My first aquistition would be a mule!!!!!!! Or better yet two or three. Easy to feed, easy on water, hardy not likely to die in the first week, and will pack what four or five men will carry. After I got transportation straightened out I would figure out how much of the total cargo capacity I have to work with, ie: 50 lbs, 150lbs?
At least one shotgun in the party would be essential, pump rock solid operation, maybe a Ithica 37, not sawed off, it will be needed for snakes and the camp meat, thinking about that: two shotguns.
Rifle, bolt actions with stripper clips would be my first choice, any auto would require some real sole searching on my part. For two reasons, the amount of ammo I am going to pack is going to minimal about 1 months worth. Enough that if there is an incident there would be plenty, to spare, maybe even several days worth, but an ammo pack train isn't going to happen. What will get packed on the mules will be several reloading tool sets (the old Lyman/Lee types) several thousand bullets, kegs of powder, primers, and bullet grease to make the reloading possible. Reloading as needed will be neccessary, and since this is field reloading, I want bolt guns that aren't going to be picky on feeding.
Rifles could be several types, old mausers, Enfields, Springfields something simple, reliable, and rugged Prefereably modern versions of the these type rifles. A couple .22 rifles with ammo would be in the mix, with several cases of ammo to back them up. They would not be Ruger 10/22's. A simple combo shotgun/rifle would be my first choice, kills two birds with one stone. And saves wieght. Other item will be in the selection of firearms packed around is everyone won't be carry one. So there will no match up of a firearm to every person. Of your list of 10 persons, the total firearms might be 15-20 total, but some are spares, in case of loss breakage.
My next big issue is how to keep the shotguns feed in a reloading scenario. I am not a big shotgun nut, but I know this could be done, I would ned to figure it out or find somebody thats knows what to do.
MY initial list would look like ( revised several times for sure, with positive input from party leaders )
3 - 22lr/12 (20) guage shotgun/rifles
3 - shotguns
2 - Flare guns
6 - 308 equivalant rifles
4- smaller caliber (.223/6mm) rifles
2-3 Something bigger say 375 H&H, 9.3x62, 338 mags
?? - this might still be a couple of semi auto (full) rifles, they would need to fit logistically into the above list maybe a 308, or a couple of 6mm or 6.5 mm rifles from the above list, if they went gernade launchers would be an attachment I think. While I was ordering a 1/2 dozen claymore mines would get added to the list ( there could be a couple other destructive devices added here like flares, a few sticks of dynamite etc). At least a couple would have scopes, detachable with iron sights as a backup would work well.
When it comes to the powder primer situation, particular attention would be payed to only a couple of types, maybe one for shotgun/pistols and another for the rifles. The bigger stuff off the list there might be a problem there but I would cross matrix this different powder so it worked in the 308 class also.
I know the above list isn't exciting, but it would work with some tweaks. I would also add the handguns to the list, pick one or two cartridges only that is supported, maybe a 38/357 as one choice, possibly 45 ACP as another. If you showed up at the party with anything else you would be SOL.
One last note, I would be paying attention to corrosion issues on all the firearms, lots of cleaning materials, stainless where it was practical. My other consideration would be reasonably low pressure rounds if I thought the climate was tropical or hot in anyway, don't need to have pressure issues with all the ammo, I would also mix up the ammo types so the initail ammo was made to a very tight quality standards, not prone to getting wet, but definaly boxer primed. Oh did I say nobody gets to throw away brass, count on it.
Like I said not fancy, but that would cover most of the needs I would reasonably expect, from camp meat, nasty cats ( smaller than a bear, but leapords or the equivilant are nasty ), snakes, and hostile natives if that became neccesary. And the more I think about it, multiple mules, I don't want it all in one place in case a mule falls down a ravine, or drowns in a river or something, it would get broken up so that one lost mule wouldn't be terminal. And since I got this mixed up in the mess, I would probably just take over the whole logistics problem for the adventure, cause this gets mixed up with radio's, food, clothing, medicine, bedding, shelter, tools, cooking equipment and weight decisions are going to be essential. I'm on record right now telling you either get the transport/logistic side straightened out, or your one year just became two-three weeks, and miserable at that.
At least one shotgun in the party would be essential, pump rock solid operation, maybe a Ithica 37, not sawed off, it will be needed for snakes and the camp meat, thinking about that: two shotguns.
Rifle, bolt actions with stripper clips would be my first choice, any auto would require some real sole searching on my part. For two reasons, the amount of ammo I am going to pack is going to minimal about 1 months worth. Enough that if there is an incident there would be plenty, to spare, maybe even several days worth, but an ammo pack train isn't going to happen. What will get packed on the mules will be several reloading tool sets (the old Lyman/Lee types) several thousand bullets, kegs of powder, primers, and bullet grease to make the reloading possible. Reloading as needed will be neccessary, and since this is field reloading, I want bolt guns that aren't going to be picky on feeding.
Rifles could be several types, old mausers, Enfields, Springfields something simple, reliable, and rugged Prefereably modern versions of the these type rifles. A couple .22 rifles with ammo would be in the mix, with several cases of ammo to back them up. They would not be Ruger 10/22's. A simple combo shotgun/rifle would be my first choice, kills two birds with one stone. And saves wieght. Other item will be in the selection of firearms packed around is everyone won't be carry one. So there will no match up of a firearm to every person. Of your list of 10 persons, the total firearms might be 15-20 total, but some are spares, in case of loss breakage.
My next big issue is how to keep the shotguns feed in a reloading scenario. I am not a big shotgun nut, but I know this could be done, I would ned to figure it out or find somebody thats knows what to do.
MY initial list would look like ( revised several times for sure, with positive input from party leaders )
3 - 22lr/12 (20) guage shotgun/rifles
3 - shotguns
2 - Flare guns
6 - 308 equivalant rifles
4- smaller caliber (.223/6mm) rifles
2-3 Something bigger say 375 H&H, 9.3x62, 338 mags
?? - this might still be a couple of semi auto (full) rifles, they would need to fit logistically into the above list maybe a 308, or a couple of 6mm or 6.5 mm rifles from the above list, if they went gernade launchers would be an attachment I think. While I was ordering a 1/2 dozen claymore mines would get added to the list ( there could be a couple other destructive devices added here like flares, a few sticks of dynamite etc). At least a couple would have scopes, detachable with iron sights as a backup would work well.
When it comes to the powder primer situation, particular attention would be payed to only a couple of types, maybe one for shotgun/pistols and another for the rifles. The bigger stuff off the list there might be a problem there but I would cross matrix this different powder so it worked in the 308 class also.
I know the above list isn't exciting, but it would work with some tweaks. I would also add the handguns to the list, pick one or two cartridges only that is supported, maybe a 38/357 as one choice, possibly 45 ACP as another. If you showed up at the party with anything else you would be SOL.
One last note, I would be paying attention to corrosion issues on all the firearms, lots of cleaning materials, stainless where it was practical. My other consideration would be reasonably low pressure rounds if I thought the climate was tropical or hot in anyway, don't need to have pressure issues with all the ammo, I would also mix up the ammo types so the initail ammo was made to a very tight quality standards, not prone to getting wet, but definaly boxer primed. Oh did I say nobody gets to throw away brass, count on it.
Like I said not fancy, but that would cover most of the needs I would reasonably expect, from camp meat, nasty cats ( smaller than a bear, but leapords or the equivilant are nasty ), snakes, and hostile natives if that became neccesary. And the more I think about it, multiple mules, I don't want it all in one place in case a mule falls down a ravine, or drowns in a river or something, it would get broken up so that one lost mule wouldn't be terminal. And since I got this mixed up in the mess, I would probably just take over the whole logistics problem for the adventure, cause this gets mixed up with radio's, food, clothing, medicine, bedding, shelter, tools, cooking equipment and weight decisions are going to be essential. I'm on record right now telling you either get the transport/logistic side straightened out, or your one year just became two-three weeks, and miserable at that.