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Did not know where to post this as its more opinion than a report so hope you don't mind it going here. Thinking already ahead to a part 2.............
SHTF Weapon
The SHTF (sh** hits the fan) weapon. This topic comes up from time to time and has always held my interest. It has been argued back and forth in magazines probably for decades and has also caught a good deal of interest on various internet talk boards. Folks (including me) will voice our various opinions on the subject and there always seems to be many valid points and arguments made for the various weapons discussed.
So here I am again discussing it. But this time, I’m goanna put my two cents in with some serious thought into it. So please bear with my ramblings.
For me, SHTF is what I call the local crisis as we have seen actual examples of in various parts of this Country. And as the old saying goes, history tends to repeat itself. What comes to mind here as examples are Hurricane Katrina and the city of New Orleans. In that case, little or no help from govt with looters, rapists, and all sorts of nasties rooming the streets unchecked. Or perhaps the L.A. riots. The local law enforcement totally powerless to stop massive rioting, arson, assaults, and looting. Remember the images of storekeepers standing on top of their buildings with shotguns? How many times have you heard of some type of disaster happening somewhere in this Country (tornado, fire, flood, riots) and hear on TV or radio that the National Guard has been called out to stop looting and re-store order? Problem is, the Guard is a bit thin right now and any deployment will take time.
So, for what it’s worth, I’m goanna talk about the local SHTF as I consider this one the most realistic. Fortunately, it is also the easiest one to prepare for. For arguments sake, let’s say you live in or near the affected area. You have two basic choices and that is evac or stay. We all tend to feel safer in our homes. And stockpiling at home makes things so much easier. Be it water, food, medical, etc, etc, not having to lug supplies around makes life so much easier. As previously stated, the potential threat is going to be from people in the area. Be it riot minded criminals, looters, thugs, rapists, etc. Staying in a safe and secure location makes some sense for security if you can’t or are not willing to make it out. Without going into all the details for supplies on hand, let’s just concentrate on weaponry. The good news is, you’re at home and should have access to all of your weapons. Take a look at your location. What is required? What size city do you live in? Do you really need a weapon capable of 400 yd headshots? Or are you mainly concerned about what’s going on at the end of your block? I feel that most of these types of problems can be easily handled probably by the basic three groups of firearms----Handgun, shotgun, and rifle---not one or two of them, but all three.
The handgun is just that—handy. It should be on your person holstered at all times as it is the last resort if a long gun is not available. The handgun is for up close and personal. It is—in your home—the firearm of last resort. About any serious handgun will do here. Be it a revolver or a semi auto. As many have said, the handgun is used to fight your way to your long gun in your home. It is a stop-gap, temporary solution to a major problem as just about any shotgun or rifle will be more powerful and accurate.
The shotgun---in my opinion the most valuable firearm in the scenario I am talking about. Easily the most portable, powerful weapon in your arsenal. The shotgun possesses devasting firepower within its range limitations and is a bit more forgiving in the accuracy department than the handgun or rifle---especially at night. And they will be coming out at night. Folks claim that the range is too limited. Just how much range do you need? In this realistic SHTF type scenario that we witnessed in L.A. or New Orleans, we are talking about defending your property from thugs, not the old soviet spatnaz parachuting in from above. We are talking defending our lives and property. Might be a bit hard to justify shooting the thugs if they are 3 blocks down. We are not on a search and destroy mission here. We are securing and protecting our own little piece of turf and not a vigilante searching the streets. Plenty of good ammo is available. Even birdshot will work fantastic indoors to stop someone. Better yet of course for more effective distance is buck. I keep a few slugs available for anything totally wild should some idiot drive onto the place and start trouble. 12 or 20ga ought to do the trick. Also the shotgun has a very keen visible appeal that says “back off” to any potential troublemaker. If the mere observation of a weapon makes them go the other way (like in L.A. when shopkeepers defended their property with shotguns while standing on roof tops) then it’s a good day if not a single shot is fired.
The rifle---should for some reason, range is necessary and beyond the capability of the shotgun. Again we are talking local protection here—not a seek and destroy mission. Though I suppose a scenario could be developed for one. If that much range/distance is needed, are you really in any danger? I suppose in case of a nut sniping the town or some other “what if” scenario might happen, then my deer rifle ought to do quite nicely. Of course one never turns down a good ar-15 or ak47. For my family, my daughter has chosen the sks---should be good for the length of the block or a little more and of course closer. I have given serious thought to adding an “assault rifle” to my battery of personal firearms. But with my shotgun taking care of close business and a scoped deer rifle taking care of anything way out there, I’ve been giving more consideration to something in-between—the 357 lever action rifle. This should take care of business out to 150 yds. This ain’t deer hunting so I don’t have to worry about making “humane” one shot kills-----just stopping the threat. The dual ammo capability of using the same ammo for the rifle and handgun is very attractive here----especially if for what ever reason, you must evacuate or go mobile.
This now brings up the topic of evacuation. While our home is our castle, we may be forced for any number of reasons to flee. The possibilities are endless be it a large approaching fire in riots and no firemen on the streets, to a de-railed train leaking a cloud of toxic chemicals on the other side of town and the wind is blowing your way. As I said, the possibilities are endless and time will be the biggest enemy as to what you can take with you. Again, sticking with just talking weapons here, I believe the same three gun rule applies for the same reasons they apply in your home. And in these realistic scenarios, we are not heading to the mountains to escape the zombies, we are evacuating to another location safe secure, well away from the troubled area. While I enjoy camping and the great outdoors, here I am thinking motel room or family and friends with a roof over our heads and color TV to see what’s happening in the affected area.
And finally, the final consideration. And possibly the scariest one of all. You are away from your home when the “whatever scenario” happens to your neighborhood. Are you single or do you have family? You have to get your family out or hopefully, your family has already left so you don’t have to go back in. Either way, the three gun rule probably has flown out the window on this one.
I am a firm believer in having a handgun and a shotgun with me whenever I travel. So, on one hand, should I need to enter an area to get my family—its going to happen as my family is the most important thing in my life. On the other hand, my wife has enough sense to gather the kids and get out. Either way, you are only going to have what weapons that you normally have in your vehicle when you travel. For a lot of folks, it may be just a handgun. For me when off duty, it’s a handgun and a shotgun. To each his own, but it might be a good idea to throw that extra box of ammo in the trunk or glove box---just in case. Think about it, most fellers are out working away from home, five days a week, 8 hours a day. (or more). A lot of things can happen when you are away from home. So perhaps the SHTF guns had better be close at hand. Which is another reason I'm looking into a carbine that fires my prefered handgun ammunition----simplicity.
If I was a single man, I’d probably be going home to defend my castle. But as an old married man, my priorities are to my family so that is where I will be heading---where ever they may be………………
SHTF Weapon
The SHTF (sh** hits the fan) weapon. This topic comes up from time to time and has always held my interest. It has been argued back and forth in magazines probably for decades and has also caught a good deal of interest on various internet talk boards. Folks (including me) will voice our various opinions on the subject and there always seems to be many valid points and arguments made for the various weapons discussed.
So here I am again discussing it. But this time, I’m goanna put my two cents in with some serious thought into it. So please bear with my ramblings.
For me, SHTF is what I call the local crisis as we have seen actual examples of in various parts of this Country. And as the old saying goes, history tends to repeat itself. What comes to mind here as examples are Hurricane Katrina and the city of New Orleans. In that case, little or no help from govt with looters, rapists, and all sorts of nasties rooming the streets unchecked. Or perhaps the L.A. riots. The local law enforcement totally powerless to stop massive rioting, arson, assaults, and looting. Remember the images of storekeepers standing on top of their buildings with shotguns? How many times have you heard of some type of disaster happening somewhere in this Country (tornado, fire, flood, riots) and hear on TV or radio that the National Guard has been called out to stop looting and re-store order? Problem is, the Guard is a bit thin right now and any deployment will take time.
So, for what it’s worth, I’m goanna talk about the local SHTF as I consider this one the most realistic. Fortunately, it is also the easiest one to prepare for. For arguments sake, let’s say you live in or near the affected area. You have two basic choices and that is evac or stay. We all tend to feel safer in our homes. And stockpiling at home makes things so much easier. Be it water, food, medical, etc, etc, not having to lug supplies around makes life so much easier. As previously stated, the potential threat is going to be from people in the area. Be it riot minded criminals, looters, thugs, rapists, etc. Staying in a safe and secure location makes some sense for security if you can’t or are not willing to make it out. Without going into all the details for supplies on hand, let’s just concentrate on weaponry. The good news is, you’re at home and should have access to all of your weapons. Take a look at your location. What is required? What size city do you live in? Do you really need a weapon capable of 400 yd headshots? Or are you mainly concerned about what’s going on at the end of your block? I feel that most of these types of problems can be easily handled probably by the basic three groups of firearms----Handgun, shotgun, and rifle---not one or two of them, but all three.
The handgun is just that—handy. It should be on your person holstered at all times as it is the last resort if a long gun is not available. The handgun is for up close and personal. It is—in your home—the firearm of last resort. About any serious handgun will do here. Be it a revolver or a semi auto. As many have said, the handgun is used to fight your way to your long gun in your home. It is a stop-gap, temporary solution to a major problem as just about any shotgun or rifle will be more powerful and accurate.
The shotgun---in my opinion the most valuable firearm in the scenario I am talking about. Easily the most portable, powerful weapon in your arsenal. The shotgun possesses devasting firepower within its range limitations and is a bit more forgiving in the accuracy department than the handgun or rifle---especially at night. And they will be coming out at night. Folks claim that the range is too limited. Just how much range do you need? In this realistic SHTF type scenario that we witnessed in L.A. or New Orleans, we are talking about defending your property from thugs, not the old soviet spatnaz parachuting in from above. We are talking defending our lives and property. Might be a bit hard to justify shooting the thugs if they are 3 blocks down. We are not on a search and destroy mission here. We are securing and protecting our own little piece of turf and not a vigilante searching the streets. Plenty of good ammo is available. Even birdshot will work fantastic indoors to stop someone. Better yet of course for more effective distance is buck. I keep a few slugs available for anything totally wild should some idiot drive onto the place and start trouble. 12 or 20ga ought to do the trick. Also the shotgun has a very keen visible appeal that says “back off” to any potential troublemaker. If the mere observation of a weapon makes them go the other way (like in L.A. when shopkeepers defended their property with shotguns while standing on roof tops) then it’s a good day if not a single shot is fired.
The rifle---should for some reason, range is necessary and beyond the capability of the shotgun. Again we are talking local protection here—not a seek and destroy mission. Though I suppose a scenario could be developed for one. If that much range/distance is needed, are you really in any danger? I suppose in case of a nut sniping the town or some other “what if” scenario might happen, then my deer rifle ought to do quite nicely. Of course one never turns down a good ar-15 or ak47. For my family, my daughter has chosen the sks---should be good for the length of the block or a little more and of course closer. I have given serious thought to adding an “assault rifle” to my battery of personal firearms. But with my shotgun taking care of close business and a scoped deer rifle taking care of anything way out there, I’ve been giving more consideration to something in-between—the 357 lever action rifle. This should take care of business out to 150 yds. This ain’t deer hunting so I don’t have to worry about making “humane” one shot kills-----just stopping the threat. The dual ammo capability of using the same ammo for the rifle and handgun is very attractive here----especially if for what ever reason, you must evacuate or go mobile.
This now brings up the topic of evacuation. While our home is our castle, we may be forced for any number of reasons to flee. The possibilities are endless be it a large approaching fire in riots and no firemen on the streets, to a de-railed train leaking a cloud of toxic chemicals on the other side of town and the wind is blowing your way. As I said, the possibilities are endless and time will be the biggest enemy as to what you can take with you. Again, sticking with just talking weapons here, I believe the same three gun rule applies for the same reasons they apply in your home. And in these realistic scenarios, we are not heading to the mountains to escape the zombies, we are evacuating to another location safe secure, well away from the troubled area. While I enjoy camping and the great outdoors, here I am thinking motel room or family and friends with a roof over our heads and color TV to see what’s happening in the affected area.
And finally, the final consideration. And possibly the scariest one of all. You are away from your home when the “whatever scenario” happens to your neighborhood. Are you single or do you have family? You have to get your family out or hopefully, your family has already left so you don’t have to go back in. Either way, the three gun rule probably has flown out the window on this one.
I am a firm believer in having a handgun and a shotgun with me whenever I travel. So, on one hand, should I need to enter an area to get my family—its going to happen as my family is the most important thing in my life. On the other hand, my wife has enough sense to gather the kids and get out. Either way, you are only going to have what weapons that you normally have in your vehicle when you travel. For a lot of folks, it may be just a handgun. For me when off duty, it’s a handgun and a shotgun. To each his own, but it might be a good idea to throw that extra box of ammo in the trunk or glove box---just in case. Think about it, most fellers are out working away from home, five days a week, 8 hours a day. (or more). A lot of things can happen when you are away from home. So perhaps the SHTF guns had better be close at hand. Which is another reason I'm looking into a carbine that fires my prefered handgun ammunition----simplicity.
If I was a single man, I’d probably be going home to defend my castle. But as an old married man, my priorities are to my family so that is where I will be heading---where ever they may be………………
