NavyJoe's post was very good. I'd pay attention to that.
I'll add my perspective to this thread as well.
When I first read the Original Post, my mind initially began to wonder as to what kind of SHTF you are envisioning. All are not created equally. That is not to say that you can't prepare for the worst-- in terms of firearms-- and get through just about anything. But each type of situation will come with its own unique challenges. For the moment, lets just think firearms.
I went through Katrina in semi-rural Louisana. I live in Mississippi, but I was unable to even GET to my house during that time. My planned "3 days" at my Father-in-Law's house turned into 8 weeks without power, communication, or "ordinary" food and easily accessed water. The closest source of fuel was Baton Rouge-- about 2 hours drive away.
Some people think Katrina only hit New Orleans. That was where the news story was-- and to a degree-- still is. Because of that, NO help was coming to us. The Calvary was rushing to New Orleans (if you call 4 days "rushing.") They were NOT rushing to anywhere else. It was over a week and a half before I saw a single "official" vehicle anywhere near us.
And at the same time, people were getting more and more desperate with no access to funds, food, water, fuel, suppies, or information. We had our share of looters. Several businesses were broken into, and we had to defend our property 3 times during that period from thieves in the night.
At any rate....
I was rather ill-prepared for such a thing. I brought with me to my Father-in-Law's house a Romanian full-stock AK-47 along with about 200 rounds of ammunition. I also brought a Glock 19 with 50 rounds of Cor-Bon hollowpoints. My Father-in-Law had a few older sporting firearms-- notedly a Remington 1100 12 gauge and a .38spcl revolver.
We made it through with that.
But here is what I learned from that:
1.) You better have all the ammunition you will need PRIOR to a situation. There will not be any for sell-- EVEN if the stores are open. One of the first things that the government did-- for our safety
-- was halt the sell of firearms and ammuntion.
2.) As cool as it may be to envision ourselves walking around like Red Dawn, that will still scare people and draw attention to yourself. Neither are good things. That AK-47 RARELY was seen by anyone. Instead, I carried my Glock 19 under a loose, untucked shirt.
3.) Long guns get in the way and are hard to keep up with. Trust me. The sad reality of a protracted SHTF is that you have WORK to do. It's not sitting in our little bunkers watching the horizon. You will likely spend most of your time cleaning up, repairing your home the best you can, emptying refrigerators and freezers, getting food, getting water, maintaining equipment, obtaining fuel, and a host of other mundane tasks.
You simply cannot lug a long gun around as you do that. More than likely, it will end up propped up against a tree, left inside a doorway, or laying in your vehicle. It doesn't help that much being in any of those places. Plus, if you have uneducated adults or children around, you very well may have a gunshot wound on our hands in quick order.
We often had my neice and nephew over with us-- both young children. When I was working, the AK was closed up in my jeep.
For 99% of the time, it was my handgun that was with me. I could wear it even while doing heavy work such as operating a chainsaw. Make sure you get a GOOD rigid belt and quality holster.
4.) The reality is that you WILL have to leave your "compound." I had to leave numerous times and head to Baton Rouge for fuel or supplies. No matter how well you THINK you have perpared, you forgot something essential-- or ran out of it. Again, that heightens the need for a decent handgun. When I was out for supplies or helping neighbors, I carried the Glock 19-- and kept the AK-47 in the jeep.
5.) On the topic of "leaving your compound." Do you live in a larger city? Do you live in an apartment/condo? Those DO matter. What are your reasonable chances of having to go into a "shelter?" Do you think they will allow you do bring your $1,000 AR in? Do you think you will ever see it again once it gets confiscated? If a shelter is potentially in your future, a concealable handgun is more a friend to you than any long gun.
Does it seem that I am saying that a handgun will get you through any SHTF? It certainly seems so. But I am not. I am saying that most people forget the value of a handgun. They go get tons of long guns and spend little or no time considering the firearm that will be with you 99% of the time-- and a FAR greater percentage than any long gun will be on you. A handgun will be your most used firearm in a SHTF.
Now, that said. Lets talk about long guns.
We spend WAY too much time trying to figure out what the "best" long gun for a SHTF is. Likely, most any will do. My personal belief is that you need to have one that is:
1. Adequate stopping power
2. Durable
3. Fairly accurate
4. Easily serviced and maintained
5. Adequate ammunition capacity
6. Adequate range
7. In an more easily obtained caliber for your area
8. One that you have spare parts for if something breaks (i.e. spare extractors for AR's)
9. Can use optics AND iron sights
10. One you have become VERY familar with in terms of use, expectations, and limitations.
This criteria encompasses MANY firearms.
I personally prefer "military" style rifles for this purpose. They are typically derived from battle-proven and reliable designs. They are typically easier to maintain, service, and repair. They are typically chambered in common calibers.
I don't worry myself on the caliber debate so much. In terms of hunting, a LOT of calibers will take the game you would want to take. I've read dozens of threads saying that the AR is underpowered and they wouldn't have one. Well, realistically, I have seen DOZENS of people who routinely take Southeastern Whitetail with a 62 grain .223. It can do in a pinch.
Someone once told me regarding a .22 rimfire:
"A guy shot with a .22lr isn't going to run down the street, hold up a liquor store, rape 3 women, and rob a bank. They are going to RUN. Then they are going to bleed. Then they may die.. slowly and painfully."
I kinda take that view on calibers. Regardless of your preference, it will likey do what you want it to do if you have an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the caliber.
But will the caliber you want be prohibitively expensive to stockpile ammuition for? Will it be hard to come by when you can buy or trade for it?
There are two schools of thought on this.
An odd caliber may be hard to get resupplies for since the stores may not stock much of it, or there may be fewer people who you can trade with....
but....
If you have a caliber that is very common for your area, that ALSO means that there are a LOT of other people that will be competing for you in the marketplace for those rounds. I promise you that your neighbors do not have enough ammuniton.
It is better to stock your own supply-- and stack it deep. For that, you need to have a caliber that is not prohibitively expensive to do so. This is one reason I have not gotten a rifle in 6.8 Remington SPC yet. I like the round, but I just can't feel good about the cost of stockpiling it.
I am feeling the same way about the OP mentioning 7mm mag.
OK.... shotguns.
I would simply say reliable. I prefer 12 gauge. Like rifles, stockpile your ammuniton. Don't bother with slugs. That pulls double duty with your rifles likely. Instead, get buckshot for HD use, but get a LOT more 6 or 7 shot. That is what makes the shotgun do something a highpowered rifle can't do.
One thing left out of the OP was probably one of the most handy rifles. A long gun in 22 long rifle. This is the one that you can stockpile TONS of ammunition for. This is a perfect small game caliber. This is a perfect caliber for practicing marksmanship skills.
Now, I say again... Different SHTF's are different. In a Katrina-like situation, you will likely not be hunting for your food. I never did. But again, it is better to prepare for a worst-case situation than not. Prepared for the end of the world as we know it puts you in a better positon for a protracted period of temporary disruption-- even if it seems to be overkill.
Again, this post only focuses on firearms-- probably the least important aspect of a SHTF in terms of percentage time you will actually NEED the tool. I am not going to go into the other non-firearms concerns on this post. But I STRONGLY suggest that anyone truly interested in SHTF do some research and give some thought to the other CRITICAL aspects of preparation. You can do a search here and find a lot of information. I've covered a lot of it in my other posts-- as have others here.
So...
My analysis of the picks of the Original Poster:
Mossberg 870 12 ga
As mentioned earlier, its going to be a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500/590. But either are good choices.
Browning BLR takedown with pistol grip in 7mm mag
This has me scratching my head.
Why a pistol grip? An M1A doesn't have one, and is an excellent rifle to get the job done.
Why a takedown? That is a LOT of expense and complication.
Why 7mm mag? May be a tough caliber to reliably get, and may be very expensive to stockpile.
Why a Browning BLR? My experience with semi-auto sporting rifles are that they are not nearly as durable as a military one. It may be hard to work on, get spare parts, and it has not proven itself--if it is the one I am thinking it is.
This rifle more closely fits what you would want a MBR (Main Battle Rifle) to do. In that role, I would more likely consider:
FAL (7.62 NATO) .308 Winchester
M1A (7.62 NATO) .308 Winchester
Saiga 308 (7.62 NATO) .308 Winchester
AR-10 (7.62 NATO) .308 Winchester
G3 (7.62 NATO) .308 Winchester
7.62 NATO .308 Winchester will take down pretty much any mid-sized game you would need.
ar-15
Nothing wrong with an AR. Get spare parts.
Ruger Mark 2
I like a Ruger Mk II. But if I was looking for a 22 long rifle, I think I'd look for a long gun before a handgun. You can get a marlin at Walmart for 80 bucks. Dont' overlook that.
The mossberg for close quarters
In close quarters, what you have on hand is what you will use. Close means you have already screwed up. I wouldn't go looking for a Mossberg if I already had an AR in my hand. But a shotgun is good to have.
the 7mm mag for sniping and hunting
Who are we sniping? And why? If someone is far enough away to need a long-range rifle, you are not in danger.
Where are we hunting that we need a magnum? A .308. 30-06, .270, ect. will do the job as well. In a pinch, that .223 would do it, too.
OK... but others would do as well. I would look for opportunities for firearms that can pull "double duty" as both combat AND hunting. Perhaps an M1A that will wipe the need for a Browning AND an AR. Spend the difference on ammuntion. At the same time, I have rifles that do the same thing, too.
and the mark 2 for close quarters when i need quiet.
This sounds like James Bond movie assassanations. Who exactly are we assassinating again?
In the movies, the "quiet" of the Ruger Mk II is the suppressor that is on the handgun. I think you may be disappointed with the noise without one. True, a 22 long rifle round is quiter than a high powered rifle, but it is not so quiet that we can perform what you are describing.
You came here asking our opinion, and I'll give it. With no disrespect intended, I think what you are envisioning you will be doing is not realistic. I don't think you have thought out the situation in much detail.
While I applaude you for starting to consider things, I highly encourage you to do more research and read more from those who have been through various situations. I would encourage you to give a through analysis of the needs you may have in your particular area, and what realistic scenerios you may face. Then go read and research some more.
-- John
