Thinking of downsizing . . . SHTF senario ideas.

[Orion8472]

Contemplating a SHFT senario, I've been thinking of downsizing my collection . . . . . .key word, "thinking". Personally, I'm not much into collecting firearms, but have them for the unfortunate [and hopefully never emerging] time when the Rule Of Law is no more. A few I plan to keep just for cheap shooting [consisting of a couple of Rugers, 10/22 and Mark II].

What I was contemplating was potentially departing with my 9mm pistols, considering the SHTF senario. I have an EMP, an CZ SP-01, and an FN FNP-9. It isn't as though they're bad guns, . . . in fact they are very good guns. But for an unfortunate future, a person would only be able to "bug out" with a small number of their collection.

I have an AR with short range and relatively long range uppers. I have a Five Seven for a side arm. If I sold above items, the money would go into ammo and accessories/supplies for the AR and pistol.

What would you consider? My reasons for my selections are due to their weight and capacity.

 

[Tommygunn]

Do you have family or friends that are close and trustworthy? If you're thinking of a SHTF scenario, you should think about who you wish to team up with -- and the fact they may be able to use those guns. If the Five Seven is the gun I'm thinking of ... you might consider a gun with more easily available ammo. Like the 9mm. guns you have.
Yeah the Five Seven is pretty flat shooting but then the AR is as well and has more available ammo, and if you need to reach out the AR is a better weapon for that.
Of course, I don't know your fiscal situation.
If your thinking about ammo, that's good ... .but keep in mind that aside from needing a stash of it you also should be practicing too!
* Simple is better.
* Common is good, rare is not.
* Reliable trumps fancy/high-tech.

I would absolutly keep the .22s ; and stock way up on ammo for them!

 

[22-rimfire]

It is good to think in collective terms for disruptive times. I would keep the 22's and I would make a point of trying to get the others in your "family" shooting with you. I would think in terms of common calibers, tactics, and use. I doubt you are going to be wandering around the streets with a AR in your hand without causing a problem for yourself even in a very bad situation.

You need to generally think in two scenarios: One where you stay at home and the other if you have to leave for the unknown. First choice should always be stay at home as that is where your strength lies and having a bunch of guns is not a hinderance to your objective.

Be aware that in general SHTF topics are not tolerated on THR unless they are very firearm oriented.

 

[19-3Ben]

I think that getting rid of 9mm pistols in favor of a 5.7 for SHTF is a bad mistake.

If things go sour, you're going to want pistols that have very available ammo, as Tommygunn said.
In fact, I'm getting a 9mm barrel for my .40cal Glock for that exact reason. I figure a spare bbl and 2-3 mags takes up very little space in my pack, but allows me the flexibility to use 9m ammo that I might come across if I can't get .40cal.

 

[glock36]

Just a thought as you said your self, you can't take it all with you if and when the time comes but with regards to sidearm selection once you deplete your ammo finding 5.7 will be next to impossible where 9 mm would be much more abundant and you could always barter with others for it, where the 5.7 is not that widely used and finding it might be tuff if not impossible.
On a side note: I would keep all that you have and enjoy shooting the heck out of them while building my inventory, if things go south in a bad way you would be better off standing your ground at home with said inventory and not out running the countryside playing army. Just my .02 cents worth.
Good luck
God speed

 

[FLAvalanche]

Downsizing your collection for a "might happen" incident that has less of a chance of happening as me having a period is just downright silly. (edited -- <Sam>)

Keep your guns. An aluminum hat is cheaper.

 

[huntsman]

I think that getting rid of 9mm pistols in favor of a 5.7 for SHTF is a bad mistake.

+1
1. Long gun
2. Sidearm
3. Pocket gun
4. .22lr pistol and takedown rifle to be stored in pack.

Sidearm and long gun should be cartridges that are universally available when scrounging.

 

[Cosmoline]

Take them.. where? If it comes down to it, firearms are great bartering fodder. Primers and ammo even more so. I'm seeing a lot of that around here, esp. since the ammunition supply dried up.

 

[Orion8472]

Thanks for the posts.

Why I would keep the Five Seven is due to the few thousand rounds I have, of which I would get even more upon selling other guns. It is light, rounds are light, meaning you can carry a LOT more of them then 9mm. Magazines are 20 and converted easily to 30. As for "finding 9mm ammo" during this type of setup, . . . how many of us had absolutely NO luck in finding 9mm ammo, not that long ago? If things got that bad, where would you "find" all this 9mm in the first place? Stores would no longer have them, and those who had a stash would keep it, for the most part.

Having said that, . . . there is some truth to the use of guns/ammo for bartering.

For this thread, I was looking at the best gear to travel with that will allow lesser weight but still plenty of firepower. Just my thoughts.

I do enjoy reading replies. Keep them coming!

 

[ambidextrous1]

I'm currently downsizing, due primarily to age and no heirs.

Most of my downsizing involves getting rid of duplicates and eliminating guns that I haven't fired in the last five years.

I'm keeping a 9mm pistol, for previously stated reasons, and other pistols in
.22 RF, .380, 9mm, .45 ACP and .38/.357. My long guns will include .22 RF, an AR in .223, and a .45 ACP carbine conversion. There's a 12 gauge shotgun in the mix, too.

I have already made the decision to remain at home in the event of hard times; I'm too old to go "roughing it", and am stockpiling emergency supplies for use at home.

The choices I've made aren't optimum for most, but realistic for an old geezer.

 

[hiram2005]

I'm currently downsizing, due primarily to age and no heirs.

Most of my downsizing involves getting rid of duplicates and eliminating guns that I haven't fired in the last five years.

I'm keeping a 9mm pistol, for previously stated reasons, and other pistols in
.22 RF, .380, 9mm, .45 ACP and .38/.357. My long guns will include .22 RF, an AR in .223, and a .45 ACP carbine conversion. There's a 12 gauge shotgun in the mix, too.

I have already made the decision to remain at home in the event of hard times; I'm too old to go "roughing it", and am stockpiling emergency supplies for use at home.

The choices I've made aren't optimum for most, but realistic for an old geezer.

This fits me to a T. Your post makes a lot of sense, sir.

 

[jeepguy]

i tried to diversify 2 9mm 2 .45cal 2 .40cal. 2 .223 1 .308. the most popular calibers. still need shotguns, .22 cal. pistol/rifle. i agree in this kind of scenario you need to team up. also it wont take long for food & fresh water to completely dry up. im more afraid of finding food then anything else. i just watched the road dvd it is verry dark. i dont think we can fully emagine how bad that could be. so lets hope & pray that never happens.

 

[buck460XVR]

The fact of the matter is that you better find a nice quiet place to hold up. I am not saying not to defend yourself but I think the more important aspect is being able to procure food. The ability to hunt and fish and grow a garden will be very important. Yet we are raising a nation of kids that can't hard boil an egg. I sure would not want to caught in a city if things went south. I'll stay a country boy who hunts and grows his own food.

+1. Altho these SHTF threads are interesting, most folks ain't got a clue as to what is really gonna be important and necessary to survive. If Armageddon does hit, our lifestyles will be changed forever. If you really want to prepare for the EOTWAWKI, stashing away the right guns and ammo are just the tip of the iceberg. You best be sellin' off that fancy gas guzzlin' SUV and gettin' a coupla of 125cc dirt bikes that get 100 mpg. Pull your life savings outta the bank, cause the FDIC ain't gonna be there when you go to get your cash once the SHTF. You need to invest half of it in bottled water and freeze dried food and hope when others who didn't prepare come for it, your choice in weapons will have been correct. The other half of your life savings, any other equity and your 401K needs to be traded for Gold and Silver, cause precious metals are all that will be accepted for currency once the darkness comes. Hopefully the property you are able to control after fighting off wandering gangs of bandits will not only continue to supply you with food after your reserves run out, but will supply you with fuel to cook that food and to keep you from freezing to death in the winter. With a bit of luck, you or anyone else you love will never become ill, because medicine and doctor care will wipe out anything you have left.

Look at any war ravaged 3rd world country and most of them, woman and children included either have weapons in their possession and/or have access to them. The basic things necessary to live is what they lack.......crops have been destroyed by invading forces or already taken by others. New crops are gone before they mature. Wild game has long been shot off and fresh water is either controlled by those with the most power, or is too polluted by sewage or dead bodies to be used.

Oh...... it's fun to imagine fighting off hoards of infected mutants with the guns we love the most. Problem is, it ain't very realistic......or probable.

 

[Nausea]

I've contemplated a well rounded arsenal just for ammo availabilities sake.
As far as I can tell the absolute necessities are:
a: 12 gauge
.22 rifle
5.56 rifle (.223?)
7.62 rifle

I'd say you can opt for a larger caliber bolt action for large game, ideally it would be common so i'd say 30-06? And for handguns:

a 9mm
.45 acp
(perhaps a .357 mag)
and ideally a pistol round chambered carbine, so you can get more out of your 9mm/.45

Come to think of it in a true SHTF scenario you might end up training people how to shoot so a .22 pistol (or two) would be good as well.

Magazine compatibility is another big factor.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I used to giggle at SHTF scenarios. But... we're running an absolutely impossible deficit that may see the dollar on par with the peso when the bubble bursts - and it will. They're still trying to ram a cap and tax bill down our throats that will significantly increase the cost of production in the US and decimate what's left of the economy. In Europe, the Euro is on the verge of imploding. North and South Korea are on the verge of war. Iran is building nukes. Israel is a tinderbox armed with nukes, and now with nukes pointed at them...

Things are not looking bright. I don't see how having a lot of guns will help (beyond the normal defense and hunting tools), but if you've got any savings you might want to start buying gold.

 

[CSballer89]

precious metals are all that will be accepted for currency once the darkness comes

I have a feeling that food supplies and clean water would be worth more than gold or silver in that scenario.

 

[shockwave]

I used to giggle at SHTF scenarios. But... we're running an absolutely impossible deficit

Oh please. The deficit under Roosevelt following WWII was far higher than our current level as a percentage of GDP. Far higher.

We can skate off this level just fine. No problem at all.

If there is a major SHTF situation, your firearms will be best for making a personal exit. Now, to the OP, I would say to never get rid of any weapons you own. Never downsize.

Stock ammunition and keep planning. When your firearm layout is satisfactory, and if you have enough ammo to be comfortable, then work on the blades. Then work on the sticks. If you must, work on hardening the home's physical defenses.

In the worst-case scenario, the home invasion is in full-force, the psychos are in, they are doing whatever freaky stuff they like, you are wishing they'd killed you hours ago and it's just going on and on and on. At some point, the defense you prepared long ago will be at hand and you won't regret the preparation. I'd never, ever, let a weapon go.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Oh please. The deficit under Roosevelt following WWII was far higher than our current level as a percentage of GDP. Far higher.

Uh yeah, but Europe and Japan were bombed into rubble, and China was a land of barefoot peasants. That left us as the worlds major manufacturer, which meant we had a way to produce wealth.

It's different today. China is the worlds largest manufacturer and the only plan our geniuses in Washington can come up with is to raise manufacturing costs and drive even more jobs to China with cap and trade.
We just bailed out GM with taxpayer money, and they're now shifting production to China! What results do you think this sort of economic planning is going to bring to us?

http://www.manufacturing.net/News-GM-May-Export-China-Built-Cars-To-US-051309.aspx

 

[wvshooter]

If a person is truly concerned about social chaos the first thing they need after suitable weapons is a large supply of drinking water. The more the better. Then an ample, whatever that is, supply of some kind of basic food. Beans or whatever.

I've never understood the concept of "bugging out". How do you bug out if you're in an urban area and can't drive your car. Streets and highways are simply impassable. If your building isn't burned down by the mob a semi auto rifle and some kind of dependable handgun along with your stash of water and dried foods should get you to the other side of bedlam. Of course, if your forced from your home all bets are off.

 

[Art Eatman]

Some good advice given on guns, but way too much drifting into politics and monetary policy and all that OT stuff...