3 Firearms 4 Life, Part IV: Zombocalypse Now!

File Under: With Both Barrels

Life at the End of the World

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV  | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

We have come to everyone's favorite topic: the Zombie Apocalypse. This is the ultimate SHTF scenario and probably has caused WROL the likes of which humankind has never before seen. All your intensive video game training and internet forum arguing has culminated in sweet, undead vindication. Now that it has actually happened, all your friends and family have flocked to your hardened, subterranean zombie-proof bunker and it is up to you to ensure everyone survives the onslaught of the zombie hordes. What will be your 3 armaments of choice? As always to determine this first we must analyze what we will encounter and what will be our long-term survival needs.

First off let us examine the 5 different types of zombies one might encounter during the Zombocalypse:

Type 1: Voodoo Zombies

• Zombification occurs through psycho-chemical means using herbs, poison, hypnosis, and brainwashing
• Usually pristine condition
• Retain full upper brain function but unable to articulate or express will
• May be defeated by normal means
• Can be rehabilitated
• Will not cross bodies of water

Type 2: Traditional Zombies – Slow Movers

• Zombification occurs through a non-scientifically apparent process but can be transmitted from infected to non-infected through a bite
• Reanimated zombies will be necrotic/decrepit and living infected will decay over time
• No upper brain function
• These zombies may be under the direct control of a master entity, thus they can be stopped by destruction of the brain stem or the controller and complete consumption by fire
• These zombies will not cross bodies of water

Type 3a: Viral Zombies – Fast Movers

• Zombification occurs through a virus or retrovirus that mutates the physiology of the host to make it faster, stronger, more enduring, and resistant to stoppage, even beyond a normal “death.”
• The contagion can affect living or deceased hosts with an intact central nervous system
  • Condition of infected/reanimated with range from necrotic/decrepit to pristine
• Limited upper brain function possible:
  • No psychological response to damage or pain
• Unaffected by suffocation or blood-loss
• The body will endure for a long time and if the central nervous system remains intact, will recover
• Can be stopped by destruction of the brain stem only.
• Contagion may be airborne or transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of infected host
• Contagion can cross species or mutate
• Immunobodies, vaccines, and anti-viral agents may exist
• The infected/reanimated can traverse water

Type 3b: Viral Zombies – Ragers / Crazies

• Zombification occurs through a virus, retrovirus, or other biochemical agent that affects the psychochemical, nerve, cardiopulmonary, and/or endocrine system of the host, which primarily strips the live human host of its mental and emotional “weaknesses,” in an effort to make the host more resistant to stoppage.
• The virus only works on living human hosts
• May retain full upper brain function with:
  • Increased aggression
  • Reduced fear/inhibition
  • Reduced psychological response to damage or pain
• The corpse decays at a normal rate and the infected can be killed by any traditional means
• Contagion may transmit through contact with bodily fluids of infected host or contaminated food/water
• Contagion does not cross species or mutate
• Immunobodies are non-existent although counteragents may be available
• The infected can traverse water

Type 4: Parasite/Puppet Zombies

• Zombification occurs when an organic or cybernetic parasite (sometimes symbiont) takes over (and frequently destroys) the central nervous system and bodily functions of an organic host. An organic entity will need a living host to possess while the cybernetic zombie could be dead when infested, as it only requires an intact not necessarily living host.
• Infestation requires direct, probably prolonged and invasive, physical contact
• Infected will present a wide range of abilities
• The consciousness of the parasite takes over the host
• The human host cannot be recovered or rehabilitated and will die or return to a post-morbid state should the parasite be driven from the host
• The parasite may have a psychological reaction to damage and pain
• Though the host can be stopped by traditional means, the parasite may be able to regenerate the corpse
• Parasites must be annihilated, and following destruction of the brain stem, corpses must be quickly consumed by fire
• A master controller or sire may exist, which upon its destruction, could cause the death or deactivation of all parasites connected to it
• These zombies can traverse water

Type 5: Sheep Zombies

• Zombification occurs through indoctrination and complacency
• Contagion can spread through word-of-mouth, example, and close association
• The zombies retain all of their higher brain function but choose not to use it
• These zombies prefer co-dependency and reaction over independence and acting proactively
• Most likely these zombies are controlled by a master entity (government, media, etc.) and will collapse without the directions of that institution or entity
• Symptoms of infection: a belief in the system, denial a catastrophic event will occur, a lack of personal responsibility, a lack of preparation
• The infected are easily defeated by situations that inspire others to persevere
• You can lead these zombies to water but they won't drink, won't cross, and won't learn to fish
• The infected will lie, cheat, steal, and/or kill when they begin to suffer the ill-effects of their lack of preparation
• Contagion is highly virulent though infected can be rehabilitated
• Known vaccines and anti-virals include: free thought, self-reliance, logic, hard work, planning, and follow-through

So type 5 is not a true “zombie;” however, are real world “zombie” zombies even possible? To answer this question, ask yourself have we ever seen evidence of zombie-like behavior: an ultra aggressive, strong, fast enemy who is persistent, cannot be reasoned with, and does not seem to be effected (physically or psychologically) by normal types of lethal force? The answer is yes, we have seen these individuals before:

• Fortified (both chemically and psychologically) Filipino warriors encountered by US forces during the Philippine-American War necessitated the research, development, and adoption of the .45 ACP and the M1911 semi-automatic pistol because the sidearm used in that conflict, a .38 caliber revolver, would not adequately incapacitate and stop them quickly.
• In 1986, two bank robbers resisted arrest in an epic 5-minute battle that left both perpetrators and 2 FBI agents dead. The two criminals received a combined total of 18 gunshot wounds to the head, neck, upper torso, and limbs. They were unarmored and toxicology reports show that they were fueled by nothing but their own malice, discontent, and a strong desire not to go to prison.

• In 1997, hardened by a combination of phenobarbital and body armor, two criminals in North Hollywood California engaged in a shootout with police that lasted forty-five minutes. Some 650 rounds were fire at the 2 criminals with at least 10 penetrating (each shooter) before the conflict ended.

We see it is possible through indoctrination, determination, and adrenaline alone humans can be made to withstand massive damage before suffering a debilitating injury or succumbing to their wounds. Anyone with access to basic materials and an ability to sew can create rudimentary armor effective enough to give -them- the second chance to do you harm. Add chemicals, even garden variety street drugs, which can calm the nerves, numb the sensation of pain, and disconnect the individual from his or her body and you may completely negate any of the psychological factors to wounding and incapacitation. Is there a method to give a normal human super stamina, strength, speed, and aggression? Yes, and while performance enhancing drugs won't turn an individual into a super human, if they did not give you an edge over non-users they would not be restricted and no one would use them. The straw that could break the camels back would be an easily transmittable biochemical contagion, which can cause the hostility, dementia, paranoia, and psychosis of some of the viruses and/or drugs we are used to without causing degeneration to central nervous and musculoskeletal system. The effect would be ravenously violent individuals, who retain gross and fine motor control. This is all wonderful science-fiction, yet keep in mind that at one time flying ships, walking on the moon, talking to someone on the opposite side of the planet, beams of light that cut metal, and living beyond the age of forty were also all science-fiction; we have even turned lead into gold, a pursuit that at one point in time could get you excommunicated and possibly assassinated. While not all things are plausible or probable, given enough time all things are possible.

Dealing with Zombie types 1-4 in a SHTF environment will be terrible enough. Throw in the Sheep Zombies, opportunistic criminals, or your garden variety mentally-deranged violent offenders and your end-of-the-world party quickly becomes major lame. We do not know why, but all zombies with the exception of the Sheep do not eat their own, yet a need to feed seems to be present in them all. Some zombies have been observed eating animals, however, their primary preferred food is human – particularly the brains. Just as you don't want to setup camp where bears feed, so it is also for zombie defense. Your number one goal will be avoiding people and places people will congregate. That means metropolitan areas, preferred “escape” locations, and any so-called “camps.” In a city or any densely populated area, it is hard to avoid people and quite easy to get cornered. If the contagion is not an airborne viral variety, you may be able to hunker down and hold out for some external force to get things back under control. However, if the outbreak is not contained quickly and it is a case of a reanimated dead then the outbreak may potentially never be contained. Your stockpiles in the city will eventually dry up, there will be no barter/trade system to get new supplies, and scavenging in the city will become increasingly dangerous as the outbreak grows. This is a bug-out must situation and if you are not already in a remote, isolated area you will have a long trek through a vast unknown wasteland ahead of you.

You cannot possibly carry all the firepower you will need, to deal with the numbers of zombies you might encounter. Luckily for you, zombies do not have the best senses over long distances. The more necrotic/decrepit and less intelligent types have even less sensory perception, even at close ranges. Fast Movers and Crazies, unfortunately, have as good or better senses as they did as regular humans. So movement, bright lights, smells, loud noises, and sources of heat can attract a tidal wave of Fast Runners if you are not careful. Everything must be done without making your presence known. At this time you want to be fast, silent, and agile, cutting a wide path around any place that might contain the infected. You have a considerable amount of terrain to cross and you must do so silently. Therefore, on top of simple, reliable, durable, and common, add light, silent, and maneuverable to the list of criteria for your 3 firearms. Your primary threat will be zombies, and while some are immune or highly resistant to the methods of traditional wounding, all can be stopped by destruction of the brain stem. Unfortunately, this means should you encounter a zombie you will need to place a bullet or other projectile within a tiny 2” circle on a (possibly fast) moving target; the situation becomes exponentially worse with each additional zombie. Cracking open a zombie melon is not a problem, hitting that target accurately and silently will be the kicker.

When it comes to simplicity, reliability, durability, commonness, and accuracy one platform immediately comes to mind. A singular firearm with over 100 years of putting in work and putting down bad guys. It was the answer to Filipino zombies then, societal zombies now, and brain-eating zombies tomorrow. I am speaking of course about the 1911 design, chambered in its iconic .45 ACP cartridge. This system has proven itself in the hands of soldier and law enforcement officers for decades. The .45 ACP is capable of the prerequisite accuracy and due to its larger unexpanded diameter gives you a better chance of obliterating that tiny target if you are not dead on. Moreover, the .45 ACP is a subsonic round, meaning it is quiet in flight and can greatly lower your noise footprint when used with a quality sound suppressor. Ammunition, parts, and accessories are as common as Bibles and American Flags in the States, and it is a very easy system to learn to operate and maintain. A final benefit of the 1911 itself is the availability of relatively lightweight 9mm, .38 Super, .22 LR and 10mm drop-in conversion kits for some variants.  Using them you can make use of found ammunition and practice with plentiful, silent ammunition. John Moses Browning must have been clairvoyant, because he designed the perfect sidearm for putting down the zombie hordes. You have other choices, but I for my part am facing the end of the world with a true American classic.  And yes ...I will have 2 of them.

During the Zombocalypse, quiet is king and no centerfire or rimfire contender is as quiet and capable as the .22 Long Rifle, especially once you have equipped it with a good sound suppression device. Assuming there are critters to eat, the .22 LR will ensure you always have meat to eat and it will do so whisper quiet-like. Moreover, should you have a need to take out someone on 2 legs, this rifle can do so. Finally, should you need to hot-foot it out of where you are the .22 LR is not likely to break your back and should be easy to resupply with plenty of found ammunition. 'Nuff said.

Now if quiet is king during the Zombocalypse, then devastating firepower when you need to be less than quiet is queen. Situations will arise when the zombies are unavoidable, when they get the drop on you, and when you are facing many, many drooling brain-suckers. You need the ability to dispatch a large number of aggressors, all the while still putting rounds on a tiny moving target. Every round has to count and you need a lot of them – you don't want to be overrun while you are reloading. You could try your luck with a rifle if that is all you have, but that is not what I am going to want to have with me in close quarters, adrenaline-pumping, high-intensity combat. I want something maneuverable that will put out a lot of lead and maximize the probability of hitting my target. I'm pretty sure you can smell what I'm cooking. If zombies can experience fear at all, they will come to fear the sound of my 12 gauge pump-action shotgun.

• A full-sized 1911 style semi-automatic pistol chambered in .45 ACP

Para USA 14-45 Long Slide Limited

Chamber: .45 ACP

6.0” barrel

14 round capacity

stainless steel slide / stainless steel frame

41 ounces

adjustable rear sight, fiber optic front sight

Retail: 1,084.00 USD

Alternatives: STI 2011 Eagle 6.0, Springfield Armory Loaded Long slide, Olympic Arms Matchmaster 6, Taurus PT 1911, Ruger SR1911, Sig Sauer, Dan Wesson, Ed Brown, Wilson Combat

• A lightweight rifle chambered in .22 Long Rifle

Ruger 10/22 Carbine

Chamber: .22 LR

18-½” barrel

5, 10, or 25 round magazine

synthetic stock / stainless steel barrel

5.00 pounds

adjustable rear sight, hammer-forge barrel, scope base adapter

Retail: 227 – 234.00 USD

Alternatives: Savage Arms Mark II FSS 24700. Marlin 795SS

• A smoothbore 12 gauge pump-action shotgun with a 18-20” barrel.

Kel-Tec KSG

Chamber: 12 gauge 3”

18.5” barrel

(2) 6-round magazine tubes

alloy / synthetic polymer

6.9 / 8.5 pounds empty / loaded

bull-pup, downward ejection, picatinny rails

Retail: 575 – 799.99 USD

Alternatives: Remington 870, Mossberg 500/590/835, Maverick 88, Ithaca Model 37 . H&R Pardner Pump Protector, Savage Arms Stevens Model 320/350

There you have it, 3 Firearms 4 Life in the Zombocalypse. You won't be winning any impromptu long-range shooting contests, but you will be lightweight, highly mobile, silent, and equipped with some devastating close-range firepower when it is time to get down with the sickness. Hunting will not be the easiest proposition, but you will not starve if you have to bring home dinner with a firearm. Safety, security, and food – what more could you ask out of 3 Firearms?

3 Firearms 4 Life, Part V: Building Your Battery of Arms

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV  | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

3 Firearms 4 Life, Part III: When It Hits the Fan

File Under: With Both Barrels

When Your World as You Know It, Changes

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV  | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

Thus far in the series we have discussed the area-specific needs for metropolitan to wilderness environments, within the confines of everyday living in a stable society. In this edition of “3 Firearms 4 Life,” we break free from that mold and try to determine what 3 firearms will provide the broadest tactical benefit in a world that has or is experiencing societal decay of one degree or another. For this discussion, we will be delving into the concepts of SHTF and WROL and how these affect decisions on defensive solutions. Originally, these topics of SHTF and WROL were to be 2 distinct segments, considered separately; however, given the nature of these scenarios SHTF and WROL need to be considered together. In order to understand why this is and what this all means, let us take a moment for a brief vocabulary and philosophy lesson on these terms.

For many individuals in a discussion on preparedness and survivalism, the terms Sh*t Hits the Fan (SHTF) and Without Rule of Law (WROL) are synonymous and are interchangeable. For those whom make a distinction between the two, the exact definition can vary from one individual to the next. In the context of this topic I will define the two terms as follows:

SHTF is a natural or human-instigated emergency or crisis of a singularly extreme degree. This may be a single event of unprecedented magnitude or a combination of events, that place an unbearable strain on the recovery resources of an area. SHTF usually has numerous chain or sub-events, and has a prolonged possibly escalating period of onset. In a SHTF situation one has the overall sense that all societal infrastructure whether hard or intangible has failed or has been decimated. When SHTF your very geography may become compromised and thus no longer tenable. SHTF differentiates itself from an emergency or crisis in that it may quickly or eventually become imperative that you leave your home or your retreat (a.k.a Bug-out, Bail Out) to move to a safer location.

WROL on the other hand does not require a physical collapse or any physical trauma to the environment whatsoever. WROL is a condition where the government no longer has the means to effectively control the segment of the population determined to commit criminal acts. WROL may proceed (cause) a SHTF situation or it may follow (grow from) SHTF. In WROL the physical infrastructure may still be intact, however, there is no body in place to operate or maintain it. The onset, duration, and recovery time will vary based upon the instigating factors, the strength/cohesion/legitimacy of the preceding/resulting government, and the magnitude of damage inflicted during WROL. Bugging-out may or may not be a consideration during WROL, however, encounters with potentially heavily armed and/or armored human aggressors definitely will be.

Although distinct occurrences we must consider SHTF and WROL simultaneously in order to acquire a solid strategy for surviving either scenario. Using the imagination, one can envision how SHTF and WROL could flow into each other with relative ease. In this situation, your personal protection takes on a heightened level of importance versus the previous scenarios. This does not necessarily imply roving gangs of psychotic cannibals as depicted in post-apocalyptic media; however, infrastructure may or may not be present, anarchy will likely be pervasive, and should you need to leave your home for any reason (whether to acquire supplies, information, or to move to safety) you have an increased chance of encountering someone who wishes to do you harm. This scenario stretches the fitness of the 3 Firearms concept to its limits as you will need to satisfy the needs of personal/home protection, survival, and potentially offensive/combat use. Moreover, your environment of operations may be urban to wilderness or anywhere in-between – your 3 firearms will have to bridge this gap.  

The nature of SHTF and WROL make two scenarios where, without question, you want your long-arm within reach or at least within sight at all times if at all possible. However, this is not always possible, probable, or even plausible. Times will arise when you cannot have a rifle or shotgun and times when brandishing such for the world to see will cause you more harm than good. For these times we have revolvers and pistols; and, as you probably have noticed, a revolver or pistol forms the basis of my firearms triangle.  Either system ensures you will be always capable of engaging a threat at distance with as much firepower as possible, even when a more potent solution has been lost, taken, or left-behind. A revolver or pistol should never be your sole means of protection, nor what you want to go-to if a better option is on hand but you should never exclude it from your arsenal.

So, what is the sidearm of choice? The answer is simple. You want something that a) meets the minimum criteria for stopping your number 1 threat (humans), b) is plentiful in the ammunition and parts department, and c) is simple, reliable, and durable. On the North American continent, particularly the contiguous 48 States, and probable just about anywhere else for that matter, one caliber and one firearm fits that bill. You probable will not be able to go a day without stumbling over a store, private home/retreat, police station, or military building, where firearms can be found, that does not have massive quantities of 9x19mm Parabellum (9mm) a.k.a. 9mm Luger ammunition and numerous found Glock G17/19 semi-automatic pistols. Thus the Glock 17 chambered in 9mm, much to my personal consternation, wins the draw. The Glock is proven – both in reliability and durability – and with no manual external features, it is brain-dead simple to operate. It's ubiquity ensures you will always be able to find replacement Glocks or replacement Glock parts. If you get into a conflict that can only be resolved by using your firearm, you may have to put down numerous attackers, more than you likely would have had to in your entire pre-collapse existence. Moreover, you will be tasked with doing this quickly, both under stress and under fire. The 9mm is the minimum self-defense caliber against human aggressors and the Glock 17 has a standard 17 rounds of it at your disposal, given it the fewest and fastest reloads of any other revolver or pistol.  Neither this pistol or this caliber is my favorite choice but one cannot ignore reality, this combination will get the job accomplished provided you've done your part with shot-placement and diplomacy. You could choose something else, but at what cost?

The next choice is even simpler than the first. SHTF and WROL is characterized by uncertainty. What will I encounter? What numbers will I encounter? Will it be armed? In what environments will I have to defend myself? How will I eat? The tactical solution to an uncertain engagement is overwhelming force to accomplish the base mission. That means if you are uncertain what you will face you certainly want to have a 12 gauge pump-action shotgun at your disposal - the king of the hill for versatility, simplicity, reliability, durability, and commonness. You will find more than enough ammunition to deal with all levels of threat and put food in your stomach if you've bugged-out of the city. Should your shotgun suffer a critical malfunction you can find parts or another shotgun that should be relatively the same to operate as the one you lost. Of a secondary consideration is the psychological affect of a shotgun against a human due to its commonness and mode of operation. Everyone knows what a shotgun is and what it does; if it can be heard clearly, the racking of a pump-action shotgun's slide is unmistakable. If you see or hear a shotgun coming you know whats coming next and that might be enough to deter or disorient an attacker who is even remotely predisposed to be so. Further, barring destruction of the central nervous system or a massive amount of blood-loss, a gunshot wound cannot cause a stoppage by physiological means. One can reason many stoppages, especially those achieved by tactically inferior cartridges, are psychological in nature meaning the attacker fell or stopped due to a psychological reaction to being shot. More stoppages do not occur by this method because a person must realize they have been shot and form a reaction to that event. Numerous factors both chemical and physical can prevent or delay the realization of being shot and allow the aggressor to persist – even though they may eventually perish from the wound or wounds. A shotgun may be able to overcome this hurdle because: a) a shotgun is hard to miss, b) is loud when it fires its cartridge c) has a large, bright muzzle blast and d) strikes the target multiple times, registering multiple impacts with the central nervous system. In the hands of a skilled operator a shotgun can quickly drop several unarmored individuals in a mob, ratcheting up the anxiety and fear of any remaining aggressors. The shotgun will not deter someone desperate or determined enough to do you harm, but it may encourage someone still on the fence about it to reconsider his or her options.

Down to our final selection and many good options left to fill this spot. What you choose at this point will depend on what your particular focus would be. If your focus is on silent survival you might add a rifle chambered in .22 LR to insure you always have something to eat. If you are hunkered down in a well-fortified, well-supplied retreat, and you can see for miles around you, a long range rifle chambered in a common caliber like .30-06 Springfield might be the ticket for protecting your larder. Maybe if you are making a beeline for the wilderness, something handy in the brush like a lever-action carbine in .30-30 Winchester or .45-70 Government is what you will depend on to keep you safe and fed. The choices are as numerous as the situations you are likely to encounter. However, in this scenario our focus is on personal protection in the event you encounter hostile humankind. Additionally, we are looking for anyway to make all our choices as multi-use as possible while fitting the criteria of simple, durable, reliable, and common. You want something capable of fighting and hunting. When it comes to felling 2 and 4-legged creatures soldiers and hunters alike reach for a rifle. You will need to engage targets anywhere from spitting range out to a couple hundred yards depending on your location. If you are using this rifle to hunt you will need your cartridge of choice to cleanly killing a wide range of game. For this role, a .30 caliber rifle (.308/7.62mm caliber) will be what you want. This caliber has many suitable candidates that are readily available in the United States: the aforementioned .30-30 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield or .308 Winchester (7.62x51mm NATO) are iconic cartridges, receiving their legendary status from decades of performance and results in hunting, military, and law enforcement applications. Due to availability of surplus (and new) ammunition and surplus rifles, many individuals will choose the 7.62x54mmR Russian, a proven battle round that is intermediate in power and performance between the .308 Winchester and its parent cartridge the .30-06 Springfield. All of these cartridges are readily available in platforms suited to tactical engagement or in sporting styles that can be easily accessorized to perform in this arena, and any will serve you well. For my main battle rifle when SHTF turns WROL, I have personally chosen the AKM variant semi-automatic rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm. The basis of this choice is the rifle's track record of simplicity, durability, reliability, and commonness coupled with the 7.62x39mm's terminal performance. With ballistics similar to a .30-30 Winchester, the 7.62x39mm out of an AKM is a true all-arounder capable of dealing with targets, human and animal, within 200 yards. The AKM is a proven and thus popular battle rifle so when SHTF happens you will have no problem finding ammunition, replacements or replacement parts. AK-47 the very best there is – it will put food on the table and bad guys in the dirt. 'Nuff said.  

• A full-sized semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum

Glock G17

Chamber: 9x19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger)

4.49” barrel

17 round capacity

steel slide / polymer frame

22.04 / 31.91 ounces (unloaded/loaded)

hexagonal rifling

Retail: 545 – 560.00 USD

Alternatives: Taurus 24/7 G2, Taurus PT 92, Springfield XDm, Beretta 92FS, Sig-Sauer P226, CZ-75b, EAA Witness, Ruger SR9, Hi-Point C9, Browning Hi-Power

• A .308/7.62mm caliber rifle

Century International Arms GP WASR-10

Chamber: 7.62x39mm (Russian)

16-¼” barrel

30 or 40 round magazine

wood / steel

7.50 pounds

compensator, bayonet lug

Retail: 448 – 475.00 USD

Alternatives: Arsenal SGL-21, M91/30 Mosin-Nagant, Marlin 336, SKS, AR-10 variants, Ruger M77 Hawkeye, Savage 116 FCSS, Winchester Model 70, Remington Model 700, Ruger Mini-30

• A smoothbore 12 gauge pump-action shotgun with a 18-20” barrel.

Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag

Chamber: 12 gauge 2 ¾”, 3”, 3 ½”

20” barrel

5 round magazine

blued steel / synthetic

7 ¼ pounds

adjustable trigger, overbored vent-rib, thumbhole stock

Retail: 420 – 450.00 USD

Alternatives: Remington 870, Mossberg 500/590, Maverick 88, Ithaca Model 37 . H&R Pardner Pump Protector, Savage Arms Stevens Model 320/350

Those are the 3 Firearms 4 Life in WROL/SHTF. Assuming thorough planning, perfect execution, tenacious follow-through, and a bit of fortune you have survived SHTF and WROL. Whether you have hunkered down in your home waiting for the situation to stabilize, made it safely to your retreat far from the epicenter of trouble, or are living low and rough out in the woods – you survived. No matter how comfortable you are, you are safe, secure, and alive; and, that is the entire purpose of the 3 Firearms philosophy. You have been given a chance many less prepared individuals will not have: to live another day. For that alone you are truly fortunate. Unfortunately, just as you are settling back into a semblance of normalcy the worst SHTF situation imaginable happens – the dead return to life and walk the Earth. The moment everyone dreaded, was not sure would happen, but nonetheless prepared for has come. Stay tuned for the discussion we have all been waiting for – 3 Firearms 4 Life, Part IV: Zombocalypse Now! Life at the End of the World.  

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV  | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

3 Firearms 4 Life, Part II: Welcome to the Jungle ...Err, Woods

File Under: With Both Barrels

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV  | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

Everyday Survival in a Rural, Sub-Rural or Wilderness Environments

Previously we discussed the three firearms you would want in an everyday, city environment under normal conditions – meaning all laws still apply and the societal infrastructure you are accustomed to is still intact. Those three selections would suffice for everyday personal and home protection anywhere you are legally able to carry a firearm. Moreover, they would allow you scalable and redundant firepower that should be more than sufficient to get to a more potent defensive option or to make your way home where you can determine whether to hunker down or bug-out in the event of a crisis situation. In today's discussion we will attempt to analyze what might be beneficial to have when you are already living out in a less-developed, less densely populated area where you might encounter non-human animal predators. Of importance to note is the distinction made between urban/suburban/super-rural and rural/sub-rural/wilderness. Although population density is still an important factor, these two groupings focus more on environment as this will have a major logistical and strategic impact on your choices. In a metropolitan area there will be fewer animal predators, travel distances will be shorter, travel routes will be less encumbered, human aggressors will be more common, engagement distances will be closer, and there will be massive obstacles to your sight lines. Far from the city centers animal predators will be more numerous, travel distances will be farther, travel routes may be very cumbersome, human aggressors will be less common, engagement distances can be very long, and you can swing between dense wood and wide open range. As you can see, moving out of the city presents unique challenges that will stress the 3 firearm philosophy.

As with the city survival choices, we will begin with the easier choice to make – that is the one firearm you can carry with you at anytime. You want something that is comparatively lightweight, easy to maneuver in tight spaces, something you do not need a free hand to carry, something concealable for encounters with strangers, something you can take fishing, and something you can climb with to scout or hang. Essentially you need something that goes with you everywhere; it must be something you can and will carry at all times. What fits this bill? A revolver or pistol. So what revolver or pistol will form the basis of your wilderness survival armament. Here is where the big brother to your everyday carry (EDC) revolver becomes leader of the pack. In the great outdoors you want a medium or large stainless steel frame revolver, with a preferably 4 – 6” barrel, chambered in a common magnum caliber (.357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .454 Casull). The stainless steel revolver is preferable over anything else (including the venerable 10mm semi-automatic pistol) due to its simplicity, reliability, and durability – 3 invaluable qualities demanded by the wild and not omnipresent in other revolvers or pistols. Magnum calibers are a must because this firearm will be the last ditch option for protection against potentially large/dangerous predators and for securing food in a pinch. All three of these magnum caliber revolvers can also chamber the shorter, same diameter cartridges from which they evolved namely .38 Special, .44 Special, and .45 Colt (Long Colt for you old-timers) respectively. Once again, this is an added bonus because this adds versatility to your defensive options and having one thing that does two things well adds logistical efficiency. You can practice using the often cheaper non-magnum ammunition and the non-magnum ammunition is perfectly suitable for self-defense against squishier human aggressors. Generally speaking with these three firearms the price of the revolver and the ammunition (both magnum and non-magnum) increases with caliber while the commonness decreases with caliber.

What you will choose, as always, is governed by what you can afford, what you can comfortably carry, what you can shoot and control, and where you will be using it. You want the lightest frame revolver that fits those criteria, without dismantling the revolver under the forces of its magnum load. Keep in mind that shorter barreled revolvers will be lighter and easier to carry and conceal but will have reduced ballistic performance, more muzzle blast, be more “snappy” on recoil, and thus potentially harder to control. At the other end of the spectrum longer barreled revolvers will have reduced muzzle blast, absorb recoil better, and better ballistic performance, but will also be heavier and more unwieldy, which can make them potentially just as hard to control (over long periods). Shot placement (read: your skill in accurate and precise shooting) is always the preeminent deciding factor to you rapidly incapacitating a threat and surviving a defensive situation with the minimal amount of damage possible. That said, caliber choice does play a more important role versus animals because they are more hardily built and the psychological effects of wounding never work in your favor against animals. Failing to incapacitate a passive animal will cause it to likely bolt, up to miles all the while languishing in pain, and force you to track it down. An aggressive animal in the same situation could bolt but could also become enraged and charge on you. Whether the most docile doe or a rabid bear, you do not want to have to track down a wounded, scared animal. Therefore, you have to put the bullet in the right place and it has to do its job when it arrives.

Allow me to diverge here slightly to further a personal point. Experts of all fields (military, law enforcement, self-defense, hunting, survival, etc.) advise you to carry what you can shoot. I agree with this up to a point. That point is when you encounter something that you cannot shoot and you fail to learn to shoot it. Hopefully, if you are considering spending a considerable amount of time in the wilderness you are physically fit enough and have acquired a carry system efficient enough that carrying a 2-½ pound hunk of metal is not a problem. Additionally, factors such as recoil, muzzle climb (flip), and muzzle blast are unavoidable and should be trained around. Now this is not to say you need to learn to shoot and carry .50 BMG caliber rifle, yet with the exception of a physical barrier, i.e. loss of a limb or musculoskeletal illness, carry what you can shoot is a mentally and potentially physically deleterious concept. In law enforcement and the military there are shooters of a wide range of ages, weights, degrees of strength, and hand sizes, yet these agencies have one standard issue firearm and one standard issue duty load – not a variety to fit the metrics and abilities of the individual operator. Each individual operator trains to meet a minimum level of proficiency with that standard issue firearm and cartridge. In the instance of these bureaucratic agencies this has less to do with tactics than it does with logistics and politics. However, taking a lesson from more tactically minded military special forces and law enforcement crisis response units, their standard issue is what is most tactically proficient and they train to be proficient with any instrument they might encounter – standard issue or not. Carry what you can shoot, especially in the Urban EDC, is the wisest foundation to build your defensive strategy, but do not let it be the frame, walls, and roof also. The aforementioned experts will advise you of what is a bare-minimum and what is overkill for your particular application; this naturally implies there is something that is just right on the money. You cannot ignore science, reality, or the law of large numbers; unfortunately comprehensive, credible, empirical, and unbiased research even on human-on-human defensive scenarios, let alone human-on-animal, is grossly lacking. If such studies do exist I would love to read them. Avoid the so-called "advice" of ammunition/firearm manufacturers, bought and paid-for journalists, fan-boys, and tacti-cool weekend warriors. Continue researching, analyzing, and diversifying your ability to protect yourself and survive in a wide swathe of situations that are wildly disparate from EDC in a city when police and EMS are a phone call away and the grocery store is always well-stocked. Otherwise, if all you can accurate and precisely shoot is a .380 ACP or a 9mm or the only platform you can control or stand to carry is a sub-compact, you probably want to stay out of the woods and off the streets (in a crisis) for that matter. End of rant.

Back to the bullet doing its job. In the wild, you are shooting because you need to eat or something is trying to eat you; unlike humans, with animals you don't shoot to incapacitate, you shoot to kill - immediately. The method for doing this works the same for animals as it does for humans: destroy the central nervous system, destroy the cardiopulmonary system, and/or cause bleeding from many large holes. If you can do this with one well-placed shot, hurrah! more than likely (especially in the event of a predator attacking you) this will take more than one shot. The larger the animal, the fatter and more muscular, the thicker the hide and bones, the deeper the vital organs the more penetration you will require to break through fur, hide, muscles, and bones to reach those vital organs. The fastest way to drop anything is to destroy the central nervous system; hunters or any experienced shooter will advise you to avoid trying for the head-shot as the head is a tiny target compared to the center mass and a miss will mean: a) you starve tonight b) you give an innocent creature a horrible wound or c) you become lunch. So for most animals what you want is a broadside or quartering shot that pierces the heart and/or both lungs and possibly spine, which may have to defeat arm, shoulder, and/or ribs bones. Some animals, like a bear charging you, might not present you their broadside. Luckily the head of a bear or bison, though protected by a thick and hard bone, should not present you a smaller target than the chest portion of an adult human torso. If you have chosen poorly here, good luck “aiming for the eyes.” Therefore, when considering what animals you might have to use your revolver against size matters. Among my Big 3 Magnum calibers the penetration and tissue damage increases with caliber. Now you might not want a considerable amount of tissue damage if you are going to use your revolver to take down dinner, but that is not the primary purpose of this firearm. The primary purpose is for you not to become something's dinner yourself. If I am going to roll the dice on what will keep my bacon out of the fire and without a study comparing how well each of the Big 3 did against thousands of the largest North American animals, I am going to err on the side of prudence and go with the pricier and less common .454 Casull. A well-crafted bullet in this caliber has enough mass, density, and velocity to punch through fur, hide, muscle, and bone to reach the vitals intact and it will leave a large whole from which the animal can bleed. Additionally, while I am not sold on the concept yet, in the future with advances in technology and improvements in quality control an accurate and reliable revolver that shoots .410 bore shotgun shells in addition to the .454 Casull / .45 Colt combination could be very attractive for its added versatility. The area you might be trekking in may not have a large brown bear population or any brown bear at all and in such a situation one of the other calibers could be more than sufficient. Whatever you choose be certain what you choose is suitable for what you could encounter, there are numerous normally docile yet territorial North American animals in excess of 500 pounds that can become violent if you startle them.

I see now why writers avoid caliber recommendations – they are invariably exhaustive. Moving right along, lets build on the foundation of our 3 firearm strategy by adding the frame. You are going to need to eat. To accomplish this you will need to have some combination of rations, foraging, growing, and probably hunting. If you are intent on and capable of dropping elk/moose and black bear the .454 Casull is great when a rifle or shotgun is unavailable, but what are you going to do if medium and large game is not plentiful? If you want to eat meat, you had better be prepared to eat furry little woodland creatures. The most energy efficient method for getting Thumper in your belly is by trapping him, but what are you going to do when you're out on the trail and you've got a bead on his fluffy little cottontail? If you squeeze off a round from your revolver you will have rabbit chunks (.45 Colt) or rabbit puree (.454 Casull), so something slightly more appropriate would be better. This is the perfect quarry for a lightweight, silent air rifle capable of firing a .22 caliber or larger pellet at speeds of one thousand feet per second or faster. You'll make off like a silent woods ninja and go home with a lot more edible rabbit for the pot. A fine solution indeed, but is it the best solution? Keep in mind you only will have one slot left, and a wide variety of targets between pests/varmints and brown bear. Moreover, an air rifle is lightweight not weightless, it will need to have to carry more of its own weight to be a worthwhile choice. What firearm can take out little critters at range without obliterating your dinner and extends its reach up into the realm of small, opportunistic predators like coyote? The answer to that is a very old, time-tested, versatile, and economical firearm that you will find on just about anyone's survival list – a light rifle chambered in .22 Long Rifle (.22 LR). If there is something small to eat in sight, this rifle will keep you from starving. This is without a doubt the most economical firearm to shoot and the most logistically efficient to carry, netting you more dinners per pound and dollar than any other available round.  The .22 LR is lightweight, low recoil, low noise, and in the hands of a practiced shooter affective out to medium range against a variety of targets – especially human targets, making it a dual-use firearm in both hunting and protection roles. With food and protection addressed, the frame of your 3 Firearm strategy is complete.

At this point you have rabbit in the pot and it is smelling good. You really wanted it to be Bambi but you did not think you could ethically take her down with your .22 LR. You're not really concerned if the wafting aromas of your dinner attracts a coyote, as it will just wind up being breakfast and lunch should it get too close. However, what are you going to do if a mean old hungry bear or a wolf decides to come join you for dinner? What could have gotten you venison steaks rather than rabbit chops for dinner? A large hole in your defense and survival strategy remains and it is filled with many threats and much potential food. Without walls and a roof, we are mighty cold and wet in our defensive 3 Firearm house.   With only one firearm left, here is where the decision-making process can become hard. An obvious choice here would be a firearm that allows you to reach out and touch someone or something, humanely bringing down a large aggressor with authority at range. Something such as a rifle readily comes to mind, and a rifle that is at home on the range and in the woods would be your classic lever-action rifle. It is light, compact, maneuverable, accurate, rugged, and comes in a variety of suitable calibers (i.e. .30-30 Winchester or .45-70 Government). This is an excellent choice for deer or single predators, but like the air rifle the centerfire rifle has a narrow selection of applications. Too small a caliber and it may be unsuitable for large or dangerous game, too large a caliber you will be decimating edible meat on smaller animals; further, neither solution allows you to tap into the full benefit of nature's buffet. A rifle is not the firearm of choice for winged creatures. Moreover, what happens when the big bad wolf becomes the big bad wolf pack? Unless you are the Rifleman or you have him with you, you will want something better. Is it possible that one firearm can not only be a heavy hitter capable of protecting you from large dangerous game, but also turning everything from wild cats, to wild goats, to wild turkeys into dinner? There most certainly is; and it is the one firearm you will see represented on these kinds of dream lists as much or more than the .22 LR rifle. I am speaking of the age-old, ubiquitous, venerable (enough descriptors?) smoothbore 12 gauge pump-action shotgun. The pump-action smoothbore shotgun is simple, reliable, and durable – the 3 traits of something you will bank your life on in the wilderness. Moreover, this firearm allows far more choices in caliber, chamberings, and payload than any other option. The shotgun is the ultimate in hit probability and damage per shot, untouched by any other class of firearm. In 12 gauge, you can choose a payload that will allow you to take out varmints and small game in the territory of the .22 LR, take out turkey and other fowl, drop small predators/deer/elk, and even stop large dangerous predators in the defense of your life. Logically, if it can take out an aggressive bear it can easily take out a human attacker also. By adding the 12 gauge pump, you've secured food and protection, completing your defensive "house" for life in the wild.  Between the .22 LR and the 12 gauge there is nothing human or animal native to the contiguous 48 States that a practiced shooter cannot eventually incapacitate or kill before it grievously wounds him or her within 100-150 yards. That is a big statement in every sense of the word, the very essence of tactical fitness for survival, and the reason these two platforms and calibers are so revered. 'Nuff said.

The following are my 3 Firearm 4 Life in the Wild:

• A medium or large frame revolver, with a capacity of 5+ rounds chambered in a common Magnum caliber

Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan

Chamber: .454 Casull

2-½” barrel

6 round capacity

steel frame / rubber grip

44.0 ounces

Hogue Tamer grip, DS/SA, adjustable rear sight

Retail: 747 – 798.00 USD

Alternatives: Taurus Raging Bull

• A lightweight rifle chambered in .22 Long Rifle

Ruger 10/22 Carbine

Chamber: .22 LR

18-½” barrel

5, 10, or 25 round magazine

synthetic stock / stainless steel barrel

5.00 pounds

adjustable rear sight, hammer-forge barrel, scope base adapter

Retail: 227 – 234.00 USD

Alternatives: Savage Arms Mark II FSS 24700, Marlin 795SS

• A smoothbore 12 gauge pump-action shotgun with a 18-20” barrel.

Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag

Chamber: 12 gauge 2 ¾”, 3”, 3 ½”

20” barrel

5 round magazine

blued steel / synthetic

7 ¼ pounds

adjustable trigger, overbored vent-rib, thumbhole stock

Retail: 420 – 450.00 USD

Alternatives: Remington 870, Mossberg 500/590, Maverick 88, Ithaca Model 37 . H&R Pardner Pump Protector, Savage Arms Stevens Model 320/350

There you have it, my 3 Firearms 4 Life in the Wild. This load-out has your bases covered: you're safe, well-protected, well-fed, and you can plink old cans of beans in-between sessions of whittling wood to hone your skills and stave off boredom. This will allow you to be armed everywhere you go and transition between your wilderness environment and human-inhabited areas with increased ease without detrimentally reducing your firepower. Moreover, you are agile, mobile, and hostile (when necessary) - something as critical afield as on the field. I hope you have enjoyed this installment of the 3 Firearms 4 Life series. Please feel free to post your questions, comments, or concerns and stay tuned for Part III when we will discuss 3 Firearms 4 Life in SHTF and WROL.

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV  | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

Note: While humorous the quote featured in the de-motivational poster used at the beginning of this post is in all likelihood false and of an unknown origin if real at all.