USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • DAILY GUNS & AMMO DEALS – CLICK HERE!
Home Articles Survival

SHTF Guns – If You Can Only Have One?

Sam Bocetta by Sam Bocetta
April 4, 2019 - Updated On October 17, 2023
in Articles, General Firearm, Self-Defense, Survival
Reading Time: 5 mins read
SHTF Guns - If You Can Only Have One?
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

What is the one gun to have in an SHTF scenario if you could only have one?

And perhaps just as importantly, what is the point to asking this question to begin with?

Even though no one gun can be used for everything, it may very well be that you’ll only have one gun in the event of a major catastrophe, such as a natural disaster or an EMP attack.  

Needless to say, you will be wise to prepare yourself for the possibility of only having one firearm for when the grid goes down. If that happens, what is the best make and model of gun that you can have?

We’re going to answer that question in this article.

What Do Other People Say?

If you ask anybody the question ‘what is the best gun you can have in an SHTF scenario?’, you are going to see a large variety of answers.

Some will say the best gun to have is a shotgun, due to the fact that you have a variety of different ammunition choices for it: you can use birdshot for small game hunting, slugs for big game hunting (within moderate distances), and buckshot for personal defense.

Others will say the best gun to have is a mid-sized 9mm pistol with a higher magazine capacity such as the Glock 19, as such a weapon is easily concealable while also offering you plenty of firepower.

Yet others will say the best to have is a rifle that will allow you to go hunting if necessary and tap targets at long distances.

So, which of these answers is correct?

The Honest Answer

But here’s the honest answer: the single best gun to have in an SHTF scenario if you can only have one, is the gun that you are the most proficient and comfortable with.

That’s it. It really is that simple.

There’s really no need to worry about all of these different ‘factors’ or what people tell you. Plain and simple, the one gun that you are the most comfortable and proficient with shooting is the one gun that will be the most important to have in an SHTF scenario, and

Again, no one gun can be used for anything. A Winchester Model 70 would be great for big game hunting or anti-personnel use at long distances, but nearly impossible to use for concealed carry. All the same, a handgun such as the 1911 could easily be used for concealment but would likewise not be a good option for long distance shooting.

That’s why it’s important to try and have different guns in your arsenal that can fulfill various applications. But again, this may not be possible, especially if you’re cut off from your gun safe at home when disaster hits or if you’re in the early stages of building your arsenal.

The best gun to have is the gun you are the most comfortable and proficient with.

Is That Really Wise?

It’s perfectly understandable if you question the logic behind the statement of ‘the gun you are the most comfortable with is the best gun to have in an SHTF scenario.’

For example, if the gun you are the most comfortable with is some type of hunting rifle, but yet you live in a city where you won’t be doing any big game hunting or long distance shooting, then selecting a handgun may make much more sense. In that case, you should choose whichever handgun you are the most comfortable with.

Vice versa, opting for a rifle for defending yourself in a more rural environment or a homestead would be wiser than a shorter range weapon.

You get the idea. Think about your situation, your scenario, and your circumstances, and then select the weapon that will best fit your needs based on those conditions and that you are entirely comfortable shooting.

How Can You Cover Your Bases?

Again, no one gun is going to cover all of your bases, which is why, if possible, you should have more than one gun in an SHTF situation to fulfill different roles.

And the good news is you don’t need to have an entire room filled with weapons to have your bases covered.

In fact, if you have just five specific types of weapons in your arsenal you should be good to go:

  • Handgun (for concealment and as a backup weapon)
    • Example: Glock 19 9mm
  • Shotgun (for home defense and bird hunting)
    • Example: Mossberg 500 12 Gauge
  • .22 Rifle (for small game hunting, pest control, and casual target shooting)
    • Ruger 10/22 .22 LR
  • Semi-Automatic Rifle (for defense and for hunting if need be)
    • Example: AR-15 5.56x45mm NATO
  • Long Range Rifle (for big game hunting and long range shooting)
    • Example: Winchester M70 .308 Winchester

With firearms in the above categories in your possession, and assuming that you are trained in the use of those weapons, you should be good to go.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as part of your preparations for an SHTF scenario, it will be important to have multiple firearms that can perform different roles.

But if for whatever reason you can only own one gun when disaster strikes, just think about what your circumstances are, and then think about which gun you would be the most comfortable with using based upon those circumstances.

If you could only have one gun in an SHTF scenario, which one would you choose?

Tags: end of daysshtfsurvival gun
Sam Bocetta

Sam Bocetta

Sam Bocetta is a former defense contractor for the U.S. Navy and freelance journalist. He specializes in writing about defense contracting, firearms, defense, cyber warfare, cryptography, and cyber defense. He is currently working as a part-time cybersecurity coordinator.

Next Post
Who Should Know that You Carry Concealed?

Who Should Know that You Carry Concealed?

5 2 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Connect with
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Please login to comment
2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
jGecko
2 years ago

Remembering that this is a SHTF scenario, there are guns that provide considerable flexibility in configuration with regard to stocks, interchangeable barrels/lengths/calibers, trigger asemblies, magazines, sights, and so on. One then has the ability of effectively having multiple guns available without carrying all the weight of having 1 complete gun for each configuration. This works as long as you can reasonably expect to have the time to reconfigure as needed.

1
jackofalltrades
2 years ago

Ruger makes a breakdown rifle chambered in 9mm that accepts glock mags. Combine this with a glock 19 and you have one set of mags and ammo that are all interchangeable. Simple. Also, you can hunt small and larger game with this rifle.

1
Previous Post

Self-Defense Weapons for Real Estate Agents

Next Post

Who Should Know that You Carry Concealed?

Related Posts

Armed Good Samaritan Stops Violent Carjacking Spree | Tackles & Detains Suspect at Gunpoint
Articles

Armed Good Samaritan Stops Violent Carjacking Spree | Tackles & Detains Suspect at Gunpoint

June 11, 2025
Concealed Carry Expanded: PA and VA Finalize Firearm Reciprocity Agreement
Articles

Concealed Carry Expanded: PA and VA Finalize Firearm Reciprocity Agreement

June 11, 2025
Articles

“People That Want To Kill You Don’t Care About Your Feelings”

June 10, 2025
Masked Gunman Killed by Employee During Attempted Robbery at Sugar’s Crab Shack
Articles

Masked Gunman Killed by Employee During Attempted Robbery at Sugar’s Crab Shack

June 9, 2025

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

Navigate Site

  • State Guides
  • Maps
  • Articles
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Giveaway
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

wpDiscuz
2
0
Join the conversation, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply
You are going to send email to

Move Comment
Gun Deals
Gun.Deals