One gun, what would it be?

[beflowers]

A friend of mine and I were debating what would be the best firearm if we were in a survival situation and could only have one. In my opinion I would choose a .12ga. You could utilize a variety of ammo (birdshot for small game, buck shot and slugs for big). What do you think?

[Mainer]

An FN FAL, of course! :D


Just kiddin'. It would be hard (and foolish?) to argue with a 12ga. While a case could be made for a number of other arms, nothing has the versatility of a Shotty. In the 1800's, folks that had only one firearm usually had a shotgun. If they were lucky, it might be a double barrel.

A while back, I escaped from a state that allowed "shotguns only" for hunting. Not liking the idea of using buckshot, I started trying the slugs available. Brenneke worked best for me at the time, but it's a new ballgame now and the new slugs deliver amazing accuracy. I keep a Remy 870 Mag. w/20" barrel equipped with rifle sights for special occasions along with a belt containing
birdshot, buckshot and slugs.

Now if you could just add a good .22 rimfire to it! :cool:

[dakdak]

I agree a shotgun is the best (1) gun solution.

Versatility is the name of the game.

Ammo selection is amazing. Slugs, buckshot, bird shot (light/heavy), flares, AP loads, tracer loads, flechettes, and more are all available.

Barrel selection is possible and amazing. How many rifles allow you to change barrels in less than a minute and without gunsmithing tool ?

Appearances: An effective hunting, skeet/trap, and self-defense shotgun does not have to appear at all intimidating to the uninitiated

Power and ft/lbs on target can be awesome. What is the most sought after back-up weapon used by PHs (professional hunters) when dealing with most dangerous game (all except rhino, elephant. and buffalo) around the globe ?
All the thin skinned dangerous beasts go down and stay down.
I will give you one guess.

[fastback65]

An AK47. Hands down the most reliable and proven weapon platform on the planet. There are a great number of people that have attained room temperature due to contact with an AK.

[Jerry D Young]

My PTR-91. Firepower for hostile human encounters including longer range for conflicts. Easily takes edium and large game. Can take small game with a .32 ACP chamber adapter.

[English Mike]

A scoped bolt action in .300RUM
With judicious use, I would soon have any other firearms & ammunition I wanted....

[Gunseller]

I would take a 308. A boltgun or more lilely a 99 savage. As stated with an adaptor you can use 32 ACP. I would also use cast bullets and could make use of any load needed to take game or self defence. A shotgun would be handy at times but the ammo is heavy.
Steve

[gunplumber]

It all depends on whether it would be primarily personal defense or primarily to acquire game. An accurized and scoped Ruger 10/22 in .22LR is great for small game. Medium game at closer range. And while not as definitive as a military caliber against 2-legged predators, it will probably entice all but the most serious of opposition to seek easier prey.

[ironsighter]

for survival I would chose a savage model 24 with 223 on top and 12GA. on bottom, plus have a chamber adapt to shoot 22lr or 22mag.

maybe because I have one and have found it to be a outstanding shooter the few down falls are, weight, and single shot per barrel, but if you can aim it correctly as we should all be able to do, it WILL where you aim. it is capable of taking just about any game in north America. with a 22LR or 22mag chamber adapter you can easily take small game , the 223 allows you to take larger game, such as deer, with well placed shot you could also take elk, the 12ga. lower barrel is open to just about what ever you can get into range and have the correct shell for , bird-shot, small game, water fowl and up land birds, slugs and 000buckshot allows for about anything else you would need to shoot.

as a defensive weapon it would be a great failure for defense I would choose something like the MAGPUL ACR Masada, its new but from all I've seen and read if I had a choice that would be the defense weapon I would choose.

[Artful]

Nice concealable revolver like SP101 in 357 mag. would be a good choice - it can take animals up to deer and humans - you can shoot magnums, 38 spcl and handloading will allow you to shoot 36 balls or wax or plastic bullets.

The nice part about having a concealable manstopper is that you can probably get another weapon with it in a real bad situation.

If game was primary and human contact was secondary I might consider Savage 24 or 308 bolt action. If I was in a Zombie Zone I might consider one of the newer AR's that can change mag wells and the upper you just change barrel and bolt heads so you can shoot 223, 7.62x39, 9mm, 45 ACP , 22LR etc.

In my past I had at one time only .357 Dan Wesson and was quite happy with it for my one gun. My first new rifle was a Savage 24 in 22LR over 20 ga, I carried for many miles and too much game with it. I have handloaded 308 and 358 for taking small game for practicing up for big game season and don't see a problem for one gun except it's heavy and you have to have the birds sitting still. The AR as only weapon isn't too bad a solution - I have 22LR conversion but accuracy isn't up to what I want compared to dedicated 22LR and I have uppers in other calibers - it would be nice to have just one gun that you can change the bits to get exactly what you want.

[JJFlack]

I agree with all the shotgun posts.

I would have to say, for all around game hunting/ self defense / combat, it would have to be the shotgun.
I prefer the semi-auto. I own a Charles Daly.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/images/promos/SW_Shotgun_Black_sm.jpg

Ammo for practice is cheap. As close as your local Wally World.

For hunting, you can't beat the variety of loads that you can put in a shotgun. From bird shot / skeet to 00 buck shot. And let's not forget slugs...
You can take down any winged/walking beast on this earth that you are likely to encounter outside of a zoo. Five slugs into a giant javelina, or bull moose,
or grizzly bear...elephant, rhino, and if they still keep coming, well, maybe it's just your time....

For combat you almost can't miss with a shotgun, if you're too far away to make effective use of one, then you should be thinking about evasion anyway.
From the surprised confrontation...BOOM!, to the more controlled shootout, nothing makes people crap their pants more than the CLICK-CLACK! sound of
a round being chambered somewhere just behind you.

And history speaks for it's effectiveness in World Wars...

"The Model 1897 Winchester pump action hammer gun went to war as a trench gun in WWI. An interesting sidebar is that in a war
which introduced poison gas, barbed wire, tanks, machine guns and air war as new ways to kill people, it was the Model 1897
which the Germans complained of as being "inhumane" and urged that it be banned from "civilized war."



-quote taken from http://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/the-golden-age-of-shotguns-Page1.htm

And last but not least....I think it is the least likely to be 'gun controlled' away from your posession.
Or at least the hardest for them to take away.

[gunplumber]

And history speaks for it's effectiveness in World Wars...

yes, at point blank ranges, in the confines of a trench, compared to long, cumbersome bolt-action rifles, the repeating shotgun was a an improvement.

If I was fighting in caves, or in the bowels of a ship, and had a choice between a Remington 870 and a P17, or 98 Mauser, or Springfield 03, I'd surely pick the shotgun.

That is no longer the limits of our options.

There is little that you can do with a shotgun that you can't do better, faster, at longer ranges, and with greater accuracy with a carbine.

[JJFlack]

Gunplumber,

I also use a Beretta CX4 Storm .45 carbine.
But, if I had to choose ONLY ONE gun, it'd be my Charles Daly.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/media/beretta/ber_80547.jpg

Speaking to the cave or ship comment, I agree.

Knowing the current state of affairs, there is more likely to be a sort of house to house or small scale
block by block with checkpoints type of affair going on if TSHTF, at least in a big city...but in the country
I would opt for evasion rather than confrontation.

Either way, vs. a 9mil or .40 cal I'd take my chances with the 00 buck. Most official-type gun users
don't make it to the range nearly as much as they should. And even if I did miss, which I wouldn't , you
ever see what 00 buck looks like on a modern car at 30-40 feet? I'd pay extra just to see the look
on their faces.

Or perhaps it is only my personal choice to plan for defense scenarios rather than offense?

Not trying to argue your point about carbines, just stimulate lively conversation.

[ThunderGod]

For combat you almost can't miss with a shotgun, if you're too far away to make effective use of one, then you should be thinking about evasion anyway.
From the surprised confrontation...BOOM!, to the more controlled shootout, nothing makes people crap their pants more than the CLICK-CLACK! sound of
a round being chambered somewhere just behind you.



You've gotta be shittin' me!:rolleyes:

[Legion489]

Well this is interesting. You have the "general live off the land groups" which like the 12 gauge shotgun and the "I'm going to fight everyone and thing and I want an AK/AR/FAL/etc" group. Lots of people have looked at this, and it all depends on what you think will happen, when and why. One writer for GUN WEEK who did the blackpower column liked the double barreled flint lock. No need to worry about reloading cases, there is no case, no need to worry about primers (all you need is rock and the world is made of rock), if you can melt lead, you can get ammo, you can make powder (dangerious!).

Look at SURVIVAL GUNS by Mel Tappan (deltapress.com) and BOSTON'S GUN BIBLE by Boston T. Party (javelinpress.com).

[maugwa]

And The Sign Said!

[B Wood]

that is an easy question

My Colt M4 in 5.56mm. But wait...there is more. I also have a Colt AR-15 .22LR Conversion kit. But wait....even more...I also have a spare upper for it in 7.62x39mm.

3 calibers....in one gun. All packed in a nice Eagle discreet carry case...ready to go at any time.

[bilbo42]

I firmly agree with "ironsighter". Several years ago, I spent three months in the Smokies and only ate what I was able to trap, snare and shoot. I had the Savage Mod. 24 as ironsighter described. To me that is the way to go if you have to eat AND defend yourself and your campsite. Hopefully, you are going to know the terrain better and that will go a long way to take up the slack on weapon choice. If you are put in a situation that you will have to primarily defend yourself, I would choose the M1A (mine, not the crap sold now) or a full stock AR15. The M1A would be scoped with iron sights accessable and the AR15 would have an Aimpoint. The variety of ammo out there for the M1A will put folks in a world of hurt if used properly. Good thread! Thanks for starting it. Bil

[hot diggity]

Savage 24F .22/20ga with a 1.5-4x long eye relief shotgun scope was my Dad's "one gun." Maybe I missed it, but I hadn't seen anyone mention that this is a pack rifle, and broken down, it fits neatly in even a small Alice pack. If you have to travel in populated areas, keeping a low profile, this would sure make it easier.

I think Ironsighter is onto something with the chamber adapter idea. .223/12ga with chamber adapters for both barrels (20ga, and maybe .410 adapter for a 12ga barrel would make the quite a variety of the most commonly found ammo useable.

HD

[BobJr59]

I would choose the H&R Topper 12 gauge and use bird shot ,buck shot and slugs just wish I had a 22 caliber barrel insert for small game

[luke2-2008]

AK-47

[firestorm]

IMHO

In survival mode and not combat it would be a 10/22 in 22 mag. it can take down all but elk and bear and mabe even them if one is a good shot.