If I could have with me only one blade, one handgun, and one long gun, what would I choose?
by Jarhead Survivor
A Question of Survival
Of course, my answer will reflect my background and experiences. It’ll reflect my current situation and my expectations for the future. In short my answer will probably be different than your’s. So, before I share my answer, I would like to hear from you. What would you choose?
For the purposes of this discussion however, let’s not go with the zombie apocalypse. Lets go with something a bit more likely. Let’s say there has been a sudden and dramatic economic collapse. Maybe it was from a stock market bubble that burst or a worldwide pandemic that causes the economy to falter as well. It doesn’t really matter.
The gist of it is: you cannot buy a loaf of bread with a wheel barrel full of money. There is no electricity or water since workers have long since stopped going to work. The store shelves are bare and you must survive and provide for your family.
For the rest of the details, use your own situation. If you live in the suburbs of a large city and have two months worth of food and supplies in storage, go with that. If you have a fully stocked bug out location 100 miles from where you are now and you need to get there safely, go with that. If you are new to prepping and haven’t even started yet, go with that. The only caveat to use-your-own scenario is that you can only have three weapons. Since our scenarios will vary widely, so will our selections. Someone living in New York City will have different needs than someone living in Wyoming.
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I gave my answer on his blog, so if you want to see it you’ll have to cruise on over and take a look. But answer the question here first! Remember, this is a personal choice based on your own circumstances. Are you going to be a sword, high cap pistol and machine gun kind of guy, or do you prefer a smaller knife, revolver, and a .22 rifle for survival?
So many decisions to make! Great question, Joe! If you haven’t read any of Joe and Laura’s stuff you really should get over there and take a look.
Sometime when I get out his way I’m going to stop in and meet him and his beautiful family in person. So what’s it gonna be? Sound of below!
130 comments
To live off the land AND protect yourself – tough question! I guess I would choose a .22lr rifle, .357 or .45acp revolver and a fixed 4 – 5″ sheath knife (I can haz a machete, yes ?)
A rimfire has extremely compact ammunition size, a brick or two will last a LONG time. The handgun (no magazines to lose) is for protecting yourself short range. And the fixed sheath knife – well, stronger than a folding knife, I think for long term outdoor living, essential. But a good two blade folding hunter pattern knife would be a great choice as well.
They make .45 ACP revolvers? I thought that ‘s what .45 long colt was for.
I almost went with a revolver myself because of the magazine issue. Same as you and Yikes! – I’d avoid a folding knife since they’re not at strong as a fixed blade. Too easy to break.
Ayuh.
S&W and Colt manufactured .45acp revolvers during WWI because Colt did not have enough production for the 1911. These models were name 1917s – they are less common now, but many folks have one. I bought mine in 1980s – Brazilian police contract (1937?). Sweet guns, not fancy but real workhorses. Should also mention – they often need metal ‘moon clips’, which clip into cartridge rim. The full moon (6 round) are really awesome, as like a speedloader, they load / eject simultaneously. The pouch pocket can often be stacked with two full moon clips on top on one another – a two pocket clip can hold 24 rounds.
Yeah, the ACP’s (automatic colt pistol) cartridges are rimless, so it didn’t make sense that they would chamber a revolver in any of them.
Interesting that they made some. I wasn’t aware of it.
does anyone make moon clips for .380, or parabellum, so you can shoot them from a .38?
Thanks JP in MT.
Thoughts WHY I selected the above – here goes.
The .22 rifle is for food procurement so you want 1) precision – I shoot a rifle better than a handgun, and 2) quiet – gun shots are like dinner bells. Ammunition should be carried in waterproofed packages, in case they get dropped into water – just need one box for instant access.
.45 handgun for self defense – well, I figure anyone wanting to kill me would wait until I’m good and close to do the deed for sure shot. If they don’t wait and shoot at me from afar – well, they either miss or they hit me and that heavy centerfire rifle I’m carrying is either dead weight or becomes their property. In fact, the sight of that might even be enough inducement to take me out to STEAL that gun. Another .22 – meh!
Well, for a lone long gun you’ve almost got to go shotgun. I’d take the 870 with field and slug barrels and a short “security” barrel with rifle sights. Then you sort of have a rifle in addition to a squirrel blaster and general deterrent for baddies.
Pistol, I’m thinking a suppressed .22 along the lines of the Ruger MK II would be ideal. I ain’t out in the country, and It wouldn’t do to go scaring the hell out of everyone because I wanted to pick off a pigeon or something. Everybody loves .22’s. Failing that though, have to go compact 9mm.
One knife is rough. Fixed blade for sure in spite of the general bulkiness of it. My worst fixed blade knife will run circles around my best folder any day. Anything from Seal Pup to Ka-Bar… something that’s both bushcrafty and stabby. A Fallkniven S1 looks like a good all-arounder, though I haven’t actually gotten ahold of one yet. Folders shouldn’t count on this list. I assume that everyone has a serviceable folder at all times anyway.
I should add that I’m in NY and most of that stuff is against the law. The pistols are definitely out. They made all the rifles with dangly appendages illegal on Tuesday, and pump shotguns are probably next. A knife with a blade of 4″ or more will get you arrested if you carry it around. It’s like they don’t think there’s an apocalypse coming at all.
No apocalypse? Huh. Imagine that!
Good choices, too. When I made my choices over at Joe’s site I never even thought about a shotgun. I might rethink the rifle I chose after seeing some other folks choose a shotgun, although I’d hate to give up the distance a scoped 30-06 provides.
would it be worth it to try taking a moose or an elk with anything less than a .30-06?
(I know, shot placement still most important thing…)
Ask old guys in Maine. They used to hunt everything with a .30/30. No elk of course, but moose and black bear.
One rifle I’d go 30-06 all day long.
With guns outlawed in NY, the apocalypse has arrived for you!
Yeah, I was thinking about getting some belligerent historical flags and charging up the hill, but I read how the Whiskey Rebellion turned out and was reminded that the Federalists decisively won that particular point.
Guess I’ll just make the best of it.
And don’t make light of the zombie apocalypse! They’re coming, man… Mayans be damned.
Wheel barrel full of cash to buy a loaf of bread may become realer then we desire, we just increased our demand on food imports, and I happened upon a jar of peaches recently that was produced in China, so for a buck I tried a jar, serious ughhhh, they had a bitter taste for whatever reason, off the topic but real… I’d have to go with a k-bar knife, longer blade, a Sig 522 .22lr, and a Glock 21/.45 caliper. I’d like a stouter rifle but the versatility of the 522 which one can have 25 round mag’s, it takes a red dot site or a scope along with iron sites, weight wise you could carry all three, use the red dot until the batteries are all drained then switch to the scope and if/when that boogers then the iron sites. I have two of these now as I was so impressed by the durability of the first one I had to have another. The Blackdog magazines have been excellent as well, It shot all sorts of ammo without a glitch, except the Federal plinker rounds kept hanging up, but then the same happened with the 10/22’s and Marlin 60’s I tried it on so it may have been an off batch of ammo for that brick. The 522 is an easy breakdown and clean but no test yet on parts durability I only have 3,000 rounds or so through the one and still testing. That’s my take on the 3 weapons. Next rifle would be a Rugar mini ranch in 7.62×39/stainless if I had to upgrade. “C”
Knife-kbar
Will last forever and impossible to destroy. Folding knives will pose to many problems and faults.
Handgun- glock 19
Possibly xxxxxx.mmmmm …forget that …. It is the most reliable handgun in the world. There are plenty of different loads and + p loads to get done whatever you need with this handgun.I have pesonally shot over 3,000 rounds WITHOUT any malfunctions , and by the time all the revolver fans out there are trying to reload your second set of 6 rounds I’ll be already on my fourth magazine with at least 50 rounds in play.
Long gun- do I go with my mossberg 590. A1 and all the different shot abilities and barrel configuration??????…………No I think I will just stay with my colt ar15 le6290 ( oh no no not the evil ar15!!) and its wide range of ammo loads for handling any hunting or other challenges that face me.
I may complain about my situation a lot, but sometimes I forget how wealthy I really am. the stuff I have isn’t perfect but I have lots of it…
Knife: Victornox “scout”.
Handgun: Ruger “Security-Six” 4″ stainless, .357Magnum.
Long gun: (I’m thinking…)
if I couldn’t have a multi-tool, the scout knife would be the next best thing. the Victornox is the sharpest blade I have right now. I don’t own the Ruger, but they’re built robustly, and have coiled springs, instead of “leaf” springs. my 2nd choice would probably be a S&W 629 (.44 magnum) or 625 “mountain gun”. (which I also don’t own)
“Bear Country” starts a county or two to the north or west of here…
the .357 offers a slightly wider choice of cartridges without needing to become a handloader.
I’m torn between a 12 guage pump, and a bolt action .22 (scoped) for my long gun. it would be hard to go wrong with an 870, (with or without extra barrels and/or accessories) or a 5oo. 2nd choice would be an SKS, or a “Mini 30”. (I don’t have either) they aren’t hunting rifles… 7.62×39 are plentiful. (and were cheap) I guess it would depend on how real the possibility is of facing a home invasion, vs the need to put food on the table.
…or maybe a scoped .30 30.
…or should I go in a completely different direction:
black powder?
Go for a nice matching flintlock pistol and musket set with a roachbelly on the side… and a coonskin cap to go with it.
Or maybe an old west theme: Henry rifle in .45 colt, Colt single action army, tomahawk… ten gallon cowboy.
I think I’d go with a Bowie, instead of the tomahawk.
(can use with baton to split firewood)
maybe a blunderbuss instead of the musket, or a Kentucky.
I was thinking more about a “Remington” repro, in stainless. (percussion caps are the weak link in that case)
I know nothing of such things. I’m convinced that firing a black powder gun would blow my eyebrows off, and so I avoid them.
Good call on the Bowie.
as long as you don’t try to use smokeless powder, you should be safe enough. as always, use hearing and eye protection.
…should have creditited Granite Prepper, per the Bowie. (see below)
Shyte!
‘+1 on the BK2! It’s my knife of choice. As far as a rifle, I’m on the fence. Have to think of it as, “How am I most likely to feed myself?” I.E. am I going to be dropping deer every time I get hungry, or is smaller game more likely? I think I’d have to go with my 10/22, as I can’t see being left with anything eatable after shooting a squirrel with a 30.06, and a head shot will drop a deer… Of course, I’m from the south and don’t hunt anything larger than a whitetail. And a pistol? My Grandpappy’s .38 Special that I carry now.
You’re going to feed yourself by eating bugs after a relentless swarm of displaced people sweep the landscape eating every deer, squirrel and monkey within the first 6 months.
You don’t need a rifle. you need a flyswatter.
Wow. Your post was neither helpful nor entertaining. Responses like yours are the reason I normally don’t post on internet forums, but I thought just a simple post of my preferred tools couldn’t hurt, especially on this community-oriented site. I guess I was wrong.
Yikes!
a 22 Mag is NOT a longer 22 LR. the 22 Mag is a slightly larger diameter than the 22 LR.
irishdutchuncle:
You can get a revolver in 9mm and even 40 S&W. To my knowledge only Ruger has made a dual cylinder version that would shoot 39/357 and 9mm. But the cylinder face is different for those cartridges with a rim vs. using rimless cartridges.
I think Yikes might be just showing a little humor mixed with some sarcasm there. I will throw out this food for thought. Everyone who picks a rifle for their long gun will pass up alot a winged food unless you’re an excellent shotand you might want to reconsider something that can throw a spread. Just my 2 cents.
Rickycardo:
One thing you might be overlooking is why I like my 16″ lever gun. Shot shells. They work great for small game and birds within my range. That’s why I looked at this from 2 view points. This and the weight of ammo is why I carry a 357 when going “in the field”. At home or the BOL, I’ll have multiple weapons.
blackprojekt21, toughen up a bit & don’t be a little weenie. It was obviously humor on Yikes! part.
There are no monkeys to hunt in the U.S., after all.
I was entertained by it! Lighten up, brother.
Oh, and I was halfway not kidding. Hunting and gathering, dude? Buy an M1 and D up your sustainable farm if you’re going to take this seriously.
Note: I wouldn’t pass-up an S&W model 65, while waiting around for the Ruger. I’ve heard internet stories, about the “K frame” not holding up to hot Magnum loads. I didn’t know what to believe. the best information I have right now is that they’re fine with a heavy bullet. (158 grain lead)
Glock 19 9mm, 20g shotgun, and the survival knife my marine brother gave me when I was 12. (had to take care of lil sis :D)
I gave my little sister a knife too. Big Jarhead brothers are like that. 🙂
It’s really interesting to see the thoughts behind the selections, Jarhead. I’m looking forward to reading the comments here.
I’m going point my selections on Monday.
Thanks!
Joe
puma skinner (knife) fixed blade
ruger blackhawk (revolver) shots .357 .38 cylender change 9mm
winchester defender 12ga
Being realistic, what I have on hand now.
Beretta PX4 Special Duty 45acp, cause it holds the most rounds
2 mags X 10rds, 1 9rd mag. And has Trijicon night sights
Yugoslav AK47, cause I have the most clips and ammo for it, it’s a sight folder, and has a flashlight
And a plain old 6 inch fixed blade with a sheath.
This should already be part of our planning, I buy supplies with the hard knowledge that I probably can’t bring a 26 foot uHaul Truck with me when bug out. Must prioritize. Thanks for the blog!
I’d have to go with what I have on hand…
glock 22
remington 870 (w/ 18″ & 28″ bbl)
[unfortunately I do not have a quality 22 yet, bought a marlin 695 and immediately regretted it, should’ve went for a 10/22]
ka-bar fighting knife (6″)
Springfield XD9, Remington 870, and the KaBar I brought home with me from Vietnam. I don’t even need to go shopping.
If I’m at home, with ready resupply: M1a, 1911 in 45 ACP, Kabar.
If I’m somewhere else and trying to get home: 16″ 357 lever gun, 357 stainless sub-nose revolver, Kabar.
I do not have any guns, yet, but am planning to purchase both a rifle and a handgun this year. For rifle, 30.06 for hunting, given the scenario. For the handgun, most likely a 9mm, but would prefer to have a .357, if possible. I have a few folding knives, including a Gerber, Boy Scout Swiss Army, and a cheap single-blade folder. My only fixed blade is the Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife, which will be replaced with something much better in the near future; most likely a KaBar.
Can’t go wrong with a KaBar. I’ve got one of the standard USMC KaBars from my time in the Corps, but new favorite is the BK2 Campanion. The thing is a beast.
Marlin 695 is a bolt action shotgun. Do you mean the 795?
I had a 795 (the semi-auto .22LR) once, and it was a great little gun. It was as accurate as my Savage Mark II TR at 50 yards, but it weighed practically nothing. Very easy to carry afield.
Interesting reads, I suspect the regions have a bit to do with the choice, myself, in the south, in an area where trees and shrubs are so thick your hard pressed to see 6″‘s in, the 4 legged predators arn’t so fierce and with the upcoming political climate against gunz of any nature, standard ammo is a must, went to the local walmart two dayz ago to be nosey and the sporting goods department had two boxes of ammo left, 7mm mag, and one 22 magnum box of 20….. they had a turn tube with 6 various shotguns but on the other end the turn tube had one bolt action 3006. Choose well my friends….”C”
The ammo thing is messed up, but I’ve noticed that it’s mostly .223 and .308 that disappeared from the face of the earth. Other stuff seems to be being replenished.
There’s plenty of .30-06 around at $25 a box. I guess the government doesn’t consider that stuff to be dangerous anymore…. not like .223, which is clearly the most devastating high power cartridge ever conceived by man. People do get jittery.
Anonymous, You are right about region and then destination, if one. If I thought that my targets would be a lot of 2 legged problems, I might be swayed from my 22 obsession. I have a 30.06 that is a light, hard hitting tack driver and would put it up against anything in pure fun and function, but damn that round is heavy.
Yeah, if I thought there’d be more two legged threats or if I thought I might have to shoot into a car I’d probably swap out the .22 Mag. with something stouter.
The way I look at it Each member of the familywould get three
All based on what we have.
1st member- Mossberg 590A1 20″ 12 gauge, glock 22 (40 s&w)with 9mm conversion barrel (this allows 2 different calibers), standard military issue bayonet.
2nd memeber- 10/22 with m4 style/folding stock threaded barrel, browning buck mark with threaded barrel 22lr, cold steel two handed Katana machete (like a sword but its a do all take a beating tool that is a definite force multiplier close range.)
3rd. member- 223/556 m4 style blackrifle, Browning buckmark threaded barrel 22lr, cold steel machete
4th member- 870 Remington 20 gauge, glock 19 (9mm),Sog throwers (I would cheat and take the set it is one sheath with three knives) they are great general purpuse steel do everything take a beating inexpensive knives.
This set up covers all most popular calibers in the US @ this time and insures many situations are covered and utilizes what we have I would throw in a etool with sharpened edges and off set serations on the one side, probably a sog hatchet, sling, and sling shot for everybody, now what about everything else we need to carry!
Showoff.
Mossberg 500 12g. (home defense and field barrel combo, is that cheating?) , .357 magnum and K-bar fixed blade. The set up Danzel had in The Book of Eli worked pretty good. He made some improbable shots with his hand gun. Has any one tried those adapters that allow you to shoot anything from a .22 to .45 out of a 12 g. Don’t know how accurate it is w/out rifling. PS. Jan 19th is gun appreciation day. It is planned 2 days b4 the coronatio… Oops inauguration, to “send a message. Buy fire arms, ammo, go to the range… I know – I know it won’t work but I wanna do it. If I can forward a link about it I will.
Yes, but cheating is good in the apocalypse.
Link to national gun appreciation day.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/09/coalition-to-hold-national-gun-appreciation-day-as-calls-for-more-guns-law/
Hey it worked!!! How bout that Irish ain’t I the techno geek!
just about anybody is more techno savvy than I.
it’s usually an accident if I make a link that works…
12 gauge pump, 357 revolver that holds 7 bullets, Kabar
It makes me scream to think that I would leave my M1A behind but only 1 long gun I have to choose my Remington 870 tactical, I do have an extra slug barrel to go with it, and a set of chokes. Nobody said I couldn’t have extra barrels, lol. Pistol, I think a .22 would be perfect but since I don’t have one I’d choose my Ruger P90 in .45 caliber. Again leaving the Walther .380 at home. Just my preference here. Knife, aye, there’s a tough one. I think I might stretch the rules and bring my Kukri and sneak my little swiss army in my pocket. Too tough to call on that.
Rifle: Hard to chose… I like the shotgun idea but I think I would go with an AR.
Pistol: Glock 17
Knife: KaBar/Becker BK2
Gotta stick with a Kabar, Henry 44 rifle, 1911 45acp…always a fine trio.
Points toward a revolver:
I forgot about the fact that they can often chamber more than one cartridge. A .454 casul, for example can also do .45 Colt and a .357 mag can do .38 special… .22 mag and .22 LR, etc.
That makes them more versatile than pistols in a zombie apocalypse or whatever. Worth considering.
Quality 22lr rifle with great optics, a 357 revolver in the 4″ range and an 8″ bladed Ozark bowie by David Williamson at Ozark Traditions Knifeworks(OTK); small enough for most delicate work I need and large enough to baton wood for fires; also heavy enough to chop down small trees to turn into firewood if needed!!
762×39 rifle , 9mm pistol , good fixed blade
One of my favorite “what if” questions.
Non-Alien-Zombie-UN incursion scenario…
Marlin 60, Ruger MKII, Cold Steel Carbon V SRK, that is my current set-up ( Can I take my SAK too, puleeze ).
I live away from the city in the High Country, so take that into consideration.
I’m in a safe small town turned biggish suburb and pretty well set up food and cooking fuel wise. No real need to go out and about much.
As far as bad guys go, I doubt I’d have to deal with any and if I did it would probably be one or two at a time looking for something that they can grab quick and trade for food or drugs. I’d move anything super valuable to me inside the house and not defend the outside beyond showing lights and making some noise, if I thought someone was out there. No sense in getting my self killed over a handful of carrots or a hoe that I forgot to bring in. If they try to get into the house, then the shooting starts.
We already have issues with feral dogs around me. When the economy goes south people will drop of the dogs they can no longer feed at the city limits and they’ll drift into packs and into the woods by my place, which is just inside the city limits. We’ve already had to deal with this a few times and in this scenario we’d have to deal with it big time.
As for the long gun, a shotgun is awfully tempting. But, I the loud report and lack of precision shooting (at least by my me with slugs) is a turnoff. They’re also mighty large and heavy and I’d want something easier to carry around and have with me most of the time. So… I’d go with my Henry lever-action in .22 Mag. Easy to have around, fast shooting, easy to make precise shots with, powerful enough (just barely) for anything I’d want to shoot, and with non-hollow points it wont explode or tear up small game. If a deer did happen to wander into my back yard a head shot with a .22 Mag will down it.
For a handgun I’d look at it just for self-defense. Like the rifle I’d want to have something that would be easy to have on me at all times and I’d try to avoid overly loud reports. Since I’m mostly looking at dogs and maybe one or two people that are trying to grab something and run, I don’t think I need very high capacity, something capable at making 75 yard shots, or massive feats of penetration. I would need to carry it while working in the yard and maybe riding my bicycle. It needs to be able to stay out of my way. I’d also want to be able to conceal it at times. So… My S&W Shield should fit the bill for that one.
The Knife is easy. My Buck Woodsman. I’m typing this in a coffee shop and that knife is in my man-bag slung over the back of my chair. The Woodsman’s big enough to gut a salmon or field dress a deer (been there done that) and small enough to take care of trout and grouse and to pack around without anyone noticing. Mine’s help start more fires than I can count. The thing’s about 15 years old, has been battoned with wood and beach rocks, twisted inside of logs and used hard and put away wet. It’s holding up just fine.
Shield in 9mm.
Right on on the shotguns, Ricky! A slug gun can do most of what a .30/30 can do, but a .30/30 can’t sling bird and buck.
And some people have no sense of humor.
JP, I checked. You were correct about the diameter. I was thinking of a revolver I saw with cylinders that you can swap out for .22WMR and .22LR.
My mistake, brother.
Yikes!
Then it would work. Ruger has a new 10 shot single action and Charter Arms makes a double action.
Yeah, same caliber bullet is not the same cartridge diameter. It’s good you corrected that though. I wouldn’t want anyone to run off and jam a bunch of .22lr’s into their .22wmr and blow their eyebrows off.
Thanks.
I saw that too. It’s getting hard to feed my M1A. I have noticed that 7.62x54R is getting real popular. I might have to pull my Mosin Nagant out of retirement!
For some reason, people bought out every box of .22 ammo my local gun place had as well as the 9mm and .223. And they usually have a huge amount of .22 on hand. That was two weeks ago. I went back today and the .22’s stocked back up, but .223’s still sold out and there’s only a smattering of really expensive 9mm.
Nobody’s banning the mosin. I saw one moping at a gun show because it isn’t taken seriously anymore… 18″ bayonet notwithstanding.
M1A: awesome.
It was the strangest thing. I went to Dick’s this afternoon and saw no .22LR, no .223 or 5.56, but a pile of crappy Tula 7.62×39. I probably should have bought the whole pile and resold it for 3x the price, but I’m not that much of a prick.
I have a perfectly legal and innocent Remington 700 varminter in .223 that I can’t feed, which is a bummer. I feel your pain.
Don’t know if this is what’s happening to your ammo stores but, there’s a website, can’t recall what it is off the top of my head. Anyways, it recommends in your BOB you pack 1 shotgun/rifle and 1 handgun that both take the same ammunition. It also says to get as much .22’s as you can as, when SHTF, it’ll become the new currency. I don’t know if I agree with this but I have seen it on the web.
Depends on the duration of said event. Is this going to be perminant?
If so Mosin Nagant and SW 66. I think these two are most likely to continue to function in prolonged, poor conditions.
Short term Saiga .223 AK clone Beretta 92.
Think I’d have to go with cold steal machete.
If I had less food stores I’d be going with Remington 870 for both short and long term long gun.
AR-10 in .308…….classic 1911…..and a Kabar. And of course dies for the 2 firearms.
They say the best wepon ever made is the one in your hand when you need it. My self, any of my wepons will “get er done” within limits. As for a blade I allways have a 1944 camillus boy scout knife on a lanyard and on me. I keep a M-1917 trench bolo on my gunbelt And I knap flints. I love my M-1 garand My M-1903s and my winchesters. I guess I’d hump whatever I had with me when the balloon went up. Hand guns? whatever ! I got M-1911s My peacemaker or my Mod 19S&W But Hell guys a flintlock and a good ax will do ya’ in a pinch. Like Pops said; Its not the WEPON, it THE MAN that done the killin’.
1 option in my safe is a savage mod. 24. It is 22mag over 20 gauge 3inch capable. A glock model 34 w/my g18 mags. BK (the original) becker 7. Am actively shopping for a model 24 w/.22 LR on top.A 3” slug will harvest most anything,and of course buck and bird for other(cut slug?)uses.
Nice! I forgot bout the combination guns.
I have an HK 9MM for my handgun & a Beretta A400 semi-auto 12 gage shotgun & I’d like a Chris Reeve folding knife like this link (the bigger blade model) :
https://www.chrisreeve.com/sebenza.htm
It ain’t cheap but it is unsurpassed quality.
This question killed me….
Rifle – It really is up between my AR, my Mosin ( yep I said it ), or my Winchester 30-30. Shotguns are great, you can’t beat them but only 1 rifle? Tough – Most likely my AR
Pistol – A .40 S&W Cal. Either my Glock 22 or 23, or my Sig p229. I’m leaning towards Glock, because although the Sig is my favorite, I train with my Glock, and it’s always reliable
Knife – KaBar ( staying true ), a Bowie ( legit Rambo ) or even an M9 Bayonet. Do Multi-tools count as knives? Or what about the great Tomahawk ?
Great question. For me, I want to keep my shotgun (rem 1100)…but I have more .22 ammo, than shells. Once the shells are gone, it would just be a big club. So I’d go with the .22 carbine for the long gun. Although, this weekend…I think I’ll pick up some more shells for good measure. The shot gun sure could come in handy.
I don’t own a pistol, so I guess I’m SOL there. I know, I know…I probably should get one. Just haven’t gotten around to that yet. I do have a nice fixed blade knife.
On the subject of blades, for those on a budget, some items can seem daunting. Since I get to use and carry blades every day, and have a weakness. I would take a look at Cold Steels Bushman, tough and adaptable… here is the latest deal on them..
https://www.ltspecpro.com/Product/95BUSS2/BUSHMAN_(2ND).aspx
3 for $40
Look at the Pocket Bushman Folder, very tough and looks like a piece of art, at $27 it will not let you down.
Down side is where they are made, but a deal is a deal.
.44 revolver and .44 lever action rifle – common ammunition, can carry more ammo for less weight as compared to rifle ammo, more than sufficient to take large game. Good balance of range, stopping power, and weight.
Close second choice would be a .44 revolver with a long and short barrel and a .22 takedown rifle
Knife…well…that’s a very hard choice. I guess I’d have to go with the fallkniven f1, since I can only have one knife….but would vastly prefer two mora companions and a hideaway knife for less weight and more practicality 🙂
Long term and I had to travel:
Long gun: a 91/30 7.62x54r with bayonet
Pistol: Silenced Ruger Mark I (no click on empty) or Mark II .22LR (no magazine disconnect).
Knife: 8″ carbon steel blade (not SS) with saw
Short term and entrenched:
Long gun: A full auto 30-06 BAR (rural) or semi-auto Remington 12 gauge full cyl. (urban).
pistol: MasterPiece Arms MPA57SST 5.7x28mm Pistol This can defeat most soft body armor at close range. All steel and USA (Georgia) made. Scoped and silenced.
https://www.masterpiecearms.com/proddetail.php?prod=MPA57sst
Knife: 8″ carbon steel blade (not SS) with saw, that can be fixed to the BAR as a bayonet.
Well, I have a .30-30 Winchester but would prefer a scoped .308, because I live in the Rockies and would head for the high country I love. My 1911, because its what i carry, and my ka-bar. Realistically I would hunt with a bow, though, and only use firearms in a fight.
I spent a couple of days thinking about this and stood in front of the gun safe more than once looking at the selection.
I have a lever action Marlin in .357 to go along with one of the two revolvers chambered in same and decided to pass. Thought about one of the full size 9mm and a 30’06 bolt rifle or SKS but also decided to pass.
What I came down to was my AR15 and my Ruger Mark I. Reasons are varied but it boiled down to ammo availability and weight. In our area here in North America there are probably more of those rounds made than nearly all others combined. Both are lethal when handled correctly and the designs are pretty much bullet proof. Hunting even large animals is possible with proper shot placement or the willingness to follow and animal until it bleeds out. While the AR might not have the down range punch of a .30 cal, it lets you put a lot of fire on target to keep their heads down while you do a little E&E.
The knife would be my K-Bar. Bought it at the base clothing store years ago for something like $16. Hard to get an edge on it but when the edge is finally there, it really stays. I’ve cut firewood, made dinner, and skinned out both deer and elk with it. Another style might do each of those jobs individually better but nothing I’ve ever handled will do the over all job nearly as well.
Lots of great choices. Rifle of choice out of many would be a rossi matched pair youth in 22lr and 410 it handles slugs with fair accuracy out to 75 yards and is simple. The only limitation is is the single shot, but very reliable and simple. Handgun choice would be a High Standard Supermatic or a Ruger Mk series. As far as blades go tough choice between a good leatherman and a KBAR. But with all said the leatherman AXL is always on my side and has not let me down. Keep up the great comments.
BTW. I forgot to mention the Rossi is my pack rifle used for many years now and in the buttstock it houses (50) 22 cartridges (10) 410 shells and a metal match.
Long gun is my Rossi matched pair .223-12ga handgun my Taurus mod 66 .357 knife is my Rat-7
China
III
Knife-kbar
Will last forever and impossible to destroy. Folding knives will pose to many problems and faults.
Handgun- glock 19
Possibly xxxxxx.mmmmm …forget that …. It is the most reliable handgun in the world. There are plenty of different loads and + p loads to get done whatever you need with this handgun.I have pesonally shot over 3,000 rounds WITHOUT any malfunctions , and by the time all the revolver fans out there are trying to reload your second set of 6 rounds I’ll be already on my fourth magazine with at least 50 rounds in play.
Long gun- do I go with my mossberg 590. A1 and all the different shot abilities and barrel configuration??????…………No I think I will just stay with my colt ar15 le6290 ( oh no no not the evil ar15!!) and its wide range of ammo loads for handling any hunting or other challenges that face me.
It looks like ‘Mike minds’ run on the same track. Can’t fault the choice of the Glock. When I’d decided on the AR (mine is the S&W), it took me a while to decide on the hand gun. My first inclination was the Browning HP I’ve had for the past 30+ years with thousands of rounds through it. I finally decided on the .22 just because of the lightness and general availability of the ammo.
My three would have to be my USMC KABAR, built like a tank and you can still use it for defensive purposes, skinning, butchering, batoning, and some small tasked. My pistol would be a S&W M&P 9mm. This pistol has never failed me yet. I trust my life with this one everyday. Besides in a shtf scenario 9mm is fairly common. My long gun would have to be a H&R single shot 12ga. I love this little shotgun. Few moving parts, light, can shoot anything from bird shot to buck shot and slugs. And to top it off you can make it into a black powder shotgun if you know how to properly load BP into this shotgun. I know that 12ga ammo is heavy and bulky but to me it’s worth it’s weight.
Wife carries the 522 and Mosquito. SOG 6″ blade
I carry Sig 226 and M4. Kbar. Haven’t got the Kbar yet. Yet.
M4 in 556 with a 22LR conversion kit to go with it
Glock Model 22 in 40 S&Wwith a 357 SiG barrel, 9mm barrel & Mags… oh, and a 22LR conversion slide.
Knife, Gerber … just about any kind oh Gerber
Allready got’em
Winchester 45 Long colt lever action mainly because its lower maintenance and take down ability, however not good for range i realize. Glock 22, actuate and powerful. And a kbar, nuff said
I would take what the wife and I currently have. Our mode would be bug out to pre-planned location so food gathering would be very temporary and minimal if at all. Main focus would be arriving at the location without any extra piercings.
PTR91 GI, XD compact .45, K Bar. I can handle a heavier load so packing the .308 and .45 isn’t a problem.
M4gery, Kel Tec P11, K Bar. The wife not so much. If I had access to a 10/22 TD then I would swap this for the M4gery but I don’t and I’m trying to keep it realistic. Maybe we can get her one after the craze calms down…summer I hope. No ban is coming until 2014 at the soonest. Mark my words.
I am envious of the fellows with pistol caliber carbines. I’ll have to shoot for one of those eventually as well. I like that strategy.
DPMS LR-10 /ACOG 7.62X51
Beretta 92FS 9mm
GLOCK fixed blade spring steel knife
Stevens 311 double 12gauge/Ruger single 6 22lr/and kbar.
Ok, time for my answer: Since we’re limited to 3 in this situation, I put a high premium on flexibility and reliability. I want the 3 to have a wide range of uses if possible and to be there when I need them.
So I’d choose: a Ka-Bar BK2 Campanion knife, a .40 semi-automatice, and a 12-gauge pump shotgun.
Great comments above! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on the matter.
Joe
Fixed blade 14inch bowie
Rifle … Savage 64 in 22lr small light weight easy cleaning
And with the scope I have on mine good at 100 yards
Handgun…. Taurus rageing judge .. it shoots 45long colt for self defense 410 for small game and 454 casual for large game
I’m an old fart and have a heart that says M1A1;1911 & KBAR and a back that says Ruger 10/22; Glock 19 & KBAR
HA!
Good one.
Jarhead, if you want to try and destroy a folder, try the Cold Steel Pocket Bushman. I bought some for the mini EDC, very rugged and affordable. Made in Taiwan 🙁 and not legally carried concealed due to blade length, had a great conversation with a Federal Cop on that one. He let me go and put it in his pocket. For those on a budget and looking for light weight gear, check them out.
The S1 is a great knife! 🙂
Knife: original USMC KABAR
Pistol: S&W Model 28 357 / 38 spl with a 4 or 6 ” barrel. (I received a gun buyers guide for XMAS – lots of prices are obsolete due to the gun control issues. The guide states the model 28 has been “A dog on the market but prices have been rising”. It is a blued steel, N frame revolver, massively overbuilt but heavy. 2nd option: Ruger Standard 22lr. Again, solidly built and can tolerate hyper velocity 22lr’s, and both the ammo and gun are much lighter than the Model 28.
Long Gun AR 15.
870 with multiple barrels, 9mm ( I use sig) and a gerber multi tool.
870 can be home protection, bird gun or with slugs you can take larger critters. 9mm because is a good round, large capacity mags, and ammo will be easier to get. Multi tool so you have the ability to do more then just cut.
I don’t wanna be outgunned so here is my list:
Rifle: FNAR .308
Handgun: FN 45 (15 round clip)
Knife: K-Bar
I win!
Phila_mike, it’s not a competition! But if it was, I see your .308 and raise you a Remington 7400 in 30.06, with 10 rd mags full of AP rounds.
I know … but this is the bed that I have made for myself and I’m going to lay in it. I’d probably sneak my .22 pistol in my ruksack for small game hunting. Otherwise to me it’s all about staying alive in this scenario. I’m more worried about the 1,500 people per square mile in NJ than I am about eating a squirrel for dinner.
had a KaBar since the late 70’s. A little ugly but still going strong.
Fixed sturdy knife 4 – 6″ blade
Glock 9mm
The rifle was hard. However, small game would be a.) more plentiful (no matter where you are) b.) less wasteful c.) easier to carry to a camp. I would probably go with a quality .22 air rifle. They are extremely accurate can shoot the pellet up to 1250fps. I can easily carry 5K rounds on my person with out taking up a lot of space (leaving me able to carry more defense rounds for the Glock). A well placed .22 pellet shot can take down plenty. Admittingly not big game but I wouldn’t want big game (draws too much attention).
Also, scrounging pellets from a rummaged sporting goods store would be easy (everyone would be nabbing the other type of ammunition).
gotta say, it’s looking like the underlying theme here is, just one long gun won’t cut it. Everyone’s arguments and counter-arguments for and/or against one thing or another all make sense.
Can we pick two? Three? 🙂 and I just mean the long guns…
Sounds like pistols are for defense. Knives are for tools. But the long guns need to address defense close range and long, hunting in close and at distance, hunting small and big game, hunting flying and walking game. One gun won’t do all of that. Some may do more than others, but none can do it all. Please don’t try to argue otherwise. my 30-06 in an experts hands isn’t going to be taking small birds from the sky to eat, and my 12 ga. isn’t reliably taking out any game or tangos at 200+ yards. The long gun debate could go on for eons…
As for my response…
Either my glock 22, which I have lots of mags and ammo for bc of work and the ammo is popular, or a G17 because ammo will likely be as, if not more easy to come by. 9 beats the gun up less, so it’ll last longer.
No question for me: Gerber LMF knife (surprised it hasn’t been mentioned- or did i miss it?).
Long gun(s): If I had my way, I’d have my DM gun for work (an AR variant w/4x ACOG) and my 12 ga Winchester (bird and slug barrels). hmmm the scoped 30-06 or bolt action .22lr? I’m not allowed this many so guess i don’t have to decide. But my fantasy says “include both”
If only one, my DM gun…. I’ve got an ass-load of ammo, I’m damn good with it, and can comfortably use it for defense and/or hunting from 0-300 yards. I can blow the head off small game, take down big game, and defend my family and home (or “other undisclosed location”)
I’m in the burbs and in New England, so if there was ever a need for all/multi-purpose, we’ve got it here…
Hi Guys,
So I can just grab a basic weapons kit when the wheels come off and I got to live with it?
It needs to be light enough to carry easily 24/7, dependable, something I can take care of/work on if need be in the field, accurate, hard hitting enough to give a bad guy pause, common enough that I’d have a good chance of scrounging ammo, magazines, and parts if need be. And of course it has to be able to break down into a smaller packge for concielment in a back pack. I’m looking in the safe and there is really only one choice:
Colt AR15A2 preban, 20″ 1 in 7″ mil-spec barrel, chrome lined bore and chamber, milspec all the way (but semi only). with trijicon ACOG and 22lr conversion kit (that takes up about as much space as 2 thirty round mags). Of course I’d have a basic springs / pins and bolt/extractor kit in the pistol grip as well as the but stock cleaning kit. That and a bunch of fresh mags loaded with 62 grn and 77 grn ammo and the rifle is ready. Would I rather have an AR-10 in 308; you bet I would. But If I’m grabbing only a basic kit it is because I don’t have a choice and that means I’m primarily on foot. I can hit 18″ wide targets all day long from 500 meters with this rifle. The easy caring AR15 and the ability to switch to 22lr without changing barrels or upper recievers coupled with the fact that 5.56 is everywhere used by everyone trumps anything else in my evaluation.
The knife is easy – Buck M-9 bayonet. Its a good heavy duty edged wepon with built in wire cutters. AND; did I mention that it fits on the front of my rifle?
Pistol?? Now there is a decision not so easily made. There are “combat” handguns and “defensive” handguns and not all waepons preform both tasks well. If its combat, I’d go with 1911 or a Glock 21 in 45 ACP. Knock down power, accuracy, availability, and dependability all put either of these two right up there on my list. When you factor in the ability to scrounge though, a Glock 19 in 9mm has a fair amount of charm, although the cartridge is way down my list of chamberings I’d want to depend on. As much as I cherish my 1911s or just plain like my Glocks, they take some time to get into action and it takes alot of training to be able to shoot them well with your weak hand. Imagine a bad guy suprising you and you having to hold him off with your right hand and get an auto-loader into action with your left? Very scary!!.
No, if i need to do combat, that is what the AR is for. I need a defensive handgun that I can instantly shoot right or left handed. One that is always ready, always safe, and can’t jam or stove pipe because I limpwristed it off hand because I didn’t have time to get set before I had to use it.
The only answer for me is a revolver, and that would be a .357 magnum revolver. And again, I can shoot two different rounds because it will take 38 special as well as .357.
My choice is my S&W model 66 cary comp with a 3″ barrel. It is stainless steel and incredibly easy to shoot well within 75′.
So thats my choice:
Colt AR15A2 20″ mil-spec barrel with a 22lr confersion kit and a Trijicon ACOG
S&W model 66 cary comp with 3″ barrel
Buck M-9 bayonet
Cheers!
I would go with my Mossberg 20 ga. with the two extra barrels that I already have. My Mec reloader enables me to process various load configurations. My .38 revolver and fixed blade Buck knife.
Don’t want to get into maintenance for semi autos.
Though I’m tempted to say Savage model 42 (22LR over .410), nearly perfect for small game and winged prey, it’s not a combat weapon. So the FN FAL (.308) is my long gun choice, battle-proven, common-caliber, though a little hard to find parts for! The Ruger Mk 1 bull-barrel (w/subsonic and jacketed rounds) and either a Ontario Raider Bowie or a Kershaw Camp 18 machete. Stray domestic animals could be a future resource (BBQ) and maybe stray neighborhood children (stock plenty of BBQ sauce) (just kidding, maybe?)! Good Luck!
I’m torn between the AK, the 12g, and my .22 rifle, for obvious reasons. However, my Beeman Grizzly uses .177 and .22 pellets and from what I’ve seen, can do some damage. Pellet rifles can be underestimated, although they most assuredly won’t do the damage the AK will…but the pellets are cheap and plentiful. Because of the number of rounds you can carry of .22 it has an advantage. I have a nice, sharp fixed blade gut knife. I have a .357 S&W revolver, with the added advantage if being able to utilize. 38 special rounds.
An ar-15 m4, .357 magnum, and a 4-5″ fixed blade knife made by mora or whoever makes good cutlery. Ar for hunting and defense and .357 for defense from animals and “zombies”. Wouldn’t use .357 for hunting unless absolutey necesssary because I’d only be carrying like 20 rounds. Ar I’d have about 150 rounds. Eventually before shtf I’d get a suppressor for ar for obvious reasons.
> Eventually before shtf I’d get a suppressor for ar for obvious reasons.
You have about a year left before God kills Congress, as the stenographer was their last warning. You might think about buying that suppressor ASAP.
Remove the "what people are waqhuing&tcot;, some of the videos are PR0N!!! Now I do not know if you can upload pr0n or not, but I think you should keep it where you have to search to see that bad stuff!!! Pr0n is "not quite porn"!!!! BAD STUFF!!!
I’m tempted to go with RUGER Sp101, 8-shot, 4.2″ barrel 22lr REVOLVER ( lightweight / reliable )…..HENRY H001 22lr Lever Rifle, 15 Lr’s in the tube ( lightweight / reliable….with a bit of repeatability you can’t get with a Bolt ). Knife I’m still thinking.
BOTH firearms utilizing the vast array of quality 22lr / 22l / 22Shorts VERY reliably…..which includes CCI Quiet 22Lr ammo – 710fps……& up to Velocitors at 1640 fps cruising speed.
NO 22 semi-auto can handle that entire range of versatility.
Yes! That CCI Quiet is great stuff. I especially like the “Segmented” flavor.
I’d go with a S&W Mod 28 .357 Magnum.
A 16″ Rossi M92, also in .357 Magnum.
Any good sheath knife.
A bit of wisdom on your part to have rifle and handgun in the same caliber. Certainly makes inventory easier.
10/22,GP-100,Kabar.
As I am almost a decade late from the date of this article, it is interesting to speculate how time could or would change opinions here.
I should think that my handgun choice is on par with many others, to wit: the Glock M19. I prefer the Gen 3 flavor, but truth be told, I can be wholly content with a Gen 4. Mine wears proprietary night sights. The favorite carry load is Hornady Critical Duty (not Defense).
As to choice of long gun, I am afraid my recovering Canadian roots have followed me to my adopted residence here in rural Central Florida. Hence, my .303 Long Branch No.4 Mk1* is seldom far from my grasp. From decades of reloading, I have found that with either 180 gr. JSPs or a mild cast bullet load (115 gr. FN at 1250 fps made for my .32-20), I can do most of what needs doing.
I find that my now well used Beretta Loveless full tang drop point has yet to fail me.
Whilst reading here, folding knives appear to be shunned. But it is a rare day that my 90s vintage Leatherman SuperTool is not carried in its well-worn original pouch. I just find it too useful to be without.
Sadly for those that keep score, I have violated the game rules in both spirit and letter with 4 items. Hopefully I will not be invited to leave the brethren here for such a flagrant foul.