WTSHTF - When the *manure* hits the fan

We've got some serious shooters on here. I'm curious. What gun will you run to WTSHTF?

I own a few myself. I have an SKS but I'm wondering if that's the right gun to build a zombie survival strategy around. It was excellent when I bought it because the price of ammo was low. I know it's reliable. I know it's not the most accurate but it will go bang every time.

We've had a ton of "What car?" threads. Think of this as a "What gun?" thread including price, ammo price, maintenance needs, reliability as criteria.

I'm curious what you guys have to say.

HK USP .40 cal.... ammo isn't the cheapest, either was the gun, but it is AWESOME.

I would use my good old Springfield SOCOM II with my 1911 .45 in reserve. The Springfield is powerful enough (.308) to do whatever you'd need if things went way south (blowing off Mr. Zombie's head), it's a proven design (based on the M1 Garand) -- so if it gets soaked in alien goo it'll still shoot, with a lot of aftermarket support (a red-dot sight makes it easier to acquire those Red Commy bastards as they come over the hill), it's easy to maneuver (so you can make a quick get away from your hermit cabin), it's relatively light (all the better to run from the autonomous robots), very robust (when in doubt, a quick butt-stroke will put a vampire on his knees), and semi-automatic (for rapid-fire giant bug destruction). I think that covers about every scenario I can think of.

.22 because bullets are cheap and the magazines hold lots of them.

WASR .22 would be the best.

I already have two that i will keep close at hand, 10/22 and mossy 500. For the long shots I want nice bolt action in a common caliber, .30-06 or .308. Getting my hands on 8mm mauser is a RPITB. And I want some hi-point guns. With the prices those things run, one of each caliber

But in all seriousness I am about to start stockpiling, we just have 3 years to go. And if nothing goes wrong, then I can go target shooting for a month solid.

I still like a .223

military has another name for it.

I have a sig P229r in .357 and a lot of other cool toys, but my latest purchase is a DPMS LR-308... :)

Just one? AK. MAK90, specifically, but any AK will do. An SKS is also an excellent choice.

If there's a problem I can't solve with my Remington 870, I'm going to need air support.

zoomx2 wrote: HK USP .40 cal.... ammo isn't the cheapest, either was the gun, but it is AWESOME.

+1, even though its a little wide - its my goto for CC

For zombies though... I reach for a good 'ol 12GA pump and sticks of dynamite dipped in grease and ballbearings.

Fancy automatic rifles foul when the river of blood you have to swim thru starts to clot.

A to the MF'n K y'all.

This brings up a good question: do you think, in a pinch, the side of a wood guitar could be sharpened to the extent it could behead Zack? Bear in mind, it'll have about 8lbs of weight behind it in a swing. Maybe I'd be better off just using it as a bludgeon, in true Keith Richards style.

I gots a lot more guitars lying around than guns, sadly.

The weak point on a guitar will be where the neck stock connects to the body, so you better make that first blow count.

alex wrote: This brings up a good question: do you think, in a pinch, the side of a wood guitar could be sharpened to the extent it could behead Zack? Bear in mind, it'll have about 8lbs of weight behind it in a swing. Maybe I'd be better off just using it as a bludgeon, in true Keith Richards style. I gots a lot more guitars lying around than guns, sadly.

Hey now, nothing sad about that.

Actually, I need to go buy my brothers gun. I had to sell my Remington 870 in a pinch. I needed cash, ATM was down, and I had a buyer. Easy fix.

Guns and guitars are probably two of the safest investments you can make.

EastCoastMojo wrote: The weak point on a guitar will be where the neck stock connects to the body, so you better make that first blow count.

I saw a guy who made a spear out of the neck of a guitar. It was pretty cool

All youse guys grabbing handguns, ya'll are missing the point. A handgun is what you grab to fight your way to your rifle.

mtn wrote:

EastCoastMojo wrote: The weak point on a guitar will be where the neck stock connects to the body, so you better make that first blow count.

I saw a guy who made a spear out of the neck of a guitar. It was pretty cool

I suggest using 16GA steel sheet for the body and 1x3 rectangle tubing for the neck... make sure the welds are strong and leave a 1" overhang from the face tothe body. Have this profesionally hardened and then sharpen it.

That should allow you to chop your way thru a zombie mob while rocking out.

EastCoastMojo wrote: The weak point on a guitar will be where the neck stock connects to the body, so you better make that first blow count.

Hey, we're talking about a 'Murican made Telecaster here. I could probably connect with a zed's head at fastball speed before it weakens. Especially with proper swing technique: gotta hit with the edge of the guitar, not the back. That way, the force of the blow is concentrated, and the pressure runs laterally against the grain of the woods and the bolts at the neck/body joint.

Then again, I cold probably trade one guitar for a cheap scattergun and a .308 rifle at a pawnshop...

An American-made Tele is the most solid thing this side of a Louisville slugger. Unfortunately, most all of my guitars are big hollowbodies. They won't survive a good impact at all.

Mossburg 500 rocks pretty good too and aren't all that expensive. Zombies don't like 'em.

Yet another reason to buy a Tele. I highly recommend a '90s Peavey knockoff. Solid woods, American made, all the twang you can stand - for about $250 these days.

And I think it would bust enough skulls to at least get me to higher ground.

We had some bad ammo for our SKS and it kept jamming. Either that or we just dont have all of the grease out. It came packed in its original greased up form wrapped in plastic from yugoslavia, half a century old, brand new. With bayonet and grenade launcher site!

I'd need no less than three weapons. I'd need AR type rifle .30-06 or .308 caliber, 1911 pistol .45, and a 12g pump. Boy... I need to start saving, I dont have any of these yet. (...thinking of the taurus 1911 at Sheels for $540...)

You described just what I'm currently shopping for.

Taurus makes top notch stuff. Five bills for a 1911 is a good price, too.

As for your SKS, I have found that plain old #2 pump Diesel is just about the best thing for getting the grease out of new/packed firearms. A dollar's worth will probably do you. After it is properly cleaned, no oil in the gas system, light oil (I use Break Free) everywhere else. If it still jams, you have a problem. What type of jamming? That can tell you where the problem is. SKS' are almost as reliable as an AK, but a small problem like a burr or mis-machined feed ramp or something might cause you trouble. I also only use the original 10 round internal mags, not the big aftermarket ones.