Reader Feedback: Armory

A few months back I produced an article about what I considered necessary in my minimum home armory. I also posed the question to our readership about what they felt was necessary. Below is what I got back. I’ve included their (only edited for understanding) emails and a few comments of my own. All my comments are italicized.

Reader 1:
Total Meltdown: (Katrina, Port AuPrince, Watts, yada yada) I assume this is the scenario this reader is thinking about as he considers his armory needs.

1911 single stack Para or Kimber
12 ga 870 or Mossberg
20 ga 870 Wingmaster standard bird barrel
.40 XD, any style
.308 bolt action, Remington Or Weatherby Vanguard
30-06…same as above
.270 same as above
30-30 Winchester or Marlin
9mm Ruger P-85
any 22 cal S & W revolver, K-22 Masterpiece is best
Minimum of 500 rounds for all.

I completely understand the need for a shotgun, a rifle, a pistol and a revolver. When I think about minimum armory needs I don’t understand having multiple rifles in different calibers unless one is thinking about ammo availability. Note that this reader has very specific preferences in pistols: a Springfield Armory XD in .40S&W, and a Ruger P-85 in 9mm. I think I might lean toward a .357 revolver somewhere in the list. After all, that one revolver can shoot several different kinds and calibers of ammo. When I think about “minimum” controls on such armory listings, weapon versatility becomes key.

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Reader 2:
Your question was what would I feel I would want in my armory if money was no object.
I believe I could answer that for myself this way.
1. a shotgun 12 gauge for hunting/survival needs
2. 2 rifles, one small bore for light hunting for food etc, and the other for large animal hunting and survival as weapon, scopes for small bore is optional but the larger rifle definitely needs a scope.
3. 22 caliber handgun/revolver. One capable of shooting both long rifle shells and magnum by changing cylinders. Used for hunting and as a BUG as necessary, and a pest weapon (ie. snakes ).
4. 2 or more handguns of a larger caliber. The ones that are the best for the individual using them. A large caliber handgun that is too big for the person using it is only a paper weight. My own preferences, a 45 ACP, a 9mm and a smaller 380 ACP. Gives a broader spectrum and options for ammunition is problems arise. Keep enough ammo on hand for each for a contingent emergency.

That is pretty much my thoughts. You could add a short barrel shotgun for close in defense, and possibly an automatic rifle similar to a M-16 type breed if you could for adding to an arsenal if needed.

This reader and I are in near total agreement on the minimum armory needs. Clear and precise in his needs / concerns.

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Reader 3:
Below is what I believe should be in a basic personal armory.
a good, compact .38/.357 revolver [easily maintained, always goes bang]
a tactical shotgun [not gew-gaahed up with sights, lights, and other crap to get in your way]
a good lever action carbine [dependable]
a .32 or .380 mouse [cheap, concealable, non-cumbersome]
a 9mm carbine [packable, especially the Kel-tec K2000]
a .22 pistol/revolver and a .22 rifle [for cheap practice]

The following are nice add-ons
an AR platform weapon [again, not too junked up with stuff]
an AK [preferably with folding stock]
a sub-compact 9mm [the perfect iwb gun]
a full sized 9mm, .40, or 1911
Too much of a good thing is not enough.

I had to smile at his closing comment: “Too much of a good thing is not enough.” Note that this reader’s list is broken into two parts: the minimum and the “nice add-ons”. Also note that he specifies not “gew-gaahed” up (overwhelmed with accessories). I have, on many occasions, voiced my opinion about electronic devices and how undependable I find them in high-risk emergency situations. That said, some weapons with specific functions / duties, can be improved in their efficiency and performance with a couple accessories. Accessories shouldn’t be avoided simply to keep the gun “clean looking” (in my opinion). By the same token, having every whiz-bang gadget known to man that will mount on an AR rifle mounted on the thing will certainly make it near impossible to operate.

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Reader 4:
Very, very subjective.
If most readers are not of the “death game” background, then education would be one’s first responsible addition to their personal “armory”. Seeking counsel from those who’ve made their living under arms, provides a practical base to build upon, and modify to one’s own situation. Gun / Survival / SWAT / Combat oriented magazines are for the most part, comic books for big kids with a shared interest. You buy one that has something on the cover that grabs your attention, and skip through to the parts that tell you “what you want to hear.”

It’s a multimillion dollar business with some really good folks giving what I hope is an honest opinion, but it doesn’t come close to a trusted professional looking you in the eye and saying: “do this, or avoid that, and here’s why.” There’s a LOT of companies that provide basic tactical training. (I really have grown to hate the word “tactical”) Most of them are quite expensive because: A. They’re not cheap to run, and B. Chances are (hopefully) your instructor has already lived in harm’s way for many years and you’re paying for the lessons derived there from, without having to have put yourself at risk. Period

Put the Abrams tank between your ears before you take up even a slingshot with your hands. Half of any perceived battle is then already won.

The rest…the actual gun part, is like building the perfect woman. You’ll start out always looking for something better, you’ll waste a great deal of time, energy and money, only to find out that what fits you best is usually smart, plain, and simple, and it’s performance and reliability has a great deal more to do with the care and respect that you exercise with it. 99.9% of the time They WILL go BANG

This is a reader I have a lot of respect for. Common sense prevails. Attitude before equipment. The bold and underline statement he made was of sufficient import that I felt the need to call it out. Read it again. He’s dead on.

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Reader 5:
I think that 2 or more semi-auto pistols in the same caliber, a couple of revolvers that could be obtained in the same caliber as the semi autos, a bolt action rifle /w optics in a popular caliber (my favorite is a .308) a shot gun for home defense or close quarters defense and a couple of semi auto rifles (I also would like them in .308). I also think that a .22 caliber rifle and /or pistol would be good for harvesting small game in the event that would become necessary. My reasoning for the firearms in the same calibers is that I would have to have on hand less variety of ammo. The handguns should be chambered in a common caliber that is readily available. My 2 cents.

Again, a common sense approach. Basic needs for defense and hunting delineated. Common calibers to minimize how many different types of ammo need to be stored. Reader notes minimums and then adds “or more” where he thinks it would be good.

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Reader 6:
Home – four (4) 9mm, four (4) .357 revolvers, two (2) .22 rifles, two (2) .223 assault
Personal carry – Four (4) .45
Boat – two (2) 44 magnums, two (2) stainless steel short 12 gauge

I like the way this reader laid out his needs based on location. At home, he needs these guns. On his person (or his family’s, assuming he’s not carrying all four .45 pistols himself) he needs this. On his boat, he needs this. I’ve never thought of my armory segmented out like that but I can see where it’s good to do. My follow on would be that where the weapon types overlap, you don’t need to have multiples of each. I don’t need guns to leave on my boat. I don’t need to have a gun on my hip AND one like it that I leave at home. This is a unique approach that has its merits.

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Reader 7:
Mossberg 590 12 ga pump
M1 garand
1903A3
XD .45
P22 w/ silencer
45-70 winchester
Remington .22 rifle
M4 carbine
M16A2
HK MP3
AK 47
M60 mg

I looked at this reader’s list and had to smile. He is very specific in manufacture and model of each weapon – all the way down to the M-60 machine gun. I don’t know what scenario he had in mind when he listed that, but I have to agree – it’d be nice to have an M-60 laying around… just in case. That aside, he lists four different defense / battle rifles, three precision rifles (or capable thereof), two handguns (one silenced) and a shotgun. I can think of more than a few uses for a silenced .22 but most of them would get me in some kind of trouble. By the same token, having that capability (legally) in my home armory would be a good thing.

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Reader 8:
IMHO a citizen needs to plan for different contingencies, scenarios and realities.

If everything goes to hell one needs what is convenient and available. Esoteric calibers and weapons will quickly become useless as parts and ammo for them are exhausted. Use those that are ubiquitous.

For example, that .303 Enfield will quickly be useful only as a club.

What it takes to feed the weapons and its availability should drive the consideration.

Shot guns – 12 and 20 gauge – up close, like in home or clearing a confined area
Rifles – .22, 223, .30/30, .308/.30-06 – pre-emption and cook pot
Pistols – 9MM, .40, .38/357 and 45 – up close and personal confrontation

Reloading presses and components will be worth their weight in gold and comparable in worth to a garden and well stocked larder.

Bottom line what you can rely on to function reliably day in day out and will get the job done.

Now if you want brands

Shotguns – Remington 870, Mossberg 500, Winchester or Benelli auto
Rifles – good bolt actions in .22 LR , Ruger 10-22, most any AR clone except Olympia, strong bolt guns Rem 700 Win M70, etc
Pistols – Beretta, Glock, Ruger, Colt, Kimber – good 1911 clones.

This reader makes an excellent point about ammo availability when things go bad and the ability to reload your own if necessary. His comment about “…will be worth their weight in gold” is dead on should things really go to hell in a hand bag. Have you ever considered the value of bullets, clean water and fighting / security skills should our government or economy collapse? Sure, gold and silver might be nice to have on hand, but how much food could you get in exchange for ten rounds of 9mm? Obviously this reader had potential societal collapse on his mind as he considered his list – and I think that’s a scenario we all unfortunately also need to consider. Sure, day to day home and personal defense is important and a reality NOW. None of us should be planning for today. After all, it’s too late for that. Today is already here. Where we can we should be planning for tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. The farther out we plan the more contingencies we need to plan for. Think about that.

Thank you to those who responded with the above lists and thoughts. It greatly appreciated and I’m sure your fellow readers enjoyed it as well.

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