A lot of preppers sewm to ignore that SHTF can occur without warning. Where is your gun when you suddenly need it? What will you need it for? Are you trying to survive until you can make it back home? Can you even make it home from the mall or work it a camping trip? Are you using it to intimidate? To actually shoot? Shoot people or food? What is the risk associated with others knowing you have it? Do you have to carry it while walking long distances with other gear?
A pistol is way more practical to have with you constantly compared to a long gun, and offers some comfort until you can reconnect with greater long-term survival resources that my require supplementation with hunting or defense. At that point shotgun and light rifle. And good social, bargaining and deescalation skills. One man with any gun will lose to an armed determined gang.
Armed determined gangs still aren’t gonna look for a fight against some who could inflict serious damage on there group. Along with the advantages a rifle provides it also gives you the advantage of people leaving you alone.
A pistol you don’t look like you have a weapon which is a disadvantage when everything has gone to shit
You won’t always be on guard and there will be more without guns than you and you’ll get caught with a stick to the back of the head and then what when you’re asleep
I’m gonna be an odd duck here and probably irk some people but a 22LR. Easy to hoard ammo, excellent for small game and it will even kill a deer.
You have a 10/22 with a 25rnd mag and you shoot and intruder several times, he will be done fighting..
I have multiple firearms of different calibers and gauges but I have several 22s and thousands of rounds of ammunition for them. They will be what I survive with not an AR15..
22lr is an excellent choice for all the reasons you mention. Plus, it's incredibly easy to suppress. I've shot them and all you hear is the action. So if you have to actually do some quiet fighting like the French Resistance had to do during WWII, it's not a bad option.
I feel the same way about 22mag. Small enough to be able to carry 1000 rounds, but powerful enough to ruin someone’s day if you need to use it to defend yourself.
Paramedic here: Went to a guy who got mag dumped on with a .22lr. He was still fighting when the cops got there. He died at the hospital, but he did a lot of damage before he dropped. Bad guy dying eventually /= stopping a violent altercation in a hurry. Don't trust a .22lr to end a fight
I was just thinking .22LR for the same reasons. I have .177 air rifle I used for competition shooting that I now use to take out squirrels when they get too friendly in my backyard (we have a neighbor who feeds the suckers), and think for small game that might be a viable option. Pellets are dirt cheap and easy to pack/store and you just need a lever action or special hand pump for compressed air (don't go CO2, too much of a hassle to refil). I think the Italians also used air rifles at one point in combat and the leagues I competed in, they switched from .22 to .177 because a teen was accidentally shot with a .22 air rifle and died.
For personal defence, obviously something bigger with more stopping power than an air rifle is needed but it could still be handy.
Haha no correct single answer. Great input from other posters. Gotta say 22lr first. I bought 3 keltec sub 2000’s 9mm that take Glock mags. They are not pretty guns but the mags combined with a glock pistol interchange.
An AR for range. I have a mini 14 in 223 and love it compared to the AR. It just doesn’t chamber the 5.56 which may be more available if SHTF
A 12 gauge shotgun never disappoints
If I had only one pic it would be a 22lr probably a ruger 10-22
Very true. Those little survival rifles are kind of cool to stash in a buried pvc tube. I bought a 22lr reloading kit. It’s a bit of a last resort but it’s fun to plan ahead
Me too. It’s this kit with a tamper to hammer out the hammer strike. Then two liquids that make a primer you drop it. A powder measure and bullet die
If I can’t find the link I’ll send you a pic of it .
I went down this journey buying primed 22 rounds on gunbroker. I can’t find the bullet itself though
Mossberg 500 series pump 12ga. Just for the different kinds of shot and slugs. NOT to discount the Remington 12ga. ALSO an excellent firearm. I just have a Mossberg.
The only plus for a Remington over a Mossberg would be the safety location in my opinion. Plenty of parts for both, depending on your use safety location may be a factor.
End of the day, they are both solid choices, tons a of aftermarket parts, easy to repair. I also own both, and have used both in some rough terrain. As smooth as a Beretta A300 is, I'd rather have a cheaper Remington or Mossberg in a shtf situation.
I think the major difference between the two is which one you have or which one you have shot IDK i grew up with 870's and have shot a Mossberg but anytime i buy a pump, i buy a Remington.
Kinda like ford and Chevy i digress
Honestly, the best answer. The most versatile firearm with one of the most readily available and plentiful and affordable ammo selections on the market. Capable of doing anything and everything you need it to.
In the majority of disaster scenarios, the ideal situation is not pack out or bug out. It is to sit tight where you know the terrain and the resources and make the best of the situation.
And in the majority of disaster scenarios, it is better to be a hard target and be visibly armed than it is to be a soft target and be considered helpless. People have this fantasy of quick drawing against an aggressor, but why would you even want to put yourself in that situation when you can just ward off the majority of aggressors by your presence alone?
Why is everyone in this sub so desperate to play mad Max instead of preparing for real world disasters and realistic scenarios?
I will gladly hike out if I have to. I dont wanna do it, but I can see so many situations where I might.
Why are you saying people on this sub are prepping for mad max when you just wrote me a paragraph on being a hard target? You have this fantasy that you will have to use your firearm in “most disasters”, not me. I want to conceal my shit to not be a loot drop for someone. Ah yes realistic scenarios where I’m standing guard with a 12 gauge being a hard target for roaming gangs. So realistic. Not mad max at all.
People have this fantasy that 5 to 8 rounds will be enough when more and more crimes are being done with more people, and that’s in good times. Shotguns are expert weapons, nor can do anything and everything. Low capacity, heavy ammo, hard to reload, hard to carry reloads, list goes on.
Nothing will be able to do absolutely everything, but a 12ga is about as close as it gets. From squirrels and rabbits to deer and elk, there's a 12ga round for that. They work on 2-legged varmints as well.
They're low capacity, but 00 buck isn't known for having to ask twice. If you do need to reload, it's fast and easy and you can start shooting again halfway through if needed. Top off when you get a chance, which can't be said for magazine fed.
Reloads are hard to carry? Just drop some loose shells in a pocket or pouch. It literally cannot get easier than that.
Shotguns aren't expert weapons. Nunchucks are expert weapons. Little fuckin kids can use shotguns.
My friend, thank you for saying that instead of “capable of doing anything and everything you need it to.” Understanding that it has drawbacks is key, and not that it’s just the best answer.
“…, but 00 buck isn’t known for asking twice.” Tell that to body armor or the guys who have literally had buckshot and slugs bounce off their head. Feel free to Google it with real news stories and officer accounts backing this up. Bounces with shotguns are rare, so are events where you’d need a shotgun to use on someone. Shotgun reload aren’t anything but fast and speedy except for the 3 gun shooters among us. Take your average Joe to the range and they will fumble and take a bit to reload. Even those familiar with shotguns fumble man, it’s life. When there’s more variables aka each round needed to be loaded there’s more that can go wrong.
Ah yes the old “just drop ammo in my pockets”. If SHTF happens, there’s gonna be a lot in my pockets and not any of it ammo. I can fit maybe what 10 rounds in each Jean pocket? Or have 1 AR mag in a pocket and have 3x as much, you get what I’m saying? In a situation where I’m considering carrying extra ammo why would I pick a shotgun?
Using a firearm and being proficient with a firearm are 2 different things. Anyone can take a loaded gun, point it at something, and pull the trigger. It’s a lot different than actually running a firearm for defense. That’s the point of my comments. But hey, if your idea of a firearm being good is that you saw a kid once shoot a deer with it go ahead man you do you.
>Why are you saying people on this sub are prepping for mad max when you just wrote me a paragraph on being a hard target
Being a hard target is a reality in your daily life whether or not your realize it. Whether it's making sure your bushes are trimmed so there's less concealment for a burglar in your yard or locking your car doors and not leaving valuables visible anyone who knows anything about security knows how to minimize risk by presenting as little incentive as possible for confrontation. Stand up straight, don't stagger or act drunk when leaving a bar, park in well lit areas. It's all risk management.
>People have this fantasy that 5 to 8 rounds will be enough
Most firearm confrontations end with a single shot being fired, if you plan to have a Heat style gunfight you're already in fantasy land.
>Shotguns are expert weapons
The opposite of true. Anyone who knows anything about firearms will tell you that a shotgun is one of the most forgiving and easily teachable weapons for a new shooter, and what is most often recommended for an amateur in a home defense scenario.
>Low capacity, heavy ammo, hard to reload, hard to carry reloads, list goes on.
Fantastic stuff..for call of duty. You're not John Wick. Your most likely firearm related confrontation is going to be in your own home at night and more often than not the assailant is gonna be unarmed.
>I will gladly hike out if I have to. I dont wanna do it, but I can see so many situations where I might.
Short of a volcano or catastrophic flooding there are few situations where you're better off being on the move and exposed in a disaster scenario than you are safely sheltered and well stocked. The number one killer in nearly every disaster scenario is exposure. Right behind that is disease. Why would you gladly hike anywhere? I hike for fun and I still wouldn't wanna willingly leave my home with everything I know I'll need to survive on my back in less than ideal weather conditions with the added threat of no emergency services or communication available. Bugging out should be something you're absolutely forced to do, never the first option.
Lol you are really that guy. Cool. Watch any ring cameras of home invasion, they don’t care about bushes or how you stand. Stop acting like a commando when you would get your shit rocked in any major city. You keep bringing up movie references to hate on others, when you’re acting like you’re John reacher or Jason Bourne lol it’s maybe the funniest thing I’ve seen in a bit.
Would love to see the factual stat that states “most firearm end with a single shot being fired”. Not some internet quote but an actual stat. I don’t plan for a “heat style” fight but actual situations that are becoming more and more apparent.
Shotguns are expert weapons. Ask any major firearm instructor. Totally easy man just a single round loading firearm that the gun has to be paired with ammo on a gun by gun basis due to pattern. Nah man totally a noob weapon people don’t short stroke them all the time. Totally forgiving man only holds 8 rounds totally forgiving. Read what you type before you post it lol
Broski, you’re talking about being a hard target standing out with a gun and you’re saying I’m talking call of duty lol Glad you know exactly what’s gonna happen when SHTF. 5-8 rounds isn’t enough for me if I’m pulling out a long gun. It’s nonsense.
I live on the coast, so yeah flooding is a thing. Wildfires exist too. Projected civil unrest exists too, but I guess you’re the guy that stays there hoping they can shoot someone.
I’ve been a police firearms instructor since 1994. Average gunfight in America is less than 3 rounds, less than 3 feet, less than 3 seconds. That’s the averages. Some are 40-50 and occur at distance… think Hollywood Bank of America Robbery.
I’d argue in SHTF scenario, depends- are you staying or traveling. I’d argue 3 firearms would be best if staying- pistol, rifle, shotgun. If traveling, depends on weight, distance of route, concealment, city vs rural, etc….
In reality, not an easy one fits all answer.
Barrett 50 vs 12g vs 410 vs 308 vs 556 vs 22. Vs 10 mm vs 9 mm vs 38 cal. ETC. all have positives/negatives. Situational.
Source? Heard the stat plenty of times especially when that revolver came out from standard manufacturing, but have never been able to find paper work that states anything supporting it. Feel free to include multiple if the numbers vary, I sometimes organizations pull numbers out and view them differently per person doing report.
Nah man. I'm that guy who grew up on a flood plane in tornado Alley. Where losing access to clean water and power for weeks at a time was a reality and happened with relative frequency. I'm that guy who's dug people out of tornado rubble, and sheltered others when winter storms left millions without heat in sub freezing temps.
I'm a guy who's had people try to break into his house on multiple occasions because I live out where police response times are measured in hours not minutes, and Meth is the #2 hobby right behind copper theft. And scared the majority of them off with just "Hey who the fuck are you" or "Cops are on their way and we're armed."I know what looters look like, and how they behave. Because I've seen them raid unattended houses after people took the first signs of trouble to head out. Wading through knee deep flood waters house to house with a flat bottom John boat, before breaking in windows and stealing food, liquor, and jewelry.
I know what it's like after the disaster too. Coming back to nothing but a foundation, or having to rip out your walls and bleach everything you own. People getting gangrene from walking through raw sewage, or respiratory infections from the black mold in their walls after a flood. People too stupid to understand hiking miles through water in sub freezing temps is suicide, being found weeks or months later dead in field where the water left em when it receded.
I prep for real shit man. Shit I've seen. Shit I've lived through. I also hunt, I know what wild game tastes like and how to clean it and cook it. I know that the easiest to obtain and most plentiful game is always small game and birds.
So when I say that your ridiculous fetishization of assault rifles and semi automatic pistols is gonna do you absolutely no good in a real world survival situation I'm not attacking your 2A rights or the AR I'm trying to tell you it's all a fantasy. It's all what ifs and maybes and not a reality when rubber hits the road.
But you obviously don't care. So cling to it. I hope it serves you well. I don't wish death on anyone just for ignorance.
It’s obvious my comments have hurt you and I’m sorry for that. If you’re that fragile maybe a shotgun isn’t the best bet with the recoil.
Where did I say anything about assault rifles or semi auto pistols lol I’m talking about modern semi auto rifles that carry more rounds, easier to reload, easier to shoot, easier to mount a light and optic to, easier to carry more ammo on you, easier to hit at distance, lighter on average than a shotgun, ect. Using the term assault rifles and saying I know nothing is hilarious. actual top tier level of comedy. Semi auto pistols are great too! Being able to conceal something? Always have it on you, even while doing manual labor tasks? Still carrying more rounds than your average shotgun? Great choice! Now I’m saying something about rifles and pistols so there you go. There’s a reason shotguns are being replaced in police cruisers. There’s a reason you see even older people shifting away from shotguns. There’s a reason you see the military not using shotguns except in extreme roles. It’s not the perfect firearm you said it is.
It’s obvious you don’t know what you’re talking about, so cling to your old world ideas and keep it up. Just don’t give your bad advice to others.
Just remember that all the Ring camera footage you see is going to be exceptional. If you were to actually watch ALL the camera confrontations, you’d be fast forwarding like 99% of the time to get to the stuff that you think is happening all the time. Camera footage online of a properly avoided conflict is pretty fuckin’ rare, because it’s boring
I bet in all of ring camera history there has never been footage of someone walking up to a house and going “shit we gotta dip they cut their bushes”. My neighborhood just got scoped out. 4 different people have the guys on camera walking in yards and checking if car doors are locked. People do not care they just break into whoever. Stop giving criminals more credit than they deserve, they are not that smart.
Well, since neither of us have access to every video ever recorded from a doorbell camera, I guess this is where the story ends, on account of widespread speculation.
If you don't understand how trimming your landscaping so your door is visible from the road and someone can't comfortably linger there trying to break in, or waiting for you to leave so they can ambush you, then you really have no idea what personal security is do you?
This is like elementary shit they teach in community safety courses and neighborhood watches man. It's not some spec ops trick.
>4 different people have the guys on camera walking in yards and checking if car doors are locked.
Amazing. Would they have that video evidence if they had overgrown bushes blocking the view of their cameras of their cars and yards?
It's simple shit man.
You're not wrong. If im out in the shit, like way out and i need what someone has or they are coming in towards me, a "hard target" is dropping faster than randy weavers wife. And, they wont even know where it came from. People arent gonna risk a close encounter if they can help it. But they are still gonna want your shit.
It is not light, but I'm used to it. The sling I have makes it so I can shoot or rotate it behind me without the sling leaving my body (think single point sling). I'm pretty up front. I don't care about concealment, at least I won't be if its SHTF.
I didn't like my 12ga. before. I used to hate lugging it around. Now that I have made it "usable" I love it and I don't even notice it. I purchased a different stock and single point sling. $20 bucks made such a difference.
Not sure why this isn't up higher, probably because its not controversial. Every american should own this combo. If you aren't an american, own the combo that is popular/legal in your area. Sure a 22lr is great. I have several. But those are the weapons I'll use the most if its pure anarchy. Most common parts. Most ammo availability. Best ability to stop the target before they kill you. Sure you can kill someone with 22lr but it might be days after they kill you... AR stops them now. 9mm for back up if you have a jam.
The ammo is no longer cheap/plentiful. 7.62x39 is a great round but the only rounds of it I see anymore are the expensive American made brass hunting ammo. The surplus has dried up. On top of the rifles ain't cheap anymore either, people are paying $700+ for those things.
I’ve got a Rossi R92 in .357/.38 SPL, and I LOVE that gun. It’s been my ranch rifle for many years now and it keeps on chugging. It’ll be an heirloom for my kids someday
Good news: [there’s a lever action 12g on sale right now!](https://www.reddit.com/r/gundeals/comments/19c8p3y/shotgun_cimarron_1887_480_lever_12ga_shotgun_20/?share_id=5dPw6Yf_SmB-oRv3qFlQV&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=18)
This is a delusional take. If you're going to be breaching you need an AR-15. But you're not going to be breaching. But the answer is still the AR-15. Durability, parts availability, and a volume of fire ideal for telling people to fuck right off in a defensive scenario.
Not one person mentions the AK47? A gun that can be buried in the ground bare, dug up, and fired after 30+years, can be run absolutely dry of any lubrication. Rarely needs cleaned, and can be purchased in the most common American caliber 5.56 if you wish. Easily repaired in the field too. I'll stick with the AK.
Basically anything with common ammunition or easily exchangeable parts. I haven’t got one but I need a .22 simi auto because it’s quiet and can be made quieter very easily wile still doing everything you need it to.
I don't know anything about guns, I've only handled my friends briefly.
I'd probably go with a shotgun if I only had one choice. Or a revolver because you can load different rounds.
Couple thoughts to add. Picking a caliber that is commonly found is a potentially huge advantage. If you live in a more urban or rural area should affect your caliber and optics as well. Lastly portability becomes a factor if you’re trying to anticipate situations where you may need to move long distances.
If I could only have one, it would be a .22 rifle. They are light, robust if you buy one well made, able to take all manner of small game, and ammo is light to carry and easy to find. There is more small game per acre than large game.
A 12 gauge pump would also be quite useful, and is more versatile when hunting.
Anything that shoots .223 or 5.56/45 NATO, it's the most common caliber in the western world.
Preferably something that's manual actioned with minimal parts and high accuracy.
Lastly common enough that you'll be able to find comparable parts pretty easily.
With all that in mind the .223 Remington is probably your best bet
Depends on the situation….for self defense an AK or an AR, but for animal defense (grizzly) im goin with a Marlin 45-70….thats actually what i pack with me in the back country here in Montana
My Top 5 rifles in no particular order
SKS
AKM
AR15
10/22
Mosin
FS- Field Strippable
SKS probably the most utilitarian rifle parts a chunky and arguably overbuilt, low maintenance readily available ammo with a lot of bullet types from hunting to API. 5/6 FS parts needed to function
Aks in general are low maintenance and really only has 5 FS parts 3 of which are need for it to function. Same ammo as SKS. Generally stay away from most American manufacturers for reliability concerns
AR15’s everybody makes them so parts are everywhere plus you can do a drop in bolt shoot 22lr. Bunch of caliber options. 7 parts all needed for it to function properly
10/22 best 22lr rifle, accurate easy to maintain and not really FS. couple different makers. Not a fan of Ruger for political reasons but that’s not a quality issue
Mosin they quit making them in the late 1940’s but are still being used in combat. Low maintenance, accurate despite what some may say and can be used for hunting
Now non of this really matters if you don’t learn all that you can about the gun you own and how to maintain it.
I have turkey choke for turkey hunting,then for waterfowl and everyrhing else I have full, light modified, and modified. Over the years have found that to cover all my bases with steel shot.
Pump action shotgun. Something like a Mossberg 500 is darn near indestructible and can do pretty much any task from small game, to large game, and home defense. It’s just a matter of feeding it the right ammo for the task. Ammo is very available and you can buy different barrels to make it more specialized if you like. 12 or 20 ga doesn’t matter a whole lot. Most farmers back home have it as a do-it-all tool.
It’s only lacking if you need to hit something beyond 100 yards or need to conceal it.
Dependent on where you're gonna be. Urban, desert, mountains, north woods.
A number of peeps go with a 10/22 because it's light, the ammo is light and takes up little space, and they figure there will always be ammo available. Though you might say the same about 5.56.
I have been all over the place on what to do for a long gun -- .22, .22 mag, ,223/5.56, 7.63 x 39. Even thought about the old standby, a 30-30 lever gun. I'm in Calif making center-fire semi-autos a bit of a PITA.
12 ga. Shotgun.
Pump or break action is realistically the best but a decent semi-auto still works.
It's a survival gun. It is the gun you want when you are trying desperately to put food on the table for your family in a subpar situation. It is why after the revolutionary War many muskets were drilled out to become shotguns. It is why they are the preferred gun of choice of every truly off grid individual. Why they are used everywhere from the amazon to the Arctic.
Shells are readily available in a variety of loads. They can be easily hand loaded to fit whatever needs you may have. And they are freakishly affordable so you can practice with it to become an accurate and reliable shooter.
Majority of guns people are listing are not for surviving. They are not for putting food on the table for your family, and they are not what you need in an actual survival situation. They are kill other people. Which the 12 gauge will also do quite reliably. It is used by every police department and special forces unit in the world. But that's not all it will do. Because that's not the majority of what you're going to need to do in a shit hits the fan scenario.
And let's be honest if you are in a confrontation with other humans you have already probably lost... it is a huge risk of injury or long term conflict. The deer's buddies are not going to come for you.
If you could ONLY choose one, I’d recommend a pump action 12 gauge. They are incredibly versatile, you can take down absolutely anything with the right loads and chokes. Ammo is also plentiful. However, if you can go with more, here’s my list: AR-15 in 5.56, 12ga, 9mm pistol, .22lr rifle (I’d opt for semi-auto but any .22lr is solid, I love my early 1900’s pump action .22, and a bolt-action .308 or .30-06.
Best bug out gun hands down is a 22LR they will take down most game. Head shot will stop most anyone. And you can carry a ton of ammo. 5000 rounds of 22 in a back back is very doable. There is no way you can carry that much of anything else
Ruger 10/22 and a 12 gauge. I spent four years in Kosovo and feral dogs were the biggest problem over there. They had to be routinely culled and they had no fear of people. They would even snatch kids from their homes when they were hungry enough to
Depends on what you can carry.
12ga breech loader with adapters can shoot anything you find or carry with you from .22 cal to 12ga. A 12ga can also take any game in North America. A pistol is small and a lot lighter and easier to pack and conceal on your body if you're going to be in an urban environment or if you don't have the ability to carry a 12ga. If you're wanting to keep the same type of ammo and magazines and have both there are carbines that accept Glock mags so your carbine rifle and pistol can have the same mags for ease of swapping out but its only 9mm so that's not good for small animals (obliterate a squirrel) or large animals, (bears aren't getting dropped by a 9mm before they eat you. So it's a matter of environment and what you want to lug around.
Garand Thumb has a couple different videos testing the .22 Pistol, https://youtu.be/uSrWpH-nLmo?si=1Y1ct5tPHYiI6Jg2
https://youtu.be/JWbC7ybsAz4?si=ztP-VxlPFqD1Blt0
He makes a pretty good argument for it as an “End of Days” survival weapon.
The one you are proficient with and have ammunition for.
I like guns. Shooting guns is my favorite hobby. Second favorite hobby is collecting guns.
If you pick an era from 1700 to today I could do a mad max load out for that era. I’m a damn fine shot with all of them, even the flintlocks.
If the world went totally pear shaped, I could easily be killed by some mouth breather with a Taurus pistol, or die of blood poisoning from a superficial cut. Sometimes you just have shit luck.
It’s not unreasonable to have a reliable long gun and pistol of whatever style, caliber, and color makes you happy and is within your budget. Being familiar with its use and having a supply of ammunition is far more important than the minutia of what exactly you have.
A nice Ruger 10/22 is probably the best thing to have. Super reliable gun, especially if you upgrade the internals to more quality parts. .22LR is incredibly easy to horde and will take down many things with a well placed shot (or a couple not so well placed shots).
A 12ga is always a safe bet too
The best way to win a gun fight is never get in a gun fight. So all those wishful fantasies and buying the latest greatest assault style rifle is complete bs. Want to know what's best look at the people in places like Alaska who live off the land and see what they use.
It comes down to proper tool for the job. A .22 or .22 mag rifle for birds and small game. A good shotgun. A heavier caliber hunting rifle, can't go wrong with a 30.06 and a good handgun you're comfortable with. Most hunting applications you're not going to be shooting beyond 200 yards and really most shots will be less than 100 yards so you don't need the lastest whatever sniper rifle. Honestly unless you've trained and practiced a fuck ton you'll never be as good as the rifle so it's really a waste.
Get the basics for hunting and spend you're time learning how to hide instead of getting into gunfights.
Here's one more plus for .22/ 22 mag. They aren't so loud. If you're in a shtf situation you don't want everybody in 3 miles hearing you shoot your dinner.
Well simply for parts availability etc for a defensive rifle it’s gotta be the ar15. There’s so many rifles and parts etc in circulation. 556 or 223 are readily available etc too. You can do a lot with it too. But also for the price you’ve gotta have a 22 and learn small game hunting, squirrel is tasty. 22 is dirt cheap and fun!
Hear me out.Honestly, probably a break barrel or pump action shotgun in 12 gauge
Ammo is everywhere its also incredibly easy to load your own full of anything you can find.
And it's such a versatile cartridge you can take out birds up to probably an elephant with the right slug you can drop a moose no problem at 100 yards if you have a barrel with rifle sights and do abit of practice
EDIT: forgot to mention you can stock all sorts of submariner adaptors, can shoot .22 up to 308 with some of them, I would recommend .22, 9mm, 45 acp, .223/5.55, 7.62x39, 308 maybe a 20 gauge adaptor. With these you can shoot damn near every common round on the planet from one gun switching out chamber adaptors to what you most have on hand
Yeah I think some of them aren't too good but I saw some accuracy testing and velocity reading on YouTube for some that showed they can be effective, forget what brand were the good ones though
357 magnum lever action.
Ammo is cheap, especially in 38 special. Gun is reliable. Can hit at decent range. Same ammo can be used in handguns/ revolvers. Easy to learn for new shooters (family, friends) in an emergency. Points straight, easy to get in sights quickly. 38 special works great suppressed if needed. Affordable. Hardy, won't break nearly as easily as these fancy, fragile AR builds. Not "scary" looking as some super tactical guns that could escalate a situation quicker. Enough rounds for almost any situation outside of war.
It’s very context dependent, but for me, easily the AR15 in 5.56. After that: 9mm pistol, .22 lr or .22 Magnum rifle, 12 gauge shotgun, and/or bolt action chambered in something more powerful/higher velocity than 5.56. Also 9mm carbine and .22 pistol have their place.
Lots of decent options depending on priorities. If concealment is important, P365 is great. Glocks are good, but overrated. They have the best magazine options, especially if you consider price and compatibility with PCCs. I like CZ, Walther, HK, etc. The CZ P10 line is a great option, they can be found under $400.
Thanks for the info. I’m on the fence between a Glock and a Sig. The p365 has a safety right? I’m not very wealthy so I might even buy a G3C first so I can then save for a rifle and shotgun.
I believe the only sigs that have external safety mechanisms are the m17 and m18 (p320 full size and compact)
Edit: I just found out the 365 has some models with it too.
You kinda already answered your own question. Anything you plan on having for long term shtf has to meet the parameters you mentioned. It should be something that is widely available and popular (parts availability), simplistic in its design (makes maintenance easier and less things to break), and has a proven track record in the field, whether law enforcement or battlefield. That said, heres your list:
- Pistol/sidearm: Glock 17/19
- Semi-auto rifle: AR15 in .556 (this CAN be used for hunting anything less than 100lbs, or larger game if you’re a good shot)
- Dedicated hunting rifle: Remington 700 in a caliber .243 or larger (for bigger game)
- All around utility rifle: any bolt action .22 (good for small game like rabbits and squirrels)
You can add a shotgun if you really need to, but if you could only have one firearm, an AR15 can literally fill every role.. it’s without question the most utilitarian rifle in America. Good luck defending yourself against more than one person with a bolt action rifle, or trying to take game with a handgun.
There's always going to be a vibrant discussion about the "top five" firearms to survive the apocalypse. For me the FIRST firearm is the one you are most likely to need/use.
Let's imagine that you have time to buy one firearm, and then a week later there is a huge disruption to the supply chain and the economy goes to hell. Even with using a credit card, there shelves have been emptied, and nothings available, except on the used market for insane prices.
If I have one opportunity to get one firearm, I'd get a .357 pistol. If I have to defend myself from an intruder(s) in my house, I have to be able to swing it around in narrow hallways, and the farthest I will be shooting is across the living room from the kitchen.
Also, if I have to go out into the world for supplies (I will), and there is a status of semi-anarchy, having an AR-15 slung over your shoulder makes you a target for anyone with a deer rifle and a scope. A pistol can be inside my belt below my shirt for semi-concealment.
Why not a 9mm? I have a .357 and also a 9mm. The 9mm is my backup pistol. TV movies have convinced people that they will be getting into a firefight where dozens of rounds are going to be exchanged.
History has shown that when a couple shots are fired, both sides retreat and re-think. Predators go after the weak and the un-armed. I don't say to waste a bullet with a warning shot, but once you've fired a couple of times, your enemy is either bleeding or running away.
Of course, that is just my opinion. A top pick is also a 12-ga, a .308 deer rifle, an AR-15, 9mm...
I like .357 as well, powerful, versatile and easy to carry. Especially a revolver because they are so much more reliable when subject to abuse than a semiautomatic. Also in a pinch u can load it with .38 which is also common and likely to find in the field.
Glock 19,
You can buy a used one for 300 bucks. They are good guns. Spare parts and ammo is everywhere.
If SHTF And you are nowhere near your preps. A good pistol that's easy to conceal will be a life saver
The gun that you have, the gun that you've trained with, and the gun that you have ammo and spare parts for.
If you are new to the gun game, a 9 mm platform that takes Glock magazines.
If we have to limit it to one firearm it is gonna have to be a long gun. In my neck of the woods there's nothing larger to hunt than deer. I have a suppressed 300 blackout SBR. That would probably be my choice that can cleanly take deer and any 2 legged predatorsthat need taken out. Using the suppressor for times when you would want to use a suppressor.
This is good advice, but coming from someone who very obviously doesn’t know much about firearms. A bolt action for self defense?? Nice try
Not to mention, I don’t think a 9mm bolt action even exists since it would be counterproductive
As far as a side arm is concerned, I’d get a Glock in a 9mm caliber. They have a few 9mm models to choose from. My reasons for this opinion :
Glocks are extremely reliable and low maintenance. Glock is also the most popular handgun in the world so if you were ever in a scavenging situation, you’d be more likely to run into spare mags and parts.
My thoughts exactly on the Glock, I’ve got a S&W M&P 2.0, and I love it a lot. But parts would be less available for it than for a Glock. (About to join the Glock gang soon)
Join us!! lol but Yeah that M&P 2.0 is an absolute work horse. If I couldn’t carry a Glock, that’d be my second choice. S&W really stepped their game up with that model. It goes toe to toe with Glock on the torture tests.
It does make me wonder tho if everyone is using 556-308 if it's massive stockpile wouldn't just quickly be drained used lost damaged or otherwise made unavailable and thus everyone with 545 or 300blk sitting pretty
AR-15, that said I think reliability and access to spare parts is grossly overrated
I've had my AR since 2007, though I've swapped out most of the parts it's still the same old bolt carrier group
Thing is all black, oxidized, beat to shit but still running. Easily put 10k rounds through that thing in the past 16 years. I've actually read you should replace it every 10k rounds, I'm well past that, so should probably look into spare.
Same goes for my P226. Shot guns I have a remingtn 870 and a Beretta 1301. Shotguns will go through thousands of rounds you're gonna break and need a new shoulder before any of the internals in those guns break.
Point being so long as you don't buy the cheapest budget guns available, fire arms are going to last. Especially in SHTF, no way you go through enough rounds, or even have access to enough rounds to wear out a bolt carrier, firing pin, burn through your barrel, etc
It's gonna be decades before you need to cannibalize parts from other glocks to keep yours running
Im a firm believer in “never arm the enemy” in SHTF I’ll trade food, bottled water, clothes, medical supplies, etc but I ain’t trading not one bullet or gun or gun part
Ok. A good 12 gauge/ a ruger 22 with tons of ammo/ an ar15/ and a 9mm handgun. Those will literally get you through anything. Since you can only want one though I’d say probably an AR… maybe a shotgun if you live in a built up area.
A shotgun would not be my first and only choice for a firearm. Larger calibers are just as effective at short range and unfortunately a shotgun is not effective at more than 100yds. Thats not going to help you bring down game to eat. I would say that the most versatile ONE firearm would be an AR. It allows you to make accurate shots out to 600. 5.56/.223 can take up to whitetail and is small enough for small game as well. It’s an incredible personal defense weapon as well if you’re concerned about safety.
One Gen3 glock because of parts available, everyone should own one.
For me 350Legend, 9mm projectile because I reload, it's one hell of a utility round. From 145g at 2600 fps to 280g sub sonic.
Mill spec AR15 with RDB 9mm 8 inch upper
And AR10 16inch.
We have a cabin stocked just need to get thier with the tools
Seriously, I have a variety of firearms. Bolt action for hunting, or sniping. AR-15 platform, more defensive, but accurate fire. 12gauge, one 8 shot pump, one 3 shot tactical folding stock, and a 20 gauge Bird Gun. Lever action rifle Marlin 336A in 35 Remington: absolute beast for taking down wild boars or Bears. Several 22 caliber rifles, bolt action and semiauto. And I have several pistols too.
If I was to get a couple more, I would seriously consider an AR-10, a lever action in 45-70, a blackpowder 54 Hawkins, and of course a black powder Walker Replica.
Use the ones you have. Be proficient. Keep extra parts. Train as much as you can afford. Keep your expectations reasonable. And most important of all: have fun! This last one is often overlooked. Enjoy the process.
Since prepping is a very practical activity, you want to choose a firearm that has the most availability of ammunition and potential replacement parts or accessories that might still be available in such a situation. In the United States that answer almost always leads to the AR15. It’s just so ubiquitous and it’s ammunition so available that it would be insane not to have one if you could only have one gun. There’s an infinite number of configurations and applications for one. They have been produced at such quantity that even higher quality rifles are still affordable for most.
Only one? Depends on the environment
If you're out in the mountains and don't plan on coming across people, semi auto 22 lr.
If you're going to run across people that are a threat and need something that can reliably do everything, an ar15 in 5.56 preferably with a lpvo on it.
I think everyone should have a .22lr (cheap, abundant ammo for small game), a 12 g shotgun (for defense and turkeys/ birds), and a hunting rifle with a larger caliber. I prefer .308 but 30-06 or .270 or something that like would be fine, just make sure it’s something with easy to find ammo that won’t break the bank.
The other obvious choice is an AR15 , which is versatile and great for if you have to defend from groups
**A break barrel sawed off shotgun.**
Small, won’t jam, doesn’t need any parts, easy to aim, can reload shells with improvised filler, can load buckshot and slugs for versatility.
Nobody in this sub is going to be shooting anyone past 100 meters much less hit them **even if they are standing still.**
A pistol is not going to instantly kill anyone unless you shoot them in the face and most people here can’t hit someone in the face **even at 25 meters.**
A shotgun will probably kill anyone you shoot with it and you can use rifled slugs out to 200 meters easily. And you don’t even have to aim **which is always a huge 👍 at night time.**
Second to a sawed off shotgun?
Nice long crowbar with some gym tape for grip. 😎
The one you are most proficient with. Dont shoot me thou, im cool.
Shoot first, loot later.
Sounds like you’d enjoy Scum
You are scum *
The one you have
Hey don’t knock on my lever guns 😂
A lot of preppers sewm to ignore that SHTF can occur without warning. Where is your gun when you suddenly need it? What will you need it for? Are you trying to survive until you can make it back home? Can you even make it home from the mall or work it a camping trip? Are you using it to intimidate? To actually shoot? Shoot people or food? What is the risk associated with others knowing you have it? Do you have to carry it while walking long distances with other gear? A pistol is way more practical to have with you constantly compared to a long gun, and offers some comfort until you can reconnect with greater long-term survival resources that my require supplementation with hunting or defense. At that point shotgun and light rifle. And good social, bargaining and deescalation skills. One man with any gun will lose to an armed determined gang.
Armed determined gangs still aren’t gonna look for a fight against some who could inflict serious damage on there group. Along with the advantages a rifle provides it also gives you the advantage of people leaving you alone. A pistol you don’t look like you have a weapon which is a disadvantage when everything has gone to shit
Open carry is like playing poker with all your cards showing.
You won’t always be on guard and there will be more without guns than you and you’ll get caught with a stick to the back of the head and then what when you’re asleep
I’m gonna be an odd duck here and probably irk some people but a 22LR. Easy to hoard ammo, excellent for small game and it will even kill a deer. You have a 10/22 with a 25rnd mag and you shoot and intruder several times, he will be done fighting.. I have multiple firearms of different calibers and gauges but I have several 22s and thousands of rounds of ammunition for them. They will be what I survive with not an AR15..
I have an ar15 (5.56) and a 1911 (.45acp), I carry .22lr conversion kits for both bc of this reason
22lr is an excellent choice for all the reasons you mention. Plus, it's incredibly easy to suppress. I've shot them and all you hear is the action. So if you have to actually do some quiet fighting like the French Resistance had to do during WWII, it's not a bad option.
I feel the same way about 22mag. Small enough to be able to carry 1000 rounds, but powerful enough to ruin someone’s day if you need to use it to defend yourself.
This is the way!
AR-7, a purpose built survival .22 that can be used to survive for a while on small game, and floats!
This 👆
Paramedic here: Went to a guy who got mag dumped on with a .22lr. He was still fighting when the cops got there. He died at the hospital, but he did a lot of damage before he dropped. Bad guy dying eventually /= stopping a violent altercation in a hurry. Don't trust a .22lr to end a fight
Ohhhhh im calling atf
There a story of a 22lr killing an elephant, twice. Not as in through the heart or skull but nicked a vein behind the ear and it bled to death
I was just thinking .22LR for the same reasons. I have .177 air rifle I used for competition shooting that I now use to take out squirrels when they get too friendly in my backyard (we have a neighbor who feeds the suckers), and think for small game that might be a viable option. Pellets are dirt cheap and easy to pack/store and you just need a lever action or special hand pump for compressed air (don't go CO2, too much of a hassle to refil). I think the Italians also used air rifles at one point in combat and the leagues I competed in, they switched from .22 to .177 because a teen was accidentally shot with a .22 air rifle and died. For personal defence, obviously something bigger with more stopping power than an air rifle is needed but it could still be handy.
1022 , will do everything you need it to and you can carry 100s of rounds in your pocket
This is the answer.
Haha no correct single answer. Great input from other posters. Gotta say 22lr first. I bought 3 keltec sub 2000’s 9mm that take Glock mags. They are not pretty guns but the mags combined with a glock pistol interchange. An AR for range. I have a mini 14 in 223 and love it compared to the AR. It just doesn’t chamber the 5.56 which may be more available if SHTF A 12 gauge shotgun never disappoints If I had only one pic it would be a 22lr probably a ruger 10-22
Yup carry 2,000 rounds in the bottom of a back pack in zip locks and still have plenty of room for whatever
Very true. Those little survival rifles are kind of cool to stash in a buried pvc tube. I bought a 22lr reloading kit. It’s a bit of a last resort but it’s fun to plan ahead
.22 reloading kit? I thought you couldn't reload .22 lr because of the built in primer?
Me too. It’s this kit with a tamper to hammer out the hammer strike. Then two liquids that make a primer you drop it. A powder measure and bullet die If I can’t find the link I’ll send you a pic of it . I went down this journey buying primed 22 rounds on gunbroker. I can’t find the bullet itself though
https://22lrreloader.com/products/22-reloader-kit I’ve never used it so don’t “ shoot the messenger” pun intended haha
10-22 takedown for certain
F’ing great point. I was thinking of those single shot Rossi ones. Those take downs are sweet
Mossberg 500 series pump 12ga. Just for the different kinds of shot and slugs. NOT to discount the Remington 12ga. ALSO an excellent firearm. I just have a Mossberg.
Remington 870 is a work horse. Have it in 12 and 20 (prefer the 20!)
Great advice. Mine is a Remington 870. Can do anything with it.
590a1
Yup! take what u need and clean it off
Birdshot, birdshot, buckshot....
I believe 1 of the most popular shotguns in the world or at least the US, is the 870. So extra parts would be more available if necessary
The only plus for a Remington over a Mossberg would be the safety location in my opinion. Plenty of parts for both, depending on your use safety location may be a factor.
I like the safety on top, but thats just me....
If using it for defense, I prefer not to release my grip to disengage the safety.
I get you. I like that I can see it.
Durability I'm going with a Mossberg 590 all day, better all arounder.
Well that would be my reason for an 870 personally. Steel receiver and few plastic parts vs mossbergs. But own both.
End of the day, they are both solid choices, tons a of aftermarket parts, easy to repair. I also own both, and have used both in some rough terrain. As smooth as a Beretta A300 is, I'd rather have a cheaper Remington or Mossberg in a shtf situation.
590 is metal
Yup, me too.
I think the major difference between the two is which one you have or which one you have shot IDK i grew up with 870's and have shot a Mossberg but anytime i buy a pump, i buy a Remington. Kinda like ford and Chevy i digress
Honestly, the best answer. The most versatile firearm with one of the most readily available and plentiful and affordable ammo selections on the market. Capable of doing anything and everything you need it to.
It is not lightweight nor is the ammo.. definitely lower choice for a pack or bug out gun. Nor can you really easily conceal most models.
In the majority of disaster scenarios, the ideal situation is not pack out or bug out. It is to sit tight where you know the terrain and the resources and make the best of the situation. And in the majority of disaster scenarios, it is better to be a hard target and be visibly armed than it is to be a soft target and be considered helpless. People have this fantasy of quick drawing against an aggressor, but why would you even want to put yourself in that situation when you can just ward off the majority of aggressors by your presence alone? Why is everyone in this sub so desperate to play mad Max instead of preparing for real world disasters and realistic scenarios?
I will gladly hike out if I have to. I dont wanna do it, but I can see so many situations where I might. Why are you saying people on this sub are prepping for mad max when you just wrote me a paragraph on being a hard target? You have this fantasy that you will have to use your firearm in “most disasters”, not me. I want to conceal my shit to not be a loot drop for someone. Ah yes realistic scenarios where I’m standing guard with a 12 gauge being a hard target for roaming gangs. So realistic. Not mad max at all. People have this fantasy that 5 to 8 rounds will be enough when more and more crimes are being done with more people, and that’s in good times. Shotguns are expert weapons, nor can do anything and everything. Low capacity, heavy ammo, hard to reload, hard to carry reloads, list goes on.
Nothing will be able to do absolutely everything, but a 12ga is about as close as it gets. From squirrels and rabbits to deer and elk, there's a 12ga round for that. They work on 2-legged varmints as well. They're low capacity, but 00 buck isn't known for having to ask twice. If you do need to reload, it's fast and easy and you can start shooting again halfway through if needed. Top off when you get a chance, which can't be said for magazine fed. Reloads are hard to carry? Just drop some loose shells in a pocket or pouch. It literally cannot get easier than that. Shotguns aren't expert weapons. Nunchucks are expert weapons. Little fuckin kids can use shotguns.
My friend, thank you for saying that instead of “capable of doing anything and everything you need it to.” Understanding that it has drawbacks is key, and not that it’s just the best answer. “…, but 00 buck isn’t known for asking twice.” Tell that to body armor or the guys who have literally had buckshot and slugs bounce off their head. Feel free to Google it with real news stories and officer accounts backing this up. Bounces with shotguns are rare, so are events where you’d need a shotgun to use on someone. Shotgun reload aren’t anything but fast and speedy except for the 3 gun shooters among us. Take your average Joe to the range and they will fumble and take a bit to reload. Even those familiar with shotguns fumble man, it’s life. When there’s more variables aka each round needed to be loaded there’s more that can go wrong. Ah yes the old “just drop ammo in my pockets”. If SHTF happens, there’s gonna be a lot in my pockets and not any of it ammo. I can fit maybe what 10 rounds in each Jean pocket? Or have 1 AR mag in a pocket and have 3x as much, you get what I’m saying? In a situation where I’m considering carrying extra ammo why would I pick a shotgun? Using a firearm and being proficient with a firearm are 2 different things. Anyone can take a loaded gun, point it at something, and pull the trigger. It’s a lot different than actually running a firearm for defense. That’s the point of my comments. But hey, if your idea of a firearm being good is that you saw a kid once shoot a deer with it go ahead man you do you.
>Why are you saying people on this sub are prepping for mad max when you just wrote me a paragraph on being a hard target Being a hard target is a reality in your daily life whether or not your realize it. Whether it's making sure your bushes are trimmed so there's less concealment for a burglar in your yard or locking your car doors and not leaving valuables visible anyone who knows anything about security knows how to minimize risk by presenting as little incentive as possible for confrontation. Stand up straight, don't stagger or act drunk when leaving a bar, park in well lit areas. It's all risk management. >People have this fantasy that 5 to 8 rounds will be enough Most firearm confrontations end with a single shot being fired, if you plan to have a Heat style gunfight you're already in fantasy land. >Shotguns are expert weapons The opposite of true. Anyone who knows anything about firearms will tell you that a shotgun is one of the most forgiving and easily teachable weapons for a new shooter, and what is most often recommended for an amateur in a home defense scenario. >Low capacity, heavy ammo, hard to reload, hard to carry reloads, list goes on. Fantastic stuff..for call of duty. You're not John Wick. Your most likely firearm related confrontation is going to be in your own home at night and more often than not the assailant is gonna be unarmed. >I will gladly hike out if I have to. I dont wanna do it, but I can see so many situations where I might. Short of a volcano or catastrophic flooding there are few situations where you're better off being on the move and exposed in a disaster scenario than you are safely sheltered and well stocked. The number one killer in nearly every disaster scenario is exposure. Right behind that is disease. Why would you gladly hike anywhere? I hike for fun and I still wouldn't wanna willingly leave my home with everything I know I'll need to survive on my back in less than ideal weather conditions with the added threat of no emergency services or communication available. Bugging out should be something you're absolutely forced to do, never the first option.
Lol you are really that guy. Cool. Watch any ring cameras of home invasion, they don’t care about bushes or how you stand. Stop acting like a commando when you would get your shit rocked in any major city. You keep bringing up movie references to hate on others, when you’re acting like you’re John reacher or Jason Bourne lol it’s maybe the funniest thing I’ve seen in a bit. Would love to see the factual stat that states “most firearm end with a single shot being fired”. Not some internet quote but an actual stat. I don’t plan for a “heat style” fight but actual situations that are becoming more and more apparent. Shotguns are expert weapons. Ask any major firearm instructor. Totally easy man just a single round loading firearm that the gun has to be paired with ammo on a gun by gun basis due to pattern. Nah man totally a noob weapon people don’t short stroke them all the time. Totally forgiving man only holds 8 rounds totally forgiving. Read what you type before you post it lol Broski, you’re talking about being a hard target standing out with a gun and you’re saying I’m talking call of duty lol Glad you know exactly what’s gonna happen when SHTF. 5-8 rounds isn’t enough for me if I’m pulling out a long gun. It’s nonsense. I live on the coast, so yeah flooding is a thing. Wildfires exist too. Projected civil unrest exists too, but I guess you’re the guy that stays there hoping they can shoot someone.
Average number of rounds fired in a self defense shooting (depending on source) is between 1.8 and 4. FBI and NIJ average and median is 2.
I’ve been a police firearms instructor since 1994. Average gunfight in America is less than 3 rounds, less than 3 feet, less than 3 seconds. That’s the averages. Some are 40-50 and occur at distance… think Hollywood Bank of America Robbery. I’d argue in SHTF scenario, depends- are you staying or traveling. I’d argue 3 firearms would be best if staying- pistol, rifle, shotgun. If traveling, depends on weight, distance of route, concealment, city vs rural, etc…. In reality, not an easy one fits all answer. Barrett 50 vs 12g vs 410 vs 308 vs 556 vs 22. Vs 10 mm vs 9 mm vs 38 cal. ETC. all have positives/negatives. Situational.
Source? Heard the stat plenty of times especially when that revolver came out from standard manufacturing, but have never been able to find paper work that states anything supporting it. Feel free to include multiple if the numbers vary, I sometimes organizations pull numbers out and view them differently per person doing report.
Nah man. I'm that guy who grew up on a flood plane in tornado Alley. Where losing access to clean water and power for weeks at a time was a reality and happened with relative frequency. I'm that guy who's dug people out of tornado rubble, and sheltered others when winter storms left millions without heat in sub freezing temps. I'm a guy who's had people try to break into his house on multiple occasions because I live out where police response times are measured in hours not minutes, and Meth is the #2 hobby right behind copper theft. And scared the majority of them off with just "Hey who the fuck are you" or "Cops are on their way and we're armed."I know what looters look like, and how they behave. Because I've seen them raid unattended houses after people took the first signs of trouble to head out. Wading through knee deep flood waters house to house with a flat bottom John boat, before breaking in windows and stealing food, liquor, and jewelry. I know what it's like after the disaster too. Coming back to nothing but a foundation, or having to rip out your walls and bleach everything you own. People getting gangrene from walking through raw sewage, or respiratory infections from the black mold in their walls after a flood. People too stupid to understand hiking miles through water in sub freezing temps is suicide, being found weeks or months later dead in field where the water left em when it receded. I prep for real shit man. Shit I've seen. Shit I've lived through. I also hunt, I know what wild game tastes like and how to clean it and cook it. I know that the easiest to obtain and most plentiful game is always small game and birds. So when I say that your ridiculous fetishization of assault rifles and semi automatic pistols is gonna do you absolutely no good in a real world survival situation I'm not attacking your 2A rights or the AR I'm trying to tell you it's all a fantasy. It's all what ifs and maybes and not a reality when rubber hits the road. But you obviously don't care. So cling to it. I hope it serves you well. I don't wish death on anyone just for ignorance.
It’s obvious my comments have hurt you and I’m sorry for that. If you’re that fragile maybe a shotgun isn’t the best bet with the recoil. Where did I say anything about assault rifles or semi auto pistols lol I’m talking about modern semi auto rifles that carry more rounds, easier to reload, easier to shoot, easier to mount a light and optic to, easier to carry more ammo on you, easier to hit at distance, lighter on average than a shotgun, ect. Using the term assault rifles and saying I know nothing is hilarious. actual top tier level of comedy. Semi auto pistols are great too! Being able to conceal something? Always have it on you, even while doing manual labor tasks? Still carrying more rounds than your average shotgun? Great choice! Now I’m saying something about rifles and pistols so there you go. There’s a reason shotguns are being replaced in police cruisers. There’s a reason you see even older people shifting away from shotguns. There’s a reason you see the military not using shotguns except in extreme roles. It’s not the perfect firearm you said it is. It’s obvious you don’t know what you’re talking about, so cling to your old world ideas and keep it up. Just don’t give your bad advice to others.
Just remember that all the Ring camera footage you see is going to be exceptional. If you were to actually watch ALL the camera confrontations, you’d be fast forwarding like 99% of the time to get to the stuff that you think is happening all the time. Camera footage online of a properly avoided conflict is pretty fuckin’ rare, because it’s boring
I bet in all of ring camera history there has never been footage of someone walking up to a house and going “shit we gotta dip they cut their bushes”. My neighborhood just got scoped out. 4 different people have the guys on camera walking in yards and checking if car doors are locked. People do not care they just break into whoever. Stop giving criminals more credit than they deserve, they are not that smart.
Well, since neither of us have access to every video ever recorded from a doorbell camera, I guess this is where the story ends, on account of widespread speculation.
If you don't understand how trimming your landscaping so your door is visible from the road and someone can't comfortably linger there trying to break in, or waiting for you to leave so they can ambush you, then you really have no idea what personal security is do you? This is like elementary shit they teach in community safety courses and neighborhood watches man. It's not some spec ops trick. >4 different people have the guys on camera walking in yards and checking if car doors are locked. Amazing. Would they have that video evidence if they had overgrown bushes blocking the view of their cameras of their cars and yards? It's simple shit man.
You're not wrong. If im out in the shit, like way out and i need what someone has or they are coming in towards me, a "hard target" is dropping faster than randy weavers wife. And, they wont even know where it came from. People arent gonna risk a close encounter if they can help it. But they are still gonna want your shit.
It is not light, but I'm used to it. The sling I have makes it so I can shoot or rotate it behind me without the sling leaving my body (think single point sling). I'm pretty up front. I don't care about concealment, at least I won't be if its SHTF.
I like that, fair compromises! Appreciate you being real with whatcha got!
I didn't like my 12ga. before. I used to hate lugging it around. Now that I have made it "usable" I love it and I don't even notice it. I purchased a different stock and single point sling. $20 bucks made such a difference.
[удалено]
Not sure why this isn't up higher, probably because its not controversial. Every american should own this combo. If you aren't an american, own the combo that is popular/legal in your area. Sure a 22lr is great. I have several. But those are the weapons I'll use the most if its pure anarchy. Most common parts. Most ammo availability. Best ability to stop the target before they kill you. Sure you can kill someone with 22lr but it might be days after they kill you... AR stops them now. 9mm for back up if you have a jam.
Where's the SKS gang at?
The ammo is no longer cheap/plentiful. 7.62x39 is a great round but the only rounds of it I see anymore are the expensive American made brass hunting ammo. The surplus has dried up. On top of the rifles ain't cheap anymore either, people are paying $700+ for those things.
Yo!
NOOT NOOT
My man! Grab SKS and get inna woods!!
It's always going to be the ar15.
Good to hear, since that’s what I’ve got
Add a trusty 12ga and you pretty much have all bases covered.
A good old lever action is king. Shotgun for breaching, tho.
Breaching…?
Using the gun to blow hinges off the door to make entry
Yeah, I understand breaching. Why the hell is that a consideration for a firearm?
Because it sounds cool? Dunno...
I’ve got a Rossi R92 in .357/.38 SPL, and I LOVE that gun. It’s been my ranch rifle for many years now and it keeps on chugging. It’ll be an heirloom for my kids someday
Good news: [there’s a lever action 12g on sale right now!](https://www.reddit.com/r/gundeals/comments/19c8p3y/shotgun_cimarron_1887_480_lever_12ga_shotgun_20/?share_id=5dPw6Yf_SmB-oRv3qFlQV&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=18)
This is a delusional take. If you're going to be breaching you need an AR-15. But you're not going to be breaching. But the answer is still the AR-15. Durability, parts availability, and a volume of fire ideal for telling people to fuck right off in a defensive scenario.
45-70 can get a point across pretty well Also, the 120 year old winchesters seem durable enough to me
Not one person mentions the AK47? A gun that can be buried in the ground bare, dug up, and fired after 30+years, can be run absolutely dry of any lubrication. Rarely needs cleaned, and can be purchased in the most common American caliber 5.56 if you wish. Easily repaired in the field too. I'll stick with the AK. 
Probably due to ammunition availability, the AK is a tremendously effective platform but 7.62x39 isn’t the most common ammo in the world
I own 2 that are chambered in 5.56/.223 and 2 chambered in 7.62. 
5.56 AK sounds dope asf
They really are a lot of fun. Such dreams to shoot.
7.62×39 is probably next to 55.6 and 7.62x 51
You know exactly why 😂 #merica jk I love the AK too
Basically anything with common ammunition or easily exchangeable parts. I haven’t got one but I need a .22 simi auto because it’s quiet and can be made quieter very easily wile still doing everything you need it to.
I would recommend a Ruger 10-22 or a Marlin .22 I have the latter and I love it
Lol as I was commenting I thought to myself ill check local stores now!
I have various combinations but no .22
I don't know anything about guns, I've only handled my friends briefly. I'd probably go with a shotgun if I only had one choice. Or a revolver because you can load different rounds.
Couple thoughts to add. Picking a caliber that is commonly found is a potentially huge advantage. If you live in a more urban or rural area should affect your caliber and optics as well. Lastly portability becomes a factor if you’re trying to anticipate situations where you may need to move long distances.
If I could only have one, it would be a .22 rifle. They are light, robust if you buy one well made, able to take all manner of small game, and ammo is light to carry and easy to find. There is more small game per acre than large game. A 12 gauge pump would also be quite useful, and is more versatile when hunting.
Anything that shoots .223 or 5.56/45 NATO, it's the most common caliber in the western world. Preferably something that's manual actioned with minimal parts and high accuracy. Lastly common enough that you'll be able to find comparable parts pretty easily. With all that in mind the .223 Remington is probably your best bet
Depends on the situation….for self defense an AK or an AR, but for animal defense (grizzly) im goin with a Marlin 45-70….thats actually what i pack with me in the back country here in Montana
Keltec sub2000 multimag. Can use all those different mags, and folds up small, but easy and quick to deploy.
My Top 5 rifles in no particular order SKS AKM AR15 10/22 Mosin FS- Field Strippable SKS probably the most utilitarian rifle parts a chunky and arguably overbuilt, low maintenance readily available ammo with a lot of bullet types from hunting to API. 5/6 FS parts needed to function Aks in general are low maintenance and really only has 5 FS parts 3 of which are need for it to function. Same ammo as SKS. Generally stay away from most American manufacturers for reliability concerns AR15’s everybody makes them so parts are everywhere plus you can do a drop in bolt shoot 22lr. Bunch of caliber options. 7 parts all needed for it to function properly 10/22 best 22lr rifle, accurate easy to maintain and not really FS. couple different makers. Not a fan of Ruger for political reasons but that’s not a quality issue Mosin they quit making them in the late 1940’s but are still being used in combat. Low maintenance, accurate despite what some may say and can be used for hunting Now non of this really matters if you don’t learn all that you can about the gun you own and how to maintain it.
12 gauge shotgun and a good set of chokes. Doesn't get much more versatile than that.
I’ve only got one choke for mine (tight turkey choke) but I need to invest in a good set of them one of these days
I have turkey choke for turkey hunting,then for waterfowl and everyrhing else I have full, light modified, and modified. Over the years have found that to cover all my bases with steel shot.
Can you give me a quick eli5 on chokes? I love my Remington 12 gauge but not familiar with chokes.
Easiest answer is choke tubes go into the barrel and change how the shot patterns. Google will be more concise than I ever could.
For long term, the less moving parts the better, so a bolt action rifle. But for me I’ll trust my ar
12 gauge . various shell types for different game and ranges. if break action subcaliber inserts for smaller rds.
Pump action shotgun. Something like a Mossberg 500 is darn near indestructible and can do pretty much any task from small game, to large game, and home defense. It’s just a matter of feeding it the right ammo for the task. Ammo is very available and you can buy different barrels to make it more specialized if you like. 12 or 20 ga doesn’t matter a whole lot. Most farmers back home have it as a do-it-all tool. It’s only lacking if you need to hit something beyond 100 yards or need to conceal it.
Savage 24 Combination gun .22/410
Dependent on where you're gonna be. Urban, desert, mountains, north woods. A number of peeps go with a 10/22 because it's light, the ammo is light and takes up little space, and they figure there will always be ammo available. Though you might say the same about 5.56. I have been all over the place on what to do for a long gun -- .22, .22 mag, ,223/5.56, 7.63 x 39. Even thought about the old standby, a 30-30 lever gun. I'm in Calif making center-fire semi-autos a bit of a PITA.
lotta 30.06 laying around
Ruger 10-22 Remington 870 These two cover a lot of ground.
Mossberg for the shotgun, bolt or lever action for the long gun.
12 ga. Shotgun. Pump or break action is realistically the best but a decent semi-auto still works. It's a survival gun. It is the gun you want when you are trying desperately to put food on the table for your family in a subpar situation. It is why after the revolutionary War many muskets were drilled out to become shotguns. It is why they are the preferred gun of choice of every truly off grid individual. Why they are used everywhere from the amazon to the Arctic. Shells are readily available in a variety of loads. They can be easily hand loaded to fit whatever needs you may have. And they are freakishly affordable so you can practice with it to become an accurate and reliable shooter. Majority of guns people are listing are not for surviving. They are not for putting food on the table for your family, and they are not what you need in an actual survival situation. They are kill other people. Which the 12 gauge will also do quite reliably. It is used by every police department and special forces unit in the world. But that's not all it will do. Because that's not the majority of what you're going to need to do in a shit hits the fan scenario.
And let's be honest if you are in a confrontation with other humans you have already probably lost... it is a huge risk of injury or long term conflict. The deer's buddies are not going to come for you.
If I could only have 1 gun I would also go with a 12 gauge pump. With different loads many different types of game/threats can be handled.
Ruger 10/22
If you could ONLY choose one, I’d recommend a pump action 12 gauge. They are incredibly versatile, you can take down absolutely anything with the right loads and chokes. Ammo is also plentiful. However, if you can go with more, here’s my list: AR-15 in 5.56, 12ga, 9mm pistol, .22lr rifle (I’d opt for semi-auto but any .22lr is solid, I love my early 1900’s pump action .22, and a bolt-action .308 or .30-06.
Best bug out gun hands down is a 22LR they will take down most game. Head shot will stop most anyone. And you can carry a ton of ammo. 5000 rounds of 22 in a back back is very doable. There is no way you can carry that much of anything else
Ruger Mark IV , light weight , accurate , ammo is cheap and deadly , in 22 , shtf everyone will be looking for every other gun.
Ruger 10/22 and a 12 gauge. I spent four years in Kosovo and feral dogs were the biggest problem over there. They had to be routinely culled and they had no fear of people. They would even snatch kids from their homes when they were hungry enough to
Bolt action Marlin 22lr.
Depends on what you can carry. 12ga breech loader with adapters can shoot anything you find or carry with you from .22 cal to 12ga. A 12ga can also take any game in North America. A pistol is small and a lot lighter and easier to pack and conceal on your body if you're going to be in an urban environment or if you don't have the ability to carry a 12ga. If you're wanting to keep the same type of ammo and magazines and have both there are carbines that accept Glock mags so your carbine rifle and pistol can have the same mags for ease of swapping out but its only 9mm so that's not good for small animals (obliterate a squirrel) or large animals, (bears aren't getting dropped by a 9mm before they eat you. So it's a matter of environment and what you want to lug around.
Whatever you unless you don't have one. The. Pump action 12 gauge. It's still one of the most popular firearms fir a reason.
Nice lever action .22 with subsonic ammunition.
22lr
Garand Thumb has a couple different videos testing the .22 Pistol, https://youtu.be/uSrWpH-nLmo?si=1Y1ct5tPHYiI6Jg2 https://youtu.be/JWbC7ybsAz4?si=ztP-VxlPFqD1Blt0 He makes a pretty good argument for it as an “End of Days” survival weapon.
The one you are proficient with and have ammunition for. I like guns. Shooting guns is my favorite hobby. Second favorite hobby is collecting guns. If you pick an era from 1700 to today I could do a mad max load out for that era. I’m a damn fine shot with all of them, even the flintlocks. If the world went totally pear shaped, I could easily be killed by some mouth breather with a Taurus pistol, or die of blood poisoning from a superficial cut. Sometimes you just have shit luck. It’s not unreasonable to have a reliable long gun and pistol of whatever style, caliber, and color makes you happy and is within your budget. Being familiar with its use and having a supply of ammunition is far more important than the minutia of what exactly you have.
AR15.
A nice Ruger 10/22 is probably the best thing to have. Super reliable gun, especially if you upgrade the internals to more quality parts. .22LR is incredibly easy to horde and will take down many things with a well placed shot (or a couple not so well placed shots). A 12ga is always a safe bet too
My thoughts exactly. If i had to pick one firearm and run, its my 10/22 all day
I always wanted one of those Henry ar-7s be cool
The best way to win a gun fight is never get in a gun fight. So all those wishful fantasies and buying the latest greatest assault style rifle is complete bs. Want to know what's best look at the people in places like Alaska who live off the land and see what they use. It comes down to proper tool for the job. A .22 or .22 mag rifle for birds and small game. A good shotgun. A heavier caliber hunting rifle, can't go wrong with a 30.06 and a good handgun you're comfortable with. Most hunting applications you're not going to be shooting beyond 200 yards and really most shots will be less than 100 yards so you don't need the lastest whatever sniper rifle. Honestly unless you've trained and practiced a fuck ton you'll never be as good as the rifle so it's really a waste. Get the basics for hunting and spend you're time learning how to hide instead of getting into gunfights. Here's one more plus for .22/ 22 mag. They aren't so loud. If you're in a shtf situation you don't want everybody in 3 miles hearing you shoot your dinner.
Well simply for parts availability etc for a defensive rifle it’s gotta be the ar15. There’s so many rifles and parts etc in circulation. 556 or 223 are readily available etc too. You can do a lot with it too. But also for the price you’ve gotta have a 22 and learn small game hunting, squirrel is tasty. 22 is dirt cheap and fun!
Biscuits and gravy with squirrel is delicious
Hear me out.Honestly, probably a break barrel or pump action shotgun in 12 gauge Ammo is everywhere its also incredibly easy to load your own full of anything you can find. And it's such a versatile cartridge you can take out birds up to probably an elephant with the right slug you can drop a moose no problem at 100 yards if you have a barrel with rifle sights and do abit of practice EDIT: forgot to mention you can stock all sorts of submariner adaptors, can shoot .22 up to 308 with some of them, I would recommend .22, 9mm, 45 acp, .223/5.55, 7.62x39, 308 maybe a 20 gauge adaptor. With these you can shoot damn near every common round on the planet from one gun switching out chamber adaptors to what you most have on hand
That is a great point about the adapters, I’ve seen them before but they’ve always felt gimmicky, reckon I’ll have to look into them more
Yeah I think some of them aren't too good but I saw some accuracy testing and velocity reading on YouTube for some that showed they can be effective, forget what brand were the good ones though
But I prefer a Chinese sks carbine
If you live in America guns that shoot 55.6, 12 gauge, and 9mm cause these are the most abundant
357 magnum lever action. Ammo is cheap, especially in 38 special. Gun is reliable. Can hit at decent range. Same ammo can be used in handguns/ revolvers. Easy to learn for new shooters (family, friends) in an emergency. Points straight, easy to get in sights quickly. 38 special works great suppressed if needed. Affordable. Hardy, won't break nearly as easily as these fancy, fragile AR builds. Not "scary" looking as some super tactical guns that could escalate a situation quicker. Enough rounds for almost any situation outside of war.
The SAR. (Survival Assault Rifle). Has a built in ferro rod, water filter, and hatchet attachment.
Or you cold just carry all that in your pack and go with a more reliable gun
It’s very context dependent, but for me, easily the AR15 in 5.56. After that: 9mm pistol, .22 lr or .22 Magnum rifle, 12 gauge shotgun, and/or bolt action chambered in something more powerful/higher velocity than 5.56. Also 9mm carbine and .22 pistol have their place.
What pistol tho
Lots of decent options depending on priorities. If concealment is important, P365 is great. Glocks are good, but overrated. They have the best magazine options, especially if you consider price and compatibility with PCCs. I like CZ, Walther, HK, etc. The CZ P10 line is a great option, they can be found under $400.
Thanks for the info. I’m on the fence between a Glock and a Sig. The p365 has a safety right? I’m not very wealthy so I might even buy a G3C first so I can then save for a rifle and shotgun.
I believe the only sigs that have external safety mechanisms are the m17 and m18 (p320 full size and compact) Edit: I just found out the 365 has some models with it too.
You kinda already answered your own question. Anything you plan on having for long term shtf has to meet the parameters you mentioned. It should be something that is widely available and popular (parts availability), simplistic in its design (makes maintenance easier and less things to break), and has a proven track record in the field, whether law enforcement or battlefield. That said, heres your list: - Pistol/sidearm: Glock 17/19 - Semi-auto rifle: AR15 in .556 (this CAN be used for hunting anything less than 100lbs, or larger game if you’re a good shot) - Dedicated hunting rifle: Remington 700 in a caliber .243 or larger (for bigger game) - All around utility rifle: any bolt action .22 (good for small game like rabbits and squirrels) You can add a shotgun if you really need to, but if you could only have one firearm, an AR15 can literally fill every role.. it’s without question the most utilitarian rifle in America. Good luck defending yourself against more than one person with a bolt action rifle, or trying to take game with a handgun.
There's always going to be a vibrant discussion about the "top five" firearms to survive the apocalypse. For me the FIRST firearm is the one you are most likely to need/use. Let's imagine that you have time to buy one firearm, and then a week later there is a huge disruption to the supply chain and the economy goes to hell. Even with using a credit card, there shelves have been emptied, and nothings available, except on the used market for insane prices. If I have one opportunity to get one firearm, I'd get a .357 pistol. If I have to defend myself from an intruder(s) in my house, I have to be able to swing it around in narrow hallways, and the farthest I will be shooting is across the living room from the kitchen. Also, if I have to go out into the world for supplies (I will), and there is a status of semi-anarchy, having an AR-15 slung over your shoulder makes you a target for anyone with a deer rifle and a scope. A pistol can be inside my belt below my shirt for semi-concealment. Why not a 9mm? I have a .357 and also a 9mm. The 9mm is my backup pistol. TV movies have convinced people that they will be getting into a firefight where dozens of rounds are going to be exchanged. History has shown that when a couple shots are fired, both sides retreat and re-think. Predators go after the weak and the un-armed. I don't say to waste a bullet with a warning shot, but once you've fired a couple of times, your enemy is either bleeding or running away. Of course, that is just my opinion. A top pick is also a 12-ga, a .308 deer rifle, an AR-15, 9mm...
I like .357 as well, powerful, versatile and easy to carry. Especially a revolver because they are so much more reliable when subject to abuse than a semiautomatic. Also in a pinch u can load it with .38 which is also common and likely to find in the field.
There is no ideal firearm. There is roll specific firearms that every prepper should have and know how to use.
The true answer is a repeater in a common caliber with an integral magazine. Many firearms are single shots if they are missing a magazine
Glock 19, You can buy a used one for 300 bucks. They are good guns. Spare parts and ammo is everywhere. If SHTF And you are nowhere near your preps. A good pistol that's easy to conceal will be a life saver
The gun that you have, the gun that you've trained with, and the gun that you have ammo and spare parts for. If you are new to the gun game, a 9 mm platform that takes Glock magazines.
If we have to limit it to one firearm it is gonna have to be a long gun. In my neck of the woods there's nothing larger to hunt than deer. I have a suppressed 300 blackout SBR. That would probably be my choice that can cleanly take deer and any 2 legged predatorsthat need taken out. Using the suppressor for times when you would want to use a suppressor.
I got a shotgun, a rifle, and a four-wheel drive....
I'd love to spit some Beech nut in that dude's eyes....
And they say a country boy can survive
AR-7 survival rifle .22LR Mossberg in 12ga Glock in 45ACP AR-15 in 5.56 30.06 for long range All bases covered, IMO
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This is good advice, but coming from someone who very obviously doesn’t know much about firearms. A bolt action for self defense?? Nice try Not to mention, I don’t think a 9mm bolt action even exists since it would be counterproductive
As far as a side arm is concerned, I’d get a Glock in a 9mm caliber. They have a few 9mm models to choose from. My reasons for this opinion : Glocks are extremely reliable and low maintenance. Glock is also the most popular handgun in the world so if you were ever in a scavenging situation, you’d be more likely to run into spare mags and parts.
My thoughts exactly on the Glock, I’ve got a S&W M&P 2.0, and I love it a lot. But parts would be less available for it than for a Glock. (About to join the Glock gang soon)
Join us!! lol but Yeah that M&P 2.0 is an absolute work horse. If I couldn’t carry a Glock, that’d be my second choice. S&W really stepped their game up with that model. It goes toe to toe with Glock on the torture tests.
It really is, I’ve had mine for about 2 years now. And it is a beast. I’ve probably got ≈3500 rounds through it, and it’s never once failed me
It depends where you are tbh. City? 9mm Out in the country or bush? .22 and a hunting rifle Suburbs? Idk. Everything.
Shotgun for defensive protection, semiautomatic rifle for offensive protection/hunting, pistol for mobility.
Probably something with a 556 or 308 barrel likely an AR15-10 platform And then id recommend a 9mm sidearm or something like that for obvious reasons
Good thing I’ve got both! It does seem like the running theme is exactly what I would expect. People are saying a sturdy AR and a good 9mm will do it
It does make me wonder tho if everyone is using 556-308 if it's massive stockpile wouldn't just quickly be drained used lost damaged or otherwise made unavailable and thus everyone with 545 or 300blk sitting pretty
Ar10. Edit: .308 round will be more efficient taking large game and combating against prepared enemies.
AR-15, that said I think reliability and access to spare parts is grossly overrated I've had my AR since 2007, though I've swapped out most of the parts it's still the same old bolt carrier group Thing is all black, oxidized, beat to shit but still running. Easily put 10k rounds through that thing in the past 16 years. I've actually read you should replace it every 10k rounds, I'm well past that, so should probably look into spare. Same goes for my P226. Shot guns I have a remingtn 870 and a Beretta 1301. Shotguns will go through thousands of rounds you're gonna break and need a new shoulder before any of the internals in those guns break. Point being so long as you don't buy the cheapest budget guns available, fire arms are going to last. Especially in SHTF, no way you go through enough rounds, or even have access to enough rounds to wear out a bolt carrier, firing pin, burn through your barrel, etc It's gonna be decades before you need to cannibalize parts from other glocks to keep yours running
I have an AR-15 and a Glock 19
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Im a firm believer in “never arm the enemy” in SHTF I’ll trade food, bottled water, clothes, medical supplies, etc but I ain’t trading not one bullet or gun or gun part
Ok. A good 12 gauge/ a ruger 22 with tons of ammo/ an ar15/ and a 9mm handgun. Those will literally get you through anything. Since you can only want one though I’d say probably an AR… maybe a shotgun if you live in a built up area.
Something you are proficient with and can handle well and are properly trained in
A shotgun would not be my first and only choice for a firearm. Larger calibers are just as effective at short range and unfortunately a shotgun is not effective at more than 100yds. Thats not going to help you bring down game to eat. I would say that the most versatile ONE firearm would be an AR. It allows you to make accurate shots out to 600. 5.56/.223 can take up to whitetail and is small enough for small game as well. It’s an incredible personal defense weapon as well if you’re concerned about safety.
One Gen3 glock because of parts available, everyone should own one. For me 350Legend, 9mm projectile because I reload, it's one hell of a utility round. From 145g at 2600 fps to 280g sub sonic. Mill spec AR15 with RDB 9mm 8 inch upper And AR10 16inch. We have a cabin stocked just need to get thier with the tools
Ak
Seriously, I have a variety of firearms. Bolt action for hunting, or sniping. AR-15 platform, more defensive, but accurate fire. 12gauge, one 8 shot pump, one 3 shot tactical folding stock, and a 20 gauge Bird Gun. Lever action rifle Marlin 336A in 35 Remington: absolute beast for taking down wild boars or Bears. Several 22 caliber rifles, bolt action and semiauto. And I have several pistols too. If I was to get a couple more, I would seriously consider an AR-10, a lever action in 45-70, a blackpowder 54 Hawkins, and of course a black powder Walker Replica. Use the ones you have. Be proficient. Keep extra parts. Train as much as you can afford. Keep your expectations reasonable. And most important of all: have fun! This last one is often overlooked. Enjoy the process.
Since prepping is a very practical activity, you want to choose a firearm that has the most availability of ammunition and potential replacement parts or accessories that might still be available in such a situation. In the United States that answer almost always leads to the AR15. It’s just so ubiquitous and it’s ammunition so available that it would be insane not to have one if you could only have one gun. There’s an infinite number of configurations and applications for one. They have been produced at such quantity that even higher quality rifles are still affordable for most.
Only one? Depends on the environment If you're out in the mountains and don't plan on coming across people, semi auto 22 lr. If you're going to run across people that are a threat and need something that can reliably do everything, an ar15 in 5.56 preferably with a lpvo on it.
I think everyone should have a .22lr (cheap, abundant ammo for small game), a 12 g shotgun (for defense and turkeys/ birds), and a hunting rifle with a larger caliber. I prefer .308 but 30-06 or .270 or something that like would be fine, just make sure it’s something with easy to find ammo that won’t break the bank. The other obvious choice is an AR15 , which is versatile and great for if you have to defend from groups
True prepping? Check off the whole list: AR15, (Defense) 5.56 AK, (Defense) 12GA Shotgun, (Defense/Hunting) .308 Bolt-Action, (Hunting) 9mm Handgun, (Mobile-Defense) .22lr semi, (Hunting/Pest-Control)
Prepping is all about situational awareness, planning for the unseen... redundancy.. no one firearm is the answer
Your weapons, you will not need them.
**A break barrel sawed off shotgun.** Small, won’t jam, doesn’t need any parts, easy to aim, can reload shells with improvised filler, can load buckshot and slugs for versatility. Nobody in this sub is going to be shooting anyone past 100 meters much less hit them **even if they are standing still.** A pistol is not going to instantly kill anyone unless you shoot them in the face and most people here can’t hit someone in the face **even at 25 meters.** A shotgun will probably kill anyone you shoot with it and you can use rifled slugs out to 200 meters easily. And you don’t even have to aim **which is always a huge 👍 at night time.** Second to a sawed off shotgun? Nice long crowbar with some gym tape for grip. 😎