SHTF! $400 Gun(s)? SNARES?

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SNBA

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Given a serious life or death survival (food not defence) situation, minimum 2 years, max-? (think the movie, “Castawayâ€). The geographical location would require some stealth, if one feels [weapon] a suppressor is to be considered and easy to make as long as weapon is of low power. Your thoughts? The mential exercise is what best to provide food.
 
Seems to me that one's selection would derive from location and one's skill at stalking. I know of many areas where a .22 LR would take care of Bambi. At night, and between the eyes. I'm sure not thinking "fair chase" in such a situation.

Art
 
Art

My part of the world would negate that. High desert (12†year rain) in the piyon juniper belt with a few sugar pines. Population density for deer is low. Bait set maybe. The point I am trying to make is the value of simple snares when confronted with a survival situation (reason for the minimum 2-year commitment) Given lots of water, lakes, river or sea coast I would opt for 200 foot of gill net.
 
Sugar pines yield pine nuts which are pretty nutritious. Plus, with pine nuts, you have the bait for small animals such as squirrels and other small mammals.

You can also make snares using the natural materials you see around you.

I would say a firearm with plenty of ammo. 22LR, say, 10K rounds.
 
For pure practicality it's very hard to beat the .22LR.

For anywhere other than Africa, I'd take a .22.

I'd hate to have to face a BG armed with a big stick or a knife while I had only a 200ft gill net.

Besides, with a little ingenuity, snares can be built. I used to live in South America, and its incredible to see how much the natives can do by hand using only natural resources and a knife.

But, even if you're the one in a million genius who can build a firearm from an old axle using a only hand file, you'll find it a bit more difficult to fabricate primers, powder, and brass.

Take the .22LR and make a gill net while you live off squirrels and birds.
 
People have been "making a living" from snares for thousands of years. Leghold traps work well, also.

High desert in the pinyon country or my lower desert, you hang around a water point long enough and quietly enough, "Something edible this way comes."

And it sure wouldn't hurt, right now, to search for literature about edible plants of your own area.

Art
 
I thought about it for a bit, and if S *really* hit the fan, like end of civilization you're on your own buddy kind of S, I'm in a good spot.

Why? Because I know just enough geology to know that there's anakeesta rock in the mountains about 40 miles east of here. What difference does that make? I also know just enough chemistry that I can get sulfuric acid from that rock, and there may very well be raw sulfur if I hunt hard enough for it.

The other two components are easy enough, guano will give you nitrates and charcoal is everywhere, it's just still living :) Lead may be harder to come by, but if you're shooting musket and keep the loads down and the game close you may get your balls back. If not, there's plenty of other things that'll serve in a pinch... find a disabled car and gut the suspension for wheel bearings (for hardened rollers) and wheel weights (more lead!) The crank may have monel metal in it too, don't know the alloy on that... yet.

My buddies call me macguyver for a reason :)
 
BTW, as for the SHTF stuff and eating, I'll just assume the law isn't going to be tapping me on the shoulder for violating game laws anytime soon, or fishing regs for that matter. Gimme a bright flashlight, a rifle, and a good bit of fishing net (maybe some explosives with waterproof fuse, too, anda boat). If the choice is being nice about it and starving to death, or playing dirty tricks and eating, I think I'm eating.
 
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