The ONE gun for SHTF

[jerrymrc]

Since this is a new place and all I am going to put this thread out there now. This is always a fun one for me since it always comes up sooner than later. Might as well get it out of everyone's system right off the bat.

You have ONE gun you can take as you leave for parts unknown. Which one and why do you choose. And I picked the best ten I could think of. Good luck and happy selecting. Sorry but no space for the 50bmg

[Irving]

One only huh? Well, have to be 870 pump. I don't know how to hunt anyway so.

[ChadAmberg]

In a SHTF situation when society has pretty much collapsed? Or when things are pretty much as they are now, just pretty darn crappy.

SHTF I'd bring an M4rgery with maybe 200-300 rounds. In an all out firefight, I'd not expect to get through more than a few magazines if I was very lucky, and stupid to get in a gun battle in the first place. But most of the ammo I'd trade out for food and mutual protection.

If I just lost my job and had to leave looking for work like the dustbowl era... then probably a simple 9mm concealed with a few spare magazines. Small enough to conceal well, big enough to be useful.

[jerrymrc]

One only huh? Well, have to be 870 pump. I don't know how to hunt anyway so.

Once ya go past one bizarre things will happen to the thread. One and only one will make people think. And in all reality depending on the person there is no right or wrong answer.

It is just something that I see come up time and time again. So now it is time to see what the population here thinks.

[Irving]

Also, I'd like to point out that my answer is based on guns that I already have.

[68Charger]

In a SHTF situation when society has pretty much collapsed? Or when things are pretty much as they are now, just pretty darn crappy.

this hits the nail on the head- I voted Pistol, simply based on Katrina... anything obvious may very well be confiscated- you want to stay low-key.

the very fact that you're making me choose ONE gun means I'm not defending a stronghold (where I could have several choices).. so a concealable pistol, as powerful as possible, with as many mags as I can carry..

[Batteriesnare]

AR for sure(I already have it and feel competent with it). But I always have my pistol on me, so........ If a firefight was imminent or I would need to defend myself in a WROL situation, I want my rifle. If I don't have it, I'll use my pistol to fight my way to my rifle, and then as a backup to my rifle.

[Troublco]

I'm going to have to go with my M14 for this one. If I had an AR-10 type, I might go that way but since I don't, this is it. I have multiple stocks, a pair of scope mounts, lots of magazines and ammo, and lots of trigger time and experience with this gun. They also have the reputation of being extremely reliable. While 68Charger's thought on the easily concealable handgun has some merit in my opinion, in the end I feel that a pistol is something you use to get yourself a rifle.
Of course, I can't imagine myself only having ONE gun in a SHTF situation, unless it was just to get back home with. There's something basically wrong with only having one gun.....

[theGinsue]

I voted for hte AR in 5.56. While not optimal for big game, the gun could be used to hunt with, it works great for self-defense situations, and the availability of ammo is better than some others.

[68Charger]

when I've read these "pick one gun" threads before, I WANT to say my Saiga-12 (or if you prefer, a 12-gauge pump), because it's so versatile- slugs, buckshot, birdshot, you can hunt large or small game with it... if I was in survival mode in the woods, it would probably be my choice..

but when I think about "SHTF", I think people fleeing, gov't trying to get control (even if it's a different gov't), martial law, economic collaspe.. Think of when it's happened before- Argentina around 2001, Katrina... you're carrying around a long arm, and you're going to draw a lot of attention that you don't want.. even from thieves.. somebody is going to WANT that rifle.. and they KNOW you have it... thieves don't announce they're going to rip you off from a distance, they stick a gun/knife in your back while you're occupied..

so despite what I WANT, that's why I pick Pistol..

now if I'm back at the ranch, I totally reject the notion that I have to pick one... ok, maybe ONE AT A TIME
but there can be several choices to pick from