+.Rifle or shotgun. SKS's(unisued)start around $200,a good used semiauto 12 ga.will run $350,a pump(new) a little more.Add a good holister and belt should be about $1000. 2nd. year.The rifle or shotgun you didn't get year 1. 2nd. pistol could be a semiauto or a revoler. Use balance of money for CCW Traning/fees. If any $ lift buy a gun safe to keep them all in. 3rd. year. If you didn't get the safe get it! Add a BUG,KT-32/380 or a simular sized and priced backup.A.22 rifle for much praticing,and funing. 2nd.rifle or shotgun wich one you feel you need.then PRATICE PRATICE PRATICE,then PRATICE some more(join a gunclub?)

 

[SalukiFan]

Adding Training

I like the idea of spending a portion of your budget on training.

I originally set up the scenario to focus on acquiring defensive firearms/weapons by putting in the "they will train regularly" disclaimer. However, like GEM pointed out, you can have all the firearms in the world, but if you don't have tactical training, you might have trouble defending yourself from things other than paper targets, watermelons, milk jugs and phonebooks.

Great suggestions for firearms. You all are making me want to go on a buying spree!

 

[GEM]

Well, having trained - I am now ready to purchase a high end new recoil reducing stock for my shotgun!! However, one problem with the money scenario is that the wife wants new curtains! Kevlar maybe.

 

[logical]

I thought the building was more clearly referred to as an "armory"....but I believe the original post's use of "arsenal" is also perfectly correct to describe a collection of weapons.
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ar·mor·y ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ärm-r)
n. pl. ar·mor·ies

A storehouse for arms; an arsenal.
A building for storing arms and military equipment, especially one serving as headquarters for military reserve personnel.
An arms factory.

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ar·se·nal ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ärs-nl)
n.
A governmental establishment for the storing, development, manufacturing, testing, or repairing of arms, ammunition, and other war materiel.
A stock of weapons.
A store or supply: an arsenal of retorts.