Finally, any gun is worthless in the hands of someone who isn’t trained to use it properly. Figure on taking some classes and practicing regularly. If your plan is to buy a gun and stick it under your bed, or in a drawer, you might as well have a baseball bat. That would be a lot cheaper for you, and safer for everyone else.
John’s Handgun Picks
by John Milandred
Due to their small size, portability, and ease of storage, handguns are the popular choice for self-defense. Drawbacks may include recoil and limited long-range accuracy. To generalize, most people find that with practice it is relatively easy to hit man-sized targets out to about 25 yards or so. Accurate target acquisition tends to decrease thereafter.
“Recoil” is the phenomenon that occurs once a shot is fired. Based upon the law of physics that states “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”, recoil represents the reaction you experience when the force propelling the bullet pushes back on your gun. Some people may find recoil discomforting and distracting, a response which can generate a “flinch” which adversely affects accuracy.
Recoil is minimized by two choices over which the handgun purchaser has control: heaviness or weight of the gun and caliber or size of the cartridge for which the gun is designed. Porting for handguns, and muzzle brakes and compensators for rifles, may, for some, be attractive features to add to a firearm to reduce perceived recoil or barrel jump.
It has been my experience that most females prefer the lighter weight Millennium PT 138 Pro. This hand gun is a cal .380 ACP and is very comfortable to shoot with less recoil. The Taurus PT138 Millennium Pro is an affordable compact polymer frame pistol you can trust with your life. The lightweight frame makes this lifesaver a must for law enforcement and anyone concerned about personal safety. The PT138 includes full 10 round magazine capacity on all models, reversible flush mount magazine release, a smooth trigger, and an unlimited lifetime repair policy.
Weight: 18.7 oz. (530.14 g), Length: 6.125 inches (155.45 mm), Width: 1.232 inches (31.24 mm), Height: 4.917 inches (124.97 mm), 6 groove 3.25 inch barrel with, 1:9.84 per inch rate of twist.
For the guys like me, I prefer a little heavier hand gun, like the Sig Sauer P229 (.40 cal S&W).
Weight (P229): 905 g (31.92 oz), Length: 180 mm (7.09 inches), Barrel length: 99 mm (3.9 inches), Width: 38.1 mm (1.5 inch), Height: 137.16 mm (5.4 inches) with a 12-round magazine
This hand gun is used by most police departments in the U.S. and many other countries. It can also be chambered for a variety of rounds (.357, .40 S&W and 9mm) simply by swapping out the barrel.
What ever your choice may be, self-protection is a matter not to be taken lightly.
Could the .22 Magnum be the Best Survival Rifle
by John & Carrie Milandred
In choosing a “Survival Rifle,” the best option will be an all-around rifle meeting several criteria, among them price, reliability, availability of ammunition, weight, and ease of use. Suitability for personal protection and killing game are likewise indispensable.
The trouble is, no one can carry all of his rifles in a survival situation. All necessary equipment should be as lightweight and compact as possible, because every pound is paid for through energy expenditure. At the same time, the equipment must be adequate to any of several critical jobs. No firearm is perfect for every instance. Some choices that are tailor-made for specific situations that hunters and fishermen might face, and others have an edge regarding personal protection. Since space is limited and weight must be kept to a minimum, we have to settle on one efficient, versatile weapon.
In my opinion, a .22 Magnum is the all-around rifle that best meets the criteria.
Lighter is usually better for hiking, backpacking, canoeing, flying over remote areas, or any situation in which the rifle would be used only in an emergency. A lot of people choose to carry a handgun in those situations. This is fine for personal protection, but in most cases a handgun is not a very good choice as a survival weapon. Hitting a squirrel or other small game from a distance requires the accuracy that only a rifle can provide.
The best choice for this situation is a .22 Magnum with the proper ammo. This rifle offers much more wiggle room in survival situations when it may be necessary to take shots normally considered beyond the normal service of a rim-fire. Importantly, it is still quiet enough to go unnoticed. Of course, not all .22 Magnums are equal. I prefer the Remington 597 semi-automatic, which comes with a standard 8-round clip, while others may prefer a Ruger model with a modified 30-round clip for less reloading.
A .22 Mag is a great survival rifle; it is light-weight, compact in size, and the ammo is fairly inexpensive. Using .22 WMR can be effective on varmints such as fox, raccoons, or coyotes out to about 125 yards. On the other hand, if you find yourself about to be mauled by a bear, cougar, or other large predator, you might as well just throw it on the ground.
When we lived in the Pacific Northwest, I found our property to be a coyote haven and wanted to see what our new .22 Mag could do. I baited a tree about 95 yards downhill -- and just after light, Wile E. Coyote showed up. He seemed plenty close enough and was looking at the bait hanging in the tree, so I aimed, squeezed the trigger -- and BANG! Down he went. I had lined it up just behind the shoulder and the .22 Mag had done the job with no exit wound or fur damage.
With proper focus on shot placement, even a marginal weapon can be productive. On another occasion I was hunting wild feral hogs and saw a raccoon eating some bait I had left out that night. It was about 50 yards away, so I knew it would be an easy kill. I leaned against a tree, and bang -- another one shot kill. So far I have easily taken six raccoons, all at about the same distance and with different bullet placements. For game such as rabbits or prairie dogs, a head shot or snake round should be used, since the .22 WMR could be destructive under fifty yards. I have made the mistake of shooting a rabbit at twenty yards forgetting that I had loaded my rifle with the 30 grain V-Max rounds, totally ruining half of the rabbit. My advice now is to load the first two chambers with snake-shot, just in case you come across a grouse or squirrel (or something that needs a serious bit of discouragement), and load the rest with hollow points for self-defense and medium-sized game. This is just my personal opinion and choice in a survival situation.
Remington 597 Specs: Barrel Length: 18½”, Groove: 6 Twist: 1:14” RH, Overall Length: 40”, Weight: 6 lbs
The .22 WMR was introduced in 1959 by Winchester, but was not used by Winchester until well into 1960, when the venerable Model 61 slide rifle could be chambered for it. By that time, Smith and Wesson and Ruger had revolvers for it, and Savage had come out with the Model 24, (a .22/.410 combination rifle). It was the only successful rimfire cartridge introduced in the 20th Century.
The .22 WMR uses a larger case than more popular .22 Long Rifles, both in diameter and length. The .22 WMR case is a lengthened version of the older .22 WRF (.22 WRF may be fired in a .22 WMR but not vice versa). The .22 WMR’s case is thicker than that of the .22 LR, allowing higher pressures. The combination of more powder and higher pressures gives velocities over 2,000 feet per second from a rifle using a 30-grain round. The V-Max Hornady 30 gr HP (2,200 ft/s and $11.99 for 50 rounds) is my #1 round of choice.
We started our daughter out with a .22 Mag when she was just nine years old, and she is quite fond of it now. While hunting over this last year, we have used it to kill many different sizes of wild hogs, and found that it has the power to stop a deer at 95-100 yards if needed in a survival situation (though some may argue with that).
Once, we killed a wild boar at 40-50 yards weighing in at over 200 lbs. Upon inspection we found the damage was quite extensive, with the round hitting the boar just behind the shoulder and going all the way through the animal with multiple organ damage. Now if it can do this on a wild boar, then I see no reason why it could not be done with a deer or larger animal.
The main point is; you need a rifle that anyone can use that’s capable
of killing small to medium size game.
In some cases, a big-bore rifle is preferable because it lets you take larger game at greater distances. At other times, however, a shotgun or small-caliber firearm is preferable (the smaller the caliber, the more ammo you can carry). And if you’re packing light for a fishing trip, a revolver might be a better fit. So which is the ideal survival gun? All of the above!
I am sure the debate will continue regarding the best “Survival Rifle”. Just make sure before you choose your survival rifle that you think of every possible scenario that you might have to use that rifle for.
John and Carrie Milandred maintain a 10-acre homestead in SE Oklahoma and publish www.PioneerLiving.net , a self-reliance blog and online magazine. John is also the founder and manager of The Prepper Podcast Radio Network (www.Blogtalkradio.com/ThePrepperPodcast) where he hosts the Prepper Podcast Network News Show.
Long Term Ammunition Storage Tips
by Ed Corcoran
Due to rising prices and the threat of increased government restrictions and taxation on ammunition, it makes good sense to stock up now before ammo gets more expensive and less available (already, even large suppliers are experiencing shortages in popular ammo types). Also, ammunition will be a highly valuable commodity for barter in a post-collapse situation, so you might want to store a surplus of commonly used ammo for that purpose (if your budget allows).
Most ammunition can have an extremely long shelf-life when stored under the proper conditions. There’s plenty of decades-old surplus ammo out there that still performs just as well as the day it was manufactured. Humidity and drastic changes in temperature are the biggest threats. Obviously, primers and powders lose their potency when exposed to moisture, but the biggest concern is corrosion of the casings. Below are a few basic tips to keep your ammo in safe, optimal condition for years to come:
- Keep your ammo in factory sealed containers until you need to use it.
- Store boxes of ammo in air-tight containers, such as surplus military ammo cans.
- Use a desiccant (silica packets or pieces of heat-treated drywall) in your cans to absorb ambient moisture.
- Keep your ammo in a part of the house where temperature and humidity are low and remain relatively constant. Your bedroom closet may be a better choice than your cellar or garage.
- If you must store ammo in a place that experiences high humidity, use a de-humidifier and keep track of humidity levels with a hygrometer.
- Allow for air circulation beneath and between ammo cans. Use 2x4s to keep cans off the floor and as spacers between cans.
- Keep your ammo out of direct sunlight and excessively high temperatures.
- Write down storage dates and rotate your stock.
I should also mention that states have different laws regarding how much ammunition you can legally store. Penalties for violation of these laws can be pretty stiff, so make sure you find out what the laws and regulations are in your state.
The Shotgun: A Basic Survival Tool
by Chance Sanders
The ability to survive is not measured simply by the amount of food stored away in the pantry. While food ranks right up there with breathing in my book, the ability to keep breathing concerns me the most. The essence of survival is the ability to secure what you have stored and defend your life and the lives of your family. Even if your plan is to run away and hide in a hole, you will still need the tools to defend your hole.
The will to live and proper training are the two most important tools in the survival toolbox. The first is something you either have or don’t have; no one can teach you the desire to live. The second is achievable only through dedication and discipline. I am not saying you have to become a spec-ops commando to survive. However, one critical key to becoming self-reliant is having a good firearm and a strong working knowledge of that weapon.
So what firearm is best? Well, that topic has been debated for centuries, and the argument isn’t going to end anytime soon. All firearms have strong points and weaknesses. Finding the most suitable one will involve a series of trade-offs. For the survivor, a firearm must fill two roles: Self-defense and putting food on the table. My personal choice for the all-around firearm meeting those criteria is the shotgun.
With its wide array of ammunition and variety of configurations, the shotgun gives the survivor the best options for hunting and defense. Let’s look at some of the common shotgun types:
For simplicity and frugality, a good choice is the single-shot, break-open style with an exposed hammer. To operate, you simply push the lever to open the action, insert a round, close the action, cock the hammer, and fire. This rugged and simple weapon has put food on the tables of countless Americans. With a price range of around a hundred dollars, it is definitely affordable. However, it isn’t at the top of my list as a self-defense weapon. If you practice your reloads and develop sound tactics based on its limitations, it can be a great working class firearm. As for hunting, you must tailor your approach to the fact that you have only one shot. Terrain dictates the type of firearm you use for hunting. If you live in an environment of wide-open spaces, then you must learn how to stalk within shooting distance.
The next option is the side-by-side double barrel. The double barrel shotgun has the same operation as the single-shot, only with two barrels instead of one. Sometimes the barrels have different chokes for different ranges (a subject discussed at greater length later on). Most of us have seen the double barrel flung on the saddle in old western movies. The double barrel offers a quick follow up shot for game as well as for two-legged targets.
An over-and-under shotgun, such as those used in skeet and trap competitions, is cost-prohibitive for most people. But if you already own one, then by all means learn to use it.
The most popular version of the shotgun is the pump action. Military, law enforcement, and hunters alike have utilized this effective weapon. With a strong design that has stood the test of time. The pump action gives you a great platform from which you can develop a devastating combat weapon. Numerous upgrades -- from extended magazine tubes to sidesaddle ammo carriers -- are available for this weapon. There are also flashlight mounts, breacher muzzles, and different sight systems. Pump action shotguns are available at any gun store, pawnshop, and even at Wal-mart. For those who are fearful of the “black-gun” syndrome, buying a shotgun will not raise any eyebrows.
There are also semi-auto shotguns that are great for hunting, and even tactical options -- such as those offered by HK and Benelli -- exist for the shotgun enthusiast. These firearms are more complicated to operate and do not feed certain loads reliably. They are also more expensive than the other shotguns we have discussed; however, they do have the advantage of a higher rate of fire.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all shotguns on the market. I have left bolt- and lever-action models out of this discussion because they represent a small, obscure corner of the shotgun world.
Now that we have discussed some of the various types of shotguns available, let’s look at the ammo. No other weapon system allows for as much flexibility in ammunition selection as the shotgun.
We first want to establish the gauge of the shotgun we are using. The term gauge (ga.) denotes what fraction of a pound of lead will fit down the barrel in a solid sphere. A twelve gauge will fire 1/12th of a pound of lead. There is a wide range of gauges, from the 8 ga. to the 28 ga. The most popular gauge used in the States is the 12 ga., with the 20 ga. coming in at a close second. The 20 ga. is great for those who want to reduce recoil. But let’s concern ourselves with the 12 ga. since it seems to be the most popular.
Popularity of any ammunition type is a double-edged sword, so to speak. The more popular a round, the quicker it seems to fly off the store shelves. One only has to look back at the recent shortage of defensive caliber ammo to understand this lesson. Last year, .40, 45acp, 9mm, and especially .380 were very hard to find. However, .45 long Colt and 38 super were available in quantity
. This was mainly due to the fact that both of those rounds are primarily used for competition shooting.
No matter what gauge shotgun you select, it is of paramount importance that ammunition be readily available, and that you have a large stock of it and the means to acquire more. Because the 12 gauge has been so widely used for such a long time, it would be one of the first barter rounds available. To add to your stockpile, you can purchase reloading equipment and reload your own bullets with powder and shot.
Shotgun shells come in different lengths and loads. An important tidbit of information to note is that a shotgun chambered for 3” magnum will also accept 2 3/4th inch shot shells as well. However, this does not work in reverse. I suggest that you purchase a shotgun that will feed both in order to give you more flexibility. The most common rounds are e: 0 buckshot, 00 buckshot, slugs, #9, #7, and a few others. Everything from small game to grizzles can be taken with a shotgun and the right load.
My personal choice for a survival shotgun is the Remington 870 Tactical. I purchased this gun because it already had a lot of the features I wanted. For instance, I can carry 4 extra shells in the speed feed stock. I have added a sidesaddle ammo carrier and a flashlight. It also has a breaching muzzle break, but that is a specialty item that is not necessary for your firearm.
Whatever your choice in shotguns, it is imperative that you learn where it impacts at a given range. People are often misled into believing that a single shotgun blast will kill anything in a five-foot spread without even aiming. Nothing could be further from the truth. Shotguns are designed with different types of chokes that determine how much the shot spreads at a given distance. This is important to know when selecting your shotgun. There are some shotguns that have the ability to change the choke size, and this will give you optimum shot pattern for your gun.
Survivalist Anthologies Volume 1 Page 8
