Hello Minions. This evening we continue our Zombie Survival Series so that when it all goes down, the only ones left will be us. Then we can rebuild society as it should be, with a lot more jet packs and a lot less Burger King.
As we prepare for the inevitable holocaust, we must ensure that the gear we carry is useful, trustworthy, and as lethal as possible. Whether your attacker is reanimated dead or a run of the mill street thug, if it threatens you or your family, it needs to be put down.
Tonight we discuss the ultimate survival weapon for almost any situation. Tonight we discuss…
…the pump-action 12-gauge shotgun.
The Ultimate Survival Weapon
Ok, so why is this pretty simple device the ultimate survival weapon? Why would you choose this gun over, say, a tricked-out AR-15 or an AK-47? Here are a few reasons:
- Versatility
- Simplicity
- Commonality
- Lethality
Let’s go over each one.
Versatility
To begin we must understand what sets a shotgun apart from other firearms. Rifles and pistols (for the most part) fire a single projectile per shot. The barrels of guns have a twisted groove on the inside that spins the bullet and helps improve accuracy. But here’s the kicker: with few exceptions, each rifle or pistol is made specifically for a certain kind of ammunition. That certain cartridge is the only thing that can be used with that certain gun.
A shotgun, on the other hand, doesn’t shoot bullets; it shoots shot. Shot consists of several projectiles that are fired from a single shell. The pellets spread out after leaving the barrel, widening the kill zone.
Shot shells come in more varieties than we have time to discuss and this is why they are so versatile. In a survival situation, a single weapon can be used to hunt varmints and birds, and all it takes is a different type of ammunition for the same weapon to be effective at taking large game. You can change barrels and have a very effective long-range rifled firearm that can kill a moose and then with a screwdriver and about 2 minutes you’ll have a short-barreled anti-personnel device.
And almost all types of shot will be lethal to a human, should the need arise.
Simplicity
Shotguns are very easy to operate. There is a tube at the bottom and you shove shells in there until the tube is full. Then you click the slide release, rack the slide, and you are hot. There are no magazines (although they are available after-market if you like) to load, and no superfluous buttons or levers. In a survival situation, especially when you may be threatened or called to defend family or friends, you fall back to your lowest level of knowledge and training. The fewer things to remember, the better. And with a good pump-action shotgun, it’s really hard to do it wrong.
Commonality
I typically like things that are different or unique. Not so with a survival weapon. Anything you use to prepare for the end of the world should be as common and as normal as possible. There are two reasons for this. The first is the ease at which you can acquire ammunition and accessories. Every bait and tackle shop in the entire USA will have 12-gauge shot shells in stock 100% of the time. The last thing you want is to have some sort of awesome gun in an uncommon caliber that becomes an expensive club when you need it the most.
The second reason is that guns that stand out draw attention. Attention is something you do not want when you are in a situation where you are having to carry a weapon. Think about it. If the shit has hit the fan so badly that you need to walk around with a loaded weapon, the last thing you want is for anyone, anyone at all, to be looking your way and calculating their odds. The more commonplace your gear, the less of a target you have painted on your chest.
Lethality
Ok, here it is: Most people who get shot with a shotgun don’t survive. And unlike other weapons that take multiple shots, it usually only takes one shot to end the encounter. They are also somewhat forgiving on accuracy, so for pure defense purposes, there is nothing better than a good pump-action 12-gauge. They are so deadly, in fact, that the sound of the slide being racked is often enough to stop the attacker because they know that if they get hit they are very likely dead.
Conclusion
You now have a weapon that can be used out of the box to take little birds out of the sky or large game animals, with only a change in ammunition. Very slight and simple modifications can take this weapon from a long-range hunting rifle to practically a pistol with basically just a screwdriver. Using the thing is a cinch and parts, ammo, and accessories are everywhere. And finally, it does the job very, very effectively.
Get a shotgun, then get to the range and learn how to use it. When it comes to firearms, you can never get enough training. And rest well knowing that when the dead rise, you will stand with the living with the ultimate survival weapon in your hands.
