ONE GUN for the rest of your life

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Pony Express

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Hello folks,
While procrastinating today, I began thinking about what one gun I would take if I was in a SHTF type situation. Let's say for whatever reason (natural disaster, foreign invasion, etc,) you need to get out of dodge. You will be relying upon this gun for collecting food, defending yourself, backup tent pole, etc. It can be any gun ever built (well, not any gun, but any shotgun or rifle). Cost&availability of ammo is an issue because ammo doesn't grow on trees (if only...). What would you choose?

I would choose some manner of AK-74 with as much ammo as I could pack. Seems pretty reliable, ammo is cheap and easy to get, and it should last the rest of my life.
 
Holy hell, I've asked myself this a lot. I like my Benelli M3 as an "urban survival tool", and I'm pretty sure with slugs I can kill anything to 100 yards. But then if I have to be honest, I would most likely go with my LWRC, just because I figure ammo avalabilty will be at it's best, and I can carry a lot. But honestly, what kind of situation are we talking about? In the case that the law breaks down and you have to defend your property, the shotgun would be best. But if the Chinese hoards invade, I would take the rifle and run, and if I "found" something that I liked better, that would be my new weapon.
 
Well, if I really had to run I would take one of my 1911s and the dozen or so magazines I keep loaded around the house.

If I was limited to SG/Rifle, I'd probably grab my Marlin 39A. Takedown so it fits in a backpack discreetly, lightweight, simple and reliable, I can pack a ton of ammo, it will take any game in a survival situation, and will allow me to procure a heavier weapon if needed.
 
Savage MkII rifle. Rugged, light and accurate. I can carry tons of ammo. Fairly quiet. Will get the job done if need be.
 
Since you said "for the rest of your life" I think you have to go with the AR15. You up stock up on parts and probably find them later, ammo is available and easy to reload. My 2nd choice would be a good AK if you get one with decent accuracy.
 
Not my favorite gun, but under the 1 gun scenerio I am going to cheat. I would get a good pump shotty (either Mossberg or Reminto) in 12ga, outfit it with a good pistol gripped folding stock. I would buy one of those rifled barrel kits with the scope to shoot saboted slugs, and an 18 in barrel to be able to use it for close range (semi ccw). Then load up on shells. Need plenty of saboted slugs, for deer hunting, long range shooting, etc. Plenty of fine shot of small game/bird, and plenty of buckshot for close range SD and hunting. Simple to operate, clean, maintain, and very versatile. Not saying the shotgun is the best tool very every specific job, but its hard to beat one in these TSHTF scenerios.
 
I'm just Old school I guess . Just take a Marlin 1894c .357 / .38 spec . SS would be nice . And a good blackhawk in same caliber if you are allowed a backup. Ammo would be light and reload with minimal equip. No auto equipment to screw up. They won the west LOL
 
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My 12G 870 sure is tempting but in the end I think I'd go with an AR15. The only thing I can think of that the 12G can do and the AR can't is hunting birds while they're flying. The AR could hunt everything from squirrels to buffalo(with multiple shots obviously). 5.56 is great against 2 legged varmints out to several hundred yards and is a small light round so you could carry many hundreds of rounds. Ammo is relatively plentiful and the fact you can share ammo and mags with military weapons, not to mention parts, means large caches for resupply if you can gain access to them. ARs are also plenty reliable and very accurate. And you could take a .22 conversion kit along with you so you can use even more plentiful .22 as well. Perfect.

An AK wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea but I hate AK ergos and I would think parts and ammo would actually be more plentiful for the AR here in the US, a big concern for survival.

If I've got someone with me they're carrying a 12G though so we could cover every base.
 
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If it counts I would say my 44 marlin lever and the SRH combo as I have enough 44 brass and lead to last several years.
 
My stainless 10/22...Ive put over 1200 rounds through it before cleaning with out a hickup...id trust it to be my only gun...besides, not to brag ut im damn good with it, esp with its ghost ring
 
A 12guage or a .22 good for getting the kind of food thats abundant....squirrel, rabbit,dove, ducks.

and if push came to shove, either works to uhm, take the gun off of the person who wont be needing it anymore.
 
timbertoes said:
and if push came to shove, either works to uhm, take the gun off of the person who wont be needing it anymore.
Click to expand...

Correct. Any good survival kit is a gun and a list of people with survival kits. :D
 
Marlin 1895SS in .44 Magnum.

Stainless construction, good capacity, ammo is easy to find and load, easy to top off, can shoot .44 Specials for HD, deadly out to 200 yards with the right ammo. Plus if I can scrape a hand gun, the Ruger Red Hawk Stainless in .44 Mag is a perfect match. (I have both and love them)
 
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