SHTF scenario - what ONE longarm would you grab?

[the ringo kid]

To the OP
That was an impressive list of arms and photos.
If those were mine, I would invite all my neighbors over to my house and as they say "Shelter in Place".
That being said,I could never "grab one gun to go".
I realize this is all hypothetical,
but I would much rather fight it out with the whole arsenal.

SWCA #1834

One thing you forgot to add when inviting them over--is for them to bring their own Beer.

 

[the ringo kid]

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.

I like your choices of boxes too. A few questions on them, where did you get those? and is the image design still available? or, am I **** out of luck on their availability?

 

[Ranger514]

Didn't somebody post something similar last year? I think that scenario involved being trapped in the city and having to fight your way back home. I live in the country. My neighbors and I would be hunkering down. Where ya gonna bug out to that would be a better place? However, if we did have to bug out, I'd carry my Mossberg 590 Special Purpose 12 ga. with a 00 buck/slug mix, and some loose #4 and #5 birdshot for small game. My wife would be carrying the AR fitted with a Leupold 1X4.

 

[the ringo kid]

Gotta git me one or two of them drum mags..........

I know of two local sources and a source in Beasley. I dont know prices but the one source in Beasley will most likely be the cheaper source for prices that is. If interested? let me know.

 

[the ringo kid]

Too old to run, can't run anymore, don't wanna run...

I only have one centerfire rifle....I guess it'll have to do.
Besides, it was good enough for Hannibal..

Ive always wanted one of those but it doesnt have to be as pretty as the example being aimed in the photo.

 

[Hack]

Ive always wanted one of those but it doesnt have to be as pretty as the example being aimed in the photo.

I picked one up a couple years ago for a bit less than a grand. Price has almost doubled on it:


I totally disassembled it, gave it a thorough cleaning. Oiled/greased the appropriate areas, and then put it in the safe:


I picked up a couple stainless Mini-14's that I outfitted with Butler Creek folding stocks. They are behind the factory folder. Did the same treatment to them. Only difference is I'll shoot them, not the factory folder.

 

[CW Spook]

I'd probably grab my Yugo M92 Krinkov, just for versatility. If I thought I'd need a bit longer range, either the Yugo M70 or the SLR-106 both of which are equipped with optics, but for just defending the homestead the M92 would be just fine.

 

[Stainz]

Since this is a S&W forum, I'd grab my M&P 15 Sport - always ready to go:

It's also my only real choice, other than CZ .22 bolts, a 10/22, and a Rossi/Puma M1892 in .45 Colt. And a few revolvers, of course!

Stainz

 

[Abbynormal]

Too old to run, can't run anymore, don't wanna run...

I only have one centerfire rifle....I guess it'll have to do.
Besides, it was good enough for Hannibal..

Now you know why no bad guys ever died in the A-Team TV series, the A-Team used Mini 14''s

 

[LTC]

From my collection it would have to be the M1 Garand and a bandoleer full of loaded enbloc clips.

LTC

 

[BAM-BAM]

Having watch (TV) evacuations for storms/hurricanes ..... and 3 seasons of The Walking Dead (LOL)....... seems that bugging out on the highways are at best a choke point at worse a killing field......In western Pa. the three rivers with their bridges set up a lot of choke points.........

So unless I was ahead of the curve and at the cabin (Allegheny Mountains) before everyone else decides to bug-out I'd hunker down for 10-21 days and let the SHTF and the fires burn out before moving.......

I'm hiding out ...... low profile

My "defensive combo" in the "burbs of the burgh" would be a Beretta 92 Centurion (or 2) concealed carried and a CX4 PCC.... 15-30rd mags and ammo and mags work in both/3 guns......low profile can carry a lot of ammo......suppressive fire to break any inadvertent/hostile contact if needed.

Another set up I have is a Ruger (NRA model w/ the new 16" heavy barrel) mini-14 in a Hogue stock...1-3x20 weaver scope w/ 10 and 20 rd. "factory" mags. My stock it gilli-green and a 10 round mag. is almost a flush fit....... doesn't look like an EBR and still gives you 10 fast .223 rounds in the gun backed up w/ factory 20 rd. mags. Good to go from 10 feet to 150 yds.

 

[carpriver]

IF I were to run I hope it's in the warmer months. I have several of the long arms listed. As others have said. I too am old and fat and not able to run or walk very far. I would hold up in my house. I live in a small town in the woods, just about everyone in town has a deer rifle and a shotgun. I am looking to eat and protect myself and wife. I will use my M-4 carbine because I have the most ammo for that at present. If I am going to the woods to hunt for meat It will be my single shot M-6 survival rife 22lr and 410. I can choose between slugs or shot for the shot gun.

 

[336A]

If it were one long gun then it would be my H&R Pardner 20GA along with a .22LR rifled adapter as found here Short Lane
I don't have one yet but do plan on purchasing one in the near future and possibly the .410 version as well. I'm a realist and would be more worried about getting food than anything else. The shotgun will allow for that in spades as well as being more forgiving of shot placement on small game if your tired. For defensive purposes there is no arguing the effectiveness of the shotgun, it just plain works.

Im a real self sustainment type situatuon the single shot shotgun will allow the user to do this Ammunition 21st Century Longhunter Mentality - YouTube

or this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES59LtA7XE8&list=PL6B3D89B23CDE649F&index=3

Aside from that there is much less to go wrong with the single shot shotgun as there are fewer moving parts to break. I'd also be setting a bunch of snares to collect small game so as to conserve ammo.

 

[deputydon]

DPMS LR-308 with all mags & various reloads for different tasks.

-don

 

[Ron H.]

Let's say the SHTF; enormous civil unrest, martial law, looting, invasion, massive earthquake, EMF explosion or sun spots; whatever. You grab your bugout bag, your wife and/or dog, those rations and water you've stored, and head for the hills.

Oh yeah, you only have time and room for ONE longarm for protection, hunting, and urban warfare. Whatcha gonna grab?

Here are some popular choices:

Tricked out M4 carbine: No. Too much extraneous weight, too short a barrel. .223 needs all the velocity it can get.

Mikhail Kalashnikov's baby: Very tempting, but no. Good cartridge and capacity, legendary reliability, light weight and recoil. Downsides are bad sights and trigger and an awkward safety.

The virtually indestructible Nylon 66: No. .22LRs have too little power and range, too many duds.

That Model 70 Winchester - reach out and touch someone! No. Low-capacity, slow to reload, the scope is an impediment at close ranges.

The pride of the Israelis - the Galil: No experience with this one, so no. And if it breaks, good luck finding parts.

That M6 survival weapon - good enough for the USAF: No. See Nylon 66, plus bad trigger.

The full-size AR-15: Probably the best choice of the guns listed for the stated purpose.

An M1 carbine? No. Limited range and power, ammo's expensive/hard to find.

Georgie Patton's favorite - the M1 Garand: No. Great choice if I were hunkered down, but too heavy (both gun and ammo) for an old guy like me to run with. Also very complex and somewhat ammo-sensitive.

A precision Winchester Model 75 sporter .22: No. See Nylon 66.

A "tactical" Ruger 10/22: No. See Nylon 66.

The brute force and reliability of a Remington 870: No. Low capacity, slow to reload, limited range, ammo's too heavy.

Old reliable - the M14: No. Same objections as the Garand, just less complex.

A Model 92 in .44 or .357 - good enough for Duke: No. Low capacity, slow to reload, limited range.

A Model 1891/30 PU? Top sniper weapon of the Red Army: No. See Model 70.

Or how about the American counterpart - the 1903A4: No. See Model 70.

How about a hi-cap 9mm? The Sterling might work: No experience with this one, so no. Limited range besides.

There's always the old reliable thutty-thutty: No. Low capacity, slow to reload.

If scaring your opponents makes sense, this one might do: No. Limited range, very heavy.

Or maybe a more modern SMG would do the trick: No. Limited range, still heavy, none too accurate.

The AR-7 was made for a survival scenario: No. See Nylon 66.

John Browning's takedown .22 is easy to pack: No. See Nylon 66.

A lot of folks have one or more of the SKS rifles: Tempting, but no. Low capacity and bad trigger and sights.

There's always the free world's right arm - the FAL: No experience with this one, so no. And the ammo's heavy.

Sir, see my notes in red above. IMHO the"on the run" and "urban warfare" aspects rule out most of the guns on the list.

If I'm on the run and urban warfare is going on, of the guns you list, I'd prefer a full-size AR, ideally set up like the old M16A2 I carried in the Marine Corps. I'm very familiar with it, it has a good trigger and sights, ammo's light enough to carry a lot of, it has good range and capacity, and the recoil is light enough that Mrs. Ron H. could use it if need be.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.