SHTF Gun

What firearm do I want on hand when the poo hits the ventilator? If I was going to war, I'd certainly want one of my black rifles...lotsa firepower, even though some are poodle-shooters. But if I was somehow plopped down into a disaster area a la a flooded New Orleans, I'd want whatever handgun I was packing concealed (La. has reciprocity with Arizona) and the rifle pictured above. My concealed piece would remain concealed and the Winchester would remain out of sight until trouble erupts. Why the Winchester over a battle rifle? The lever gun is friendlier-looking than an evil black rifle; in a civil disaster, I don't want to look like a militia yahoo to the authorities or my fellow civilians. To someone threatening violence, the great big .44 inch muzzle ought to be threatening enough. Is it any less capable than my Bushmaster? Well, when it's loaded with 300-grain semi-jacketed shallow hollow-point bullets atop a rifle-only .44 magnum load, I don't feel compelled to double-tap goblins as I would with .223s (heck, .44 is a double-tap of .22). The lever action gives me a quick second shot if the goblin is still a threat or if his buddies aren't beating feet after the first shot.

This gun does have some limitations; I wouldn't want to get into a firefight with an AK or AR-wielding goblin, but if I ever encounter goblins who know anything about volume of fire, I hope the good people in the National Guard gravitate to the sound and save my ass. Localized disaster planning includes plotting escape routes, too.

Oh, you wonder "Why not a 12 gauge pump shotgun?" Weight of ammo and effective range. A box of 25 shotgun shells is slightly larger than a 50-pack of .44 Magnums, and the weight is a wash. At point-blank range, they're both lethal, but beyond 50 yards, the shotgun drops off to almost useless. I don't know how far I can bloop a .44, but I'm sure I can hit things at 100 yards, at least.