There are those of the opinion that you can get by with just one rifle, and there are those of the opinion that you need more than one rifle to fulfill different needs in your life. MadOgre recently expounded on the "scout rifle" as an example of a "one rifle solution" that is viable in our modern society.
Personally I believe that you can do it all with one, or even "none" as the situation may require. Bows, arrows, spears, swords, knives, snares, have all been used for offense, defense, and hunting purposes long before the invention of the firearm, and are still used to this day. The human brain and will is the most important survival tool.
That being said, I am a product of the modern world, and I believe that the optimal solution for me is multiple firearms.
22 rifle and pistol
Big Game rifle, 45 ACP/9mm pistol
12 gauge Shotgun.
To explain my reasoning, I have a family, and while I won't ever carry more than two firearms at a time, that doesn't mean my family won't also have need of a firearm. The 22s are useful for taking small game, and teaching new shooters how to shoot. The 45 or 9mm is for protection, and the big rifle and 12 gauge are for hunting and protection.
That is the bare minimum that I would feel comfortable and still calling myself "prepared" by any stretch of the imagination. If it were just me, pistol, rifle, shotgun, would be enough to feel fully prepared, and if I needed to be very mobile, just the rifle.
About Me
- AM
- Raised by conservative Christian parents, enlisted in the Army at 18, used the GI Bill to finish college, and I'm back in the Army. Along the way I've encountered a huge cast of characters, some I got into trouble with, some that passed on skills that have helped me on my life journey.
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7 comments:
Same thing in my house. One 12ga, one .308 Big Stuff Rifle, one .22LR Little Stuff Rifle, 2 9mm defensive pistols. (We have nothing else. Lost the rest in a boating accident. Terrible situation.)
Four calibers for every possible need. (You could probably do without the .308 in a pinch, relying on stealth and the 12ga to take down bigger game.) Combinating and consolidating--that's the best tactic.
Yup. Folks tend to over pack - weapons included. Not a fan of 5.56 or Em sucksteen. Too many bad memories of that to believe they 'fixed' it.
Lotta people have a closet full of crap they never shoot but pose with.
Better a good shot with a .303 than a wannabe with laser death ray.
...ARs,870,and gov't models aside, i'm a three gun household, my lever gun(.35 Rem), the slide action 12, and rimfire are grocery getters...
..."one rifle..." a .22
...to say a .22 will getcha a .50 aint out of the realm of possibilities tho...
Interesting. The one rifle scenario is a place where a semi auto .308 could shine. An AKM is good at fairly close range but a .308 could do a lot of things fairly well.
Personally I would go with an AR if just because I really like them. For me gun #6 would be a big game rifle (1-5=9mm, .38, .22, 12 gauge, AR)and #7 would be a .22 pistol.
Thanks for your input to this discussion.
Nighthawk,
Ol' Top I'm with you. A slingshot is more reliable.
Indeed, a handgun of 9mm or .40, a .22lr rifle, a 30 cal rifle of common caliber, and a 12-guage will cover just about any scenario we are likely to need a firearm for.
I too prefer a .308 over 7.62x39 or 30-30 as the later two are a little on the weak side for anything larger than a whitetail deer, IMHO.
Also IMHO, .308 and other 30 cals are really "medium" game, a category that includes the two-legged variety.
Big game like cape buffalo or elephant likely requires a truly big game caliber. Most of us are not going to have to deal with this size animal.
I am a big fan of bolt actions - simple, lightweight, reliable.
I commented on The Ogre's post so won't go into it again in depth, but, that premise is one where you can have only one gun, not by choice but by edict or circumstances. Years ago my uncle, a decorated combat Marine, fled his burning house in pajamas. The only thing he snatched up on his way out, aside from my aunt, was a S&W M60. Not ideal but he was not unarmed. I agree with AmMerc: my personal minimums include .22's, center fire pistol and rifle and a shotgun. The load would be spread amongst my family and those who will be with us. That said, there is little that cannot be obtained with an accurate .22, patience and skill.
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