Shotgun vs. Rifle in case of SHTF

Status
Not open for further replies.
I have 3 .22's, 3 12 gauges, 2 9mm's (one of which is a carbine and they both take the same mags), one .45 (soon to be two and they'll both take the same mags). Any of these will do the job intended out to 25-75 yds. If I need more range I have a Rem 700 .30-06 that I'm lethal to 350 yds with. That is way outside of any self defense range and the S would definitlely have to HTF before that would be necessary.
 
I have -- guns in my safe right now. from .270 to 12 ga. rimfire and center fire. If I ever need to shoot someone or several someones I am covered. However, I am not dead yet and there are several spaces in my safe, so I may yet own an EBR. In addition to my SKS. We can't have AKs or m16 types here. I am 68 and I'm not leaving here so any action will be in my front yard. I don't seriously think our danger is in SHTF, its in our legislature. That's a different kind of fight and I wish more of you guys out there would get in it. Phone calls are the best followed by personal letters.

If you are too lazy to call or write then you have already lost the fight. In California we went from a free state to one where we can't own any thing with a pistol grip and a removable magazine. No thumbholes or high cap mags. a ten day wait and heavy costs for background checks and mandatory safes and or a new lock for each gun. Only one gun a month and gun shows are fast disappearing because of the persecution from our government. Now they want micro imprinting on each cartridge case, mandatory jail for failing to report the theft of ammo,no appleseed matches, almost no shooting matches in the state. and registration for ammo purchase.

If you don't get serious about calling or writing your legislators you may be in a worse position than we are. At least once a week. These people need to come home to get re-elected, they WILL listen if you make yourself heard.

A word to the wise.
 
Rifle,

Short range put em down

Long range put em down.

28 rounds good to go right then.

If PC is important then the Mini 14 and a LA will do the trick.

Stopping power misnomers aside, inside 25 feet, a 5.56 TAP, 7.62 of any type, 30.30 SP should all do the trick just fine.
 
No doubt, an AR with 55 gr milspec ammo.

Shotguns, while very effective, are slow to load and low capacity. An AR with XM193 or Q3131 is very effective, light, has great capacity, and mag changes take very little time.
 
question

Ok, so how much S is HTF and how hard? That would totally determine what comes out of the gun cabinet.
 
Good point. That could be anywhere from Katrina to an earthquake to a longer-term Great Northeast Blackout...or even to the less probable but possible like a sudden uprising all over of wild-eyed guys running around with rifles and shouting about allah.
 
In California we went from a free state to one where we can't own any thing with a pistol grip and a removable magazine.
Click to expand...

Yep. It's either an SKS with stripper clips, or it's a wallet busting M1A. And those ten round mags, and that ten day wait, the mile of paper work. Gotta love the PRK.

Anyway, if I were in a free state, I'd love an AK with a fifty round drum mag for my SHTF tool.
 
of course

or even to the less probable but possible like a sudden uprising all over of wild-eyed guys running around with rifles and shouting about allah.
Click to expand...

In this case, I'm all for bringing out the heavy weapons. We came across a BAR (semi) at a gun show some years back and I have never had a reason to fire it for more than target shooting. Also, I just might invest in a .50. I am just looking for an excuse to buy one anyway. ;)
 
Please give some thought to the humble M1 Carbine. Reasonable magazine capacity, reasonable penetration, cheaper than an M1A, more PC than an AR, AK or SKS, plus, you can reload for it far more easily than most other long guns. I've got one with 2 30 rounders jungle clipped together for HD. It's light, handy, and my wife finds it extremely comfortable to use.

For real SHTF scenarios, I've still got my AR, my .45, and either of my Mossbergs. If my wifey needs to back me up(reaaally bad SH'ingTF), she feels much more comfortable with the carbine than any of the above.

I believe in having enough guns to lend to those I trust so we can back each other up, too. :D
 
Actually, the M1 carbine was on the HR 1022 ban list, so I don't care about how "PC" something is... They don't care.

It's still a good gun, of course! Not much stopping power, but accurate, light and handy to grab and aim. Which is why it was made.
 
Actually, the M1 carbine was on the HR 1022 ban list, so I don't care about how "PC" something is... They don't care.
Click to expand...

As long as HR 1022 isn't law yet, it's OK. I was thinking more along the lines of something that, if seen in your hand during a Katrina type situation, would be less likely to be seen as an EBR or a "killing machine". Less likely to frighten the, well, I won't use the derogatory term that refers to an ovine nature. ;)
 
That'd be why I have a lever-action carbine, too, for something to have across the back while shopping for supplies after a disaster.

People aren't threatened by those. In fact, they sometimes think they're a BB gun...despite the fact that it can slam out nine Buffalo Bore big-game .357 magnums in a row.

My "out buying gas and ice" attire, since open carry is legal here, would consist of a Taurus Judge loaded with shotshells in a covered brown leather flap holster on the belt, and possibly that carbine in its suede scabbard across the back. That says "out for a hike/hunt" here, not "on special ops". It wouldn't make people panic, but would stop a two-legged predator. The other stuff would be in a vehicle if needed.
 
Get the rifle, the shotgun is a good choice.....but has limited range. Even with the slugs you cant expect to shoot accuratly past 100 yards. My SHTF weapons are my M1A....I would reach for this first, then my Bushmaster AR-15, 870 tactical, and M1 Carbine. They are in order of which I would pick first.:D
 
That'd be why I have a lever-action carbine, too, for something to have across the back while shopping for supplies after a disaster.
Click to expand...

Good choice. I have a Marlin 1894C guide gun in .44 mag. 11 rounds in the tube, more if you stuff it with .44 Special. If it's good enough to carry in bear country, it'll more than likely be good enough for social situations.

Funny thing, the .458 Socom's ballistics are an almost exact match for the venerable .45-70(also, surprise, surprise, .458 caliber). One of the specifications for the .45-70 was that it be able to shoot through a horse and still kill a man using it for cover. I might have to think about a Marlin in .45-70 just for grins. (Oh no, not another excuse to buy a gun!):D

Now THAT would be a fight stopper.

From a distance, an M1 carbine also looks like a BB gun, or maybe a .22, not a bad thing in some situations.
 
t the rifle, the shotgun is a good choice.....but has limited range. Even with the slugs you cant expect to shoot accuratly past 100 yards.
Click to expand...

Actually, I've seen shotguns using slugs produce <8" groups at 200yds pretty consistently once people get the elevation down. I wouldn't be too quick to rule one out at that distance.

Then there is the second question of what a realistic engagement distance is... even if you can legally justify shooting someone at ranges greater than 100yds, a lot of times, you aren't going to have a sightline that long due to vegetation, terrain, homes, etc.

I just did an Intermediate Carbine course where we engaged eight targets along a 300yd trail. Even with magnified optics (ACOG) that let me pick the targets out of the brush at longer distances and take longer shots than the guys with Aimpoints or Irons, I think the longest shot I took all day was around 80yds just due to terrain.

I think a shotgun would do fine if that is what you know how to use and are confident with... My main concern would be limited mag capacity more than limited range; but a bolt CZ is going to have the same issue and is harder to top off.
 
Actually, I've seen shotguns using slugs produce <8" groups at 200yds pretty consistently once people get the elevation down.
Click to expand...
That kind of shooting is nothing short of impressive. I have to travel an hour and a half to even get to a range past 100yds. 200 with a shotgun slug deserves a medal!
 
You could go the budget route like I did and get a used (gently used mind you) Mossberg with the 18" & 28" barrel and a nice SKS for less than $400. I've got the Mossie for defence and game getting if I need it and two .50 cal cans full of loaded stripper clips to go with the case of boxed 7.62x39.

I'll be adding a couple of revolvers (I'm tempted by the Taurus Judge for mine) to the stack and the usual stacks of ammo, but otherwise I'm fairly confident that Zed isn't coming into my house. At least not till I fall asleep anyway....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top