[Dan22]

a .22 will allow you to carry a lot of ammo and with no refigerator you'll be looking for meal-size animals.

If you crash a plane and can still walk you would probably stay put and hope they find you so it wouldn't hurt to have a larger rifle on hand as you won't be carrying it.

[Papa de Trois]

I believe Mosineer made a good point back on pg 2 or 3.... kinda glazed over it... but having a tactical vest loaded and ready to go makes the whole process a lot easier. You have a place for multiple rifle mags, pistol mags, pistol holster and multiple extra pockets for misc stuff. I have several loaded and ready to go (one each for me and the wife) and the young ones can help by carrying other things that you will need. Even a small school backpack can be a help for essentials. If it truly is a shtf situation, they are going to have to learn quick that all family members need to help in any way they can.
As to the original thread...
AR-15 and 9mm for me
10/22 and .45 for the wife
son carries .22 ammo and medkit(as soon as he gets a bit older, going to train him on the 9mm/45 as backup

[Beer Forever]

A good shovel is handy. The little folding ones.

[bigandrich44]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Papa de Trois

AR-15 and 9mm for me 10/22 and .45 for the wife son carries .22 ammo and medkit(as soon as he gets a bit older, going to train him on the 9mm/45 as backup

May I ask why your shooting a 9mm, and the wife is shooting a .45?

[cubbieman]

maybe he's more accurate?

[bigandrich44]

Well, how many women can shoot a .45 better than a man? Just wondering. Sounds a lil warped to me, that's all.

[billy]

Quote:       Originally Posted by bigandrich44

Well, how many women can shoot a .45 better than a man? Just wondering. Sounds a lil warped to me, that's all.

warped? thats a strange thing to say....

[cubbieman]

maybe shes a strong woman

what i meant was maybe hes more acurate and doesn't need each hit to hurt as much

[just_a_car]

Quote:       Originally Posted by cubbieman

what i meant was maybe hes more acurate and doesn't need each hit to hurt as much

I can see what you mean by that Cubbie. With today's modern hollow points, 9x19mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP have about the same damage at the end of their run, so it's really down to penetration and what you shoot best. If he shoots really well with the 9mm and gets better follow-up shots, more power to him! Maybe the lady has the .45ACP so she can just aim center mass and be pretty sure the BG is going to go down.

[Jason]

I like a 9. I keep one in the car.

[billy]

for me its either a .45 or a .357

[Doctor Larry K]

I'm glad I read this, as I had not even thought of what I and my wife would do in a SHTF situation. From my past experiences I would suggest that each of you consider what you would do in a home invasion type scenario. These are becoming more commonplace. Once an intruder(s) is inside your home he can rest easy, as he is safe from observation.

A young female will knock at your front door sometime after darkness, claiming she is out of gas or a rape victim that has escaped from her kidnapper or her husband is in the car having a heart attack or any subterfuge that will get your sympathy. Once inside she is followed immediately by any number (one is enough) of armed criminals.
Think it wouldn't happen ? I'm presently working a cold case homicide where this exactly happened. The homeowner was subsequently tortured and murdered in the security of his own home.
Its a sorry state of affairs but I answer my door with my Glock 29 in a concealed holster. If the caller is friendly they never notice the pistol; if they are criminals they are dead.

[Dan22]

When I first moved to Florida in 1978, I was renting a duplex in Cape Coral. My neighbor was a Lee County Deputy Sheriff.

I asked him how he felt about citizens owning guns. He said he gave his wife one for protection.

He went on to say that some nights, between officers being sick, on vacation, or special duty; he might be the only one on duty. He said it would take him 45 minutes at full speed to get from one end of the county to the other, if he wasn't tied up.

How can we feel protected when the police might be busy at an accident, robbery or whatever.

I think a short barrel shotgun would be the best weapon for home protection. You can turn around quickly in a hall, you don't have to precision aim and the shot should dissapate by the time it gets to a neighbors' house but would take care of a close threat.

[just_a_car]

Hey Dan22, I'm sure by "short barreled", you meant the shortest allowed by law without a class 3 $200 tax stamp for a "Short Barreled Shotgun", which the law states the barrel must be 18", I believe; could be 18.5", but I'm sure someone that's more sure about the exact number can correct me.

As for spread pattern, you still have to aim. Even with an open choke, 00 buckshot won't pattern more than half a foot at most indoor distances (i.e. 10-25 feet).

And, yes, you do have to worry about your neighbors still, which is why you have to aim. Don't believe me?... check out Old_Painless over on The Box O' Truth #3 - The Shotgun Meets the Box O' Truth - Page 1

I love that site, as it has a lot of "unofficial" ammo penetration testing, which I believe is better than laboratory testing. Ammo isn't shot in a lab when used for self defense, why shouldn't it be tested in real-world type scenarios?

[Dan22]

Yes, you have to aim but not as well as you would with a short-barrel pistol.

People who can't aim should not be firing a weapon in any situation.

I would hate to fire my 30-30 at some guy coming through the door and then miss and kill a neighbor.

A shotgun gives a much better chance of hitting the intruder with a lot of force at close range.

[ArkansasHunter]

J-A-C Thanks man for that excellent post !!! I enjoyed the read and pictures...A.H

[billy]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Dan22

When I first moved to Florida in 1978, I was renting a duplex in Cape Coral. My neighbor was a Lee County Deputy Sheriff. I asked him how he felt about citizens owning guns. He said he gave his wife one for protection. He went on to say that some nights, between officers being sick, on vacation, or special duty; he might be the only one on duty. He said it would take him 45 minutes at full speed to get from one end of the county to the other, if he wasn't tied up. How can we feel protected when the police might be busy at an accident, robbery or whatever. I think a short barrel shotgun would be the best weapon for home protection. You can turn around quickly in a hall, you don't have to precision aim and the shot should dissapate by the time it gets to a neighbors' house but would take care of a close threat.

i like the idea of police coming to save the day...BUT they usually show up AFTER something terrible has already happened.
i am not badmouthing police officers. they have one of the worst jobs i can think of.
but that is the reality

have a weapon that you are completely confident in and are able to operate without thinking about it. in my case the 1911

i would rather go to court than the morgue.

[ArkansasHunter]

My new short 930 mossberg turkey shot gun is also my new home defense weapon along with our Kel Tec 32 auto, as soon as I find a modified and full chock for it.

It came with an XX factor turkey tube 24" barrel. It ought to do nicely.
Hummm I think I'll call mossberg to see if there sawed off barrells are available for the 930 yet...A.H

[cubbieman]

Quote:       Originally Posted by just_a_car

Hey Dan22, I'm sure by "short barreled", you meant the shortest allowed by law without a class 3 $200 tax stamp for a "Short Barreled Shotgun", which the law states the barrel must be 18", I believe; could be 18.5", but I'm sure someone that's more sure about the exact number can correct me.

it's 18", i've seen 18" ones in wal mart

Quote:       Originally Posted by billy

i like the idea of police coming to save the day...BUT they usually show up AFTER something terrible has already happened. i am not badmouthing police officers. they have one of the worst jobs i can think of. but that is the reality

most of the time police don't know something's going down in time to get someone over there, just remember 9MM is faster than 911 as the signs say. then they can cut phone lines and you get in a whole new ballpark

[billy]

1911 Is Faster Than 911!