Survival Guns Roundup Article on SurvivalBlog

[Rawles]

I posted a fairly lengthy general article on selecting a survival firearms battery on SurvivalBlog today. (11 Jan. '06.) I hope that you enjoy reading it.

[CZ-75a]

Why do you, as I am inferring by your stated choice of sidearm, feel the .45 ACP to be superior to .357 revolvers?

I would feel that the ability to fire full power 180gr. hunting cartridges as well as shoot .38 special would make the .357 revolver the first choice for someone interested in survival versatility. .45ACP is common, but not like .38 spl., should you need more ammo in a pinch.

Additionally, other than the fast reload and 3 more rounds of a less powerful cartridge, why is it better for bears? Everything I've ever seen points to the .45 being a mediocre penetrator, leaving you with more shallow large diameter wounds, rather than deeper small diameter ones.

[Rawles]

RE:
>Why do you, as I am inferring by your stated choice of sidearm, feel the .45 ACP to be superior to .357 revolvers?

I consider them roughly comparable stoppers. The advantages of the M1911 are higher capacity, and faster reloads. FWIW, when we pack in bear country, we carry with Colt 10 round magazines loaded in the pistols (11 rounds available before a reload) and four spare 8 rounders in Bianchi quad belt pouches. For bear protection, I load all of the magazines with Black Talons alternating with 230 grain ball. (Every other round.)
The ball offers great penetration--albeit not as good as .357 Magnum 125 grain JHPs.

The main reason that we got rid of the .38s and .357s from our battery was to simplify logistics. That means two less calibers to stock in the JASBORR. (Jim's Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy.)

[CZ-75a]

Originally posted by Rawles
RE:
>Why do you, as I am inferring by your stated choice of sidearm, feel the .45 ACP to be superior to .357 revolvers?

I consider them roughly comparable stoppers. The advantages of the M1911 are higher capacity, and faster reloads. FWIW, when we pack in bear country, we carry with Colt 10 round magazines loaded in the pistols (11 rounds available before a reload) and four spare 8 rounders in Bianchi quad belt pouches. For bear protection, I load all of the magazines with Black Talons alternating with 230 grain ball. (Every other round.)
The ball offers great penetration--albeit not as good as .357 Magnum 125 grain JHPs.

The main reason that we got rid of the .38s and .357s from our battery was to simplify logistics. That means two less calibers to stock in the JASBORR. (Jim's Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy.)

Your ballistics answer makes more sense than your logistical answer. Right now, I agree that your solution is just fine, but, at some later date, .38/.357 seems like it would be a superior choice because of ready availability and ballistic effectiveness. I also expect that 9mm will be more readily available than .45, considering its use by the military; stopping power is not equivalent, obviously. You may have stockpiled a large quantity of .45 ACP, but this doesn't negate the potential for you and your stocks to become estranged from one another, leaving you to scrounge what you can. Thus we come back to logistical shortcomings.

[medicman]

Great article rawles. If you are ever going to be in the immediate vicinity of thunder ranch, which is in my AO, shoot me an email or a PM, I'd love to buy you a cup of coffee.

[W.E.G.]

I liked your article Jim.

I would add that it would be wise for the prepared individual to also obtain the necessary tools to make repairs on critical tools (including guns). Practice making common repairs (replacing firing pins, springs, optical sights - belts and pumps, hoses in the case of vehicles)

Practice with all of your tools.

If it aint broke, fix it anyway - if you hope to ever fix it when it really is broke.