Picking a Handgun, Rifle, and Shotgun for SHTF
Kevin Felts 08.15.18
Question to the reader: What is your go to handgun, rifle, and shotgun for a SHTF / Doomsday event? For the sake of discussion, let’s also include security after a natural disaster, such as a hurricane.
Why include events like a hurricane? The night after Hurricane Rita made landfall in Southeast Texas, my family and I were sitting in the living room playing board games by the light of kerosene lanterns and listening to the local radio station here in Jasper, Texas – KJAS. The radio station owner had the county sheriff at the station to say a few things.
One thing the sheriff said was not to call 911. The roads were blocked with fallen trees, and everyone was pretty much on their own. If someone needed help, there was no way emergency responders could reach them. Let’s just say it was a worrisome situation – sheriff saying everyone was on their own, no electricity or running water. The good news was everyone had a full belly from steaks, sausage and pork chops we had cooked on the smoker a few hours earlier.
If the reader were in a similar situation, what handgun, rifle and shotgun would you want to have close at hand?
These are the three firearms I have for situations such as the one mentioned above:
Pump Shotgun
While semi-automatic shotguns are fine and dandy, nothing says get off my property like the action of a pump shotgun.
Remington 870 or Mossberg 500, I personally prefer the Mossberg 500 because I like the safety location of the Mossberg 500 better then I do the Remington 870 safety. I also do not like the flap over the Remington 870 magazine well – I get my fingers pinched there when trying to load a round into the magazine. Between the 870 and the 500, I find the 500 much easier to load and shoot.
Then there is there the Mossberg 590. The 590 is all business and no play. With the 870 and 500 someone may say, “That looks like grandpas squirrel gun.” The 590 with its heat shield and black synthetic stock takes a no frills approach to the “here to take care of business” shotgun.
AR-15
While something like the PTR-91, M1A, or FN/FAL may offer more firepower than the AR-15, the AR is light and easy enough to shoot for just about anyone in the family.
- Training with the AR-15 is easy, and it has less recoil than the AK-47.
- Less recoil means people are not afraid to shoot it.
- The more people shoot, they better then get.
- AR-15 prices are at a point were a reliable, good quality rifle is very affordable.
Ever since President Trump was elected, the AR-15 has been a buyers market. There is probably no better time to stock up than between 2016 – 2020.
Handgun
Chances are most people will reach for a Glock 17 or Glock 19. Personally, my choice is either the Glock 19 or Beretta 92f.
However, people living in bear country may want something with a little more firepower, such as a 44 magnum.
Then there are people who prefer a single caliber for their handgun and rifle, such as a 357 magnum revolver and lever action carbine.
Someone hunting small game may want a 22 caliber handgun and rifle.
Final Thoughts
A lot of this is subjective to what the individual wants.
Here on the farm I may take the Remington 1911 R1 while working on a fence line, then take the Glock 19 for a hiking trip.
People living in rural, cities, and urban areas all may want something different.
It boils down to this – When the power is out, the roads are blocked, and the county sheriff is telling people they are on their own, what firearm would the reader want close at hand?
