SHTF - caliber and platform discussion

[jrswanson1]

Which brings up a good point. Why are you dropping them? Unless you are filthy rich, I highly doubt you have enough mags to keep your entire 5.56mm stash loaded (or very poor and you don't have any stash to speak of). In a SHTF scenario, I'm not dropping any of my mags because I need them later! This is why we invented drop bags. They are cheap, but save your mags from being stepped on or lost (there is a good chance you will be shooting and moving, so reclaiming your discarded gear could be a problem). Also, Magpul Pmags are far superior to the aluminum mags. If those don't work for you, try the slimmer Emags.

Who says I'm dropping them? I'm just saying accidents happen. Magazines fall down, kids knock things over, the dog may get antsy, etc. I've got eight PMAGs and 4 metal magazines for the 5.56 AR I have. The PMAGs are great, but not everyone has them. This is a hypothetical situation, and this is just my take on things.

Jim

Fair enough, accidents do happen and in that case, even your CETME mags could fail. Granted a steel mag will take more than an aluminum one. One thing to consider with the AR is that they will be much easier to find than CETME mags.

Practically any of the assault/battle rifles are a decent pick, but none of them are perfect. Your particular situation and immediate area will bias you towards any particular one. IMHO, the reality is that if I ever am looking at running out of ammo that I have stashed (and I'd bet this goes for most of us), the odds of my surviving to that point are lower than I'd like to admit and if by the grace of God I did survive, there will be lots of "spares" laying around.

If I run out of ammo, I've shot well over 2K rounds and run out of reloading supplies


Jim

[grumpyMSG]

Chasbo00 I was just having a discussion with my Shih Tzus and they said the poodles have called in some reinforcements, something about a bad ass German Shephard:

guard dog.jpg (15.07 KiB) Viewed 3532 times

[Chasbo00]

All right! A Gat for my Huey! Now I'm in business -- thanks grumpyMSG!

Really like the dog too! He's been recruited and the Gat is now on my property book -- the poodles are again at risk.

[Taggure]

what did you do, bribe the shepard with an Old Roy Dog biscuit to get him away from the Poodles?

[Chasbo00]

I promoted the Shepard to Sergeant and linked him up with a sleek, young female Doberman. He's going to join mile-high club too real soon now.

[Mindflayer]

One of the reasons I posted this initially was to see what people are counting on when the SHTF - errr, if the SHTF. It's interesting to see the wide range of what people count as key components. I'm debating between picking up a higher caliber rifle (.308, perhaps) to complement my .223/5.56, or a .22LR for ammo ubiquity, or just a lot of 5.56 ammo. I think the answer, clearly, is all of the above. I'm pretty comfortable with my handgun calibers.

Call me crazy, but I believe we will see another Katrina-type event and a separate instance of mass civil insurrection to dwarf the LA riots within our lifetime. Zombies? Probably not, but I think it's good to be prepared.

[chfaunce]

Call me crazy, but I believe we will see another Katrina-type event and a separate instance of mass civil insurrection to dwarf the LA riots within our lifetime. Zombies? Probably not, but I think it's good to be prepared.

It's going to be like 9-11, times a thousand. Thats, umm, like 911,000.

[OakRidgeStars]

It's on: Zombies on the streets of Norfolk tonight!

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/10/norfolk ... d?cid=ltst

[OleMan]

Thanks to all who posted. I read them with real interest since I am retired, don't see or shoot as well, amd older and slower - i.e., maybe more vulnerable. Good ideas here for me to mull over. My ideas are to:

1. Survive any 'problems' at home here in the 'burbs - .40 S&W, .357 Mag., .327 Federal, and probably an all purpose shotgun with slugs and buck - focusing on short range and limited visibility (field of fire).
2. Assess the possibility of going to relatives in the country for mutual support, longer visibility (field of fire), more shooters and a wider choice of options - adds 9 mil, .357, 12 Ga., scoped .270, heavy .45 rifle which can take down any game animal, and a .30 cal semi or bolt rifle to be added soon.
3. My personal longer range firepower for all situations - scoped, accurized Mini-14 in 6.8 SPC with tritium/iron sights as backup.
4. Remain flexible and try to anticiapte when possible, an respond to the events.

Just thoughts and everyone's ideas here are good food for thought.

[gunderwood]

3. My personal longer range firepower for all situations - scoped, accurized Mini-14 in 6.8 SPC with tritium/iron sights as backup.

Out of curiosity, what does "longer range firepower" mean to you in this situation? I ask because 6.8SPC is not usually considered a longer range caliber for anything other than 5.56mm.

[davasmith]

First line of defense - 2 large dobermans
Second line of defense - 12ga. pump mossberg
Third line of defense - .40 s&w glock 22c w/nite sites
Fourth line of defense - sks, 7mm w/sniper scope & 30-30 winchester
Fifth line of defense - 709 slim, and Kabar apparatus
Sixth line of defense - "see first line of defense"
Josh

[gunderwood]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I just want some autonomous kill bots. Arm them with all the cool toys ATF won't you and I have and tell them to come and take them.






/JK...I'm feeling cheeky today.

[zephyp]

I'd much prefer to be way the hell out of dodge so the only "intruder" I'd have to worry about is someone like Henry wandering over to see what I was up to...

[gunderwood]

I'd much prefer to be way the hell out of dodge so the only "intruder" I'd have to worry about is someone like Henry wandering over to see what I was up to...

Now that is a tough call!

Hang out with Henry so you and him are the last two humans alive or make it quick and stay in the city...

[zephyp]

I'd much prefer to be way the hell out of dodge so the only "intruder" I'd have to worry about is someone like Henry wandering over to see what I was up to...

Now that is a tough call!

Hang out with Henry so you and him are the last two humans alive or make it quick and stay in the city...

Lots of folks already think I'm a jerk. That perception would be realized 10 tens over if the SHTF up here...better I get out of town to save them their feelings...and skins...

[OleMan]

3. My personal longer range firepower for all situations - scoped, accurized Mini-14 in 6.8 SPC with tritium/iron sights as backup.

Out of curiosity, what does "longer range firepower" mean to you in this situation? I ask because 6.8SPC is not usually considered a longer range caliber for anything other than 5.56mm.

I should not have said 'all situations' - was reallly thinking my immediate neighborhood where a 75 to 100 yard shot would be about the maximum. The Mini-14 and 6.8SPC are both new to me, but from all I read, lots of practice might make me effective at 200 yards (age, eyes, years of not shooting rifles, etc.) after accurizing the rifle. To try any greater distance with any rifle, I would need a scoped bolt or semi-auto. Based on suggestions in responses (including yours) to my post on planning new rifles, .308 seems the most likely caliber right now. All those suggestions were a great help.

Thanks.

Oleman (I really am an old retired grandfather)

[gunderwood]

3. My personal longer range firepower for all situations - scoped, accurized Mini-14 in 6.8 SPC with tritium/iron sights as backup.

Out of curiosity, what does "longer range firepower" mean to you in this situation? I ask because 6.8SPC is not usually considered a longer range caliber for anything other than 5.56mm.

I should not have said 'all situations' - was reallly thinking my immediate neighborhood where a 75 to 100 yard shot would be about the maximum. The Mini-14 and 6.8SPC are both new to me, but from all I read, lots of practice might make me effective at 200 yards (age, eyes, years of not shooting rifles, etc.) after accurizing the rifle. To try any greater distance with any rifle, I would need a scoped bolt or semi-auto. Based on suggestions in responses (including yours) to my post on planning new rifles, .308 seems the most likely caliber right now. All those suggestions were a great help.

Thanks.

Oleman (I really am an old retired grandfather)

I wasn't trying to be nit picky, but just wanted a bit of clarification. Long range is a relative term and not defining what we mean is how we get new people wanting to setup their .22lr for 1000k benchrest.

[Taggure]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I just want some autonomous kill bots. Arm them with all the cool toys ATF won't you and I have and tell them to come and take them.






/JK...I'm feeling cheeky today.

How about one of these then

[gunderwood]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I just want some autonomous kill bots. Arm them with all the cool toys ATF won't you and I have and tell them to come and take them.






/JK...I'm feeling cheeky today.

How about one of these then

Don't we make those?

[OleMan]

I wasn't trying to be nit picky, but just wanted a bit of clarification. Long range is a relative term and not defining what we mean is how we get new people wanting to setup their .22lr for 1000k benchrest.
[/quote]

No, I didn't think nit picky at al. A lot of people new to shooting do think they can fire a rifle some and then commence to shoot like Carlos Hathcock, and then find they really shoot 10 or 10 MOA worse than Carlos could do full auto with his M60 when he was a machine gunner. ".22 LR for 1000 benchrest" - LOL So, I'll feel lucky at my age if I can get back to shooting just decently accurate with a scope.

Oleman