What? Really? Are you actually posting this? Yeah, I am.
I was in Bullseye yesterday getting some rounds down range and I was drooling over a Springfield M1A Socom … (insert Homer Simpson drooling sound here). In California this is about the most expensive bad-ass battle rifle in a .308 caliber you can get. It is $2,200 … yeah $2,200! I was standing there trying to talk myself into it and trying to figure out where I was going to sleep when my wife found out about it when it dawned on me … “This is a seriously excessive purchase!”.
If you are a true prepper then guns should be a requirement and not an obsession. You only need a few guns to protect yourself and your family. A shotgun, a couple pistols and a long-range rifle are more than enough for urban/suburban survival. Chances are any confrontation that occurs will not even come to actual shots fired. He will see you have a gun, you will see you that he has a gun and both of you will not want to die, so you both walk away! I know, I know, that may NOT happen but the chances of anyone in the suburbs going comando on you are seriously tiny! Guns are a necessary tool in the game of “threat of mutual destruction”. Your opponent won’t try to kill you if he risks dying himself (unless the circumstances are extraordinary). If people know you don’t have guns then you are a target, and an easy one at that. If people know that you have at least one gun there is almost no chance they are going to forcibly try to take what you have.
The point I am trying to make is that sometimes I think gun nuts become so-called survivalists or preppers just to justify their gun purchases. (I know I am risking a lot by attacking gun nuts as they are probably a large part of my readers. But I am trying to give advice to a diverse crowd and this is legit advice!) There may be some would-be or aspiring suburban preppers out there who are intimidated by the amount of gun speak that goes hand-in-hand with prepping and therefore less likely to try to become prepared. I WANT these people to be prepared! If they are my neighbors, they will not be coming to me for food, they will be self sufficient.
Let me put it another way (since this post is really about resource management, you know money?)… There is a 100% chance that if the SHTF you will need your food preps (gotta eat right?), there is a 50% chance you will need your medical preps (100% chance for common items like toothbrushes and headache medicine) but it is entirely possible you will never need your weaponry! So this is where I am going with this … don’t go nuts with your gun purchases. Pick up a nice pump-action shotty ($300) a nice 9mm auto ($400) and a scoped survival-type rifle (10/22s are only $300 or so)… once you got this (and sufficient ammo) spend more money on food. You are ALWAYS gonna need more food. If the current headlines are any indication of the food situation to come then stock up now. Don’t buy that new AR (if you are lucky enough to live in a state that allows them!) or that new M1A Socom (more drooling) put the money to more practical preps.
BTW, I hate being practical but sometimes it is the right thing to do!
-SP
(here she is… The Springfield M1A Socom, with a few accessories of course)
Filed under: SHTF, suburban survival | Tagged: Guns, practical prepping, resource allocation
A semi auto centerfire rifle is the mother of all small arms. That being said that old bolt/ lever action deer gun should suffice.
Agreed, you don’t have to go crazy with the gun purchases. I would say, though, that you should at least include a more powerful rifle cartridge in your preps. .223 at a minimum (or 7.62×39), preferably something in the .30 range (.30-06, .308, etc).
The 10/22 is exceptional, no doubt, but it isn’t going to do you much good against a couple of guys in a car or van with heavier weapons.
I live in the suburbs…in the next 5 years, I will never have to make a shot farther out than 100 yards. For me, the absolute minimum armory would be a 6- or 7-shot revolver in .38/.357, a Marlin lever action in .38/.357, and a .22LR handgun. With a 5-inch .22LR pistol you can take small game out to 10 or 20 yards (or farther with practice) which is perfect for that rabbit across the street. With the revolver you get ultra-reliable personal protection, and with the lever action you get a nice car/door buster out to 75-100 yards with .357 in addition to sharing ammo with your personal protection weapon.
So, you only need to buy two (possibly three) calibers: .22LR (cheap), and .357 (more expensive). Practice with .38, keep a couple hundred rounds of good .357 in reserve, and you’re doing pretty well for yourself in most suburban survival situations I can think of.
Plus, neither a revolver, a .22, or a lever action rifle classifies as an “assault weapon” or “high capacity”. Join a cowboy action shooting club and you have plausible deniability for any LEO inquiries into your gun or ammo purchases.
In the end, though, if you are going to follow through with the spirit of liberty, I agree with the other Ryan…learn to shoot a centerfire rifle. The rifle defines American history more than any other weapon I can think of (in my opinion). Learning to be a rifleman (head shots at 250 yds, body shots at 500 yards with .30 ammo) is one of the best things you could possibly do to support liberty in America.
In any case, whatever weapon you buy, make sure you are trained. You can get really expensive training, or you can join a local club and learn as you go.
Spot ON!!
You just saved me from having to write the exact same thing!
Glad I discovered this website (Googling for something else) and seem to have found some smart, rational people.
Keeping a low profile and not telling everyone that you’ve got a year supply of food in your house will go a lot farther to your defense. If you DO get into a couple of firefights during TEOTWAWKI and you DO end up winning then you’ll end up with more guns with ammo attached. If you don’t win then having a few thousand rounds of ammo won’t do you much good.
First and foremost you are right about balanced preps. But I do not like the term “gun nut” used. Collecting guns does not make you a “nut”. Here is something to think about though. SHTF but the government is still some what intact. You have to protect yourself against MZB’s, Gang Bangers, or the guy down the street. After it all goes down you still have to call the police. Even if you were totally in the right. Your firearm may become evidence. Then what are you going to protect your family with? Try to remember to preppers rule of one is none, two is one. Preps are about back-up plans. Does that mean you should run down to the local gun store and buy them out of course not. But instead of your M1A ,AR, or AK. Try maybe two SKS or Mossins then you still have a lot left for other preps. And since you are writting is the socialist state of KaliFornika message to those who have never shot a gun. A gun is a tool if you don’t learn how to use it don’t bother buying it.
Very cool post.
First, let me say how much I appreciate what you are doing.
Living in the suburbs of L.A., I always feel like most of the other prep/survival sites just don’t get it. I’m not moving to a ranch in Idaho and I am not moving to a trailer anyplace, although I read Bison every day because the dude’s rants about his ex-wife crack me up.
I frequent some sites and I have to shake my head at all the gun stuff to the detriment of prepping.
Go over to the Zombie Squad site. They have excellent information. Now, check out some of their topic boards.
Planning and Preparation; 1318 topics and 35422 posts.
First Aid: 611 topics and 10582 posts
Transportation: 549 topics and 11225 posts.
Now, firearms; 4988 topics and 121023 posts. Yes, 121 THOUSAND!
I mean, I get it that guns are fun, but something is out of whack here.
I like guns. It’s fun to go out to the range and blow off some steam, but I am not going to spend scarce resources on guns just to have them when I need to get food, first aid supplies, and figure out how to store water. That is plain Loco in my book.
I have a SW 357 revolver, a 22L semi-auto pistol, and a Marlin 60 22L at home. I’m getting a shot gun in 12 gauge, a bolt action 308, and a SKS, (living in California sucks some times) and the ammo and spare parts, then I’m done.
Now, if I can pick up some stuff cheap, like a 38 caliber revolver, I will, but I won’t endanger my other preps to get toys.
To repeat job-site fortune cookie wisdom “I only need to buy one tool… an engraver.”
Now to paraphrase…
Don’t get me started with this thread, urgh.
Too many of my fellow preppers are caught up in the finish of a rifle, how many MRE’s they have a nary a thought about toothpaste, bleach or soap. Nor do they dwell on food for their children or pets. Yet they have 11987 rounds of 40 caliber in three shades.
Guns: Shotgun, 12G, Rifle 10/22, backup SKS.
Pistol would be nice, but pistol is used to fire when running to rifle.
Good post. I’m so glad someone is saying this besides me.
I started off with a 22, then I moved on to the next category in my prep plan. Once I had something in every category I then got a 12 gauge and once again moved through the categories. Later an SKS with the same proceedure. I’ve been talking to my brother and another friend of mine for years trying to get them to move beyond this stage. They have a few days of canned goods set aside for emergencies, but no comm, no medical supplies, no gennie, nothing. But they’ll sink 1,200 into a Kimber or 1,000 into widget x when they already have several pistols and don’t need a widget but there neighbor has one. To many of us get caught up in the “gun ‘n fun” portion of this lifestyle and neglect the other important areas.
Wow, a great new site and posting!
Its just that guns are so sexy! But like someelse has already posting, water, food and TP should come first.
I’m all for the 22lr and 12ga. I don’t see a need for anything else in my AO.
Guess Grandpa Saxxon was right, “a 38 for across the bedroom, a 12ga for the house and a 30/06 for reaching out.”
Jerry
I’ve yet to meet the man or woman who can employ more than one gun simultaneously (and actually hit a non-moving target).
Too many get hung up on “More guns!”, and skimp on the more likely to be used essentials (from TP and toothbrushes to food and first aid).
Good posts, but for a guy in the burbs who understands the environment of people who live here, does anyone honestly believe that if you are having to kill people with your guns that you really have a chance in the long run? I mean, I’m prepping but the gun part I just can’t get into. I’ll be the guy helping my neighbors in the short term, because if society truly breaks down, it will reach every part of this country, some faster than others, but again, do any of you actually believe you’ll make it through?
Firearms are tools Stryker. They have a purpose. They are the tools that may help you and those neighbors you want to help maintain order in your part of the country. So yes to your question on making it through. You can work together and help your neighbors like they did during the flooding in Iowa this year or you may find yourself in a place like N.O. after Katrina where your neighbors are helping themselves to your stuff, including your family’s food. A firearm is to tool that may prevent that or give you the time you need to get your family to a safer place. Just my 2 cents
Like Stryker, I’m also a little skeptical about the guns. If it’s just a random burglar or person trying to take your food, sure a gun will help. However, if the SHTF in a complete civil-unrest, roving gangs type of way, I don’t think having a few guns around is going to help all that much, especially if you live in the burbs. How defensible is your house? How many large, ground-level windows do you have? Could you (by yourself or with someone else) really keep a large mob at bay who are determined to break in and have guns themselves? After all, you’re going to have to sleep sometime. Do you know how to survive a firefight in tight quarters (e.g., hallways and bedrooms)?
This situation require much more training and prep than just owning a bunch of guns and ammo.
Great posts here ..I bought a 45 cal semi auto and an old pump 12 ga from a pawnshop for defense..I stocked my pantry and one floor to ceiling closet with lots of ramen and canned goods..I have enuff containers to store 25 gals of water (FDA approved )..a full on medical kit from walmarts and some misc stuff I added to that kit..all was good…until I fell off the wagon of logic and bought a 9 mm s/a rifle..then the crap I heard about the prez elects outlook on guns I went out and bought a AR and an AK..200 rounds of ammo for each weapon in my closet..that was stupid of me and costly..if I could sell the AR and AK to recoup my cost on them I prob would even tho they may be worth more than they cost me in a few months..the 45 ,9mm and 12 gauge is enuff and the total investment would have been under 600 bucks ..save myself approx 1800 on the 2 other guns and the ammo for them..I realized that I over did it on the guns , especially for just one person before I read this blog..I could have used that 1800 on a small generator..but Im laying the blame for the AR and AK on Obama ..lol
The way I figure it, if SHTF, all our wood framed suburban houses are indefensible by themselves. Rifle and some handgun rounds will go thru them like paper, not to mention large glass windows on the first floor. I don’t plan to tear my house down and replace it with a 12″ thick concrete fortress. I also don’t plan to bug out unless absolutely necessary, because then you are alone in your car or retreat with large, well armed criminal gangs roaming and having their way with you, your gold, your food and weapons. One of the scenarios which has a “happy” outcome includes Bug-In with some kind of neighborhood watches, border guards, checkpoints on roads coming from the big city, etc. But many of the citizens will have to serve as armed militia on these duties. Ergo, I have an AR in 308 and a M&P semi pistol in 40 (among other things).
PhilaBOR hit it on the head, it would have to be a community or neighborhood effort. One man against a street gang will not work, but a neighborhood that musters even just 50 armed men could. Remember gang will need medical treatment for gunshot wounds also. If there is an increased chance of being shot and no medical treatment around they will then seek target that can not shoot back. These guys are not stupid. If you have any local Law Enforcement Officers living in your neighborhood get to know them, they can give your neighborhood defense legitimacy if ever questioned. They will want to protect their families also. Also if the Officer is having to work he can do his job better if knows his neighbors are also watching out for his family. Also find out who are ex-military with combat experince, these guys can help organize and run the neighborhood defense. just my 2cents
I would like to put a different perspective on this issue:
One reason I collect guns is that the guns we can purchase now may not be available in the not so distant future. My son who is 24 will someday inherit most of my guns, as will my worthy son in laws and Grandsons. I agree with a lot of the excellent point you’all have made in this blog. Keep up the good work!
If you remember the Rodney King riots, just the threat or display of a shot gun or rifle was sufficient to prevent the crowds from looting or burning down many of the Korean owned shops. I recommend that preparers purchase at least one shotgun or carbine for each adult. Defense of your home and family would best be using a neiborhood group using handheld radios, shotguns and carbines, and the full knowledge and participation of the local police.
I fell we all should teach are children about shooting . Continue to buy and practice. Period.The time is upon us . I’ll meet you in the mountains.
Excellent post! I’ve been putting off buying a really nice S & W .38 Special this past week and I think I know why now. Already have the 12 ga, an M-1 .30 carbine, a couple 10/22’s, 11 handguns and about 5,000 rounds assorted ammo. What am I missing? Yup, you got it. Haven’t stocked the food/water yet. DOOOOH! Now I’m SURE I’m gonna sell my Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt and use the cash for some useful stuff. Stay safe.