SHTF gun?

[BoySetsTheFire]

I thought I would start a new thread, as there are so many existing threads on the topic and they are quite lengthy. Also, I don't agree with many of the answers I've seen. I am also aware that most of the people on this forum are totally familiar with what I'm saying below. But I also see new people on the forum that are new to firearms. This post is directed at them.

My first and most basic premise is this: When the SHTF, the gun is only one of many considerations. The gun is simply a tool and your brain is the weapon. This has been said by many others. I simply quote it, it is not something I thought up.

The next thing is to fully understand firearm safety. You can learn this at a range or in a class. I am amazed at the number of idiots that show up at the range with expensive guns and handle them carelessly, and dangerously. Our range officers make short work of those people.

The next thing to do is to learn the gun, in detail. How to sight it in, clean it, disassemble and assemble it and properly maintain it. Example: A primer cap blows back and lodges in your trigger group. Gun no longer cycles - case closed. Some rifles require a tool to pop the trigger group, like the SKS. Others can be pulled open, like the M1. If you can't do this quickly when the SHTF, then you are s**t out of luck.

Next, learn to shoot that rifle with specific ammo. Most decent low cost rifles will shoot a 3 inch group at 100 yards, like the SKS and M1. Learn to do that. Learn to control and eliminate flyers. Learn to shoot from a rest, prone, and off-hand. Learn to shoot with both eyes open so that you can quickly spot your target and sight it. Learn to recover from recoil and re-sight. The actual gun is the least of it.

I agree with the recommendations on the SKS. I also believe that the M1 is a superb choice, as it can be had for under $500. The little Henry .22 fold-up job is a superb survival rifle, will keep you fed, and easy to carry. My theory is that when the SHTF, you should have a gun for every shooting member of your family. That makes the SKS a good choice because of low recoil, cheap ammo to allow for practice, and cheap cost of gun. The SKS is also very easy to disassemble, clean and reassemble.

Just some my 2¢ on some common sense ideas on the SHTF gun. I've heard it said that the best gun is the one that is available when you need it.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I agree with the practicality of the firearms you mentioned. I haven't tried out the SKS though. I might look into the Henry fold up job.

 

[BoySetsTheFire]

The SKS has a major cult following. I bopught an unissued Chinese Norinco for $129 back in the late 80s. I wanted more, but they were banned and I got the last of the allowed dealer sell-through. Now they are available again.

Their best qualities are simplicity and reliability. A friend of mine uses his SKS for deer hunting. Granted, it's not the best deer gun. But he drags it through the mud, never cleans it, treats it deplorably, and occasionaly shoots some WD40 through it. Given all of that, he's had his since the late 80s as well, uses it often, and has never had a problem.

 

[.38 Special]

So I wonder what non-gun people think of folks who seem to spend an inordinate amount of time fantasizing about what kind of militaristic firearms they could use during a breakdown of civilized society?

Never mind. Rhetorical question.

 

[Ian]

Their best qualities are simplicity and reliability.

Don't forget about cost. I doubt the SKS would be nearly as popular if it cost as much as an AK or M1 or FN-49.

 

[Manedwolf]

The SKS, unfortunately, depends on IMPORTED Russian-caliber ammo to keep it fed. If something happened that affected imports, you're screwed.

I'd go for .223 instead. It's made here, it's all over the place in every military base, police station, government warehouse, etc, etc...and is unlikely to dry up in supply anytime soon.

My choice is a Saiga in .223. Kalashnikov simplicity, but a caliber ubiquitous in the US.

 

[zinj]

The Big Three all produce loadings of 7.62x39, although they are priced higher than the steel cased imports. If importation of foreign ammo were to completely cease I believe that 7.62x39 would end up like .30 Carbine, in that it would be somewhat reasonably priced but not the cheapest around. With the amount of ammunition expended by all the AK and SKS owners in the country the Big Three would have to be nuts to not capitalize on these high volume shooters.

I would say that 7.62x39 is in the top ten calibers available today, top five if you are only talking rifle cartidges. It should be easy to scrounge, although the high demand for it might mean that supplies get depleted quickly. Of course, the same thing could be said about a number of other popular calibers like .30-06.

Yes, authorities would not be carrying it, but I have a feeling if you had access to their ammo you would also have access to their weapons, so that is largely a moot point.

 

[Brian Williams]

Thanks for your support, I think we have said enough already, because there are a bunch of the SHTF threads

 

[1911JMB]

"The SKS, unfortunately, depends on IMPORTED Russian-caliber ammo to keep it fed. If something happened that affected imports, you're screwed."

Good reason to get into reloading.

 

[Simonovfan]

I agaree with Zinj. I was just in one of the few remaining K-marts with the wife, looking for cheap kids toys for Christmas and I accidentily found myself in the sporting goods section. They had Winchester 7.62x39 for .50 a round. I was just in Wally World last week and they had Remington for the same price. My local "dealer" has cases of Wolf JHP for $130.00 for 1000. After I completely hoard all of his supply. I'm going to buy some of the domestic grade to see if I can get better groupings.

I think if the Russian stuff dries up, then the domestic makers will at least meet the volume demands. Competition amongst the domestic makers might drive prices down on this cartridge (just a little). Who knows, some domestic company might sprout up and start making steel cased stuff on the cheap.

 

[BoySetsTheFire]

Manedwolf <The SKS, unfortunately, depends on IMPORTED Russian-caliber ammo to keep it fed. If something happened that affected import>

There's lots of 7.62x39 ammo for the SKS. Winchester makes it, as well as Sellier & Bellot, Federal and others. It's just that the Russian Wolf ammo is cheaper for practice. The Winchester and S&B are quite accurate in the SKS.

 

[B.D. Turner]

The golf bag armory

You do not need an assortment of weapons for any situation that comes along. Beware of the dedicated one weapon rifleman.