Posted: 3/3/2010 7:06:21 PM EDT
| How many guns is too many? I mean, I have 20 or so. 5 pistols and 15 rifles of various calibers. I have two 22 year old sons, A 24 year old daughter and her husband, my 11 year old daughter and my wife. My son in law has about 8 of his own but my boys dont have any that they have bought. In s SHTF situation i will of course give my boys and girls guns and ammo. but should a person have double, triple or more redundancy? I like guns dont get me wrong but. Now that I have been enlightened as to Prepping I see the need for getting all kinds of stuff not just guns. I read some of your posts and it seems that some of you get by with 5 guns or less. I was thinking about starting a garden this year plus other preps I have been buying, sooo should a guy still squeez in the odd gun and case of ammo or is 20 or so good? sorry I'm board. |
|
If you want SHTF guns, you need the main ones. .22, 12 gauge, Battle rifle in 5.56/.308, Long range in .308/30.06, pistol in your favorite caliber, etc. It's pretty much up to you but that's the basic. Now, guns are fun, I love guns, and I'm not going to limit myself to just SHTF guns. RIght now I have 3 basic guns that cover my SHTF needs, and my fun needs. In the future I plan to add to more SHTF and some more fun guns. So it's up to you, but in the way of SHTF guns it's good to have a standardized set.
YMMV, IMHO, and all that. Edited because .38 Battle Rifles suck... |
I like guns alot. I especially like military weapons. I don't see any reason why you cannot continue to expand your collection as you see fit as long as you have all your other bases covered. It can be difficult to get your money back quickly on a firearm if you suddenly lose your job. You can't eat guns either. I have selected a standard weapon for me and my family (AR15). I have a weapon for each of them, plus a couple of spares. I have sold off a few oddball caliber guns so that I can consolidate calibers. I have a boatload of ammo for a few calibers. I bought alot of my ammo back when it was cheap. I enjoy shooting, and 10 cents a pop is my style. 
|
|
Quoted:
How many guns is too many? I mean, I have 20 or so. 5 pistols and 15 rifles of various calibers. I have two 22 year old sons, A 24 year old daughter and her husband, my 11 year old daughter and my wife. My son in law has about 8 of his own but my boys dont have any that they have bought. In s SHTF situation i will of course give my boys and girls guns and ammo. but should a person have double, triple or more redundancy? I like guns dont get me wrong but. Now that I have been enlightened as to Prepping I see the need for getting all kinds of stuff not just guns. I read some of your posts and it seems that some of you get by with 5 guns or less. I was thinking about starting a garden this year plus other preps I have been buying, sooo should a guy still squeez in the odd gun and case of ammo or is 20 or so good? sorry I'm board. Just 20???? Amateur. 
|
|
standardize you weapons...in cailber and type. like all 10/22's , all Glocks, all AR type 15 or 10's ,your MBR should be standardized in military cailber. reduces spare parts, and varity of cailbers. I have sold and trade various weapons to accomplish this. Makes training for family member simpler and raises the level of accuracy and framilirity everyone has with the various weapon systems. |
|
Quoted: standardize you weapons...in cailber and type. I have done a LOT of this over the last several years –– big believer in the concept. I still have plenty of singles/odd-balls/etc. for "non-serious" uses, but my primary platforms for HD/SD/etc. are standardized and I have several of each (along with corresponding mags, parts, etc.). |
|
As your 'collection' expands, think of buying some Class 3 weapons instead of a couple other additions that'll add up to a similar cost.
This way, your SHTF carbine can be an SMG! I've gone from the rigged out MP15T to an LWRC M6A2 w/10.5" barrel in FA configuration...via a RDIAS. Add some Beta 100 rd mags and you're GTG like never before...Then the Uzi and a Lage'd M11 for my sons...and I'm throwing more metal downrange then anyone will want to 'face'. We've got more on form 4's awaiting approval, of course...BRD has hit this home in a big way
|
| Your gun preps sound good. I believe in standardization. Where do you feel weakest? What kind of emergencies are you likely to face, and how are you prepared for that? I used to live in North Dakota, and we were more likely to face a winter storm that left us without power than we were to face a zombie invasion. Of course one can lead to another... |
How many guns do you need? X+1 X being how many you currently own.
A few thoughts. Standardization can be a good thing. But I think it tends to be way over emphasized as well. Starting from the ground up standardization, to an extent, can be beneficial(ammo, parts, magazines etc ad nauseum). However, if you have 15 long guns, before you go trading them off to hit the rawlesian shtf fantasy gun trade I must standardize or die consider this: Do you NEED to sell two or three guns to add one towards standardization? OR can you buy them out right? IF you have to sell to add is it really worth it? WOuld you be better off spending $ on other preps (food h2o storage, spare parts, training, ammo, first aid, taking the wife on vacation? Midol, tampons soap household cleaners etc) How many of those guns have sentimental value? Are you planning on Teotwaki ala the road or the more mundane and far more likely Katrina/LA riots etc? No offense your average gang banger is not going to look at you and yours with lever guns and think "them fools don't they know they need a 3K AR for SHTF?". Their gonna say shit they got guns look for an easier target. Bad guys don't like folks who shoot back. A handgun is far more versatile and useful in the majority of SHTF scenario's, especially once you leave your property, than a long gun. As some one with small hands one size does not fit all. I carry a glock 19, have carried a beretta 92 and they are a little big for me but they work, my 4'9 80 year old mother carries a sp101 She ain't gonna do well with the glock. Hell, a BHP is to big for her hands. That is why I have multiple glocks and multiple 38/357 platforms. Are your kids all ready familiar (as in they used to shoot that win model 70 in .243)with some of those guns? If so, are they familiar with your standard platform? If not will they make the effort to learn it before the balloon goes up? IF they are not willing to make that effort, are you as a group better off with your three kids using shtf guns that you standardized on that they have never used before? Or are you all better off with them having guns they are familiar and confident with? I would personally rather have some one on my side using a platform they are intimately or acceptably familiar with than a platform they know nothing about. Ammo compatibility. Ummmm, teotwaki I can see your point. Katrina LA riots? Seriously? SPare parts. Great. IF you are confident you can replace all the parts on whatever platforms you choose. And have the tools to do it. IF you don't what's the point? WHile I have standardized to a point (multiple ar's and glocks) I havefour shotguns in two gauges. None of them were made by the same company let alone the same model. I have two makes of 38/357 revolver and 2 other makes of rimfire revolvers. While my centerfire rifles currently and for the near future will be the same caliber they are not the same action type. A new caliber or two and another action type or two will eventually be added. Survival is not a one size fits all propostion. What works for me may not work for anyone else. JMHO YMMV |
|
Quoted:
If you want SHTF guns, you need the main ones. .22, 12 gauge, Battle rifle in 5.56/.38, Long range in .308/30.06, pistol in your favorite caliber, etc. It's pretty much up to you but that's the basic. Now, guns are fun, I love guns, and I'm not going to limit myself to just SHTF guns. RIght now I have 3 basic guns that cover my SHTF needs, and my fun needs. In the future I plan to add to more SHTF and some more fun guns. So it's up to you, but in the way of SHTF guns it's good to have a standardized set. YMMV, IMHO, and all that. .38 battle rifle? 
You buggin out through an Indian reservation? |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
If you want SHTF guns, you need the main ones. .22, 12 gauge, Battle rifle in 5.56/.38, Long range in .308/30.06, pistol in your favorite caliber, etc. It's pretty much up to you but that's the basic. Now, guns are fun, I love guns, and I'm not going to limit myself to just SHTF guns. RIght now I have 3 basic guns that cover my SHTF needs, and my fun needs. In the future I plan to add to more SHTF and some more fun guns. So it's up to you, but in the way of SHTF guns it's good to have a standardized set. YMMV, IMHO, and all that. .38 battle rifle? http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/31oge-rQoRL._AA280_.jpg You buggin out through an Indian reservation? [PICTURE OF THE GUY FROM THE ROAD WITH HIS .38 CAL REVOLVER] Yes, yes I am. |
|
The standard that I set for myself is that I have too many guns when I don't have enough parts in stock to maintain them all. There are some who contend that the best spare parts kit is another identical weapon. While I understand that argument, turning an $1200 AR into an unwieldy club because you had to steal a buffer spring out of it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
The primary reason I don't own a huge variety of weapons is because each new weapon platform I get into requires a certain investment in spare parts, tools, and armorer training. If I'm considering the purchase of a new $1500 FAL, for example, in my mind I'm really going to spend $2000+ once I buy all of the parts and tools to support the thing. For "SHTF" use, I've standardized on the AR/M4, G19/26, USP45, and Benelli M3/870 platforms. Why? Because I have enough parts on-hand to keep those particular weapons running just about forever. Sure I own a bunch of Sigs, other USPs, and a FAL, but I don't have enough parts on-hand to keep them running without outside help. To answer your questions succinctly, if you have a closet full of weapons but lack the parts to maintain them then something needs to be done. I'd either invest the money in spare parts, or sell off the least desirable weapon to buy parts for the others. You don't have to go to the extreme that I do, but the ability to keep your guns running is a huge plus. Here is part of my AR kit: 
Not shown are spare BCGs, barrels, gas tubes, receivers, and dedicated armorer tools. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
standardize you weapons...in cailber and type. I have done a LOT of this over the last several years –– big believer in the concept. I still have plenty of singles/odd-balls/etc. for "non-serious" uses, but my primary platforms for HD/SD/etc. are standardized and I have several of each (along with corresponding mags, parts, etc.).
Same here. I moved to 'all .40' caliber for my handguns. I still have a 22LR suppressed pistol and a .380. The .380 has not left my safe in 3-4 years. Ditto on the rifles. I have a nice collection of calibers, but if the SHTF, there are only 1-2 calibers that I would need to feed. TRG |
|
Quoted: For "SHTF" use, I've standardized on the AR/M4, G34/17/19/26, USP45, and Benelli M3/870 platforms. Why? Because I have enough parts on-hand to keep those particular weapons running just about forever. With the minor tweak above, I am right there with you... and couldn't agree more about the spare parts issue, regardless of how many "redundant" duplicates I have of the complete firearms.   (Old pics, much has changed, but y'all get the idea...) |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
For "SHTF" use, I've standardized on the AR/M4, G34/17/19/26, USP45, and Benelli M3/870 platforms. Why? Because I have enough parts on-hand to keep those particular weapons running just about forever. With the minor tweak above, I am right there with you... and couldn't agree more about the spare parts issue, regardless of how many "redundant" duplicates I have of the complete firearms. http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/HardShell/RWB%20-%20General%20Firearm-Related/Spareskit-side1.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/HardShell/RWB%20-%20General%20Firearm-Related/Spareskit-side2.jpg (Old pics, much has changed, but y'all get the idea...) Those pics warm my heart HardShell 
|
I was just starting to get my collection complete when I had a tragic boating accident and they all wound up at the bottom of Puget Sound...
Seriously, like most have stated, I've standardized on one caliber for pistols and one for rifles - at least for defense ... then I have the hunting rifle and the shotgun... but I'm contemplating converting over to 6.8SPC for hunting from 45-70 gov't ... Yeah, I have a couple of "singles" in there - a .22 and a 45 LC, but that's about it other than the "standards" I'm working on ammo now
|