If you had to build an arsenal...

[tucansam]

Originally Posted by BBunin

At $1000 a month, that first one is gonna take a while..........

I failed to read the requirements. Let me modify a bit.

[ryn_v]

WOW this thread has been resurected. Just shows that people love to dream.
If you want a good scenario for SHTF. check out the book Prayers for the Assassin. I read the first chapter, Here's the premise:

Enormous in scope and vividly imagined, this sensational thriller set in a futuristic America delivers a powerhouse read filled with violence, betrayal, and intrigue.

Not just high-concept, but highly entertaining, Prayers for the Assassin is set thirty-five years from now, after a civil war in which most of the United States has become a moderate Islamic republic and the Bible Belt has broken away to become a Christian nation. This political shift was precipitated by simultaneous suitcase-nuke detonations in New York, Washington, D.C. and Mecca�a sneak attack blamed on Israel, known as the Zionist Betrayal. Within this tense world, the beautiful and intrepid young historian Sarah Dougan uncovers shocking evidence that he Zionist Betrayal was not linked to Israel at all, but was a plot carried out by a messianic a radical Muslim billionaire now poised ot overtake the entire nation.

[wfrazee]

XD40 (Oh wait, I have one.)
HK P2000
M4 / AR 15 (On that budget, i would save a few months and go with a RRA 'government model' or build one myself off of a good solid RRA base.)
Benelli M1 Super 90 Shotgun

[defender96]

In order:

Remington 870- can shoot slugs or birdshot- very versatile
Ruger 10/22 or a .22 handgun, I prefer Browning Buckmarks
S&W or Ruger .357
Glock 17- sorry XD guys but I am going with capacity. Lots of hicap mags for these
AR-15
AK-47- ammo is cheap, very reliable
Rifle in .308 or 7mm- for long range
Barret 50cal for the very long range stuff
Lots of ammo


For me this would be all I need for a SHTF scenario

[EAGLE]

Lots of great suggestions in this thread.

I have built my collection around usefullness and specific applications.
Firearms are tools and like tools in the traditional sense there are different ones for different applications.

I would list them by application.

.30 caliber Battle rifle: FN FAL, M1A, M1 Garand, G3 or CETME.

.30 (intermediate) caliber Assault rifle: AK47 or SKS.

.30 caliber tactical bolt action: Remington or Savage. (Or various others take your pick)

AR15. (I am not a fan of the AR platform but the caliber is very prolific so a must have if scrounging ammo)

.22 rifle (small game acquisition...ammo is light and cheap)

12 guage PUMP. (more reliable than a semi-auto and can better feed a variety of special loads)
Also can be used for larger game with cheap ammo and less of a noise signature than a high power rifle round. Good tactical entry weapon provided that the barrel is not too long. A good shotgun with the right scatter load can keep up with a typical subgun.

A carbine. I prefer .45 caliber but that is just me. (a carbine offers longer range than a pistol and again with less noise signature than a high powered rifle.)
Also a carbine is best suited when matched to the caliber of pistol that you choose to carry since the rounds are inter-usable. Great for hunting and self defense.

.50 caliber (If you are extremely friggin serious)
Great for hard targets (anti-material) and stopping vehicles with one well placed shot.
P.S. I would love to have an M82A1 but a bolt action with a 5 round mag would be a better choice.

Pistols:

.22LR auto
9mm auto (not a fan, but again a prolific caliber)
.40SW auto
.45ACP auto

.22 revolver
.38 revolver
.45 revolver
(less moving parts, more reliable than a pistol)

1919A4 with a crankfire. (looter shooter and extreme deterrent both visual and physical)
Nothing says F#*k off and keep away like a mounted beltfed at 450-500rpm!

[Krackels]

Ok. Now I have some free time to play.

1st month.
Ruger SP101 (and ammo)
Remington 870
SKS

2nd Month
AR15
Marlin 25 Glenfield

4rd Month
AK
XD9mm

5th Month
Taurus PT111
Bulgarian Makarov

[1BN/75th]

SHTF !! list!! To date. Gotta love dept letterhead to get mags and such!!
xd45 service 25 mags and 3000 rnds
xd9 service 25 mags and 3000 rnds
wilson combat tactical super grade with 35 mags
LAR Grizzly 45 win mag 15 mags and 2000 rnds of hot 230 gr gold dots.
H&K 91 50 mags 2000 rnds ball 2000 rnds AP Savage 110 tactical with 3rd gen springfield scope 1000 rnds lake city match.
M4 (Real good one) 100 30rd mags and 3000 rnds ball 2000 rnds AP
590 Mossberg 12ga steel rec (military model) 3000 rnds various shot ans slugs
Barrett M82A1 10 extra mags and 1500 rnds of surplus AP and APIT mixed.
Reloding equiptment and supplies to reload all above in large quantities. enough for at least 3000 rnds of each. Powder and primers all vaccum sealed for long shelf life.
body armor, night vison stored as well.
spent most of my single life building "collection" and military surplus sealed ammo. Rotate out MRE's using camping as excuse. Still pick ammo at every gun show. Got the whole "camping gear" set up. Also have 20 acre's of hilly wooded ground surrounding a "hunting" cabin with a huge well built "basement" if you know what I mean. Wonder where I store all that stuff! Some might say I'm paranoid. I prefer causeously aware and properly prepared.
DR
P.S. forgot the 10/22 ruger with plenty of 50 rnd mags, the 22/45 ruger 22 pistol spare mags and several thousand rounds of stingers.

[Jamess67]

My kind of guy. can I have directions to your "cabin"

[atmiller]

Savage .22/20gauge Over/Under - My first gun. Still have in collection. Great rabbit/squirrel gun.

.22 Pistol - Any, but Ruger 22/45 would probably transition well to other hanguns. Picked because cheap ammo = lots of practice.

.22 Rifle - Any. Ruger 10/22s are popular. Picked because cheap ammo = lots of practice.

XD - In .40 or .45, for Personal Defense.

Mossberg 500 12 gauge - Hunting and home defense

Winchester .30-30 Lever action or .30-06 bolt action - Local terrain decides which to get. Big game hunting.

I think these will cover the basics.

[B Easy]

Originally Posted by ryn_v

What guns would you buy in what order? Pretend you have a fairly reasonable, but conservative budget...and *omg*...no guns. You have to build your collection from scratch. What are the first 5-10 guns you buy? Consider any type of handgun, rifle, or shotgun....for whatever reason. Self-defense, hunting, whatever. I think it'd be really interesting to see what people prioritize.....and it'll help me build my collection.

Budget minded approach:

Hunting rifle: Savage package gun (w/ the Simmons scope it comes with) in .308: roughly $400.

Home defense: Bushmaster M4gery w/ EOtech, no ban config.: roughly $1,000

Carry: XD, 9mm, service: $500 roughly w/ a good holster

"Militia piece": For when you have to "issue" another rifle on the double: AK w/ tri-rail top cover and a cheap-o red dot, $400

Mags for the AR and AK: $200

Ruger 10/22: small game, for food w/ optics: $200.

Altogether, that's 2,700.

2 battle-worthy rifles with good optics and lots of mags, a decent hunting rifle, a small game rifle, and a nice carry piece.

On top of that, throw in a plate harness with front and back steel level III rifle plates, with 3 double mag pouches that'll take either AK or AR mags. That'll put you right at about $3,000.

Enough equipment to outfit yourself for serious combat, a rifle to give to someone else complete with mags, and a nice hunting / long-distance rifle.

That's all the kit you need, weapons-wise.