My choice in guns.

[Apocalyptic_Sojourner]

I think a shotgun's an awesome weapon to have around, but if Afghanistan taught me one thing it's that you need to be able to reach out & touch someone. And a shotgun just doesn't have any range. And if Afghanistan taught me two things, it's that 5.56 (.223) is not an ideal cartridge to kill somebody with. So my SHTF weapon is an AR-10 (DPMS LR-308 AP-4) with a .45 on the side (SIG 220). If I had to bug-out, that's probably all I'd take with me. But if I'm holed up, yeah I'll definitely have the ole Mossberg 500 locked & loaded. For home defense, you just can't beat a 12 Ga.

[brotherzoo]

I'd stick with 5.56 over 7.62 for the increased ammo portability and rapid follow up shot capability, and my Ruger SR556 is a rock solid weapon. It's hard to beat a piston driven AR15 for a number of reasons. For for close encounters I'm a big bore kinda guy, so I go with my Para Ordnance P14s all the way. Once it gets pistol hairy, I want what I blast to stay blasted fast, and 16 rounds of .45acp before my first reload is hard to beat...especially in the 1911 platform which I love so dearly. It never hurts that spare parts and ammo for both guns are so easy to come by either.

[brotherzoo]

Sorry, had to pull the links or it wouldn't let me post.

These are my top survival choices for firearms. I would put a magazine extension on the Benneli.

OP, I'm just curious as to the logic of a short barreled, low capacity (even with extension) 12 gauge pump and a crazy heavy, slow to reload, .22lr revolver...? No negativity intended towards your choices, just honest curiosity.

[nakadnu]

First of all i don't see the need for high capacity firepower on a daily basis, I will not be fighting off hoards of gangsters in my area. The shotgun is a highly versatile and powerful firearm. The 22 revolver is good for hunting and in a pinch defense, the ammo is lightweight allowing me to carry mass amounts of rounds and is probably the most common caliber in the US. Both firearms are very dependable and require very minimum maintenance. No offense to others but I feel carrying a bunch of military grade weapons is a bit overdoing it and an unneccesary burden.

OP, I'm just curious as to the logic of a short barreled, low capacity (even with extension) 12 gauge pump and a crazy heavy, slow to reload, .22lr revolver...? No negativity intended towards your choices, just honest curiosity.

[nakadnu]

P.S. Consider how long you may be living in the wild with only what you can carry on your back. Your BOL may have been raided or your home burned down etc. If you have to get by with only what you can carry on your back how many rounds of rifle cartridges can you realistically carry on your person with all the other things you will need. 500 rounds of 22 lr weigh as much and probably less than 50 rounds of 223 and take up less space. If you are fortunate enough to own land to live out the S times then good for you and stock up as you see fit. I know what I have , I know what I am capable of and I know how to get by on little or nothing. I will stock up on the things that will feed my family and keep them safe in the way I know.

[brotherzoo]

First of all i don't see the need for high capacity firepower on a daily basis, I will not be fighting off hoards of gangsters in my area. The shotgun is a highly versatile and powerful firearm. The 22 revolver is good for hunting and in a pinch defense, the ammo is lightweight allowing me to carry mass amounts of rounds and is probably the most common caliber in the US. Both firearms are very dependable and require very minimum maintenance. No offense to others but I feel carrying a bunch of military grade weapons is a bit overdoing it and an unneccesary burden.

P.S. Consider how long you may be living in the wild with only what you can carry on your back. Your BOL may have been raided or your home burned down etc. If you have to get by with only what you can carry on your back how many rounds of rifle cartridges can you realistically carry on your person with all the other things you will need. 500 rounds of 22 lr weigh as much and probably less than 50 rounds of 223 and take up less space. If you are fortunate enough to own land to live out the S times then good for you and stock up as you see fit. I know what I have , I know what I am capable of and I know how to get by on little or nothing. I will stock up on the things that will feed my family and keep them safe in the way I know.

Forgive me, I combined your responses for efficiency's sake.

I keep LOTS of .22lr around due to it's low weight and expense, versatility, value for less experienced shooters, and also potential trade value (Ballistic Wampum, LOL). So you'll get no argument from me there, but if I have to bolt on foot, I'm taking fighting guns. Most fighting firearms will double for hunting uses anyway, but the reverse is not usually true, and no one is realistically going to live in the wild for long with what's on their back regardless. Humans just aren't cut out for it, at least not modern humans. As far as the likelihood of needing to fight is concerned, you say you don't feel the need for those kinds of firearms, but you also mention getting raided or 'burned out'. I'm pretty sure nearly everyone who wants to survive will need to be ready to fight and fight hard, in the event of a major societal collapse. It only takes minimal observation of modern human behavior, or historical human behavior for that matter, to see that. If I get to it with a group of attackers, I hope they are tromboning hard kicking 12 gauge riot guns with short effective ranges while I'm peppering them with my almost recoil free semi-auto AR15, preferably from some distance away if possible. 5.56x45mm will also make swiss cheese of soft body armor when needed, or drop a deer at 100 yards when that need is paramount, unlike most pistol and shotgun loads.

You also referenced weight, which was one of the main points I was making about the guns you listed. If you stuck with a .22lr pistol but got a lighter (by half) model, like an S&W kit gun http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...layErrorView_Y you could carry a lot more ammo for it than with the heavy model 617 with the under barrel lug. As for long gun ammo weight, 12 gauge ammo is about as heavy and bulky as any you'll be able to use in a man portable weapon. For about the weight of a 12 gauge pump with 8 rounds, I have an AR15 with 40, and can carry a lot more backup (not in gun) ammo as well.

For reference, the weights by round that I have found are 12.31g for 5.56x45mm, 25.4g for 7.62x51mm, and 45.36 for 12 gauge.

Here is my reference link for 5.56 and 7.62 cartridge weight, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.56x45mm_NATO and 12 gauge was derived from commercially listed loads.

Here is a good reference for other cartridge weights as well. http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantry/index.html

[tommyboy4090]

What i would carry would depend on the situation. More than likely since i have a family my wife will be carrying guns also. For me my main guns would be ar 15, beretta cx4 9mm, beretta px4 9mm and a good ole trust ka-bar knife. The reason i chose these guns for myself is the berettas take the same mags. i have 6 17 round mags and 2 15 round mags for them, also 9mm is a nice round that will kill easily and relatively light compared to other pistol rounds. Also the cx4 is accurate and can fit in my BOB or on the side of it. All guns are relatively light compared to other choices.

My wife would be carrying my 10/22 with 6 factory mags and 4 30 round aftermarket mags, and my sig p250 in 9mm with 6 16 round mags. The 10/22 is more for game getting purposes than anything as she can shoot my cx4 almost as good as myself.

My daughter would help carry ammo. Along with my BOB my wife's BOB that she doesn't know i made for her or the one for my daughter, we would be ok with what is in the packs for 1 week if we didn't kill or catch any game.

[prkchp76]

ok 30/06 slung over back 12 gauge attached to backpack bersa 9mm in pack s&w 9mm on hip and marlin ranch rifle in hand wide load of ammo to carry but that would be my bug out bag not coming back bag

[Jerry D Young]

My prefered weapons are:

Primary defensive arm: PTR-91 .308
Primary handgun: Glock 21SF .45 ACP
Primary defensive/hunting shotgun: Customized Remington 11-87 12 gauge (26" poly-choke barrel, +5 magazine extension for 9+1, 8-round side saddle, speed feed pistol grip stock and several other modifications
Backup handgun: Glock 30SF .45 ACP
Hideout gun: Beretta Tomcat .32 ACP

Want to add:
Hunting/sniping rifle: Remington 700 .30-'06 w/.32 ACP adapters for small game
Anti-materiel/LR sniper rifle: Vigilance VR-1 .408 Cheytac
Handout self defense gun: several Auto-Ordnance M1 .30 Carbines

[Echo2]

[Diesel]

My prefered weapons are:

Primary defensive arm: PTR-91 .308
Primary handgun: Glock 21SF .45 ACP
Primary defensive/hunting shotgun: Customized Remington 11-87 12 gauge (26" poly-choke barrel, +5 magazine extension for 9+1, 8-round side saddle, speed feed pistol grip stock and several other modifications
Backup handgun: Glock 30SF .45 ACP
Hideout gun: Beretta Tomcat .32 ACP

Want to add:
Hunting/sniping rifle: Remington 700 .30-'06 w/.32 ACP adapters for small game
Anti-materiel/LR sniper rifle: Vigilance VR-1 .408 Cheytac
Handout self defense gun: several Auto-Ordnance M1 .30 Carbines

Defensive can mean so many different things Jerry, to me a .308 isn't defensive but more offensive and LONG range perimeter. 7.62x39 is a better defensive, cheaper, more failure proof type round.

I LOVE .308 and think it's the next best thing to .50 and can even be semi anti material

Outstanding choice on .45acp btw


My layout looks like this Caliber wise in order of range

Defensive .45 ACP
Defensive 12 Gauge 3"
Defensive /Hunting 7.62x39
Distance Hunting .308
Distance / Anti Material .50

[Jerry D Young]

I try not to use the word offense when discussing prepping, just on general principles. I do however, think that oft times a good offense is the best defense. I just seldom say it.

[hammer502]

remington 700 in 308 , 3x 12 ga shotguns(2 mossy 500, and winchester 120) all 18.5 barrels ,2x ar 15 carbines and a ar pistol(all 5.56) , one 22 mag bolt action and one 410 pump for hunting ,4x pistols(40 ,45 ,and 25). that's it for now,stocking up on ammo and dried goods,may pick up another if the price is right.

[Diesel]

I try not to use the word offense when discussing prepping, just on general principles. I do however, think that oft times a good offense is the best defense. I just seldom say it.

Well in theory anything ranged out past 800+ yards isn't really defensive imo if you know what I mean. But I do agree and everything is planned with defense in mind, more so providing food though

[Professor Weno]

In my opinion, you need one good fighting rifle and one good pistol. With other junk you might have to carry, that's about it. However, if you have someone to carry ammo and other guns, you can't beat a 12 gauge for ending a fight quick and ammo might be easier to find. For the rifle, I guess I would go with an AR or an AK. Haven't decided yet. For the pistol, I guess I would to with my Ruger Mark II. I also have a break-barrel pellet gun that I think could come in handy. Crap load of ammo for it and it's quiet.