By Gale Newell
As a husband and father or two girls, my entire being is devoted to raising them well and giving them everything they need to be happy and thrive, and more. It breaks my heart to think our great country and world could come to a point in which their future is not as bright as mine once was when I was a young man growing up. But with the world teetering upon impending economic collapse and societal meltdown, it’s my duty to prepare for any such set of events.
My girls and wife are my life and I will do anything in my power to protect them and ensure their survival. So in a SHTF scenario, I have a plan. And you should too. An instrumental tool in affirming my family’s survival and home security is, of course, a firearm. When push comes to shove, a firearm is not only a defense mechanism, but a deterrent as well. Here are my choices of the best weapons in terms of reliability, performance, and pure stopping power.
Mosin-Nagant Model 91/30
That’s right, the lifeblood of the Russian military for much of the 20th century. The Mosin-Nagant is deadly-accurate, reliable, easy to find ammunition for, the cheapest rifle you can buy in terms of the performance you get for your buck, and a great piece of history. This rifle helped defeat Hitler. As a mid- to long-range option, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more solid overall weapon. Some may complain that the Mosin is a bolt action rifle. For those experienced shooters, one shot is all you need to dispatch an invading raider and secure your home.
AR Platform Rifle
Designed in 1957 by Eugene Stoner (developer of the Stoner 63 weapons system) and Jim Sullivan (contributor to the M-16), the AR-15 is a derivative of the M-16, one of the most popular firearms in United States military history and is the most-produced weapon of its caliber. The AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle that’s lightweight, fires quickly, has low recoil, and is very versatile. Easily modified with additional sights, grips, and barrel modifiers (muzzle break, flash hider, silencer), the AR-15 can be customized to fit any shooter’s preference. I’d recommend an AR-15 over a shotgun any day of the week. Here is a comparison of a double barrel shotgun versus an AR-15, two popular choices for home defense.
You never know when a predator may strike. There may be two or three. They’re looking for easy pickings and to strike unknowing and unprepared families. In a surprise attack situation, it’s unlikely you’ll have the luxury of getting to a rifle or longer weapon, setting up and look down the sights, and dispatching attackers from range. For this reason, a concealed handgun is in order. This is my choice for best handgun to be within my grasp in a pinch:
Colt Single Action Army
Also known as the Peacemaker, the Colt Single Action Army is the single greatest handgun ever made. Six bullets, more than enough to kill anything that moves. Iconic for its rolkd in the American westward expansion, the SAA features a 6-shot cylinder and fires a .45 caliber bullet.
Carried by the U.S. cavalry and artillery during the late 1800s, the Colt SAA still stands true today. There are those who don’t like pulling the hammer back before each round sent downrange. For them a double action revolver or semi-automatic pistol may be more appealing. For me, one shot is all I need. The stopping power behind the SAA is second to none and nothing is getting up from a well-placed shot out of this weapon’s barrel.
Home security and protecting your loved ones — these are the two quintessential goals of being a prepper. These weapons, while unnecessary in the world today, will determine life or death when your family is in danger. Each of these weapons was judged based on reliability, performance, and stopping power. If you’ve got other thoughts — and I know you will — let us know your thoughts below. Only one caveat: guns must be legal and available to the average consumer.