JackBurtonJr
Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2008
- Messages
- 294
The Poor Man's Survival Arsenal
- Thread starter JackBurtonJr
- Start date
- Status
ColinthePilot
Member
I like it. I've always thought of my M38 Mosin as a SHTF weapon, and I have ammo for it accordingly. Its cheap, dead reliable, and pretty accurate, even in my hands.
I would have to agree with one of the comments posted on the article, that a .22LR rifle is also a necessity. You can carry litterally thousands of rounds of ammo for the same or less weight as a hundred or so for the mosin or the shotgun he mentions.
I haven't researched it much, but I've never seen a Smith & Wesson for $200. Granted, I'm not much of a revolver guy, but I did some brief research recently for a decent .357Mag wheel gun and found everything with a S&W stamped on the side to be 400-500 on the low end. I'd love to learn more about this model 10.
In a SHTF situation, I'll also be carrying my SKS. Again, its dead reliable, not quite as accurate as the mosin, but for rate of fire and ammo availability, it can't be beat.
But we're getting out of the $350 price range here.
I would have to agree with one of the comments posted on the article, that a .22LR rifle is also a necessity. You can carry litterally thousands of rounds of ammo for the same or less weight as a hundred or so for the mosin or the shotgun he mentions.
I haven't researched it much, but I've never seen a Smith & Wesson for $200. Granted, I'm not much of a revolver guy, but I did some brief research recently for a decent .357Mag wheel gun and found everything with a S&W stamped on the side to be 400-500 on the low end. I'd love to learn more about this model 10.
In a SHTF situation, I'll also be carrying my SKS. Again, its dead reliable, not quite as accurate as the mosin, but for rate of fire and ammo availability, it can't be beat.
But we're getting out of the $350 price range here.
Duke Junior
member
I think Jacks "arsenal" can be had for under $350 with careful shopping.I like it,too.
memphisjim
Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2008
- Messages
- 1,265
mosin nagant
nef single shot 12 gauge
ruger 10/22
nef single shot 12 gauge
ruger 10/22
Bartkowski
Member
Sure you could do it for under $350, but if you are going to defend yourself you should get the best you can afford.
If you can only afford $350 then now you know what you can buy.
I might chose an m44 or m38 over a 91/30 just because they are shorter and handier.
If you can only afford $350 then now you know what you can buy.
I might chose an m44 or m38 over a 91/30 just because they are shorter and handier.
Drgong
Member
Under 350....
Mosin Rifle - $100
Nagant Revolver - $100
Pawn Shop "special" Shotgun - $150
Mosin Rifle - $100
Nagant Revolver - $100
Pawn Shop "special" Shotgun - $150
Starship1st
Member
Of course you will need to figure another $50.00 for ammo to bring it to $400.00. 
Schutzen
Member
Gentlemen,
I believe you are approaching this from the wrong angle. If you are looking at STHF weaponry, you need to stick calibers with readily available ammunition for resupply. You can not purchase or carry enough ammunition. If you agree with the above statement, then you need to limit your calibers to the following;
Rifles: .223 Remington/5.56MM
.30-30
.30-06
Handguns: .375/.38 Special
9MM
.40
Shotguns: 12 Gauge
I placed the rifles and handguns in my descending order of preference for availability of ammunition. If the local police force in your area carries a different caliber, you may want to insert it near the top of the list.
7.62X54R and 7.62X39 are not stocked at the local Mom & Pop hardware stores in my area, but they all have .38 Special, 30-30, 30-06, and 12 gauge ammunition. Just my 2Ct's.
I believe you are approaching this from the wrong angle. If you are looking at STHF weaponry, you need to stick calibers with readily available ammunition for resupply. You can not purchase or carry enough ammunition. If you agree with the above statement, then you need to limit your calibers to the following;
Rifles: .223 Remington/5.56MM
.30-30
.30-06
Handguns: .375/.38 Special
9MM
.40
Shotguns: 12 Gauge
I placed the rifles and handguns in my descending order of preference for availability of ammunition. If the local police force in your area carries a different caliber, you may want to insert it near the top of the list.
7.62X54R and 7.62X39 are not stocked at the local Mom & Pop hardware stores in my area, but they all have .38 Special, 30-30, 30-06, and 12 gauge ammunition. Just my 2Ct's.
Mannlicher
Member
you would be better served, IMHO, to work a few more hours, or cut out a couple of 6 packs, and use the money to buy more effective weapons. If the survival of you and your family is of any value to you at all, scrimping is suicide.
Last edited:
LJ-MosinFreak-Buck
Member
Mines the same as Memphisjim except that the 10/22 is a Marlin Model 80
Mosin Nagant- ~100 bucks
H&R (NEF) 12 ga. SS- 80 bucks (mine was)
Marlin Model 80- 70 bucks
All for 250. The other 100 dollars goes towards ammunition.
Mosin Nagant- ~100 bucks
H&R (NEF) 12 ga. SS- 80 bucks (mine was)
Marlin Model 80- 70 bucks
All for 250. The other 100 dollars goes towards ammunition.
Drgong
Member
For those who say "you need to get ammo readily avalable"
I can get 4,400 rounds for the mosin for $100 (full can) and that would survive most in a SHTF situation.
I can get 4,400 rounds for the mosin for $100 (full can) and that would survive most in a SHTF situation.
Cacique500
Member
I think you mean 440 rounds for $100...if not, lemme know where and I'll buy a 4,400 round can for my stash!
Actually, 7.62x54R and 7.62x39 are extremely common calibers in the gun stores , at least down South. For long term SHTF they won't be as readily available, but depending on the scenerio you should be able to pick something else up by then (say in .223 or 30.06 or .308).
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
If the local store is open for you to buy ammo, then you are nowhere near "SHTF" time yet
scrat
Member
Well all i can say is its a good article. I do not agree on his choices though. Except for the shotgun. What i know and what im going to say. Everyone will choose the guns they are familiar with and shoot. if you are familiar with ar15's your a fan of that style gun you will say its a .223. If you shoot 30-06 and have been all your life you will say 30-06. Its natural for us to all do that. Some may say get a 22. as you can get ammo anywhere carry more of it and have way more than anything. We will all have different opinions on this. some may be better than others. In the end though we will all stick with what we know
sprithitler
Member
If you truly believe the S will H The F and you are at your retreatlocation you should strive to own weapons in every caliber conceivable, because you never know what ammo may turn up for trade.
"Well, you know, that is 10 mm pistol ammo, not many of those around, i guess i could store it to trade later, but it is of no use to me, i will give you five cans of tuna for those five Boxes, take it or leave it" (and all the while you do have a Bren ten in the gun safe just starving for this rare food).
If your budget is these 350$ for guns and another 100$ for ammo you may want to stick with guns with easily available ammo though.
"Well, you know, that is 10 mm pistol ammo, not many of those around, i guess i could store it to trade later, but it is of no use to me, i will give you five cans of tuna for those five Boxes, take it or leave it" (and all the while you do have a Bren ten in the gun safe just starving for this rare food).
If your budget is these 350$ for guns and another 100$ for ammo you may want to stick with guns with easily available ammo though.
an interesting article. i wouldn't argue with the concept. maybe the choice of rifle. but the artificial price point almost forced it there.
I think a used single shot 12 gauge can probably be acquired for $50 if one looks around enough. $100 for a rifle leaves you $200. I suspect finding a decent model 10 for $200 is going to be tough.
I think I might be inclined to go for a nice 22 rifle in lieu of the handgun, but that was not a choice that was offered.
I think a used single shot 12 gauge can probably be acquired for $50 if one looks around enough. $100 for a rifle leaves you $200. I suspect finding a decent model 10 for $200 is going to be tough.
I think I might be inclined to go for a nice 22 rifle in lieu of the handgun, but that was not a choice that was offered.
Drgong
Member
Actually let me go back to that store next weekend, If I recall correctly it was $10 a box of ten, or a can for $100, but I prob did missread it and it was 440 rounds.
If it is the can, I will buy two and I will tell you where to pick it up.
Still, 440 rounds will let you survive MOST SHTF situations.
If it is the can, I will buy two and I will tell you where to pick it up.
Still, 440 rounds will let you survive MOST SHTF situations.
His arsenal is a little optimistic IMO but close to doable.
Locally, I've also seen used Ruger autos in the $250 range - they'd make a decent choice. I've never seen an model 10 for under $200 but I have found DA Colt .38 Specials for a little over $200.
Single barrel shotguns - I got my NEF for about $60. Not a bad choice and pretty versatile, but mine is more of an accesssory than a necessity.
I'd also want a .22 rifle and I'd easily choose it over a shotgun.
In ammo costs alone it works out way better and there isn't really a need for a shotgun if you have a rifle and a handgun IMO.
For the Mosin, I'd say it's a good choice if you can't afford anything else.
On ammo, if you don't have it you don't have it. It doesn't matter if the local walmart has a thousand boxes of 30-30 on the shelves. If the power goes out or the snow storm hits or the hurricane is coming, you're not going to be able to count on getting any ammo from them. A few cans of Mosin ammo may very well be more logical.
I do prefer "common" calibers though just because I can get them easily right now.
Locally, I've also seen used Ruger autos in the $250 range - they'd make a decent choice. I've never seen an model 10 for under $200 but I have found DA Colt .38 Specials for a little over $200.
Single barrel shotguns - I got my NEF for about $60. Not a bad choice and pretty versatile, but mine is more of an accesssory than a necessity.
I'd also want a .22 rifle and I'd easily choose it over a shotgun.
In ammo costs alone it works out way better and there isn't really a need for a shotgun if you have a rifle and a handgun IMO.
For the Mosin, I'd say it's a good choice if you can't afford anything else.
On ammo, if you don't have it you don't have it. It doesn't matter if the local walmart has a thousand boxes of 30-30 on the shelves. If the power goes out or the snow storm hits or the hurricane is coming, you're not going to be able to count on getting any ammo from them. A few cans of Mosin ammo may very well be more logical.
I do prefer "common" calibers though just because I can get them easily right now.
scrat
Member
hahahahahaaha
I am curios as to why a person in America would not be able to spend more than $350 on a survival arsenal. I can understand why plenty of people wouldnt want to spend more than that if it is their hobby, but if you believe you would need them for survival then get a second part time job for a month and double your money plus some. Or like someone else said, cut something else out of your budget and use the money to enhance your defensive capabilities.
Goblin
Member
I'd hate to be in an Urban area with only those 3, but if you kept a very low profile I guess you could make it... I haven't seen a used Mod. 10 for less than $275.00!!
TCB in TN
Member
To be honest if I was going to put all my eggs in a $350 basket then it would be in 1 gun rather than 3. I would get a good pump 12ga with a pistol grip and folding stock, with a couple of barrels. 18in with 00buck for HD/SD/CCW (I know thats pushing it), a 24-30 in smooth bore barrel with 00 up to 7 shot for hunting everything from deer to small game with interchangeable chokes, and a scoped rifled barrel to shoot slugs for long range shooting/hunting/etc. I think you can get it in under the $350 mark and would IMHO give you far more bang for your buck in the SHTF scenario. 1 decent gun with the ability to many things better than the cheap alternatives given in the article. Further more you are only trying to accumulate 1 cal of ammo (even if it serves different purposes).
Cosmoline
Member
In a real survival situation you're unlikely to be able to carry more than a single long arm and one handgun. Even that will get annoying so a single firearm is ideal. Esp. if your motor vehicle is useless due to flooding or quake damage. The maxim to remember is K.I.S,S. Don't bog yourself down with half a dozen chunks of iron.
Exactly. A single 12 ga. or .22 LR is going to be sufficient for all realistic needs.
If you doubt the wisdom of this, there's a very easy way to understand the problem. Just pretend the phones are out, the shops are closed, the roads are down and you need to get 25 miles to the nearest working road to link up with friends. That's exactly he sort of problem people ran into in NOLA. Try carrying your three or four gun arsenal that distance along with your standard BOB.
From my own experiences in the sticks, I would take my trusty CZ ZKM and probably my Colt DS, and leave he rest of the iron locked up or trade it for needed supplies. I can see these immediate roles for a firearm:
--Protection from criminals and looters
--CCW
--Collecting meat
--Signaling
That's it. No zombie hordes involved. The .22 is ideal for snagging small game and poaching larger game. A .30-30 or 12 ga would also work fine.
Exactly. A single 12 ga. or .22 LR is going to be sufficient for all realistic needs.
If you doubt the wisdom of this, there's a very easy way to understand the problem. Just pretend the phones are out, the shops are closed, the roads are down and you need to get 25 miles to the nearest working road to link up with friends. That's exactly he sort of problem people ran into in NOLA. Try carrying your three or four gun arsenal that distance along with your standard BOB.
From my own experiences in the sticks, I would take my trusty CZ ZKM and probably my Colt DS, and leave he rest of the iron locked up or trade it for needed supplies. I can see these immediate roles for a firearm:
--Protection from criminals and looters
--CCW
--Collecting meat
--Signaling
That's it. No zombie hordes involved. The .22 is ideal for snagging small game and poaching larger game. A .30-30 or 12 ga would also work fine.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
