The Case For A Single Caliber

[Docster]

No one right answer.

Again, bug in, more calibers, the more likely you can use any ammo your find later.

Bug out, how many people.

One or two people, 5.56 rifles and 9mm or 45 pistols. Possibly a .22 conversion and some .22 ammo for small game. Or maybe one .22 pistol.

Add more people, especially children, I would add at least a .22 rifle. And if more adults, a .308 rifle. I would probably stick with a single caliber for pistols.

Also, how are you bugging out? On foot? You will be seriously limited to how much ammo you can carry. Think not? Grab a case of 5.56 and carry it a mile. And that is without a rifle or food or anything else.

If in a vehicle, you can carry a lot more. In that case, even with 1 or 2, I would add at least one .22 rifle, one .22 handgun, and a LOT of .22 (you can barter the extra). And definitely a .308 rifle.

In a nutshell, ^^THIS

Whatever one feels comfortable with, can afford, can train with and what 'situation' is being prepared for. SHTF/TEOTWAWKI, may be continue for a long time but many localized situations such as hurricanes/tornadoes, electrical grid, civil unrest likely will not. I'm preparing for the latter not every conceivable exigency

 

[leomort]

Neighborhood watches are a joke, by time the officers get on scene the thugs are gone. Besides all the laws are against you in MD thay protect the thugs and not you.

The other thing I do not want people in my house that I do not know for meetings. Based on my neighbors there is only one other that has a gun(s).

I have several calibers from 22s for DA wife, 40 S&W CCW, 30/30, 45/70, .500 S&W and 12 gauge covers all my bases.

Remember always keep chicken wire, bailing wire and bricks on hand.

Harry,

Yeah I have a lot of the same concerns regarding neighborhood watches. A lot of anti-gun liberals in this state who'd probably be the first to turn me in to the authorities or worse. The more I think about this, I'm thinking it might be better to go with the "gray man" scenario.

What's the chicken wire, bailing wire and bricks for?

 

[Biggfoot44]

Knowing more about your neighbors is better than not knowing . That doesn't automatically follow for them to know too much about you .

Once you know more , you can have better idea if they could be potentially helpful , kind of neutral , or a hindrance .

 

[leomort]

Biggfoot44, that's true. doesn't hurt to get to know your neighbors a little better while at the same time not having loose lips.

 

[eruby]

Harry,

Yeah I have a lot of the same concerns regarding neighborhood watches. A lot of anti-gun liberals in this state who'd probably be the first to turn me in to the authorities or worse. The more I think about this, I'm thinking it might be better to go with the "gray man" scenario.

What's the chicken wire, bailing wire and bricks for?

Sinking things.

 

[teratos]

Sinking things.

Peter Pulcer weeps.
Edward Smith is inconsolable.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Or crab traps . Sometimes same thing .

 

[Blacksmith101]

Or crab traps . Sometimes same thing .

Crab feeding stations increase the production of the crab traps.

 

[Alan3413]

.357 is not as common as .22, 9mm, or 5.56. In SHTF, I'd carry something that's readily available.

 

[Bullfrog]

Harry,

Yeah I have a lot of the same concerns regarding neighborhood watches. A lot of anti-gun liberals in this state who'd probably be the first to turn me in to the authorities or worse. The more I think about this, I'm thinking it might be better to go with the "gray man" scenario.

What's the chicken wire, bailing wire and bricks for?

Nels Coxman : I'm gonna kill him, Brock.

Brock : Sure you are. What makes you think you can kill a man?

Nels Coxman : I've killed three of his guys.

Brock : What did you do with the bodies?

Nels Coxman : Wrapped them in chicken wire, threw them in the gorge.

Brock : Chicken wire?

Nels Coxman : Yeah, to let the fish get at them. They'll eat the flesh off the bones. So the bodies don't fill with gas and rise. They stay at the bottom.

Brock : Where did you learn that?

Nels Coxman : I read it in a crime novel.

 

[outrider58]

Hope it ends better for you brother then it did for Alamo 1.0.... if you want a backup plan, grab Teratos and as much booze as you both can carry and we'll all face the end of the world together at my place singing bye-bye Ms. American Pie...

Count me in. Teratos will bring the vino.

 

[teratos]

Count me in. Teratos will bring the vino.

Hell yes!!!

 

[BigT]

Well, I used to think this was true..

.357 is not as common as .22, 9mm, or 5.56. In SHTF, I'd carry something that's readily available.

I have always thought along these lines and primarily own firearms in those cals.. But the last few ammo runs opened my eyes a bit.. The common 3 you list - 12 Ga would be the 4th - are always the first to sell out (and also happen to be manufactured in the largest numbers). None of these were readily available.

In the early days of the ammo runs you could still find .40, .45, .38, .357, even .32 and .25 - but not for long... Rifle cals always seemed like some .243 or 7mm would linger a bit longer..

One of my buddies has the attitude that having as many firearms in as many cals as possible (he's also a single guy with a great income!!)..

My plan has always been to buy it cheap and stack it deep - I did that in 18 and 19 - and wish I had bought double what I had. I guess I need to start considering diversifying my collection...

 

[Kagetsu]

Always figured if I went mechanized. I'd grab 2 big50 cans .223 and 2 50 cans .40. But I failed to get any place to go to. And failed to find 3 others with the same thinking. So no fire team. Gas for vehicles will soon be rationed either to save the planet, or because China has taken Taiwan after the Olympics.

 

[Fl1p]

I try to stick to 2 calibers if I have to move. But if I could only pick one, I would go with 12 ga.

Self defense, can be used for hunting squirrels and birds AND deer. Doesn’t do anything the best, but can handle quite a wide range of roles.

If I get the luxury of arming my family, I have 9mm glocks for my wife and kids that match my own. And a few 9mm PCC that could fill the roll. I would be a little outdone when it comes to hunting, as it would require good shot placement. But it could be used. Not ideal in either scenario, but could still work until it didn’t.

 

[[Kev308]]

My biggest fear is a long term shtf and I basically become a displaced refugee and stripped of all possesions.
My bugout would probably be 22lr and 22wmr.
I would probably take 9mm, keep it as long as possible but shed it if I had to.

 

[Doctor_M]

My biggest fear is a long term shtf and I basically become a displaced refugee and stripped of all possesions.
My bugout would probably be 22lr and 22wmr.
I would probably take 9mm, keep it as long as possible but shed it if I had to.

Most of us with a bug out plan intend to stay the hell away from the FEMA camps.

 

[teratos]

Most of us with a bug out plan intend to stay the hell away from the FEMA camps.

Yep. You won’t get me near a FEMA camp.

 

[Huckleberry]

Most of us with a bug out plan intend to stay the hell away from the FEMA camps.

Yep. You won’t get me near a FEMA camp.

Well if either of you get rounded up and dumped in a FEMA camp, you won’t have to yell like old Harry Dean Stanton.

I promise to square up the score for both of you and anybody else on MDS

 

[leomort]

How screwed would a prepper be if they only had 9mm pistol and Ruger 10/22 rifle as their only two firearms?