Ok guys i just want some reassurance on what i already have and how wise my hopeful future purchases are..here we go
i live in the countryish part of northern indiana(about 20 minutes from the michigan border). my property consists of 6 acres i believe of fields and woods, and behind that...field and woods. i have a 275 yard range and im allowed to shoot on the field just behind mine so when the farmer plants beans instead of corn or when its all just dirt, the range is extended to around 800 yards. so i want some reassurance on my firearms and how well they would work for this type of land and if the next guns i want are wise choices. i have a remington 870 12 gauge with 28" barrel and knoxx comp stock used stricktly for skeet shooting, a mossberg 500 12 gauge synthetic stock with 28" vent ribbed barrel, 24" smoothe bore rifle sights slug barrel, and 24" rifled cantilever scope mount with bushnell 3-9x32 scope slug barrel...i also have a mosin nagant 91/30 using surplus ammo that isnt very accurate, with a custom bent bolt, recoil pad, and scope mount but i stick with the irons because of this next gun...savage 116 SS weather warrior 30-06 springfield synthetic stock with a 4 round internal box magazine, no floor plate, and bushnell sportsman gloss black 4-12x40 scope shooting my reloads using sierra 175 grain HPBT matchking bullets. my next gun is an old stevens springfield 410 pump shotgun which i dont fully trust, with a smoothe bore skeet barrel and wood stock. next is a semi auto 12 round tubeular magazine springfield 87A wood stock open sights 22 long rifle, i dont fully trust this one either. i coated the bolt assembly with a dry lubricant and it runs a whole lot better but sometimes the shell wont fully eject and itll jam up bad(needing the stock to be taken off and put back on). next is a winchester 94 TOP eject 7 round(i believe) tubular magazine lever action rifle, iron sights, wood stock, very light and short, comfortable gun. next is a marlin 925R bolt action synthetic stock 7 round magazine fed(i have two magazines for it) 22 long rifle. very reliable gun, never had a problem that was the guns fault even after aproxamately 15,000 rounds. ive got a BSA sweet 22 scope on it 3-9x40 with zeroings out to 275 yards. last is my S&W model 10 revolver with wood grips, 38 special 6 shot. i dont trust this thing at all. something in the internals is busted and ive had it fixed before but its broken again. i pull the trigger quickly or pull the hammer back quickly and the cylinder over turnes, causeing the firing pin to hit between two cartridges or on the side of one. extremely unreliable gun that i do not like at all, im more of a semi auto handgun guy.
so how do you think these would work for SHTF? if i had to take only one which would you advise?
now for my second part.
in the future(within a few years) i would like to buy a semi automatic centerfire handgun, preferably a 1911, and a rifle in 223.
i want an AR-15 but theyre so danged expensive. if i dont get the ar-15, i would like to get a stevens 200 in 223 as a target rifle. do you think my current arsenal would get me through SHTF without the AR or what? the stevens is much cheaper and you dont have to pay a lot for a high quality rifle like with the AR-15s. i wouldnt burn through ammo as fast either seeing as how its bolt action(i wouldnt be bump firing or going through 150 rounds in minutes)
so what do you think? i just want some reassurance that my current loadout would work
I see that you have a few guns that you aren't too pleased with due to their reliability, etc.
My advice: Ditch them and get something else.
Also, have you considered consolidating around a few common calibers? I have a bunch of different calibers, but my SHTF guns are mainly in .45 ACP, 9mm, and 7.62x39.
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yeah, the only advice i give people when they want to buy a gun, is never settle. and i agree with lowercase, if they are not reliable, i'd get rid of them, or don't add them to your shtf list. i think the last thing you need is another shotgun. unless it's a judge, you dont need the .410, you have more than one 12ga. and for me, i want at least one weapon, of a rifle caliber, that has a high capacity magazine, that if you need to you can unload. AR, AK, something like that, something good for clearing rooms and such, on top of a long range rifle, a nice shotgun, and a reliable pistol. cover all your basics so when the time comes you can pick a couple rifles(or all) you think might come in handy, your pistol, and your supplies, throw em in your truck and go. if i was you, i'd save up for the AR, dont settle just because they're expensive. thats just my personal opinion.
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dude, ditch the non-reliable weapons!!!! they will do you no good if ya cant hit the broad side of the barn with them...
ok now, if it were me i would keep the 12g's all of them...
keep the scopes from the non-working rifles...
Now ya got to ask your self what type of SHTF scenerio am i seeing for me in the future... economic break down... invasion... disease... war... what? Look to see if your property is on or near a major highway or road, will there be alot of traffic I.E. vehicular or people on foot... can your house be seen from the road and is it inviting to others to come and take a looksee...
a suggestion on an alternative to the AR would be some cheaper reliable SKS... im bias though... For the price of one good AR-15 you can find 4-5 sks's plus 2000rnds of ammo, or 8 -10 mosin-nagant rifles and about 4000rnds of ammo (this is all a guesstimation not based on fact).
for a handgun i would suggest something that is easy to clean and take apart... cz's, eea witness's, a different revolver, 1911 just a basic model or highcap... these can all be found (except the revolver) in 9mm, .40 and .45... i dont like the .40 but though id through it in anyway... in a revolver i would get a .357 because you can shot .357 and .38 out of it. maybe even something in .45lc like a ruger w/ an acompaining lever action in .45lc as well or a .357 pistol/ leveraction combo...
consolidate ammo my personal choices would be... .22lr, 9mm, .38/.357, .45, 7.62x39, 5.56 or .223, 7.62x51 or .308, 7.62x54r, 12g birdshot and buckshot and slug... these in any type of weapon would be highly acceptable and dependable during a SHTF scenerio...
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Last edited by larmus; 10-26-2009 at 07:02 PM.
Reason: keep adding stuff
I see that you have a few guns that you aren't too pleased with due to their reliability, etc.
My advice: Ditch them and get something else.
Also, have you considered consolidating around a few common calibers? I have a bunch of different calibers, but my SHTF guns are mainly in .45 ACP, 9mm, and 7.62x39.
oh trust me, id love to ditch the S&W, 410, my mosin, and the 30-30 just because its not my kinda gun i suppose. but i cant...the S&W, 30-30, and 410 are my fathers he has me keep them with me. i would love to get rid of them so i could have some money for a semi auto pisol and ar AR though.
the mosin........i just dont like the feel. im not really a surplus guy. more of a synthetic sporter guy
yeah, the only advice i give people when they want to buy a gun, is never settle. and i agree with lowercase, if they are not reliable, i'd get rid of them, or don't add them to your shtf list. i think the last thing you need is another shotgun. unless it's a judge, you dont need the .410, you have more than one 12ga. and for me, i want at least one weapon, of a rifle caliber, that has a high capacity magazine, that if you need to you can unload. AR, AK, something like that, something good for clearing rooms and such, on top of a long range rifle, a nice shotgun, and a reliable pistol. cover all your basics so when the time comes you can pick a couple rifles(or all) you think might come in handy, your pistol, and your supplies, throw em in your truck and go. if i was you, i'd save up for the AR, dont settle just because they're expensive. thats just my personal opinion.
so pistol=the 1911 or whatever that i want to get in the future
high capacity rifle=ar-15 that i want to get in the future
long range rifle=my savage 30-06
and id bring my mossberg maverick because id trust my life to it and its a good utility gun with strong takedown power using buckshot or slugs
thats just my personal opinion. and that is just the basics. once you have that you have the basics. and you can build from there...and thats pretty much what i have right now. 1911, mossberg 500, AR15, and 30 30. now i also have an SKS, an AK, and some other things. but i have my basic weapons so i can decide what would be better for the situation that arises......if i need something and i know i'm not gonna be able to clean my weapons and its gonna be a lot of guerilla warfare ill stick with my sks and ak. reliable, cheap ammo, and they both use 7.62...just use common sense. nothing too crazy..you want choices. IMO
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A gun you don't trust is a gun that's no good to you, rifleman14. So, with the exception of your father's guns ( the S&W Model 10 - which a good gunsmith should be able to put back into timing for not much money, and if you get it done you will find you have a reliable pistol, especially if it will accept +P ammo; the .30-30 is usually reliable for short range work, especially with the new Leverevolution ammo that lets the Model 94 fire hollowpoints; you might want to keep the .410 for a home defense gun, loaded with 000 buckshot rounds; sell the Mosin if you want to and don't trust it - maybe trade it in for credit on another gun you want for your SHTF battery?)
As far as adding a .223/5.56 NATO rifle to your arsenal, my advice would be not to. But if you must, get a Saiga in .223, not a Poodle Shooter. The Saiga .223 rifle is built on the AK-47 action, but with a straight synthetic stock and no pistol grip. It's as tough as its military cousins, but better fit and finish. And it's built in the factory where General Mikhail Kalashnikov still comes in to oversee the work from time to time, so you know it will be built properly.
As far as adding a M1911 type pistol to your inventory, that's a good idea. Be sure to get one that accepts US GI magazines, which at the moment can be had for 3 for $25. You'll be pretty much stuck shooting FMJs and solid lead slugs out of it when it's fresh from the box, but there are few things 230 grains of lead at 900 FPS won't knock down. Semi-auto pistols don't come a whole lot simpler and easier to care for than John Browning's masterwork.
The only other advice I'd offer you is to simply your personal SHTF battery by eliminating calibers. If you go with .22 LR, 12 gauge, .45 ACP and the 5.56 NATO, you will be pretty much set for most situations where you are.
Are you planning on holeing up at your house or moving out on foot or vehicle?
My SHTF set up is my Rock River Arms AR15 for primary and my Glock 17 as a secondary and my Ruger LCP as a back up pocket gun. All of these I know are dead on reliable.
But your set up will vary on your own situation.
Mine is based off of what I train with, and the fact that my SHTF buddies are all using similar weapons systems so ammo and parts commonality are the same (exception people in our group either have glock 17s or 21s - 9mm/ .45ACP)
And we all live in urban/suburban areas.
You with all of your open land might have different requirements. ALso if your bugging in at your own place you can have as many guns as you want. If your leaving via vehicle you can bring a few as well. But either way you should have one system (one primary long arm and one secondary pistol) that you can take with you.
A gun you don't trust is a gun that's no good to you, rifleman14. So, with the exception of your father's guns ( the S&W Model 10 - which a good gunsmith should be able to put back into timing for not much money, and if you get it done you will find you have a reliable pistol, especially if it will accept +P ammo; the .30-30 is usually reliable for short range work, especially with the new Leverevolution ammo that lets the Model 94 fire hollowpoints; you might want to keep the .410 for a home defense gun, loaded with 000 buckshot rounds; sell the Mosin if you want to and don't trust it - maybe trade it in for credit on another gun you want for your SHTF battery?)
As far as adding a .223/5.56 NATO rifle to your arsenal, my advice would be not to. But if you must, get a Saiga in .223, not a Poodle Shooter. The Saiga .223 rifle is built on the AK-47 action, but with a straight synthetic stock and no pistol grip. It's as tough as its military cousins, but better fit and finish. And it's built in the factory where General Mikhail Kalashnikov still comes in to oversee the work from time to time, so you know it will be built properly.
As far as adding a M1911 type pistol to your inventory, that's a good idea. Be sure to get one that accepts US GI magazines, which at the moment can be had for 3 for $25. You'll be pretty much stuck shooting FMJs and solid lead slugs out of it when it's fresh from the box, but there are few things 230 grains of lead at 900 FPS won't knock down. Semi-auto pistols don't come a whole lot simpler and easier to care for than John Browning's masterwork.
The only other advice I'd offer you is to simply your personal SHTF battery by eliminating calibers. If you go with .22 LR, 12 gauge, .45 ACP and the 5.56 NATO, you will be pretty much set for most situations where you are.
So, what is going to be your next move?
well im thinking an AR...but if the 5.56 is underpowered...i want a target gun with low recoil and be able to use it for SHTF and be very accurate. the AR in 223 fits this but is it too underpowered?
then after that, i'll probably get a rock island 1911 but i dont like the GI sights. i like the tactical 3 white dot sights...anyone know if RIA makes a standard length 1911 with these sights?
well im thinking an AR...but if the 5.56 is underpowered...i want a target gun with low recoil and be able to use it for SHTF and be very accurate. the AR in 223 fits this but is it too underpowered?
For starters with an AR you can get your standard NATO loads in 55 grain and up. As opposed to the under 55 grain varmint .223 loads.
If you still think its too small a round but want something with low recoil get an AR in 6.8 SPC.
If you are serious about geting rid of it, put up some photos. One full length shot, a close-up of the bolt, ditto buttstock, ditto forearm, one down the bore if possible, and one that shows the marking on top of the receiver. jmp's not the only Mosin shooter around here and I'm looking for one to give to a friend as a deer rifle.
If you are serious about geting rid of it, put up some photos. One full length shot, a close-up of the bolt, ditto buttstock, ditto forearm, one down the bore if possible, and one that shows the marking on top of the receiver. jmp's not the only Mosin shooter around here and I'm looking for one to give to a friend as a deer rifle.
ive tried sellin it 2 or 3 times on the forums here but nobody seems to want a mosin with a modified bolt and a scope rail on the side...i'll do the thread again and see if i cab get some responses. id like to sell the scope mount, scope rail, the 350 or so rounds of hungarion 147 grain, and the bayonet/ kit that came with it. all that ended up bein around $240 but i cant see someone wanting to spend that much. the bore is kinda dark i was told by my gunshop owner too..
i love me a nice old AR. and i personally dont have a problem with a 5.56. i mean a little extra fire power is nice. i really don't know much about the 6.8 but im sure "ballistically speaking" the 6.8 is obviously gonna drop someone faster. so i would go that route if your looking for my stopping power. i guess im just an AR guy. i know the weapon, i'm proficient with it and i've put more rounds through m4 and variants than any other weapon. besides the m240b. i just know i can trust the weapon. it's never failed me before. i know that i can knock someone down out to at least 500 yds. and put them out cold within 100
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and i personally i know that i can knock someone down out to at least 500 yds. and put them out cold within 100
thats my theory on the whole thing. as long as i can knock them down and get a few more shots in or somethin...i just figure if i got shot, it would definitly phase me unless i was under an extremely large amount of adrenaline. so if i hit someone, theyll at least flinch and thatll give me time for another shot or two..at least in theory
