WHAT ARE YOUR PREPPER PLANS
So my wife read about North Korea's attempts to build an EMP weapon to attack the US with. She now thinks we should have a cache of weapons, etc in case civilization falls apart.
Assuming she's serious... what would be good reliable gun(s) and ammo we should have?
According to Rust, I need a full auto, but I'm guessing that's hard to get. Handgun + Rifle?
Edited By TheCatt on 1408029817
Assuming she's serious... what would be good reliable gun(s) and ammo we should have?
According to Rust, I need a full auto, but I'm guessing that's hard to get. Handgun + Rifle?
Edited By TheCatt on 1408029817
It's not me, it's someone else.
A good semi-auto rifle is, in my experience, more accurate. You can pull the trigger pretty fast and put 3 well-aimed rounds on target easier than a full auto that will have you shooting the ceiling within 4 rounds. It isn't like you are trying to keep a hoard of chinese out of your base... probably.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
IMO, what you choose is less important than making sure you have the necessary tools to compliment it and make it last as long as possible. Be sure to get appropriate handloading equipment and supplies and learn how to use it. Having some simple forging tools on hand to make new shot from available materials would also be good.
That's all assuming you are prepping to stay in place. If your plans require more mobility I'd instead recommend considering taking up crossbow marksmanship and get really good at that, along with learning to craft new bolts out of natural materials. It's a much more portable option.
That's all assuming you are prepping to stay in place. If your plans require more mobility I'd instead recommend considering taking up crossbow marksmanship and get really good at that, along with learning to craft new bolts out of natural materials. It's a much more portable option.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
If you really want her to flip out over EMPs have her read the book that was discussed here:TheCatt wrote:So my wife read about North Korea's attempts to build an EMP weapon to attack the US with. She now thinks we should have a cache of weapons, etc in case civilization falls apart.
http://www.dtman.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=10119
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
I can only tell you (some of) what we have and why. Might give you some ideas.
Wife and I both have 9mm semi autos. Not the most powerful handgun, but a hollow point will stop most. Also a common gun, so ammo shouldn't be an issue. That's a common theme with me.
I recently built an evil AR-15. Easy to build and easy to work on. The Cheaper Than Dirt blog article was titled "So East a Caveman Could Do It" which is pretty accurate. High compression ammo. Not a big kick. Wouldn't stop a grizzly with one shot, but the ammo is light and again... common.
Wife and I both have 9mm semi autos. Not the most powerful handgun, but a hollow point will stop most. Also a common gun, so ammo shouldn't be an issue. That's a common theme with me.
I recently built an evil AR-15. Easy to build and easy to work on. The Cheaper Than Dirt blog article was titled "So East a Caveman Could Do It" which is pretty accurate. High compression ammo. Not a big kick. Wouldn't stop a grizzly with one shot, but the ammo is light and again... common.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
I have a Smith & Wesson. Wife has a Kahr that I bought for her. We have a Range here and you can rent an instructor to go through their hand guns to find something you're comfortable with. That was a good investment for my wife. She went into learning to shoot with a bit more confidence since it was the gun that was "fitted to her".TheCatt wrote:Which brand/type of 9mm?Vince wrote:Wife and I both have 9mm semi autos. Not the most powerful handgun, but a hollow point will stop most.
I've heard the Glock 19s are super easy/reliable to work with, which would be key.
I've never taken a Glock apart, but I've heard the same. Both of ours are easy to disassemble. Another nice thing about the Range near us is they offer free cleaning classes. The one we went to had a sheriff's deputy from a nearby county that taught it and was able to show everyone in the class how to disassemble their weapon for cleaning.
So checking out the local ranges and what they can offer I would also recommend. Especially if either of you have not spent a lot of time around firearms. And if that describes either of you, make sure the range has a good focus on beginners. Ours has a couple of female instructors and that goes a LONG way towards making the women comfortable when starting out.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
And here's an old article that will make your wife say, "At least I don't feel like I'm just being paranoid. Crap. I wish I was just being paranoid."
Iran Tests Suggest Possible EMP Trials
Iran Tests Suggest Possible EMP Trials
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
We have a Sig Sauer P239 (mine for CC) and a CZ75 (wife's cause she wanted one). Really like them both. I don't care for Glocks because they are half plastic and that makes them really light. Light makes them kick more. But hear nothing but good as far as reliability and durability. Not saying Glocks are bad, saying they aren't for me. Lots of arguments about .45 or 9mm. I chose 9mm because it was easier to CC. Wife chose it because it kicks less and then we use the same ammo.
I have a Sig Suaer AR15 that I really like. AR15's are like video cards. Lots of manufacturers making 'their' gun using the exact same specifications as everyone else. Mine has an ambidextrous mag release and had some Magpul accessories that I liked. The biggest difference in AR15s is if it uses a gas tube or push rod. Have been working for 20 hours the last two days on 4 hours of sleep, so can't come up with the actual terms for them. But, that was the biggest thing I struggled with. Gas tubes are the original design and have been around since cavemen. Push rods have been around forever (AK47) but only recently gaining steam on the AR platform. Gives the AR15 the reliability of the AK47 but still an AR15. BUT. . . I read too many reviews about weird groves showing up in the upper receiver and new parts being made to alleviate it. Those that went gas said "Don't go push rod cause of the grooves!". Those with push rods said "The grooves don't mean anything and don't affect anything". I went gas cause it was cheaper. Push rods are WAY easier to clean cause your upper doesn't fill up with carbon/exhaust.
But, I would highly recommend EVERYONE buy and AR15 sooner than later. They will be banned eventually. You will wish you had one.
Machine guns. Anyone can own them. Well, at least in Michigan. They cost $9K and up. Rules are, you can own/buy one as long as it was made before 1986 and registered with a tax stamp ($300). So, you can own one, but no one ever bought the tax stamps back in the day making all of the illegal. Right now, you could buy a full auto AR15 for $1500, if you are ATF or law enforcement. Right now, you can buy a piston AR15 for $1500. After the eventual ban, your standard AR15 will cost 9K+, just like machine guns.
So, good time to buy. Ammo is even starting to creep down in price.
Oh. An assault shotgun is still the best home defense weapon. Assaults normally hold more ammo and have shorter barrels than a hunting shotgun, for use in close quarters.
As far as full auto. An AR15 doesn't kick like a Tommy Gun, so you won't be shooting the ceiling. BUT, you will be out of bullets in less than 3 seconds. 30 rounds go away NOW at full auto.
I want a machine gun.
I have a Sig Suaer AR15 that I really like. AR15's are like video cards. Lots of manufacturers making 'their' gun using the exact same specifications as everyone else. Mine has an ambidextrous mag release and had some Magpul accessories that I liked. The biggest difference in AR15s is if it uses a gas tube or push rod. Have been working for 20 hours the last two days on 4 hours of sleep, so can't come up with the actual terms for them. But, that was the biggest thing I struggled with. Gas tubes are the original design and have been around since cavemen. Push rods have been around forever (AK47) but only recently gaining steam on the AR platform. Gives the AR15 the reliability of the AK47 but still an AR15. BUT. . . I read too many reviews about weird groves showing up in the upper receiver and new parts being made to alleviate it. Those that went gas said "Don't go push rod cause of the grooves!". Those with push rods said "The grooves don't mean anything and don't affect anything". I went gas cause it was cheaper. Push rods are WAY easier to clean cause your upper doesn't fill up with carbon/exhaust.
But, I would highly recommend EVERYONE buy and AR15 sooner than later. They will be banned eventually. You will wish you had one.
Machine guns. Anyone can own them. Well, at least in Michigan. They cost $9K and up. Rules are, you can own/buy one as long as it was made before 1986 and registered with a tax stamp ($300). So, you can own one, but no one ever bought the tax stamps back in the day making all of the illegal. Right now, you could buy a full auto AR15 for $1500, if you are ATF or law enforcement. Right now, you can buy a piston AR15 for $1500. After the eventual ban, your standard AR15 will cost 9K+, just like machine guns.
So, good time to buy. Ammo is even starting to creep down in price.
Oh. An assault shotgun is still the best home defense weapon. Assaults normally hold more ammo and have shorter barrels than a hunting shotgun, for use in close quarters.
As far as full auto. An AR15 doesn't kick like a Tommy Gun, so you won't be shooting the ceiling. BUT, you will be out of bullets in less than 3 seconds. 30 rounds go away NOW at full auto.
I want a machine gun.
I really like Glocks and was going back and forth on getting a Glock 17 or a Glock 19 (Gen 4 as I want the straps because I have big hands)TheCatt wrote:Which brand/type of 9mm?Vince wrote:Wife and I both have 9mm semi autos. Not the most powerful handgun, but a hollow point will stop most.
I've heard the Glock 19s are super easy/reliable to work with, which would be key.
Glocks are big and ugly, but they are very reliable.
Glock 19's are a little smaller than the 17's so they can be carried as concealed weapons.
If you're not worried about concealing then take a good look the 17's. 17's have a longer site radius so they're potentially more accurate (not that you'll be shooting them at distances where it would matter much). 17's also hold more rounds.
I've done research on the 9mm vs .40 and 9mm seems to be the better all around round. It has less recoil so the accuracy is better, and with premium rounds you're going to leave virtually identical sized holes in your attacker.
Plus 9mm ammo is cheaper.
If the shit hits the fan I think an AR15 is going to be the best thing to have. You can put a lot of rounds at a target a decent distance away.
I don't have one. The ammo is pricey and it's really easy to shoot a lot of it.
The big thing is going to be ammunition. Ammo dried up a year and a half ago and things thing still haven't recovered fully.
I'd bought two bricks of 22LR for $16 in November and people were selling that stuff online (because stores were sold out) for $75 4 months later.
If something bad happens expect ammo to disappear completely, so have a good supply of it.
Have other stuff as well.
Coincidentally I filled a 6-gallon fuel can with gas & fuel stabilizer today so I knew I'd have it on hand for my generator this winter should I need it.
A good place for used guns is Armslist.com.
You can usually negotiate a lower price so you get them cheaper than you would at a dealer or pawn shop.
Here in KY I could legally buy an assault rifle from someone for cash. He doesn't have to know me and there would be no paper trail. The only stipulations are that he has to confirm that I am a KY resident (by looking at my driver's license) and he can't know that I am a felon.
Note: He doesn't have to ask if I am a felon. He just can't know that I am one.
I think the laws are ridiculously loose.
You can usually negotiate a lower price so you get them cheaper than you would at a dealer or pawn shop.
Here in KY I could legally buy an assault rifle from someone for cash. He doesn't have to know me and there would be no paper trail. The only stipulations are that he has to confirm that I am a KY resident (by looking at my driver's license) and he can't know that I am a felon.
Note: He doesn't have to ask if I am a felon. He just can't know that I am one.
I think the laws are ridiculously loose.
Thanks, a lot to process there.
Next question: Storage
Although Paul's post shows that the Glock, for example, can go through a lot of shit, I would assume temperature controlled storage would be ideal? For instance, in a closet in our house, rather than in the attic. My wife's next concern is the kids/safety, etc. I assume we'd have to get a gun safe of some kind to satisfy that?
Next question: Storage
Although Paul's post shows that the Glock, for example, can go through a lot of shit, I would assume temperature controlled storage would be ideal? For instance, in a closet in our house, rather than in the attic. My wife's next concern is the kids/safety, etc. I assume we'd have to get a gun safe of some kind to satisfy that?
It's not me, it's someone else.
Humidity is far more damaging than temps, but you're right. You'd rather have it in the house. I have a cabinet safe that I keep most of my firearms in now, but to be honest I didn't have any locked up when I had kids in the house. Long guns were unloaded in the closet with ammo on the top shelf. Home defense firearm was loaded on the top shelf unchambered.
Long before the kids were big enough to have any curiosity about the guns, I'd let them target shoot with me when we went to my dad's place. They'd be sitting in my lap and I'd help them support the pistol and ensure they were pointed in a safe direction and let them have at pulling the trigger. It was more about pulling the trigger and making a bang than hitting a target at that point. It took the intrigue out of them.
Even when we discussed with them what to do if a friend went and got their parents' gun, we focused that the danger wasn't the gun but that their friend was going to hurt someone if they were playing with a gun without their parent.
They didn't seem to really care about them much after that. They may or may not want to shoot when we were target shooting. Stepdaughter mostly just thought it smelled bad and moved on.
Long before the kids were big enough to have any curiosity about the guns, I'd let them target shoot with me when we went to my dad's place. They'd be sitting in my lap and I'd help them support the pistol and ensure they were pointed in a safe direction and let them have at pulling the trigger. It was more about pulling the trigger and making a bang than hitting a target at that point. It took the intrigue out of them.
Even when we discussed with them what to do if a friend went and got their parents' gun, we focused that the danger wasn't the gun but that their friend was going to hurt someone if they were playing with a gun without their parent.
They didn't seem to really care about them much after that. They may or may not want to shoot when we were target shooting. Stepdaughter mostly just thought it smelled bad and moved on.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
This is really cheap.
http://shop.tropgun.com/servlet....omotion
http://shop.tropgun.com/servlet....omotion
The DTMan gun thread.TheCatt wrote:She now thinks we should have a cache of weapons, etc in case civilization falls apart.
You concentrated assholes should pitch in and get me that for over 14 years of faithful dtman server expense and administration.Paul wrote:That's a great price.
You'd be hard pressed to find them used at that price.
Tax, shipping, and the FFL fee (FFL's in my area charge $20 but I've heard of them charging triple that in other states) will knock it up some, but it's still a bargain.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."