Guest Author - Firearms Part Two

What should EVERY prepared gun owner have in their personal gun safe?

… if you could only have 4 guns? (part two)

To recap from the first half of this BLOG article… My first choice for a firearm is the 12 gauge pump shotgun. It’s an all-round weapon that is great for home defense and very versatile for hunting. Coming in a very close second is a .22 long rifle. This is the firearm that’s going to put small game on the table and is a great training weapon for kids or people new to guns. So now let’s wrap up the second half of this article with numbers 3 and 4.

Gun #3 - Bolt Action 30.06 with Scope: This is your long range, large game hunting rifle. The 30.06 can take down any big game in the lower 48 states and has the range to reach out and touch things a greater distance. Other calibers such as .30-30 or .308 might be okay but I really prefer the .30-06 because its more common (easier to get ammo or spare parts) and it packs more punch at 200 yards. I like bolt action rifles and have hunted with them all my life. The bolt action rifle uses the same basic action as the U.S. military’s M-24 sniper rifle and is the choice of many top snipers and marksmen; in addition to being a fantastic hunting rifle, the bolt action also tends to be very accurate. I own a CZ 550 American and have used it to take down deer and elk. You should spend some time at the range getting the scope sighted in then practice adjusting your aim for different distances. This is the gun I'd be using to put food on the table for my family if there was a complete economic collapse. Don't go cheap on the scope. You could own the best rifle in the world but it’s only as good as the scope. Remember, no American manufacturer can afford to make a shoddy, junky bolt action centerfire rifle. If you have a favorite major manufacturer, stick with them and you won’t go wrong.

Gun #4 - Pistol: The final category is usually the budget buster… a high quality self defense pistol. While very important for home defense, I feel it is wise to get the other three categories taken care of first. Handguns are not cheap. Even used, you can easily spend several hundred dollars on something decent. Stick to the common calibers, either 9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP, or .357 and go with the biggest one you're comfortable with. The operation of a semi-automatic handgun is more complicated than a revolver, so revolvers are usually the better choice for novice shooters as there is less that can go wrong with them. They don’t jam and have fewer moving parts. The trade off is you’ll be able to carry fewer rounds, typically only 6 in the weapon. I know Dirty Harry says the .44 magnum is the most powerful handgun ever made, but with all that power comes a heck of a lot of recoil. As far as revolvers go, I recommend going with a .357. It packs a pretty good punch but isn’t too big for a person new to firearms. You can also shoot .38 rounds out of most .357s which provides additional options for finding ammo. Do not make the mistake of trying to fire .357 rounds out of a .38 though. The rounds are not interchangeable going both directions.

Taking a look at the semi-automatic category… The 9mm is perhaps the most popular caliber, in use by military and law enforcement around the world. The .40 S&W was created by the FBI to allow for additional stopping power over the 9mm. The 45 ACP came about during the development of the M1911 just prior to the First World War. The operator of a semi-automatic must become familiar with operating slide-stops and safeties, loading magazines, chambering rounds and clearing jams. This combined with the skill required to accurately shoot a handgun, means that semi-automatic handguns are less user friendly than revolvers. The additional actions involved make it less than ideal for those unfamiliar with hand guns. The benefit though is that a semi-auto might have a 9-15+ round capacity providing the shooter with greater firepower. The bottom line is to pick a high quality gun from a good manufacturer that fits your hand well and you’re comfortable shooting. Glock, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and Springfield are all good; pick one that works well for you. These manufactures make essentially the same firearm in all of the common calibers. My wife’s personal preference is the Glock 19 while I prefer is the M1911. A pistol is primarily for self-defense so this is not the firearm to “go cheap” on… after all you’re using it to defend your life and the lives of your loved ones.

Remember to stay legal if you plan to carry a firearm in your daily life. Be sure to obtain any necessary permits to do so legally. It makes very little sense to risk having your firearm confiscated during a simple traffic stop. Murphy’s Law dictates that if that were to happen, that will be the day you finally have NEED of that weapon.

Gun #5 – BONUS WEAPON – AR-15: While the previous four weapons cover all of the key areas that you’ll need to feed and protect your family, there may be a requirement during the “Zombie Apocalypse” that we’ve all heard about for additional firepower. You’ll need to protect what you’ve prepared against roving bands of thugs and gangs that failed to make any preparations for the EOTWAWKI or at least they didn’t listen to FEMA about preparing for some type of natural disaster. As an “old Army guy”, I like some variant of the AR-15. This is a good "security" gun and does a decent job as a varmint gun too should small pack predators ever became a problem. As far as the caliber goes, the .223 has a light kick so it’s a good caliber for a smaller framed person. It’s one of the most common calibers in the US (5.56x45/.223) so ammunition should be easy to find and relatively cheap. With almost no recoil you can provide fast and accurate follow up shots assuming you practice enough and there are virtually limitless options for accessories.

This subject would not be complete if I forget to comment on weapons maintenance. Be sure to invest in the cleaning supplies needed for each firearm and if you’re unsure how to do so, have someone teach you how to strip and clean each weapon. Firearms should be cleaned after each time you go hunting or to the range before you put it back in storage. Proper maintenance is critical to reliable use of a firearm.

Well, those are what I would choose, should I only have the choice of four different firearms. However please remember that any gun - no matter what it is- will be useless unless you know how to use it. Chat with your local gun store and they will surely set you up with some classes that the NRA teaches about how to effectively and most importantly safely use a firearm, be it rifle or handgun. Set aside some money and try to practice at least once or twice a month. If you can only afford one gun, get the 12 gauge. It’s the most versatile firearm on the planet.