Apart from figuring out where to bug out and how much food, water and other supplies you will need when SHTF, another factor you need to consider is personal protection. You need to know how to defend yourself against brigands, looters and other potential enemies. To protect yourself, your family and your property, you need to master different types of weapons.
Here are four weapon types that will prove useful to have when SHTF. (h/t to DoomsdayMoose.com)
Precision
Having a good precision firearm – like a scoped hunting rifle – helps protect you from long-range enemies, and it can also help you with hunting. One of the best rifles you can use for this situation is the Remington 700. It is a survival rifle that, with enough practice, can help you accurately shoot targets from 250 yards away. It is chambered in the 7 mm Remington Magnum, a bullet over 3 inches long that can punch hard even at long distances.
Rapid-fire
A hunting rifle can deal with individual targets at range, but there are instances when you'll need a firearm that allows you to hit multiple targets at once. This means getting your hands on reliable semi-automatic firearms like AR-15 and AK-47 style rifles.
AR-15 style rifles are popular weapons in the United States: They deliver a lot of knockdown power at range and usually come with 20 to 30-round magazines. The bullet it is most commonly chambered in – the 5.56 mm NATO – is available in many gun stores nationwide.
But if you're looking for a gun that can deal with enemies at close range, look no further than the AK-47. It's worth noting that fully automatic models, which are commonly used in many other parts of the world, aren't available in the U.S., but “Americanized” and semi-automatic versions of it are. Not only does it have great precision and knockdown power, but it is also a great weapon for SHTF scenarios because of its reliability. It is sturdy, lightweight and can still be used even in adverse weather conditions.
Close range
Close range weapons are also necessary for your survival, especially if you're trying to survive in an urban setting where most enemies might only be several feet away from you. If you're looking for a firearm, there are plenty of handguns to choose from, such as the many variants of the Glock or the old and reliable M1911.
While having a handgun is good, don't discount hand-to-hand combat weapons like machetes, axes and knives, especially if you want to stay silent and keep your position a secret. If you want a little bit of range while still staying silent, consider learning how to use slingshots, bows or crossbows. (Related: Using kitchen knives for survival.)
Defensive traps
If your property is under attack, you may be better off relying on well-placed traps scattered around your homestead. These can take the form of traditional traps like tripwires, the paracord snare trap, the feather spear trap or the Punji stake pit. Alternatively, if you're looking for maximum deterrence, consider explosive traps like the cornflour explosive, explosive tripwires and the shotgun trap.
A good prepper needs to know a lot of things in order to survive in a post-SHTF world. Familiarizing yourself with different kinds of firearms, hand-to-hand weapons and defensive traps will give you an edge during disasters.
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