OpFlash
Member
Seems everyone here equates manly with macho. Just for s&gs, allow me to temporarily take this discussion in a different direction, and with that said:
The top ten THINKING MAN's guns:
10. Mosin Nagant M44
Dirt cheap, powerful rifle and ammo. Handy length to deploy quickly. Inexpensive enough to own several to hand out to family, friends, etc. if things ever get real bad.
9. SKS
For a lot of the same reasons as the M44, but this one is more effective in most scenarios because it's semiautomatic. Not as cheap as they used to be and rising quickly, but still one of the best ratios of $ to firepower around.
8. 12g Pump shotgun
Puts meat on the table from squirrel to waterfowl to large game. There's not much in North America that this incredibly versatile firearm can't bring down, including 2 legged animals in your house in the middle of the night. Should have both sporting and SD length barrels and magazine tubes, and a slug barrel is an extra plus.
7. Pocket pistol in at least .380
When your macho friends have to leave their .45s in the car or look completely out of place dressed to conceal such a weapon in some situations, you can remain armed and prepared.
6. .22 rifle, bolt or semiauto
Every self respecting man has the ability to introduce new shooters including women and children into the sport. Also, how can you NOT have a gun that you can shoot hundreds of rounds with in an afternoon for the price of seeing a bad movie? Very accurate and puts food on the table too, and dispatches critters up to the two legged variety quickly with careful shot placement.
5. Sub2000 9mm or 40 S&W carbine
A small, foldable, very light and maneuverable carbine that shares magazines with your pistol is a smart addition to your self defense planning. It can be stored under your car seat or even worn folded and concealed under an open shirt or jacket ready to fire in 3 seconds flat. No it won't shoot through brick walls, trees, or body armor, but it will extend your range and practical accuracy over your pistol many fold in an altercation. Considering the type of threat one will most likely face in a SHTF "get home" scenario along with its ability to be carried concealed but almost ready to fire and the ability to accept 33rd magazines, it is an ideal "trunk gun" to keep in your vehicle to give you some serious firepower in case the worst happens.
4. 9mm or 40 S&W compact Glock (G19/26 or G23/27)
A high capacity, reliable and concealable pistol is most likely your first defense when things go down. Although the XD, M&P, some 1911s and others can make for an adequate alternative they aren't supported by the Sub2000 carbine.
3. High accuracy .308 bolt action rifle w/mil dot scope
Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Learn the mil-dot ranging technique and exterior ballistics of your chosen load and with some training, practice, and skill be effective out to 800yds with quality match ammo. An excellent bang for buck setup is the Savage 10 or 110FP with accutrigger topped with the Super Sniper mil-dot scope.
2. Saiga .308 in 16" barrel length
Sometimes you just have to turn cover into concealment. This is an excellent battle rifle substitute but without all the bulk, length, and price. While others are still struggling to get their H&K, CETME, AR-10, M14, etc. out from behind the car seat (or to afford one in the first place) your compact powerhouse is drilling through those concrete blocks or oak trees into your unlucky adversaries, or into their engine blocks stopping their charge or getaway. Undoubtedly one of the best bang for buck deals in firepower anywhere, the $350 Saiga .308 is built on heavier than normal AK receivers in the famous Izmash soviet rifle factory and also sports a heavy barrel delivering much greater accuracy than typical AK47s. 2 moa accuracy out of the box is not uncommon with match grade ammunition, however the triggers are not the best making this level of accuracy dependent on a very good shooter or readily available replacement trigger assemblies.
1. AR-15
Above all else, the thinking man needs a weapon he can depend on that is versatile enough to be used in almost any situation. The AR-15's excellent handling, ergonomics, accuracy, high capacity and modularity make it an extremely effective weapon in more scenarios than any other. It can be an effective long range weapon, and it can also be an effective entry or short range assault weapon. It's excellent ergonomics and sights give it advantages over the AK in short range gun battles, and it easily outclasses an AK at distances beyond 200 yards. It is a very reliable weapon if given a reasonable amount of care. Yes, thinking men are expected to maintain their weapons!
The top ten THINKING MAN's guns:
10. Mosin Nagant M44
Dirt cheap, powerful rifle and ammo. Handy length to deploy quickly. Inexpensive enough to own several to hand out to family, friends, etc. if things ever get real bad.
9. SKS
For a lot of the same reasons as the M44, but this one is more effective in most scenarios because it's semiautomatic. Not as cheap as they used to be and rising quickly, but still one of the best ratios of $ to firepower around.
8. 12g Pump shotgun
Puts meat on the table from squirrel to waterfowl to large game. There's not much in North America that this incredibly versatile firearm can't bring down, including 2 legged animals in your house in the middle of the night. Should have both sporting and SD length barrels and magazine tubes, and a slug barrel is an extra plus.
7. Pocket pistol in at least .380
When your macho friends have to leave their .45s in the car or look completely out of place dressed to conceal such a weapon in some situations, you can remain armed and prepared.
6. .22 rifle, bolt or semiauto
Every self respecting man has the ability to introduce new shooters including women and children into the sport. Also, how can you NOT have a gun that you can shoot hundreds of rounds with in an afternoon for the price of seeing a bad movie? Very accurate and puts food on the table too, and dispatches critters up to the two legged variety quickly with careful shot placement.
5. Sub2000 9mm or 40 S&W carbine
A small, foldable, very light and maneuverable carbine that shares magazines with your pistol is a smart addition to your self defense planning. It can be stored under your car seat or even worn folded and concealed under an open shirt or jacket ready to fire in 3 seconds flat. No it won't shoot through brick walls, trees, or body armor, but it will extend your range and practical accuracy over your pistol many fold in an altercation. Considering the type of threat one will most likely face in a SHTF "get home" scenario along with its ability to be carried concealed but almost ready to fire and the ability to accept 33rd magazines, it is an ideal "trunk gun" to keep in your vehicle to give you some serious firepower in case the worst happens.
4. 9mm or 40 S&W compact Glock (G19/26 or G23/27)
A high capacity, reliable and concealable pistol is most likely your first defense when things go down. Although the XD, M&P, some 1911s and others can make for an adequate alternative they aren't supported by the Sub2000 carbine.
3. High accuracy .308 bolt action rifle w/mil dot scope
Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Learn the mil-dot ranging technique and exterior ballistics of your chosen load and with some training, practice, and skill be effective out to 800yds with quality match ammo. An excellent bang for buck setup is the Savage 10 or 110FP with accutrigger topped with the Super Sniper mil-dot scope.
2. Saiga .308 in 16" barrel length
Sometimes you just have to turn cover into concealment. This is an excellent battle rifle substitute but without all the bulk, length, and price. While others are still struggling to get their H&K, CETME, AR-10, M14, etc. out from behind the car seat (or to afford one in the first place) your compact powerhouse is drilling through those concrete blocks or oak trees into your unlucky adversaries, or into their engine blocks stopping their charge or getaway. Undoubtedly one of the best bang for buck deals in firepower anywhere, the $350 Saiga .308 is built on heavier than normal AK receivers in the famous Izmash soviet rifle factory and also sports a heavy barrel delivering much greater accuracy than typical AK47s. 2 moa accuracy out of the box is not uncommon with match grade ammunition, however the triggers are not the best making this level of accuracy dependent on a very good shooter or readily available replacement trigger assemblies.
1. AR-15
Above all else, the thinking man needs a weapon he can depend on that is versatile enough to be used in almost any situation. The AR-15's excellent handling, ergonomics, accuracy, high capacity and modularity make it an extremely effective weapon in more scenarios than any other. It can be an effective long range weapon, and it can also be an effective entry or short range assault weapon. It's excellent ergonomics and sights give it advantages over the AK in short range gun battles, and it easily outclasses an AK at distances beyond 200 yards. It is a very reliable weapon if given a reasonable amount of care. Yes, thinking men are expected to maintain their weapons!
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