The ONE gun for SHTF

[ryanek9freak]

I have to pick up my trusty Ar-15 in 5.56.

Long range capable, Nothing you cant hunt and kill with it on this continent, light weight, will shoot right up there with a good bolt gun, rapid fire capable, easy to find parts for when things start to get sloppy, tons of bullets in my pockets and mags and I can carry all the tools I could really ever need to work on one in a small bag or pack. IMHO the best weapon platform available to date.

Trusty my ass. You guys have to remember, in a SHTF situation, supplies will be short, including gun cleaning supplies. ANd you will probably be moving constantly, in all weather.

An AR-15 would be the LAST gun I'd use for that situation. My first pick would be an Ak or other variant, but since I know that ammo would be scarce, I'd go with an 870 pump, and a 1911.

Ak's are drag through the mud reliable, won't require frequent cleaning, and no matter what happens to it, it will always go bang when the trigger is pulled. Same goes for a pump shotgun and a 1911.

I recovered my buddy's AK after his house burned to the ground last new years, and although the stock and grip were completeley burned off, to my amazment, I picked it up, right out of the burning rubble, cocked the bolt, and pulled the trigger, and it would have fired, if there was a round in the chamber. His AR? All I found was the barrel, and parts of the lower (trigger, etc) everything else burned up. I have to show you guys pictures of this. I'll see if he can get me some.

Now, I know you'll flame me, and I'm not saying an AR is a bad rifle, on the contrary, I own 2 and love them to death, it's just not a gun I'd want when on the move in a pouring rainstorm or something.

[sniper7]

Trusty my ass. You guys have to remember, in a SHTF situation, supplies will be short, including gun cleaning supplies. ANd you will probably be moving constantly, in all weather.

An AR-15 would be the LAST gun I'd use for that situation. My first pick would be an Ak or other variant, but since I know that ammo would be scarce, I'd go with an 870 pump, and a 1911.

Ak's are drag through the mud reliable, won't require frequent cleaning, and no matter what happens to it, it will always go bang when the trigger is pulled. Same goes for a pump shotgun and a 1911.

I recovered my buddy's AK after his house burned to the ground last new years, and although the stock and grip were completeley burned off, to my amazment, I picked it up, right out of the burning rubble, cocked the bolt, and pulled the trigger, and it would have fired, if there was a round in the chamber. His AR? All I found was the barrel, and parts of the lower (trigger, etc) everything else burned up. I have to show you guys pictures of this. I'll see if he can get me some.

Now, I know you'll flame me, and I'm not saying an AR is a bad rifle, on the contrary, I own 2 and love them to death, it's just not a gun I'd want when on the move in a pouring rainstorm or something.

what about a gas piston AR?

[ChunkyMonkey]

@Ryan, That might be true if you expect to move and fight nonstop! AR15 is still a goto for me as it is the more common rifle as far as parts to trade/obtain and ammo availability etc. I would keep it simple too. Non-piston, A2 upper or at least with detachable handle.

I imagine in SHTF scenario, it would be similiar situations in other countries when their govts fall. No food distribution, no water, no power, etc for some time. While you will have some anarchy, you'd be surprise on how many communities will band together for a common goal of survival.

Having saying that, I'd still prepare for the worst of course!

[thvigil11]

M1A my friends. Its hard for me to argue against the versatility of 7.62 Nato, the reliability of the platform, plus overall coolness factor for mowing down zombie hordes. HA

[Backinblackrifles]

[QUOTE=MB888;166754]@Ryan, That might be true if you expect to move and fight nonstop! AR15 is still a goto for me as it is the more common rifle as far as parts to trade/obtain and ammo availability etc. I would keep it simple too. Non-piston, A2 upper or at least with detachable handle.

I agree In the event of SHTF or a civil dispute our military at the moment carries M-16 not AK's or 14's so their will be no problem finding ammo or parts. And as for the burning building ak thing I don't disagree but if the building burns down and my rifle is in it then so am I, I don't understand the whole I can throw my gun out of the chopper and it will still work bit if my gun falls out of the chopper or gets run over by a tank then their is a 98% chance I did to and it is no longer my problem.

[Backinblackrifles]

Trusty my ass. You guys have to remember, in a SHTF situation, supplies will be short, including gun cleaning supplies. ANd you will probably be moving constantly, in all weather.

An AR-15 would be the LAST gun I'd use for that situation. My first pick would be an Ak or other variant, but since I know that ammo would be scarce, I'd go with an 870 pump, and a 1911.

Ak's are drag through the mud reliable, won't require frequent cleaning, and no matter what happens to it, it will always go bang when the trigger is pulled. Same goes for a pump shotgun and a 1911.

I recovered my buddy's AK after his house burned to the ground last new years, and although the stock and grip were completely burned off, to my amazement, I picked it up, right out of the burning rubble, cocked the bolt, and pulled the trigger, and it would have fired, if there was a round in the chamber. His AR? All I found was the barrel, and parts of the lower (trigger, etc) everything else burned up. I have to show you guys pictures of this. I'll see if he can get me some.

Now, I know you'll flame me, and I'm not saying an AR is a bad rifle, on the contrary, I own 2 and love them to death, it's just not a gun I'd want when on the move in a pouring rainstorm or something.

I am not going to flame you, I explained just a few reasons why it is my go to gun, I think one thing you have to think about tho is there is a big difference between a Military M-16 contracted out to the lowest bidder and a good quality civilian Ar and I have owned many drug them through the mud hunted with them in freezing rain and everything else you can emagin and have never had a problem with any of them until after about 8,000 rounds without any lube or cleaning.

[splogan]

I voted shotgun, most likely my 870. With a pump 12 rounds would be readily available almost everywhere as would the possibility of finding parts for an 870. By varying my shells I could defend myself or hunt for food. With only one option versatility is the key. With all this said my gear I have has it set up for a pack with a shotty in a scabbard, an M14 on a sling and my .45 on my leg. All bases covered and easily carried.

[TriggerHappy]

M1A my friends. Its hard for me to argue against the versatility of 7.62 Nato, the reliability of the platform, plus overall coolness factor for mowing down zombie hordes. HA

I agree with thvigil11, cool factor and just an all around good battle rifle.

[rforsythe]

Interesting thread, and something I've been pondering for a while now. In true SHTF, it's not going to be a day at the range - so forget your usual routine of meticulous maintenance, known easy access, etc. Also a huge pile of quickly re-loadable ammo is good, but I have to assume if I am getting into a gunfight anywhere I'm not sticking around long regardless of whether it's my house or not - if they came once, they're coming back later with friends. So having ammo available for my weapons is good, but being able to sustain a prolonged gunfight is unlikely - if it's that drawn out, either it's me against a horde, or we're both incredibly crappy marksmen. Since I know I can shoot, I have to assume #1 and will be looking for an opportunity to defend, but escape and live to fight another day. I would rather have what I need bagged up and ready to grab and go.

So my criteria would be ease of use, and above all else reliability even when I can't clean/oil it for a while. Honestly, I think a .357 Smith revolver with some speedloaders ready to go would do quite a bit of damage, and the lack of moving parts makes them ideal for a long term low/no-maintenance scenario. I'd trust my Beretta 96 any day based on experience, but I've also never run it dirty and dry.

For long guns, pump shotties are always a crowd pleaser, and the design has been around long enough that reliability isn't generally a problem assuming you start with a clean and oiled one to begin with. They can have issues when dry/dirty though, so for absolute reliability something like a double barrel might be better. You won't get rounds off as quick after the first load, but it's a close-quarter gun IMO so if you need more than two, your day has already sucked.

As rifles go, again bolt actions are going to be the most maintenance insensitive. My .270 Win is cheap, reliable, holds 5 in the in-stock mag, and would likely fire for a long, long time without any work. I'm sure getting the pin gummed up will make issues, but any useful rifle is going to have that issue. Of course the SASS makes a statement as well, but will eventually foul without cleaning, being a gas-driven AR-style gun. Up to that point though, it will drive tacks to a very long distance. Either one will have ammo readily available (though if the S has HTF you probably want to have it already no matter what you're shooting, because everyone else will be grabbing what they can find too). A 5.56 could be fun (though I do not have one so can't really speak to it), and 10/22's are highly customizable and can lay down an impressive amount of lead.

For ultimate can't-kill-it, proven reliability though, I would have to say an AK. They can be had cheap, enough people have them that it shouldn't be a total one-off for parts or ammo, and they are basically indestructible as proven by decades of use by people who do zero proper maintenance and beat the crap out of them, but still manage to kill plenty of their enemies.

Of course the thread didn't specify "what you own" versus "if you could buy any kit". If I'm using what I own, I'm quite confident that even with zero maintenance, I can act defensively for quite a while (perhaps indefinitely to a point, though the semi-automatics are eventually going to have issues without at least an occasional clean+lube). If I was going to start from scratch though and go solely on reliability and the least maintenance required, I would stick with a .357 revolver, a short double-barrel shotgun, and either a good bolt-action rifle with some capacity or an AK. Of that list the bolt action rifle is the only one I do own (though I've been waiting for a smoking deal on a revolver to pop up). That and of course a pile of ammo for all of it.

The "best gun is the one you have on you" idea is 100% valid, but I am assuming for purposes of this argument that I'm either able to see disaster coming and get home first, or make my way back to get my stuff if the situation was one where I felt personal defense was going to become an issue.

Just my $0.02 though, and I am enjoying reading everyone's different opinions (which are all good, and highly subjective to the individual).

[ChunkyMonkey]

590 or 870 with variety of ammos