Five Guns for the Homestead – Part 1 – Rifles and Shotguns

Sensible Survival ^ | January 18, 2012

[2ndDivisionVet]

There are, in my opinion, three kinds of people in the world with regards to guns. There are people that hate guns. They think that guns are inherently evil and that the world would be a better place if there were no guns at all. Then there are people that love guns. They collect guns, they clean guns, they read about guns, they go to gun shows, they just generally enjoy everything about guns. Some of these people, I have noticed, enjoy having guns more than they enjoy shooting guns; but hey, to each his own. The third kind of people are folks that see guns as being tools that are useful to perform specific tasks. These people have a chainsaw to cut firewood, they have garden tools to raise food with, they have hand tools to build things with, and they have guns to hunt with and to protect their families.

If you tend to be a no gun type person you’re probably not reading this anyway, and if you are a gun lover you already know more about this stuff than I could every tell you; but if you are a guns-as-tools kind of person then this post is for you.

It is my belief that the average American homestead only needs five guns to handle any possible situation. So I am going to outline what my choices are, why I have selected these particular guns, and the circumstances under which each of these guns would be useful.

First on my list is a good Shotgun. The shotgun is like the multi-tool of the gun world. Depending on the ammo that you use the shotgun can be a small game hunter, a medium size (deer) game hunter, or a home defense weapon...

[RC one]

1.)A Ruger MKI, II, or III .22 LR pistol

2.)A Ruger 10/22 .22 LR rifle

3.) a semi automatic 12 gauge shotgun with an improved cylinder choke or better yet, an adjustable choke of some kind. Pumping the action takes too long. Improved cylinder is more forgiving when you have to make "cut shells" because you can't find slugs in the apocalypse.

4.) an AR-15

5.) a Glock, probably a Glock 19 even though I prefer .45 acp.

6.) a quality scoped bolt action high power rifle, preferably a Remington 700 in 30/06. Get a chamber adapter for it so you can also shoot .308 out of it... in the apocalypse.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

PING!

[varmintman]

If you can only own one shotgun, make it the Beretta Xtrema-2.

[HiTech RedNeck]

why not one of each gun for each member old enough to kill himself a b’ar?

[MachIV]

1.) Remington 870 tactical, 12ga. 20 or 18.5” barrel, shoulder stock

2.) Savage scoped bolt rifle in .308

3.) Ruger 10/22 carbine

4.) Glock 19

5.) S@W 637 snub

[chemicalman]

Don’t forget night sights and holographic or red dot sights. Makes it much easier on the eyes.

[TexasRedeye]

Hmmm, I believe I am sufficiently there!

Scoped .308 bolt action
AR-15 .223
Ruger 10-22
12 ga w/extended tube(pump action, though)
Ruger SR-1911 w/night sights and laser
Ruger LC-9 & Taurus 709

Even when the flag goes up, I believe that one or all 7.62/.308, 5.56mm/.223, 12 ga, 45 ACP, 9mm and 22LR ammo will be plentiful almost anywhere in the world.

[exnavy]

Semi auto can promote wasteful fire, accurate inexpensive bolt actions are the order of the day.

Multiple firearms in same chambering is a good idea.

I buy more ammo than i shoot every month.

A brand new savage 12 gauge pump can be purchased at Walmart for $199.

[usconservative]

That's a decent list. Like your choice of the Remington 870. Here's mine:

1.) Remington 870 tactical, 12 ga. w/18.5" barrel

2.) Remington 770 .308 scoped

3.) Rock River LAR-15 Tactical w/EOTECH HWS

4.) HnK USP9

5.) Glock 17

Everyone in my family (two teenage sons, wife) can shoot and shoot well.

[exnavy]

P.S. There are eight men, our women, and children all going to band together for taking a stand.

Watches around the clock, crossfire zones have been noted. Early warning system ready to be put in place.

Our home will be not safe for strangers, anytime day or night.

We do not recognize flags or uniforms. Enter at your own risk.

[TexasRedeye]

Of course, an AK or SKS can be added as a potential weapon to have around as 7.62X39 ammo and spare gun parts are available throughout the world.

[Dusty Road]

On my hunting forum in TX these type questions come up allot. While I don’t get involved in the discussions much I have given it plenty of thought. Now I’m sure many will disagree with my fist statement but here it goes.

The one thing you won’t find on my list will be a semi-auto anything or double action revolvers due to reliability concerns.

1. Good quality single action 22 with a minimum of a 6 inch barrel. (My choice would be a Ruger single six.)

2. Good quality single action convertable in 45 LC/45 ACP with a minimum of a 6 inch barrel. (My choice would be the Ruger Blackhawk convertable in the above calibers.)

3. Good quality O/U or SxS shotgun in 12 ga.

4. Good quality bolt action in 308. (This rifle must have a Mauser claw action type extractor. Let me add I’m no fan of the 308 but in this case that would be my choice.)

5. Heres where I throw a wrench into the works. My fifth choice would be a good recurve bow. First I’m very comfortable with a recurve been shooting them for over 50 years, second there may be time when you don’t want everybody and their dog knowing where your at.

[Blueflag]

Thinking practically ...

(1) every family member is trained, has CCW permit, and carries.
(2) every family member employs the same caliber hand gun. for us that’s the .45 ACP
(3) every male family member carries a Sig P220, German-made
(4) wife (and daughter when she turns 21) = Glock 30 .45 ACP for smaller frame, although they can shoot the P220s just fine - “too big ...”

AR in .223

long guns in .22 LR

12 Gauge.

In principal I want the fewest number of calibers, and the most interchangeable parts, and most interchangeable firearms (don’t have to figure it out if you pick it up in the dark etc).

Familiarity and interchangeability are key.

the lists presented are good to describe what ought to be in the home armory, but to align to exnavy’s point — what will each member of your team have?

[harpu]

thanks for the post...

[Blueflag]

ex —

Since you are a vet, I recommend you go to Amazon.com and review Contact by ‘Max Velocity.’ It’s worth considering for your ‘prepper’ library. Author is a former British operator and now a US citizen.

http://www.amazon.com/Contact-Tactical-Collapse-Survival-ebook/dp/B008GHZ7NE

It’s a good usable review of small unit, defense and SERE tactics in civilian terms. Even a good review on decision making and constructing/issuing clear, effective orders to non-military types. I think he missed the opportunity to emphasize the importance of (radio) communications, but otherwise pretty thorough.

I downloaded a Kindle version and got several tips and the frequent “ooops, gotta remember that too” moment.

$10 well-enough spent.

[Blueflag]

ED: “principal (sic) should be “principle”

We regret the error.

[TheRhinelander]

I have the Marlin, it’s sweet. For large bore I got a Saiga, which is basically a civvie AK100.

[exnavy]

I’ll check it out, thank you.

[kneehurts]

How about a crossbow? They are available at sporting goods stores and “silent but deadly”. I am planning on getting one. My collection so far:
Remington 12 gauge
8 mm WW2 German mauser with Zeise scope
6.5 mm WW2 Caracano
Glock P27
I also have a black powder rifle and pistols which could certainly be used in a pinch. I am planning on trading the .40 Glock for a 9mm.