Which Type of Gun Do You Need?

To be truly prepared, it’s important that you can defend yourself, your family, and your property against two as well as four-legged predators. In light of recent world events, self-defense and security should be at the core of your emergency planning.

A multitude of weapons and strategies are available to you for self-defense and any good SHTF plan will incorporate a wide range of these into it. In this article, we will focus on the type of gun you need and on the factors you need to consider.  

Before we talk about the best guns to own for survival, we need to know more about several key situations that could crop up during an emergency or SHTF situation. Keep in mind that the gun that suits you well in “normal times” may not be enough when SHTF.

SHTF Uses for Guns:

• Scare away or kill small predators (rodents, opossum, snakes, etc.)
• Hunt small game such as rabbits, squirrels, etc.
• Personal defense against a single human intruder or opponent
• Take down larger game (deer) or large predators (wolf, bear, etc.)
• Protect against multiple human intruders or opponents

When it comes to self-defense, security and trying to figure out which type of gun you need, there are quite a few factors to consider. Some guns are hands down betterthan others for hunting small and large game. Then there are guns that are far superior to others for close quarter battles. I’d rather take out an intruder at long range before they can get anywhere near my family. But when SHTF, intruders can get the drop on you and that requires a close quarter battle.

Experts recommend your SHTF arsenal includes multiple guns, but if you can only have one for the moment, make sure the gun you choose will cover as many situations as possible, such as hunting small and large game and predators, and taking down one or multiple intruders at close and long range.

Rifle

The rifle and especially, a .22LR is one gun that many if not all preppers will agree should be part of your survival arsenal. The benefits of having a rifle during a SHTF event areits effectiveness at a distance, that the ammo is common and lightweight, and that it’s a quieter shot (which attracts less attention). You definitely won’t want the sound of your gunshot to advertise your location any more than needed.

During normal times, the type of gun you need might be the .17 HMR for its high velocity or the .22 Magnum for more power. But most will agree for small game hunting on a bug out trip or in a SHTF situation, the availability and lighter weight of the .22LR make it the best choice. For the rugged unpredictability of SHTF, you’ll find the Ruger 10/22 with scope to be preferable over the Remington simply because it’s more durable and has fewer internal parts that can be lost or broken. The newer models also come apart for easy storage in your BOB if needed.

Shotgun

When it comes to versatility, the shotgun wins against most other types of guns. You can load it with a variety of ammo including buckshot, slugs, rubber pellets, signal flare rounds, stun rounds, etc. The versatility of the shotgun is a huge bonus in SHTF situations, but remember that it is not a stealth weapon. In fact, the noise of the pump action can be intimidating enough to scare away more timid intruders. A shotgun is reasonably priced and requires little maintenance to operate reliably.

Handgun

When it comes to handguns, consider the same factors as above, ammo availability and weight, reliability, recoil, accuracy, take down power, etc. The .9 MM semi-auto double stacked magazine holds up to 17 rounds and next to the .22LR it’s the most common ammo. For large predators, the .44 magnum revolver is accurate but has a wicked recoil. It’s not a good weapon against multiple intruders. The .45 ACP with up to 15 rounds depending on the manufacturer is deadly against a human intruder and the recoil is partly absorbed by the semi-auto action.

In a SHTF situation, you cannot simply hope your gun will stop an intruder or large predator coming at your family. Practice until you know it will. Look for the available ammo with stopping power and also consider the reliability, versatility, and durability of the gun.

Everyone has their favorite but, for SHTF, most preppers end up with more than one type of gun to ensure they’ve covered all the bases.