Suggestions for weapons for self-defense (Katrina related)

I am not familiar with the laws in your state, but I think the AR15 would be your best choice. Since you are a civilian, you cannot get full auto. Personally I have a lot of experience shooting fully automatic guns- anything from an MP5 to a Colt Commando and beyond. It’s simply not worth spending thousands of dollars on a full auto gun for your first rifle anyway.

Getting back to the AR15, I recommend it because

A) They aren’t getting any cheaper, and it is one of the most sought after guns to ban.

B) In relation to A, if they ever do get banned they will increase in value

C) Despite its reputation in Vietnam, they are pretty reliable

D) Getting a compact model, like an M4 means it will me more maneuverable and tout able in urban areas, such as where you live

E) Parts are VERY easy to come by

D) They are simple (but not as simple as an AK)

F) They are very easy to shoot, and almost anyone can be accurate with it.

G) Ammo is plenty, and the military uses it so if TSHTF (The **** hits the fan) it will be pretty common

H) Its pistol grip allows you to shoot comfortably for extended periods of time, and is more natural in a defensive situation than a common deer rifle.

I) They are adaptable- built pretty much like a Lego- pop parts off, pop parts on

And the list will go on and on.

Stick with name brands, like Bushmaster, Rock River Arms, Armalite, and Colt- although Colts are more expensive for essentially the same rifle. I like Bushmasters the best out of all of them. Go shoot a few and see if you like. Most people do. It’s a very universal rifle.

PM me if you need more help.

PJK

 

Picture the scenario. There has been a disaster. You grab your stuff and head for the safety zone. You're carrying an AR15 in a group of hundreds or thousands of desperate people. Sorry, but you're just drawing attention. A gang of 5 people could attack you and take your AR15 away from you before you knew what happened. And then kill you.

Personally, I'd tuck my Sig Sauer 9mm in my waistband, try to look as inconspicuous as possible, and "choose my fight". If cornered, I'd give up my water, or my wallet, or whatever, and as soon as the thugs turned their backs, I'd kill as many of them as I could. Shoot them in the back.

Really, your best weapon in a situation like this might be a baseball bat or an axe handle.

 

AR15s and Mini14s are fine weapons, but stopping power is what is needed.
Nothing better than a Glock, Sig, S&W .40, .45 caliber- lead tipped hollow points or 12 guage; Even if you cant shoot, you need stopping power when the attackers are on adrenaline!

If they were legal, Im a big HK mp5 fan

MM

not to mention the .380 strapped to the ankle as back up and the waist carried dagger.....then the throwing stars if all else fails.

 

If your looking for home defense, I'd go with a 12 gauge shotgun... The rounds are less likely to go through the walls of hour home, possibly hurting your family, or neighbors.

 

how about this, no one, and i mean no one will hassle you with this -----
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For self-defense, you want to start with a good dog, preferably two. If you have kids, then go for a Golden Retriever (kid safe). If not, then you probably want a rotweiler.

Then you want body armor. I paid $105 for a Class III bulletproof vest on eBay (it has an additional metal plate now, too). You wear it underneath your collared shirt and it is invisible to the world.

These two above things can go most anywhere without drawing attention from Authorities (who may be under extreme duress during a crisis) or from gangs or from someone viewing you as a crime/target of opportunity.

For defense, you further want a revolver. Unlike semi-automatics which typically need to be cocked before they can fire, your average revolver is **always** ready to fire, which is important, because if you can't fire your weapon then you merely have a red flag to wave at a bull, and Hollywood aside, loud, angry words and a red flag aren't good for self-defense.

You want your revolver to be so small and light that it is convenient to carry concealed...because if you don't carry your weapon, it doesn't matter what "stopping power" it has. Big firearms are more difficult to carry concealed, so consequently they get left at home...doing no one but the cirminal who is harming you any good. Practice firing it. Learn firearms safety from the pros. If you are going to pack it, then be comfortable and safe with it.

A shotgun or rifle is fine for home defense, but the Average Joe isn't going to leave home with either of them. Nor am I disparaging semi-automatics...they are excellent offensive weapons...that's just a different use than the requested self-defense application.

After you become comfortable with some or all of the above, you then want to make certain that you and your family aren't in desperate situations. Store a week or two worth of MRE's in case you don't want to get into fights at a madhouse, panic-rushed grocery store. Store some bottled water in the large 5 gallon plastic containers so that you don't have to wait in post-emergency distribution center lines just to get a drink. Picture yourself waiting in line all day, for days, outside the Superdome for some government guy to give you a little bottled water. Don't be that guy.

Keep a low profile. You do not want to draw a mob's attention. As much as possible, you want to avoid attention because attention during a crisis is what can lead to personal harm.

If your wife or children are uncomfortable or untrained with firearms, then it is possible that they may be better off carrying at least some non-lethal self-defense such as pepper-spray or a stun gun or a sling shot (which has the unique advantage of being able to use "Ammo" that will forever be lying around). Don't force a firearm onto someone who is uncomfortable with them. There are other options.

That being said, remaining completely defenseless is a very, very bad idea.

 

Mark, I agree with where you are going, but I don't think you truly understand the power of a .223(5.56mm) round on a human target.

It is a severe trauma round. Unlike the .45 that picks you up and takes you with it, the .233 causes lethal trauma to kill. It creates a vicsious open cavity wound that turns vital organs into sauce. I hate using this comparison, but look at what the DC sniper used. Those victims died from one bullet. The .223 is a wicked round when you place your shots effectively on the target.

I know what I trust my life with. I own a Colt .223 AR-15. And I know how to use it as an effective tool. Enemy targets can be engaged from afar to instill a demoralizing element into the enemy as their buddy's begin dropping to the floor.

 

G3

Better penetrability, and stopping power. (7.62x51)

If you must have a Ar15 style rifle, look into the AR10/SR25

Here is a comparison between the G3/AR10 round (the 308) and the 223.

5.56 NATO
Size: 5.56 x 45 mm
Bullet weight: 3.95 g
Velocity: 930 m/s
Energy: 1,700 J

7.62 NATO
Size: 7.62 x 51 mm
Bullet weight: 9.33 g
Velocity: 838 m/s
Energy: 3,275 J

Remember, the reason the military switched was due mostly do the fact that under full auto a 7.62 is uncontrollable. (That and more ammo can be carried for the same weight).

 

If you were smart, you'd just get out of Dodge all together. You compromise you own personal safety clumping together with a group of people trying to get a grip with their own sanity. You make yourself an open target in an area undefended by LEO's where there's a item of interest to unfriendlies.

The purpose of carrying the AR-15 rifle is to ensure that when unfriendlies cross your path as you escape, you neutralize them swiftly, effectively and continue to move on to safety. Not end up on the death certificate roster because you decided to hang out in a compromising situation.

When you are out of the hostile area where LEO's and NG have control, it is then safe to put away the rifle and let them do their job.

Most importanly... YOU and your LOVED ONES are alive and out of harms way.

 

Get yourself a Glock 17 (9mm) and a Colt, Armalite, or Bushmaster AR-15 asap.

(in NJ, the AR-15 may be an 'assualt weapon' stupid state


I've got .223s for moving about, and THIS incase I need to take out a truck
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I can't believe this thread (or the related "what would you take with you"). When half of Asia got swamped by the tsunami, the locals put aside their differences and got on with a rescue/clean up. In the richest, supposedly most civilised country in the world you start shooting each other!
Somebody please tell me this is all a joke!

 

Regardless of the country name on some map, when survival and food becomes the priority out of pure desperation, the linens and tea cups get pushed aside and a very ugly side of humanity comes out. Asia may have recovered clean and tidy which is commendable, but when comparing advanced civilizations in a time of peril, the old saying holds true, "the higher you fly, the harder you fall"

 

I remember reading about anarchy in Asia.

 

Agree with Aura on the 7.62. Don't have one but wish I did. Do have Enfield .303 Brit, Winchester 94 .30-.30 and 6.5 Swede Mauser (I keep this handy in case I need to engage enemies at 2000 yds or so.

Best social gun - 12 ga w/ tactical loads. Semi-auto - Benelli, numerous pumps - I keep a Winchester Defender 1300 12 ga next to the bed. 8 shots, cocked and locked.

Also assorted .45 ACPs and a Ruger Vaquero .44 mag. and six dogs.

If TSHTF I hope I don't stand there with "analysis paralysis" (thanks for coining this term, Uro) trying to figure out which one to grab first.

 

I have been thinking similar things.... lots of people (me included) have a home defense and/or carry weapon, but few guns can handle all situations. A 9mm handgun wouldnt be the best choice to defend your home from attackers and an AR-15 wouldnt be the best choice to take to the store to get food either.

I'm thinking a shotgun, handgun, and semi-auto rifle would be a good combination. You could choose whatever you want in those ranges. For me, I would get an AR-15 or M-4 or an AK-47 or AK-74 (depending on if you like 7.62 or 5.56). Personally I'd go with the M-4 because its shorter and I am not convinced the larger caliber 74 would be better. The AK would be more reliable but that may not come into play as much in an urban setting vs. a real military setting. For a shottie, there are many choices and I am on expert. For the handgun, I think I would have two. A primary and backup. Primary would be (for me) a sig probably in .40 caliber. A glock or a 1911 would be a good choice too, in 9mm, .40 or .45. A good backup gun would be a .38 snub nose revolver, or something small but definitely a very reliable revolver.

Or course, if you want to intimidate and not shoot it, get a DE.50 pistol and a SW 500 with the 8-3/8" barrel in nickel plate. Both will cause people to think twice

 

(1) Small bottle of flat red paint.

(2) If things get out of hand, paint small red dots all over your exposed skin. Someone antagonistic gets too close to you, gasp, stagger, and choke a bit.

(3) You will be given a wide personal space, and no one will want anything you've touched.

 

Then go with a short stock (shorty) version, lower key, Im into the collapsable stocks etc.....I love the 223, but I think more compact is an issue

 

STOP!!!!

First, check the barrels on the Fox, if they are Damascus, they are NOT safe with modern shot shells. If that is the case, you have a valuable heirloom, but not a weapon to be used.


With that being said, get training before you buy anything. Most places will have a variety of guns for you to try, find what YOU are comfortable with and become proficient.

More important, get the right mindset, hone your physical skills for personal defense, this includes armed and unarmed combat...PM me and I will hook you up with some very serious folks in NJ that can help you in this regard.

 

Jeez! I saw a .50 cal BMG the other day at a gun show... That thing was huge!

 

fish is right about the mindset. Gotta develop the reflexes; if it comes out of the holster/wherever, somone's gonna die. Practice.

 

Glad to see some one else has an M82 here. Tons of fun to shoot, but overkill on every range I have went too

But I am still all for the AR. Ammo is cheep and very easy to come by. Hand guns are good but they dont have much in the way of mag capacity or changability like the AR. Go check one out you wont regret it.

 

Get yourself a Mossberg 12ga shotgun with a short 18.5" barrel. The short barrel will enable you to get the weapon on the target ASAP. In my opinion getting the weapon on target is most important, for short range engagements. The cocking action also has a very good intimidation factor.



AR 15 or AK type ? That is only if you want to shoot at your target beyond 50 meters. - That most likely will not occur.



A pistol is ok. However you can also have the bullets go thru the sheetrock.

 

You luv the G3 !!!!!!



You may as well go with the KAC MK 11 Mod 0.

- You can't miss !!! Around .5 MOA !!

 

With all my heart. A few years back, I was just about to seal the deal on a used PSG1 for around 7k when Clinton banned all imported "assault rifles". The price doubled and I couldn't get it. I am still p!ssed at that. (For the record, no PSG1 has ever been used in a crime...it costs to much, is too large and cumbersome to be carried easily, not to mention its very heavy)

Now that is a sexy gun. how much do they cost?