Two is One, One is None, thoughts on Firearms Backups

We all appreciate the need to have backup supplies and equipment. So while I've got the backups/reserves going, I took that theory into my firearms in a slightly different way.

I have semiauto long guns with the same caliber non semi-auto firearms as backup.
One example is an M1A with two bolt actions in the same caliber as backup.
Another is a semiauto .22 and a lever gun in .22LR.

For shotgun, I have a pump 12ga. and a coach gun, but want to add a semiauto to the mix.
Of course, spare parts, springs and mags are on hand for all.

Anyway, I thought the idea might provide food for thought.

 

This is why I standardized on the AR platform. Zero gun smithing skills required to keep them running, just a small assortment of tools. If needed one can be cannibalized to keep others running.

The M1A and the bolties will likely never need service. If I was going to get a boltie with SHTF in mind it would have a barrel nut system like Savage, Ruger American or Remage so I could replace barrels and bolts without a smith. If I already had the rifles I probably wouldn't worry about it.

For pistols, Glock is the AR of the pistol world with tons of parts and little gun smithing required to keep it in service. Like AR's they aren't perfect but nothing is.

Keeping your ammo limited to a few that is shared by several firearms is always a good idea.

Simplicity, serviceability, and common interchangeable ammunition is your friend.

 

Until recently, I thought having a long gun and side arm for myself and wife with another set as spare would be enough; however, I am slowly changing my mind.

Guns can be addicting for me - hell - they're worse than homemade cookies! So, I have always tried to limit myself but I got around some friends recently, friends that I hope can/will be able to assist me if the SHTF. Much to my amazement - they are poorly armed, at least what I consider to be poorly armed. They had mostly hunting rifles and some wheel guns, don't get me wrong, great guns but not exactly what is necessary for suppressing fire.

Anyway, I currently have 3ea 5.56 ARs but now intend to double that amount and probably pickup some more Glocks also and yes they would be for those that were too stupid to not arm themselves properly.

EDIT: Yes, like 3M-TA3 I also standardized, Glocks and ARs, 9mm and 5.56, but will probably get the next three ARs in 7.62 NATO.

 

In a bad situation I expect having to arm neighbors and friends as well and have tried to factor that into the equation.
Handguns have been consolidated to all S&W M&P 9mm's with a lone .357 mag for mountain critters and on general principle.

 

Having parts & tools separates the smarts from the fools.

 

Oh yes, I have enough tools to be dangerous.

On the backup subject, I've also accumulated a number of firearms assembly, disassembly and tuning manuals over the years and have kept most of my spare parts, even for guns I no longer have.

 

Interesting thoughts!
I never rely on a single rifle, BUT, there is ONE that is my do all, favored rifle that could do everything, my Tikka Super Varmint! It's light enough to pack, scary accurate, and reliable as hell! Is it the best, no, the 1903 is Best, but it isn't as accurate or as light! For the semi auto, the FAL that I built nice and tight to blueprint specs is THE FIGHTING rifle of choice, and with a armorors kit with it, it's bomb proof reliable and accurate enough to be a combo of fighting rifle AND D.M.R all in one! The AR is designed to be light, handy, fast, and accurate enough to get me to the larger longer range rifle! For pistols, that's the hardest one to settle on, for me it had to meet several specifics, it had to have power, reliability, and capacity! In can't afford to shoot till the threat stops, I want to put the threat down and move to the next threat(s) so I had to do a lot of soul searching and I realised it was going to be spendy to meet my requirements, those were well met in a custom hand built and tuned 2011 series 1911 double stack long slide chambered in 10 mm auto! Yes it's big, yes it's heavy but, it checks all the boxes and is reliable as hell, and accurate enough to push the range requirents out to carbine range! This is followed up by an extremely powerful Ruger Old Army .44 that pushes power well into the .44 mag territory! It's got all the advantages of a modern wheel gun with the advantages of being able to run black powder!
I don't keep extra rigs of the same, rather relying on shear proven reliability and service/armorors kits to keep things running! Cost wise, I'm prolly better set, but it's all subjective really!

 

My Grand-dad, long departed, would tell me he kept a long gun and a side arm for each local family member, as well as a few trusted neighbors. He had the collection to do it too. I inherited a few of his toys, but most were grabbed up by the local family on his passing. His gear was all 30.06 and .45. With a bunch of 1896 12gauge in the mix.
I personally have gravitated toward the AR/5.56 and 9mm along with some 12 gauge shotties. I can equip our immediate local family with one of each, and keep enough ammo on hand that the press would call it an arsenal...
And I just love having parts and the requisite tools......

 

I have a Marlin model 60 I bought way back when NIB for 41 clams,That's plenty enough for me !

 

I went the mix on semiautomatic and manual action but in several calibers. Never know when one may be limited by supply.

 

I will agree that the FAL was my weapon of choice for many, many years. The only other choice for me would be a HK G3 -A4. As age has come a knockin' over the past few years, I've gravitated towards the AK platform. It is still a .30 cal. , reliable as Moses, and can be repaired with the proverbial hammer and is much lighter than the aforementioned weapons. I have personally seen AK's that were trashed almost beyond recognition, still load, chamber and fire. They will literally work with almost everything missing. Not as accurate as some of the others listed, but will hit a pie pan at 200, or close to it. Maybe

 

I don't bother with trying to arm up folks around me, i'm more of the high speed, low drag kinda guy, Plus, I don't have a lot of folks around me, and even fewer that I would trust, so that fixes any issues I would have had!
I'm looking long and hard at adding/swapping my new 1895 Lever .30/06 to my long range, light weight, low profile, invisible carry rifle! Nice thing about this bad boy, folks see it as simply an old rifle, nothing to worry about, and it's gotta be low powered, so not much threat! WRONG! If it's as reliable as the bolt actions, it's replacing them, and it seems to be accurate enough, though lacking the presision of the Tikka, I have other options far better for that type of work, but I don't include them to any short term plans, they simply are too narrow a focus to contemplate as a all around use rifle! Try lugging a 20 pound .338 Lapua around and get back to me! LOL

 

I follow the same mantra of 2 is 1. Being a military veteran I still think in terms of military logistics. So having at least two weapons that fire the same ammo is just old school thinking for me. Plus being the same platform helps with training. Don't have to relearn ware the controls are.

 

I think of my pistol as backup to my MBR.

Stuff happens, even in cartoons (go to 4 min mark)

 

I think of my pistol as backup for a MBR

Stuff happens, even in cartoons (go to 1:20 Min mark)



episode

 

I am covered. My backups have backups.

 

My AR’s are identical, make, model, caliber, sights, grips, even slings. They weight the same, look the same and are sighted in the same. I have to number them on the bottom of the grip to tell them apart for cleaning, shooting and sighting in. I own other bolt action rifles for other purposes. But in the dark I can grab “my” AR every time. It makes no difference.