MORE GUNS
Before we start today, I just want to warn everyone that this will NOT
be normal. I won’t be doing a gun
article every week. If they happen in
clusters it is only because I write one and a comment on that one inspires
another. I love guns, but survivalists tend to go a little gay over
them. They are just tools, and most
folks misrepresent them. Food is far
more important ( although you obviously need both ). That said, let me share with you why I don’t
upgrade my arsenal. I do have the money,
but money is also just a tool. If I
spend it on guns, I can’t have it for savings.
I hate savings, being subject to hyperinflation or outright government
theft, but I still NEED it. If you
remember from previous discussions, I’ve already upgraded my arsenal a few
times. At first I had just a pistol,
Springfield Armory 1911, being in the school of the “six months prepper, then
recovery” delusion. Then I went with the
Lee-Enfields, but they were the No.1’s ( WWI rather than the next wars N0.4’s
). Better bayonet but really crappy
sites. Then I added a few Chinese
SKS’s. I got rid of all of those, then
went with Smelly No. 4’s and the cheap South American 45’s. I got rid of the autos and went to a
revolver. Then, I later added to the No.
4’s while they were still affordable, plus got a great rimfire arsenal with
enough ammo. The last time I bought a
gun was about 2005 or thereabouts. So,
almost twenty years of getting the arsenal right, then ten years fighting the
temptation to do it all over again.
*
Clearly, my arsenal is not yet perfect.
The perfect survival rifle is still the HK-91 ( clones, now ). I don’t think one needs a carbine. They are Industrial Age warfare and while I’m
about 50/50 deciding whether the future will be total Dark Age no
infrastructure or another lifetime of Chinese dominance allowing Commie Carbine
ammo re-supply, either way feeding a carbine is going to be problematic. Shotguns have their place, but in a limited
role. I would forget about rimfire, as
the ammo will never be affordable again.
Pistols, I feel comfortable with and like, but see more open warfare than
clandestine militia revolution, so the expense to most po folk might not be
justified. If you live in an area you
need a pistol now, you need to move, not get a CCP and a high-cap wonder
plastic pistol. If you think you need it
soon, just think about how easy it is going to be for a rifle wielder to
acquire a pistol. But not the other way
around ( yes, I know, sneak up to a soldier and cap him and get a pistol. I’d be too nervous. I like the idea of bushwhacking from afar
). You need a rifle first, not a
rimfire, because of the ammo. Not a
pistol, due to limited utility. Not a
shotgun, due to its limitations.
More next article
END
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Please support Bison by buying through the Amazon ad graphics at the top of the page. You can purchase anything, not just the linked item. Enter Amazon through my item link and then go to whatever other item you desire. As long as you don’t leave Amazon until after the order is placed, I get credit for your purchase. For those that can’t get the ads because they are blocked by your software, just PayPal me occasionally or buy me something from my Amazon Wish List once a year. *The Old Bison Blog on CD: Over five years of work and nearly two million words of pure brilliance. Here is the link to order:http://kunaki.com/sales.asp?PID=PX00KX7Z1I Also as a free e-book, but not cleaned up or organized, at Lulu
*Contact Information* Links To Others* Top 20 Survivalist Fiction* Land In Elko* Lord Bison* my bio & biblio
*My books: http://bisonprepper.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-book-links.html
* By the by, all my writing is copyrighted. For the obtuse out there
Guns are good, but I tend to get more daily use age from a good multi tool like a Gerber or a Leatherman. Footwear is another place to spend money on. Frugal is good, but can be carried to extremes.
ReplyDeleteUsed to be, just a few years back, $60 shoes were great quality. Now, those last six months.
DeleteI just bought a pair of boots that were last-years-model msrp $229.99, with various on-line codes/coupons for $72. Almost no effort, but this was the last pair and in my slightly-large-but-still-normal 11.5 regular, so I'm going to give it the same chance as scoring a pair of unused 12 pounds each Swiss leather hiking boots in my size for $5. Good things can happen if you are decisive and don't over-regret sometimes having good deals turn out to be worthless.
DeleteThe mfg was Lowa, and the Creek II's were made in Slovakia. It's great to get some good Eurostuff and not pay too much. They are lighter than the 11W low-quarters made by Danner (Danner: thumbs up!) that I've been wearing for a year (after finding them 90% good for $12).
If you have the wrong kind of woman in your life, don't tell her about the cheap scores or the small-failures, lest she do your over-regretting for you of the dollars you didn't spend on her creature comforts and no longer have. BTW, this is a really good way to verify that the wrong woman is in your life.
+1 on the low quality of $60 msrp shoes. Sixty bucks is just not very much money any more. Not quite a $5 roll of silver dimes.
pdxr13
$60 not being much money happened pretty darn quick. 1999 $22 Payless Shoes boots lasted three years+. Payless shoes in 2012 are $35 and last, literally, three WEEKS. Oh, BTW, I really friggin hate that company.
Delete“Shotguns have their place, but in a limited role.”
ReplyDeleteThe one exception James, and keeping in line with your philosophy of single shot simplicity, is such a shotgun for those fortunate enough to be living in heavily wooded areas where shots will not likely exceed beyond 150 yards. The new sabot slugs are said to be good for at least this range, and birdshot will suffice for most quarry, and is also good for “crowd dispersement”.
Buy the Lee shotshell loader below, and you're good to go. Of note is that the below link is from the actual Lee site, and can probably be found for a lower price elsewhere.
http://leeprecision.com/shot-shell-reloading/shot-shell-reloading-press/
Do they make rifle sites on single shots? I can't hit spit with shotgun sites. Even in heavy7 woods ( back when I was living there )
DeleteSome shotguns have interchangeable barrels James, and you can get a rifled, or non-rifled slug barrel with sights. Or you can mount a scope on the receiver. The single shots don't usually come with such options for the barrels though. My Stevens though, has the traditional front bead, as well as a small grove at the rear to line up with, so it gets you in the ballpark.
DeleteYou can sight a single-shot NEF rifle/shotgun with peeps or a fancy scope. A Mossberg 500 shotgun can mount rings and a scope, or a rail for whatever.
DeleteI do believe that NEF does sell a rifle sighted single shot shotgun, the Tracker II.
Deletehttp://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Shotguns/tracker2.asp
The key for shooting with SOME accuracy with the standard shotgun bead is maintaining a consistent hold. The top edge of bead should be right below your target. Barrel regulation will likely by off, but at least, you have a consistent point to aim with. I have a NEF Tamer 20 gauge and within 50 yards, it is slug gun accurate with the front bead. Just saying.
When ammo was going price crazy, I liked the shotgun. I do worry over the ammo storage long term.
DeleteNew guy looking for first firearm advice: Centerfire Rifle, in a "standard" caliber. Pistols are fun, lots of fun, but later not first.
ReplyDeleteWith unlimited money: HK 91, full-length barrel, with a tax-stamped suppressor, a ton of the best magazines/web gear/best ammo. Professional training. 160 acres of off-grid year-around retreat property available from any number of commission-paid Real Estate Agents who will see you coming. I'd get a Ferret armored car, too.
As has been mentioned, if you NEED to have a CCP and body armor to wait for the bus near home, don't buy stuff: MOVE. GTFO of there, asap.
Also, with unlimited money, see me for a GREAT business opportunity.
DeleteI'd say that if you went 100% the other way from what you recommend, then you would be close to a good firearms survival plan.
ReplyDeleteRim-fire, shot-gun, and revolver pistol is exactly the first three guns needed for any survival scenario.
You have great hair, but you are as clueless as a former Californian in your advice.
I know because....well...let's just say I'm a done-it-and-been-there guy and call it 'enough said', if you get my drift.
Rim-fire .22, shotgun, and a revolver pistol is where survival weapons start, my fellow preppers. After those, add whatever you can afford.
Jim's cool-aid is full of piss on this topic. Ignore this warning at your own peril. I seriously beg my fellow preppers: start with a .22 rifle, a shotgun in any gauge, and a revolver pistol of your choice. After you have them, then you can listen to the experts (who won't be there for you when you need to actually use a firearm).
*spit*
I can buy a great .22LR autoloader, with accessories (Ruger 10/22 Takedown, with side-folding stock and TechSights), right now, with no problem. Under $500. But....... the new guy without 1990's backstock has to buy ammo at ten cents a round (a good deal!) for "bulkpack" .22LR 40 grain. The cost of the weapon can be dwarfed by the ammo consumption (.22 shooters are the worst about "mag dumps" of 25 per) in the first month.
DeleteShotgun is good. Cheap at g-sale: $40, or trade for iPod. Ammo is spotty on the retail market. Not cheap, but seasonally-available. 5 rounds of slug for $3.99, limit 5. Buckshot about the same. Heavy, bulky, slow defines shotgunning unless you have a Saiga, then still heavy/bulky. Bring a friend with a centerfire rifle (AR-15) while hunting to defend your bag. So, hunnert bux to get started, with a minimal shotgun (NEF, or clone, breech-loader).
Revolver has a lot going for it. Once loaded, it only requires gross motor movements. A hammerless model (pocket, or "lemon-squeezer" GET OFF OF MY BIKE, model is a good thing) is not going to be stopped by a grap. A second gun is better than reloading. .38SP +P in a sturdy frame will do the job at-hand, and has 100% retention of brass for reloading or fornesic purposes. If I was going to fight a small war running-and-gunning, it would not be with a revolver.
Centerfire ammo is reloadable. So you lose 20% of your practice brass (set up catchers), but you reload and save about half cost (and get a "tuned" load for your weapon). If you get an HK91, reloading is more trouble due to the chewing of brass, but _whatever_. Get a FAL if this matters to you. Having a boltie combat rifle like a Springfield or Lee-Enfield has the advantage of recovering about 99% of brass (in near-perfect condition!) as well as being able to exactly tune ammo for 1st shot 500M hits.
Haven't we played out the scenarios of "Lone Wolf"? He is at an advantage at first during the collapse, as long as he is a hungry scared hiding wolf, but as soon as he bothers a larger group (all groups are larger), he gets flanked and hunted down. Bummer. If he lives by never ever coming into contact with people, he is a crazy toothless old wolf, maybe a little malnourished since the drums of vitamins ran out.
The only multi-generational post-collapse plan that might-sorta work is the remote small town. No television or cell coverage now. Bring all the money you will ever need if you move there.
pdxr13
Revolver, back-up exclusive rather than a good tactical arm.
DeleteI've always made reference to being poor and in a hurry, and you are telling everyone to START with three guns?
ReplyDeleteYou can also consider a combo gun if you can find one Jim, and kill two birds with one stone. Someone made a .22/20GA (.22 barrel on top, 20GA on bottom) a few years back, but it's since been discontinued. I also think the M6 Scout has been discontinued? It's a .22/.410. But the .410 is not a very effective gauge, and the shells cost more than a 12GA (Reload them). Still, there are many around, and the .410 will have at least some effectiveness.
ReplyDeleteI've always looked at combo guns as being the worst of both worlds. For some, practical. For most, not always. Better a rifle and then a pistol. Better redundancy and not part of the same gun to break/loose.
DeleteI'd agree to disagree, but the combo does have one large advantage over other designs - YOU HAVE BOTH SHOTGUN AND RIFLE RIGHT NOW IN YOUR HAND. When seconds count, this can be the difference between a hungry night or having meat.
DeleteYou have a point, of course.
DeleteI fully agree with the 22 first, then an open bore shot gun able to use slugs non semi-auto, then a revolver.
ReplyDeleteAfter all those a large caliber bolt gun for reaching out there. It won't do ya any good to buy this first. As until you burn at least a couple thousand rounds through that 22. Ya ain't gonna hit shit with that bolt gun cuz of lack of ability to shoot well
Rimfire arsenal was the best for long term, before the Long Ammo Shortage. Now?
DeleteHere in Australia, all though this so called rime fire shortage, 22lr ammo has been cheep and plentiful evan though most of it is imported from America. I recon much of this rimefire shortage you guys have been experianceing is some kinda marketing ploy. ... Aussie
DeleteWell, if they weren't wise enough before to stock up on the lowly 22, then things are tougher. Still prices are moderating, I'm seeing $4 per 50 now, when available. It is still possible.
DeleteNot to worry old fair haired friend, you know I've got that base more than covered. Even to Rawles specs he he.....
Pity the rookies fer sure !
I can't claim to be wise for the stocking up. It was just at the top of my To Do list and I lucked out with the timing. Same with buying the Enfields and them the commie ammo for the reload components. And the junk land. It pays to panic early/be paranoid. That way I look wise in hindsight rather than actually have to be at the time. :)
DeleteAussie- what is the price? Perhaps it was only cheap relatively speaking. I still contend global peak copper is the cause.
DeleteCouple of years ago I was buying Remington bulk bucket of bullets(1600 rounds from memory) for $70 . Priced the same bulk lot a few days ago at $130 Australian, But Australian dollar has droped about 25% since then. Aussie
DeleteI think Jim's advice is based on his BPOD location. Hes not expecting to hunt and is primarily concerned with defense. He needs a longer range gun. For his one gun situation he is right. In the city? A concealable pistol or magazine fed carbine are good choices. All classes of weapons 22, shotty, pistol, rifle have pluses and minuses. One gun can't do everything. What can you carry? A pistol and one long gun. Jims point was saving money. A decent 22, pistol and pump shotgun will run you $600-$800 if you get good deals. New? 10-22, Mossy 500, and off name revolver is pushing a $1000. A used rifle leaves alot of money for other preps if you are strapped for cash.
ReplyDeleteRe-read the article cause half of it is about no money prepping. Been there done that? I think Jim spent more time surviving than any of us. And to call him clueless is pretty extreme.
At least you praised the hair but there are other options for starting preppers than 3 or 4 guns.
Jim is presenting new options all the time and has made bad calls but he accepts constructive criticism. Clueless he ain't?
New options works better than "The Best", yes? Without criticism I'm just another "expert". Yech!
DeleteJim is the man whom walks the walk !
DeleteA more knowledgeable survivor is hard to come by for sure.
On top of this, I personally cannot praise him enough for his kindness and generosity.
And the hair!
DeleteGrow some then Jim ! Now that you're living in the world of plentiful water let it grow out.
DeleteSo that we may witness the glorious locks of magnificence !
I tried long hair after the military and eventually gave up on it. Greasy head=greasy hair, even hours after washing. And let us not forget, I started writing about the time I cut my hair. Proof positive more oxygen is getting in.
Delete