[Shelter] Defense (gun thread archive)

Specop_007 · Expert Joined: Aug 12, 2004 Posts: 6221

I see alot of threads about survival Post Peak. Grow this, farm that, energy efficient homes using renewable energy sources. Fantastic! We've all got our little plans and ideas for maintaining a comfortable standard of living.
So, how about we KEEP that standard of living in our own hands? One key focus of EVERY Peaker should be how can you keep what you have. If society collapses hard and fast, or even hard, count on roving bands of gun toters and pipe wielders who want nothing more then to kill you and take whatever they can from you and claim it as your own. Going to be pretty disappointing to be surrounding by raised beds, solar panels, an energy efficient home and livesotck and laying in your own pool of blood dying in the yard.
As such, defense should be a very high priority for any Peaker. Protection, hunting and peace of mind. We have to ask ourselves what could we use to protect our investments? Dont count on the law enforcement agencies and military. If things get very bad, they too will resort to looting to ensure their own survival, even at the expense of yours.

Defensive selection should be a point not taken lightly. One should give careful thought to what they want and what their budget is.

A good shotgun is probably the best defensive gun ever made. A load of buckshot is going to stop about any intruder on Earth other then an elephant, and fortunately we dont have many of those here in North America. Additionally, a good pistol and rifle should be high priority as well. I picked up a good pistol for 100 bucks. Its a CZ-52, 7.62x25mm. Its cheap and old, but it'll knock someone on their butt and keep them there till I dig the hole. You can get a Makarov (essentially a .380) for 150 bucks. Both pistols are military surplus, so ammunition is cheap.

Another important fact, ammunition will run out and guns wear out. Aside from a handful of good guns, i would also suggest looking into medieval weaponry as well. A good sword thats taken care of will outlast a firearm, and continue to function as long as you have an arm. No need for ammo. A bow or corssbow are also good choices for both hunting and defense. Additionally, all parts to these items are replaceable in the event they wear out or break. A good selection of hunting and skinning knives is invaulable.

I cant tell you what rifle to get. If you wanna see the quickest argument ever started, go to your local sporting goods store when theres a couple hunters around and state "I need a box of <insert caliber> shells, cause thats the best deer cartidge ever made!) You'll have everyone in ear shot give their opinion, and then proceed to argue the point all day long. As such, i suggest to everyone to put some time into selecting what the rifle will be used for and what type of rifle is good for you. A rifle for hunting rabbits would never work on bear. A person who doesnt like alot of recoil wouldnt want to handle a Magnum chambered rifle.

Going hand in hand with guns is property enhancements which naturally lend themselves to defensive fortifications. We've all talked about our raised gardens. If you raise them about 1 1/2' to 2' feet off the ground it will prevent nearly every type of automobile from passing, or at least slow them to a crawl. Stragetically placing these around your house will prevent a ramming scenario, where someone just drives his pickup or car right into the side of your house. Trees are also excellent defensive structures when used correctly. Again, they prevent ramming techniques and also provide cover. Not only does planning your property for efficiency as well as defensiveness ensure your survival, it can also be dont in a pleasing to the eye sort of way. Large potted plants provide cover, and make excellent eye pleaser when placed around the house. Rosebushes provide beauty and slow attackers down. Ever climb out the window at night as a kid? Sure, we all have. Ever land in a rosebuch on the way down? Next time on your sneek outside to party you look for a different window. Same applies for getting in. Put roses in front of windows to slow down attackers, or prevent them altogether. They also prevent cover when used correctly. That terra cotta pot can provide ANYONE cover, but if the attackers side has pretty rose bushes in front of it he'll think twice before using it.

Theres also the possibility of theft. As energy prices increase, there will be more and more wanting renewable energy collectors. Those solar panels sitting proudly in your front yard will make an attractive target to a night raid. One option is to make them removable and haul them in every night. A PITA yes, but well worth it to keep yoru investment and ensure YOU have power. A 3' pipe cemented intot he ground, with the panels attached to a free pipe so you can lift the panels/support pipe off and go inside, then the next day go back out and stick it back in. Or use hard coverings that can roll over them. Perhaps have adjustments to the panel so you can pull a few pins and move it closer to the ground, then build a concrete foundation, steel framed cover to go over them which you can lock. Also think of exterior storage. Would be a heart breaker to wake up and see someone had broken into your battery shed and "borrowed" your battery bank. Dont think a small wodden lean to is "good enough". Spend a little extra time and money and make a good reinforced structure with a locking door. Keep animals locked away at night as well. A good dog can alert you to a trespassers presence on your property. Think about ways to incorporate your survival plans and structures into both an aesthetically pleasing AND defensive way to ensure you can keep what you've worked so hard to build and grow.

Never forget, plan for your future survival, and DONT forget to plan on how to KEEP your future survival from others.

Sencha · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:56 am Post subject:

All I know is that I've got my katana. That's my first and last line of defense. It also doesn't help that I'm grossly out of shape and that the sword would only be useful in the hands of someone skilled. (not to mention the blade is pretty dull)

I have no idea how I would ever acquire a firearm if it wasn't off the body of a dead person. But chances are, it would have been picked up from that person long before I got to it.

I'm screwed Crying or Very sad

Guest · Guest

I don't want to live in a country where everyone lives in the type of fortress you describe, constantly living in fear from roaming mobs of looters. I'd either move away, or just end my life, instead of living in a sort of Mad Max world ... Perhaps my opinion would change if the above events would actually start happening, and I also don't have any children to protect.

Specop_007 · Expert Joined: Aug 12, 2004 Posts: 6221

Specop_007 · Expert Joined: Aug 12, 2004 Posts: 6221

born2respawn

Aaron · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 11:35 am Post subject:

Specop_007 · Expert Joined: Aug 12, 2004 Posts: 6221

shafticus · Coal Joined: Aug 16, 2004 Posts: 1

I have an SKS, and I highly recommend it. I want to buy a CZ and Mosin-Nagant. The SKS is highly reliable.

jato · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 1:48 pm Post subject:

Pops · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 1:48 pm Post subject:

Many great suggestions 007!

“Think about ways to incorporate your survival plans and structures into both an aesthetically pleasing AND defensive way to ensure you can keep what you've worked so hard to build and grow.”

YES!

I really appreciate the way you promote keeping the future in mind as one goes about daily tasks. Preparedness, survival mindset, whatever you want to call it, becomes second nature eventually, and you find yourself looking at everything differently. I certainly have no “combat” experience and harbor no “Rambo” fantasies, but it scares the crap out of me to think about what can happen today, let alone in some grim future, so realistic thoughts about how to make my place a less attractive target can only make me feel somewhat more confident – not less. No one looks forward to a flat tire, but saying I hate changing tires so I won’t bother with a spare just doesn’t make sense.

At the same time I won’t build a huge Dick Chaney underground bungalow because the worse that happens may not be much and I can't afford to wast. the money.

A hedge of rambling roses, or any rooting bramble like blackberries will eventually grow into an impenetrable barrier to any but the most determined and prepared intruder, and it can be propagated quickly for little expense. I can imagine a low rail fence with closely spaced, heavily reinforced block and brick posts covered with climbing roses in front of the house would deter the ramming attack you mentioned (hadn’t thought of that one) without providing much cover to attackers on foot. And it would look attractive even if we reach energy “independence”.

Camouflage is certainly easier and cheaper than containment. Take the PV panels for example, a chain link fence of the type with slats in the fabric and the rambling roses mentioned before would not only slow down a thief but conceal the target as well.

Try not to provide cover or concealment close to the house, aside from right at the house and even there not near the doors. Keep the "field" clear between the house and different burglar targets on your place. There is a line of trees between the house on the new place and the large shop that will have to be cut down in order to have it visible from the house.

A barking dog is the best alarm – even if it’s a toy poodle. But they can’t be everywhere, so for my current workshop that is a ways from the house, I rigged up an outdoor alarm from a motion sensor light that had a 1000w capacity and was built in modular sections with typical wet location type components. I simply tapped into the switched leg of the sensor and wired in a transformer and horn from Radio Shack. The porch light switch controls it.

Prepare, as well as you can, for anything to happen – including nothing.
_________________
Make a plan and work it:

Metronome · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 2:30 pm Post subject:

Defence is very important, I agree. But please, let's not go looking for trouble. My way of dealing with defence is camouflage. I believe the best way of dealing with intruders is not living closely to the main road.

If your planning on building your efficient homes, here's something you should ask yourself: "Can my shelter be seen from the public roads?" If so, build yourself elsewhere. But still... The "hordes" you speak of might still descide to go hunting... Consider all possibilities.

-May all beings find Happiness.

P.-S.: As for guns, I know that they'll be the best way of defence in the future, but keep in mind that you'll depend on bullets and that in the future, those will be limited.

Colorado-Valley · Intermediate Crude Joined: Aug 16, 2004 Posts: 731

Can't I just shoot myself instead?

If there is a die-off scenario, I assume some kind of martial law will be imposed until the government goes bankrupt. Then the spectre of hundreds, or thousands of city dwellers approaching my farm begging for food is not what I want to contemplate.

My best plan is a large sail boat that would ply the wildest parts of the Pacific Coastline for a few years, stopping at unihabited inlets to fish for halibut and salmon.

Then I guess the biggest danger would be post-peak pirates. I'd probably need a well-armed sail boat.

Metronome · Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 6:17 am Post subject:

smiley · Fission Joined: Apr 16, 2004 Posts: 2125 Location: Europe