Choosing a Survival Weapon

"The weapon debate is as old as guns themselves. The question of what
caliber is best for a battle weapon will go on for years. I have read
several survival books and have seen different guns recommended. Some
writers don't even recommend -- they just ramble on. I, for one, form
my opinion based on actual people who fought in wars, the police and
FBI reports. I don't rely on the TV for my news and never, never for
my weapons. Here is what I recommend for weapons in the survival
camp.
One, you need a battle rifle. Military weapons are built to take
punishment and keep on working. If you are on a budget then get an
SKS, I prefer the Russians, but the Chinese weapon is good also. The
rifle comes with a shortened stock, and most women I know that have
shot the weapon like the short stock and light recoil. The weapon's
price is from $200 to $300 and ammo for a case is about $100. The SKS
is a proven battle rifle, chrome barrel and very reliable. Compared
to the .30 caliber carbine the SKS is far superior. The SKS round
past a 100 yards has more knockdown power then the M16. I have
choreographed the SKS and most brands come in at 2400 fps.
Most are reliable with the tapered shell design and they are
forgiving when gotten dirty. The M16 must constantly be cleaned and
has all kinds of design faults corrected over the years. The SKS was
invented during WW II and has not had very many changes. You don't
change what works. The stripper clips need a little work. I found
they are pinched in spots and you need to pry them up so the shells
feed smoothly through them. Out to 200 yards with the sights from the
rifle, the gun is outstanding. Most people can learn how to strip
them down and clean them. They come with a cleaning rod and a
cleaning kit in the butt stock. For the money, there is no better
battle rifle.
The next choice is the M 1 Garand. This 30-06 caliber is a very
proven weapon. The U.S. used this caliber in WW I, the bolt action
A03-06, and in the M1 Garand in WW II. You see, I talked to an Army
sniper in WW11 who thought the M1 Garand was the best rifle ever
invented. I hunted with this gentleman and saw him drop running deer
at 100 yards. He was so good, before we even walk up to the deer he
told me within a 1 inch of where the bullets hit the deer.
The M1 Garand is capable of 1,000 yd. shots. Surplus 30-06 ammo has
been dumped on the market and FMJ, and armor-piercing shells can be
found. This is a great caliber.
The next weapon is the M14; this shoots a .308 caliber, the same as
the M60 machine gun. The US Army uses this caliber for their sniping
needs. FMJ's can be found for this weapon and it is a great one to
have. The gun is semi-auto with clips for quick reloading.
One of those 3 rifles is a good choice. Military weapons are built to
last and take more punishment then civilian rifles. Ammo in case lots
is easier and cheaper to find. FMJ, tracer, armor piercing and match
grade ammo is available. This gives you more of a choice for ammo and
greatly increases the effectiveness of your gun.
To me, a military rifle is the only choice, one of the top three will
last for years, each has their benefits and weakness. Pick one and
make it a standard for all of your rifles.
The next gun on my list is a .22 rifle. I like the Ruger 10-22, a
well-built repeater. With good ammo, the gun is quite accurate. You
can use it running traps and you can use it for light defense. A well
placed .22 round, using solid points have killed bears, moose, and
deer all over North America. Plus, with the TV on or sleeping most
people can't hear the shot. It is a good small-game gun and you will
find many uses for it.
.22 ammo is cheap and you can get 500 rounds from $11.00 to $20.00,
so stock up. I would have 5000 or more rounds stored.
The next gun is a 12-gauge pump, I prefer the Remington 870. It is
simple to break down to clean and is very reliable. That is why the
military choose this gun. With double ought buckshot, out to 20
yards -- this gun is deadly. The big drawback is the short range.
But, as a final defense weapon, it is highly desirable because of the
spread and at close range more hits will happen. This was proven in
the Civil War. A Pennsylvania company of Union soldiers loaded their
smooth bore rifle with the main ball and 3 buckshot size balls. The
rebel Army suffered so many wounded and dead from this company that
they were feared for the rest of the war.
Only after you purchase the battle rifle, the .22 rifle and the
shotgun and enough ammo to back them up, then and only then, should
you buy a pistol. Ask anyone in a war how much their pistol was used
in combat and 99% of the time it was never used. I don't like the
9mm. The SW .40 or the .45, these would be good choices. Buy one and
get extra clips for it.
All weapons should have extra clips. 1000 rounds for the rifle, 500
rounds of 00 buckshot and slugs, 5000 rounds for your .22 and 1000
rounds for- your pistol.
We can debate weapons and choice for years. I believe in the proven
weapons from the military."

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I don't remember where I found the above post, but it's a good
response. There are only 2 things I can add to this:

1.Any gun you have is a good choice since not all can afford to buy a
new one. Just make sure you have plenty of ammo available for it and
practice and then practice some more!

2.As far as a true survival weapon (not a good combat weapon), my
preference is a muzzleloader. Revolver or long gun. There is no
background check (means no record/paper trail), can be shipped
straight to you via UPS, they are not expensive, easy to make ammo
for and with a little chemistry you can make all the black powder you
need. Besides they have proven themselves for a few hundred years.