SHTF gun whats your ideal gun?

3 Guns

I have a GP-100 357mag and a 10/22 I'm looking to buy a Savage security 12ga with sights that would do it for me. The 12ga is an awesom weapon, looking down the barrel would be damn unnerveing.

Rich

 

I buy (and have for years) quite a few private sales guns. Sometime with a BoS and sometimes without. I rarely sell a gun except back to the person from whom I purchased it...to me they are like land, buy whenever you can and sell only when you absolutely must (though I have had the same bad luck as many I meet online with boating mishaps).

It is known at the gun club and among some folks in town that I will usually buy a decent gun at a little more than one can get from the pawn shop and allow a person to buy it back within 90 days for about 10% more than I paid. All perfectly legal here and hasn't caused a problem in the 20 years I have been doing it.

As far as the OP's question...I don't really have a favorite SHTF gun and have trouble imagining a scenario where I would have to choose only one. I will assume we are speaking of a long gun...since my G19 is as much a part of my wardrobe as shoes are (and I have tender feet). It still comes down to scenario though on long gun. If I am in stationary defense and for some reason must choose one, it would probably be the Saiga 12 for pure power and assortment of amo. If I must take off in the woods carrying my ammo, it would most likely be the Saiga .223/5.56. My emergency, always in the car, get me back to my guns weapon is a Kel-tec Sub2000 folding carbine in 9MM that lives in a laptop case in my car with mags that are capable of sharing with the G19.

 

I think I will load out my XDM 40, my FAL and my Savage Precision Carbine 308. Wifey can help with her 270 and XD9 if neccessary.

 

There is only one answer. A 12 ga. shotgun. Good for all types of hunting, from rabbits to moose and an excellent defense weapon.

 

There are so many different potential "survival scenarios" that a "one size fits all" solution is impractical. Bugging in or out? Bugging out with a vehicle, or do you have to carry everything on your back? How long will the situation last? Are we talking about a few days. a few weeks, or years?
Ammo is heavy, and 12 Ga. ammo takes up a lot of room in your pack. You can have 550 rds of .22 for about the same weight and space taken by a 25 rd box of 12 Ga.

For some situations, a .22 rifle and handgun might be the optimum.
For others, maybe a shotgun and centerfire handgun combo.
Maybe a battle rifle and a handgun.

You have to analyze the situation facing you, then make the best choice you can from what you have on hand. It's that simple.

 

I think a lot of people are missing the OP's point.
The question was what GUN (singular) would be best in a SHTF situation.
Sure, I'd take 12 pistols, 17 rifles, 6 shotguns and a flamethrower but, if could only take ONE weapon, it would be a 12 ga. because of it's versatility.

 

That would seriously limit your range to 100M or less..... just a thought.

And the weight issue previously mentioned (several times already) in this thread.

I believe the 12 ga is seriously over-rated. I have used several to take dove, rabbit, and squirrel. I have hunted with a slug barrel for deer (never took any with that method). I have used them on breach teams...... based on that experience, I realize their limitations.

A .22 LR will keep you fed on small game for 1/3 the weight for the better part of a year. a .22 mag will keep you fed with small or large game just the same.

500 rds of .22 rim fire (magnum or not) can easily be packed in a ruck. 500 rds of 12 ga loads would be a PITA to try to transport/store.

If it has to be 1 gun.... get a rifle and learn to make it count. First choice is to have both (or more). Second choice.... rim fire rifle.

 

I agree that the shotgun is overrated. SHTF denotes desperate people. That means it's lord of the flies. When you're discovered in what you thought was a good hideout, your food, ammo, weaponry, and any other survival gear will be coveted with a life/death kind of zeal. When you have your 5-8 shots of 00 buck (respectively) vs. someone else with their 5-8 shots of 00 buck, you're not putting odds in your favor. Or what if it's a pair of desperate folks that need your gear more than you? Or a bigger pack? And what about their dogs? The slow cycling of a shotgun and it's need to be fed doesn't seem very realistic. And as hispedal has said, the ammo size creates capacity issues and the range is <100 yards. I'd say <50 if you're trying to stop someone. I do like the idea of a saiga 12 and some 20 round drum mags..if a shotgun was your choice, that'd have to be the best there is...<100yds.

And while the rimfire with a high capacity magazine (20? 50? rds) is great too and can certainly kill animals and people, I'm gonna say the 5.56 round would be more realistic..especially in the scenario above. Unless you can guarantee you're not going to need to defend yourself realistically, then the rimfire is the way to go. Otherwise, the AR15 gets my vote. Carrying 8 loaded mags + one in the weapon is 270 rounds and can be carried in a chest rig somewhat concealed under a poncho or big shirt. 500 rounds in a backpack can fit in a small box about twice the size of a 550 round pack of 22lr. A little bit more weight and space, but also much more stopping power and rapid fire reliability...and you're good to 500 yards.

As for ammo, the 22lr has it's subsonic, regular, and high velocity HPs and FMJs. On impact, those all do about the same. The SS gives you a little less report if you're trying to stay concealed..which is a smart thing. The 5.56 gives you some steel core (ss109/m855), some heavier barrier penetrating rounds like the 77g SMK OTMs, or if you've hoarded 55g wolf for years, that's plenty to stop most anything on 2 or 4 legs.

 

This is where I have to inject, there is no "single" best gun for SHTF. Try potting a rabbit with 5.56. Yeah, it's doable, but tough to say the least. Having 1.5" LOS above the bore line only complicates matters. I think a .22 handgun and 5.56 carbine (or your choice of assault rifle) is ideal.

My choice for knock about general purpose SHTF is a S&W model 63 (.22LR) and my LW AR carbine. You can see pics at these threads:

http://www.survivalmonkey.com/forum/firearms/19211-shtf-ar-15carbine.html

http://www.survivalmonkey.com/forum/firearms/21792-my-smiths.html

 

You know really the choice of a gun for shtf is really a personal decision. It goes to what you know best. there are guys that can handle a "Bullet Puker" with quite aplumb, and just maybe they want to cary 20 to 30 full mags with them. I'm alright with that. Go for it. I'm not going to argue with anyone on that point. then there are your bolt action rifle guys. they can get a good mile from ya and open up your head like a sledgehammer going into a watermelon, thats fine to. then theres your shotgun guys who do battle up close and personal, gut shoot you while staring in your eyes.
then there is your lever action guys. they stick and move 1 or 2 shots from no more than 300 yards away at a time. they use a caliber that is plentiful to buy or find easy to reload. one that is common and inexpensive, .30-.30 win, .45-.70, .44 mag, .357 mag. they can use handgun loads also.

Once again a gun is a personal choice allot like in vehicle choice. it is up to the given person on just what they want to carry on their backs and on their chests.

 

The best weapon depends on the scenario. If you have half a dozen two-legged varmints sniping at you from 250 yards away, is a shotgun your best choice?
If you are in the woods and you have a pack of wild dogs that think you are their next meal, do you want a bolt action rifle?
If your next meal depends on a clean kill on an elk 500 yards away, can you do it with a .223 poodle shooter?
If your family's survival depends on your garden, and it is being destroyed by 4 legged pests, is your best choice a .357 magnum?
The best gun depends on the given scenario.

 

I will agree with gray wolf depends on the given scenario. there is not a single gun that is applicable to all situations that you may find yourself in. The best thing would be several guns so you can keep yourself covered for all sits. a bolt action for mr. Bull Elk at 500 yards,or mr chinese storm trooper thats going to get his head popped like a zit, you need a bullet puker so you make them dive for cover. you need a shotgun for close quarters battle, and you need a lever action for that encounter with a pack of wild dogs though a bullet puker will work also. So you really just need to be prepared for all situations. but carrying all those at the same time could be difficult at best. so one gun that could be used for multiple situations is the best.

 

There won't be any awards given to the person getting through a SHTF event with the least amount of firearms. In the real world, the best gun is the one you have with you when the event happens. That's where your abilities come into play. You will have to do what you can with whatever you have.
Personally, I can't see less than 4 firearms.
1. A good, reliable center fire handgun. Your choice of pistol or revolver, your choice of caliber. You must have a handgun because it can be with you constantly. If I knew beforehand the exact moment that I would need a firearm, I would go into the clairvoyant business! A handgun would be there when you need it, and still allow you to do other work.
2. A center fire rifle. Once again, you decide what caliber and action will best suit your needs.
3. A .22 rifle. Cheap ammo, good for training others, gathering small game, and eliminating small pests.
4. A shotgun, 12 or 20ga, you choose the action that best fits the scenario that you think will occur.
If you have a group of people, that makes it easier. Everybody has their own personal defense handgun, then some of each of the rest.
Funds permitting, .22 handguns have their purpose.
The main thing is to make sure that you have plenty of ammo for whatever you choose to use.

 

Ok the real answer is:
What ever gun you have in your hand when

Ideally one that you are extremely confident in it's operation and your proficiency with.

That is all I have to say.

 

well as guns are all but banned here ille have to make do with my crossbow!

 

Here my thing if you grab a "black"gun How many magazines are you willing to carry fully loaded? Just like any gun. What are willing to carry? Hopefully we all will be smart enough to have gotten supplies cached in whereever our location is going to be.
Realistically guys, this shtf sit could happen at anytime........and I know you all are prepared for it.........There are guys like myself that are having to start over in preps.
I actually had started preparing several years back, but then because of economics i lost my job,then less than 6 months later I had a heart attack, now i'm waiting on surgery to be able to actually be able to start working again. I am currently going to college online for journalism, as I am sick and tired of all the lies coming from the left media. I am however not afraid of what they will try to do to me. My wife and I have had to use allot of our supplies that I was building up so now once I get back to work will basically be starting over in stocking up. It has been tough the two years I have been down But I know I will be able to come-back better than ever.....and I will get re-stocked come hell or high water,I will get everything back that I have lost including my health.

 

Disciple, You have just given an example of why we should all prep. We just never know when the rug might get pulled from under us and we have to fall back on our preps to survive.

 

Trapper also like I said I am bustin my butt to get things back to the way it used to be with all my prep. I'm still somewhat gun poor but am getting a few to start back in the game. Because of my health I wasnt able to really go hunting for whitetails this year but being where I'm at in northwest Iowa i'm an hour from South Dakota for deer and Elk(5 hours for the Elk), an hour or so from Nebraska, A half hour from Minnesota,
4 to 6 hours from missourri, 6 hours from Illinois,about 51/2 from wisconsin, So god willing I will draw a few archery tags next year and I can get me a few deer. As long as they totally don't Outlaw hunting.

 

I probably will not be able to hunt this year, even though i had planned to. A week ago I had a accidental fall that resulted in A-C separation in my right shoulder. I will probably take my .44 mag out in the back of my land and sit until I get too cold or bored to stay there any longer. Season here, Ohio, starts a week from this coming Monday. The deer do cross my land usually at night, but during deer gun season they could pass anytime. No way can I shoulder a gun this year, but I think I can handle a .44 with my left hand. I have practiced shooting with my off hand with handguns.

Edit to add. BP season is up in Jan so by then, if not too cold, I may be able to shoot a muzzle loader, we'll see.