Posted on 02/25/2013 9:03:30 AM PST by EXCH54FE
Over the last few years, I’ve seen a lot of ink spilled about the one—that is the ultimate, end of the world, SHTF, need no other, bug out bag firearm that will carry you and yours at the end of days. These articles usually go into great detail as to the how’s, what’s, and why’s of the caliber, model, and make for that ideal, one and done gun but I’ve seen precious little written about one very important issue that could turn your uber-pistol into a good looking paperweight. What if it breaks?
Recently I had one of my Smith & Wesson revolvers put completely out of action by the tiniest of parts, a hand torsion spring. This spring is what keeps the hand engaging the ratchet on the rear of the cylinder. This little two-dollar part shut the gun down completely and it was eye opening for me because, if the bombs start dropping, I know I would want to have that wheelgun with on my hip.
So, if you are into buying a gun for one of those dreaded “what if” occasions, how do you guard against mechanical failure when ordering a replacement part from Brownell’s or another part is no longer an option?
Your first defense against a mechanical failure is an understanding of your guns’ mechanics so I suggest you at least add a good manual to your bug out bag. By good manual, I mean a shop manual that lists every part that can break on your gun with pictures (especially of the little ones as these are what usually goes out first rather than the larger components). Never a part costing more than fifteen dollars but guaranteed to take your gun offline just as if you’d taken a torch and cut it in half.
(Excerpt) Read more at guns.com ...
Every gun I have is chosen for functionality, reliability and crossing calibres.
My first go tos are my .38 supers. Couple minutes with a bullet puller and press, any 9mm bullet will work- but for people that don’t think to keep the right tools in their bugout bag, .38 super is useless.
I also keep a number of Blackhawks.. In a pinch, I can scavenge parts from one to keep another working.
Q- What Happens if Your Bug Out Gun Breaks?
A- Grab one of your backups.
...Next question.
Just pick up a gun off of one of the many dead bodies laying around.
Never heard of a guy buying a gun and not having a hankering for another one...
Affordable, built like a tank and always goes bang. You can still get 2 of them and a big spam can of ammo for under $500. Not exactly concealable, but in a survival situation who cares?
“What Happens if Your Bug Out Gun Breaks?”
Which one?
I know an engineer that has 2 CNC machines, a 3D scanner, 3D printer, a ton of raw materials, and a large generator in what could be a very easy to protect fenced-in building.
If the world falls apart he’ll be “rich” making replacement parts for tractors and guns.
Having some simple spare parts for your weapon(s) is smart. Extra trigger spring, recoil springs are pretty standard. Extra firing pins could be essential. I’ve seen people snap a firing pin at a range before. It happens. Besides, that stuff is cheap and easy to get.
(If you don’t know how to reload yet.... get on it.)
Another fan of the Super here. My solution to it being a somewhat weird caliber is the Sig P220 will shoot 9mm just by swapping out the barrel.
Since I live a fair distance from any city, I would not bug out. I would stay put with all my stuff. That being said, you should always have a backup gun. Preferably a pistol of a common caliber.
Find the first armed liberal?
Looking at Beretta M9's at the present time...and of course the Windham Weaponry AR-15 I have on order.
I think there is something strange about men that don't like the roar of internal combustion engines and power and machined beauty of handguns and rifles (the two, engines and guns are very similar to me).
Speaking of which, check this out at youtube...
P51 Old Crow incl.flames. very loud and very cool.
In case of an EMP frying the combo lock’s innards? I have plenty of 9v batteries, and can change-one-out in 3-4secs, but bow you got me thinking. I don’t know if something that massive can be retrofitted with a key. I’m checking...
I have one. Very handy tool.
Glock in either 9mm or .40 S&W. There are multiple reasons PD’s and Feds don’t use revolvers anymore. 9mm is probably the most horded ammunition of all time, chances are if you find any it’ll be 9mm. Both are common PD loads so you just need to find yourself a PD supply room in the zombie apocalypse.
Always go by the Jim Rawles rule: Two is one, one is none.
Didn’t see your post. Great minds think alike.
Nice.
Serious question. Would the electronic lock on my gun safe be rendered inop as a result of a EMP (electromagnetic pulse) bomb?
Electronic gun safe locks are NOT for emergency use. A locksmith told me they fail at about 5 years. They’ll either fail “open” as mine did, so you’ll be able to access your stuff, but not lock it, or they’ll fail “closed” and you’ll be locked out, needing a locksmith to drill out (destroy) your safe. But in a crisis (after EMP) if might be a little hard to find a locksmith.
It’s easy to have a locksmith replace the keypad with a conventional dial (this is what I had done). Just a couple hundred bucks.
Do it NOW!
Bugging out?
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