SHTF scenario - what ONE longarm would you grab?

[Straightshooter2]

It really depends on the bug out situation. If it was on foot, we wouldn't be going anywhere because Mrs. SS2 walks with a cane and we wouldn't make it to the top of the hill (150 yards). Now if it was bugout by vehicle, I would take the truck over the car. Since my bugout bag already contains a Henry AR-7 (we do have tornadoes here), I would grab my Colt AR15. I assume John meant one long arm per person so we would also take Mrs. SS2's M&P 15-22. With the Trijicon Reflex on it, it's a pretty accurate .22LR. Finally, we live a few hundred yards from an Army compound that contains an EOD detachment and a crime lab. If the Army had bugged out and no one had beaten us to it, I'm sure we could scrounge some useful stuff there.

CW

 

[feralmerril]

This is a wrong answer, but I really cant say! I might die because I couldnt make up my mind! I have about 20 long guns, maybe 4 shotguns, two or three .22`s, the rest all center fire levers, bolts, a pump and a browning semi auto. I could make a case for any one of them. I have always felt that there are probley dozens of cartridges that really can be covered with about three calibers. I dont own a black or para military rifle. I dont feel I need one. Any one of my 30-30s, 308s, 30-06s should do the job. I never was a spray and pray type that belives I need the garden hose principal. I am the same way with my handguns. I own a customized remington rand, thats it. All of my handguns are revolvers. I dont feel disadvantaged at all. I have shot a buck out at 220 paces with my old winchester 94 30-30 with a peep sight. Truth is any center fire rifle will kill any human and most animals at most any distance that you care to try. Yeah some are a little better in different situations. What I am saying here is if you own any proven reliable rifle that you have taken the time to sight in and find a good load with will do the job unless you depend on "spray and pray". So why do I own several dozen?

 

[PALADIN85020]

So why do I own several dozen?

Because you can. In most states, anyway.

John

 

[Dayvid23]

I have to put a vote in for the .22. The scenario of running makes it a good choice. If you could FFH (fight from home) then any and all guns work, but for the scenario of bugging out, it would be hard to fault the light weight round. How many can you carry in a back pack? Thousands. Literally, thousands. How much would a thousand rounds of 7.62 or .223 weigh? Lots of critters are killed every year with the .22, poachers love the light weight and relative quiet of the round. Not sure about zombies, but hey, alligators seem to go down when hit....

 

[walkin jack]

I'd grab my Colt LE6920. If that didn't see me through then I pro'lly wasn't gonna survive anyway.....and with that I would most certainly be able to take a bunch down with me.

 

[The Highlander]

Depends on how truly ***** the situation and how fast it develops, where I am, etc. But in general, picking between the Core15 M4, and the Remington 887 Nitromag Tactical would be a VERY hard choice. Ruger Gunsite .308 and 10/22 Takedown right behind. Again, depends on where I am when whatever it is happens.

The 10/22 lives in its pack, gets slung over my shoulder, I'd probably pick up the M4 and my wife would grab the 12 gauge (5 feet tall, 110 pounds, and she loves my 3 1/2" 12 gauge--go figure). Or the other way around. Who knows.

 

[redneckemt]

My S&W MP15. Now you say one gun. I say the kit with that gun is still one gun. Cleaning kit, lube, and spare parts. Its still one gun with the .22 conversion kit installed.

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[jimmyj]

Leave the wife, take the dog, and replace wife with a second long gun.

 

[Mule Packer]

Okay...sticking to the original scenario, I'll be bugging out....not staying put or bugging in like I would probably do in most situations like this. Also, sticking to the original scenario, Ill just be grabbing one gun, a long gun...not one rifle and a couple of pistols and a shotgun. Just one long gun.

That being said, wherever I am, I sure as heck don't want to attract attention. Remember, you're going to have people running around that are hungry, irrational, and will do anything to survive, even if it means killing you and your family in order to get your food, guns, and anything else they need that you might have. Any loud report from a shotgun or large caliber rifle will draw people to you like flies on a piece of meat. It'll be like ringing the dinner bell.

Also, if you are going to be using your firearm for food acquisition and protection, you're going to need quite a bit of ammo. C'mon, let's be practical. How easy is it to pack 500 rounds of 12-gauge double-ought buck? Or 1,000 rounds of .223? You add all that to what you will normally be carrying in your bugout bag and you'll find that it will defeat the purpose of maneuverability.

Also, in that kind of situation, large game animals will most assuredly be eliminated as a food source within a few days. So, as a result, game acquisition for food will probably be limited to small animals, ie. squirrels, rabbits, birds, etc.

Let's be somewhat realistic here. Oh, we'd all like to think that we would be nice, safe and secure in a snug bug-out cabin back in the mountains by ourselves...complete with a good wood supply, warm stove, and a smoked elk haunch hanging in the smokehouse. Yeah, and I'd like to have buns of steel, too, but that ain't gonna happen either. Bottom line is that we won't be the only ones heading for the hills. Everybody and their in-laws will be going for your "secret spot" like trailer trash on Velveeta.

So, all that being said, I'd probably be grabbing something like the Ruger 10/22 along with 500-1,000 rounds of ammunition. Not the best self-protection round? Maybe so, but tell that to the Israeli snipers. It's relatively quiet so it won't attract attention when I'm out trying to bag a squirrel for the pot.

Or...maybe I'd grab my Winchester 9422 magnum with 500 rounds. Has a little more punch to it, yet still lightweight and the ammo isn't heavy.

Lots of options and opinions out there, but that's just my view from the saddle.

 

[feralmerril]

We have been lucky in this country. We have never really seen fighting or a SHTF scenario since the civil war or in relatively isolated cases in the Indian wars. Poncho hitting Columbus New Mexico in 1916 would be the last anyone ever seen it. Yet in a lot of foreign countrys it go`s on regularly.
Kind of like when everyone else is broke its a recession, when we are broke its a depression. We all have had ancestors that have experienced it.
For most Americans its out of sight, out of mind.
I think something can be said for carrying a non military looking type rifle. Lets say we do have a SHTF scenario. If I am seen out in the boonies carrying my thuty thurty and a SA or DA revolver dressed in my levis and suspenders I dont raise suspision or fear like I would packing a AR wearing camo and my face corked. Yet I think I could pick off someone if I had to as well. Decking out like GI joe will make you a target quicker than elmer fudd out wabbit hunting.
Getting back to the original question, I just might hit the trails on my ATV packing my .357 lever, my 66-3 and a hat full of .357 cartridges. Come to think of it I have been doing it some. Often when I ride the trails around here I meet guys like me.
About 3 years ago a group of us were riding together. We came up to a very narrow trail between huge boulders with no way around without backtracking quite a ways. A very expensive custom built sand rail was blocking the trail stuck in the sand. No one was near it. A very expensive AR with all manner of gadgets was in a rack. Also other top of line black "tatical" gear and camping stuff was left on the sand rail. One of our guys drove ahead looking for rambo. The rest of us just lifted it out of the way.
Our guy found rambo walking ahead about 3 or 4 miles. Rambo was packing a pistol, I am not sure what brand but it had to be exspendsive considering his taste. Our guy took his pistol as the stranger looking wannabe military rambo type would be rideing behind him on his two up quad. I dont know if I would have took his pistol or not.
Somehow the gun was lost in the sand off the quad on the way back! About a dozen of us looked for it and no one found it or claimed to.
I think the stranded wanna be`s looks might have cost him that gun.

 

[jag312]

I would go to work and borrow something like the H&K G3 or the H&K 33.

 

[BJoe]

My Model 1994 Marlin in .357 shares my handgun ammo, doesn't need mags, and is as reliable as a machine can be.

 

[brucev]

I'd choose a plain Jane AR-15. Reasons would be for all the issues cited.

 

[feralmerril]

This simple, cheap remington pump 30-06 760 was my dads. He shot his last buck with it at about 86 years old. He had a peep on it. I barely looked at it in the back of my safe as I had all manner of scoped bolts, winchester model 70s, browning safari etc. Finaly I took it to the range and got a surprise. It was accurate. Get a couple more magazines for it and I will feel as well protected and I belive, as danerous as most. The 30-06 is powerful,
accurate and more available than most cartridges. I wont look like rambo, I wont look like I am out to do battle and I sure wouldnt be under guned.
The pump is accurate, light, powerful and fast!

 

[gregintenn]

It's too cold to be wandering around lost in the woods right now. Can SHTF wait till Spring?

Seriously, unless the nuke sirens are blarring I'm staying home. Where would I go? If there was a general societal meltdown the highway is no place to be. I'm not going to last long wandering around in the woods. I'll stay here. Me and like-minded neighbors will do what we can. I'll keep the AR close by.

TO quote Hank Williams Jr., "That's how we do it in Dixie!"

 

[BigCityChief]

The one usually closest to me - a Remington 11-87 12 ga.


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[ralph7]

This is a wrong answer, but I really cant say! I might die because I couldnt make up my mind! I have about 20 long guns, maybe 4 shotguns, two or three .22`s, the rest all center fire levers, bolts, a pump and a browning semi auto. I could make a case for any one of them. I have always felt that there are probley dozens of cartridges that really can be covered with about three calibers. I dont own a black or para military rifle. I dont feel I need one. Any one of my 30-30s, 308s, 30-06s should do the job. I never was a spray and pray type that belives I need the garden hose principal. I am the same way with my handguns. I own a customized remington rand, thats it. All of my handguns are revolvers. I dont feel disadvantaged at all. I have shot a buck out at 220 paces with my old winchester 94 30-30 with a peep sight. Truth is any center fire rifle will kill any human and most animals at most any distance that you care to try. Yeah some are a little better in different situations. What I am saying here is if you own any proven reliable rifle that you have taken the time to sight in and find a good load with will do the job unless you depend on "spray and pray". So why do I own several dozen?

I agree with the sentiments here, and since I also have a couple to choose from I will be the odd man out and go for my Marlin Camp 9. It uses pistol magazines that hold 15 rounds and turns a 9mm into damn near a .357 magnum with the additional barrel length. It has a small 4 power scope and is accurate and most of all, I trust and like it.

 

[Smith357]

For me, I'm too old and slow for a straight up fight, I will be hiding in the hills avoiding contact if possible. The rifle I have set up for this job is my Winchester M70 .30-06. I have an ammo can filled with about 500 rounds of different loadings, from cat sneeze small game loads equivalent to a .38 special, to heavy hitters for long distance and deep penetration of hard targets.

 

[jimmyj]

BUG OUT:
Why am I leaving my house, neighbors that I know, an area that I am familiar with, most of my food, medicines, weapons, and ammo to go to a place that I am not familiar with, people I don't know, that the supposed danger is going to follow ??

 

[Grayfox]

Well the situation would have to be dire indeed to get my worn out, old butt to take to the road. Run for it? ME? Not happening. At best I could manage to walk for it at a brisk pace.
My basic plan is to hunker down at home for as long as possable. As Mule Packer pointed out, you won't be the only one out there. The sheeple hordes will be everywhere. They're gonna be scared, have no idea what they need to do and in full blown panic mode. They are going to be a bigger threat than any invaders/zombies/aliens or whatever.
My first choice for a defensive rifle would be the Socom 16. I'll use that for as long as I'm still at home. But realistically, if my ragged old rear has to take to the road, the lighter the better. So I'll opt for the M1 Carbine.
BTW: there WILL be a handgun on my hip and if any way possible the suppressed buckmark will be in my pack for hunting food without drawing unwanted attention.