Reading journals of the late 1800s, I've been interested in how firearms were perceived at that time relative to how many view them today. Then, to own more than one each of a basic rifle, shotgun or handgun was rare and those firearms served yeoman duty. Many were used for procuring food and providing basic personal defense.

As this thread shows, times have changed and our abundance of discretionary spending has allowed the luxury of multiple firearm ownership, mostly for recreational purposes. And, so, a question comes to mind.

Given a major catastophe requiring you to relocate with minimal items and you had to choose but one or two firearms from the collection you have, what would you pick? Why?

Whichever firearm could put me out of my misery the fastest because I dont believe I could go on with life with just one gun.

Wow Handloader....that's a tricky question.

Ok.....definitely no rimfires...can't reload for them and there is no guarantee that you could find ammo for them. I would take my .243, my 30.30 and my 12g O/U as I can reload for all of them and I have "sufficient" supplies of components to keep me going for some time. I envisage that I would may eventually end up discarding one of the centrefires, depending on the need.

Having said that I am not sure how I would carry everything I would need to survive as I think in this scenario we most likely wouldn't have a vehicle.......although I would definitely take a leaf out of Bushy's book and get myself a horse or two.

Ultimately I would head for one of a couple of areas I know well, are well off the beaten track, and would consider safe, within reason, to stay for quite some time. In this case I would retain all 3 firearms.

Well there ya go. Bring on the revolution. I think that it would surprise the authorities, and a lot of people, if they knew just how many have put thought into this exact same scenario or issue, and may have even started to prepare.

Cheers, Vince

Bolt action 270 winchester and 12 guage pump. That combo will handle any game on the continent, plus 45 Long Colt for defence.

If I read handloader's question correctly...We are talking about not having the luxury of reloading after we "bug out"...Correct? With that in mind I would have to concider weight and volume factors. You are right, I do have horses and that must taken into concideration also. They will need feed and water so my new location must have grass and water. Shelter is another factor where horses will come in handy. A tent can be carried by one of the horses. Plus food to carry me and wife over until other arrangments can be made. I do not believe that my reloading equipment would go unless I had time to purchase hand presses. My fishing tackle and my Ugly Stick would be handy. Guns....30-30 Winchester 94 and all the ammunition that I could reload and carry. I would take one of my revolvers (Ruger Black Hawk) probably in .357 magnum. Besides being a good self defence weapon it can also take down game...And the ammunition takes little room...

My Model 70 300 WinMag for 4 legged animals, and my Gold Hunter 12ga for birds.
Don't need a pistol for protection, because I would keep a couple of boxes of 00 Buck.

We could still meet at Bushy's though.
Besides having good time, we could shoot the horses for food if things got tough.


Eric

Eric, I don't think I want to see Bushies reaction that One!!!!

No...Elyboy is correct...In a last ditch situation the horses are food...Ol' Cutter might be a little tough to chew...He just turned 22 this month...

Given the nature of the scenario, I would select my .223 and 20 ga. These two would do nicely for a survival type scenario. -tr

Well, Bushie, I suppose you could turn him into chopped meat.

Personally if that did happen I'm not prepared at all. Can I blame me being "young and foolish" for not being prepared ??

Dimitri

I'd head back north, there's still plenty of wild and inaccessible (to most people) country that I could manage in, one good rifle .32 or .303, one 12 guage. Snare wire. Possibility of taking a compound box too....

OHH would you Tracker NORTH????
kk you just go NORTH

thought you didnt like the cold and SOUTH would have been a better answer me thinks

not answering the age question again.
putting a Henry in layaway soon
and a 60lb crossbow. Like how brownings shoot too.

I would go further NorthWest away from the plains into the mountains with my bow and knife. I can make the arrows and dont have to worry about running out of ammo.
and a waterproof coat. anything else I can provide for myself from my mother.

men and their toys...

Never considered them toys when I've had them pointed at me.