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My Disaster Gun

 (10 Photos)

If you had to choose one gun—and only one gun—to get you through a disaster (be it traditional or zombie-related), what would it be? If you could have one firearm (that’s realistically available) to protect yourself, your family and your assets, what would it be and why? Here are 10 choices made by some of the editors and contributors in NRA Publications. What would you choose? Let us know.

  • Springfield Armory SOCOM 16
  • Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle
  • M4 Carbine
  • Remington VersaMax Tactical Shotgun
  • Ruger Mini-14/20GB-F
  • Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .30-06
  • Ruger 10/22
  • SRM Arms Model 1216
  • M134 Minigun
  • Any Black Powder Rifle
Ruger 10/22
Posted by: Paul Rackley, Associate Online Editor

Ruger 10/22

While there are much more powerful rifles, the Ruger 10/22 is one of the most versatile guns available today. It can be purchased in a multitude of configurations, including a takedown model, and it can be customized to suit anyone’s needs, even as a disaster gun.

Its .22 chambering is small, but deadly on a multitude of game animals, and with a good scope attached, it is extremely accurate. Ammunition is plentiful and there are so many already in the world that parts would be easy to find if the rifle ever breaks. It’s already fairly quiet, so rigging something to dampen the noise wouldn’t be too difficult, and it a fight, its light recoil would allow for extremely fast follow up shots.

In a true disaster situation, many will have more powerful guns, but the mind is the best tool for survival, and the Ruger 10/22 is just about as sharp as the human mind.

  • Jay Matterhorn

    12/6/2012 6:15:09 PM

    10/22. Ammo is light and easily carried. Good for hunting and with a 25 round banana clip, you can put enough rounds down range to make an escape. Humping with 10 AR magazines gets real old quick. The weight of 1000 rounds of 22 is less than 5 magazines of AR rounds. Reliable and easily carried. That is my disaster gun. I have 2, one with a 3x9 scope, and a second one tactically decked out with a 4x ACOG clone. Fun and accurate.

  • EthanP

    11/20/2012 7:23:28 PM

    Sorry Paul. With my life on the line, I don't want to play with the bad guys with a .22. Not even one this good.

  • knujrm

    11/17/2012 8:56:30 PM

    "Ammo is easy to get." Really?! If you dont have it at the time, you'll either have to steal, barter, take it off the dead guy or rely on the kindness of strangers. I dont buy what I cant feed from a Walmart, a farm and feed store, or the local one-stop. Or what is stocked at home. That means a .22LR, a 9mm, .38/357, .45ACP, .223/5.56, 30.30, 7.62x39, .308/7.62N, 30.06, 20ga, or a 12ga. Firearms that have proven themselves reliable and accurate for me in those chamberings: Ruger Mk 1,2, or 3 pistol, Ruger 10/22 (a sturdy folding stock, a red-dot and Ruger 25 rnd mags add to its charm), Glock 17, 19, or 26 (all with at least Glk 17 mags if not the Glock 18 33 rounders-the larger fit the smaller, but not vice versa), CZ 75, Ruger GP100, a -proven- 1911 variant, Ruger Mini-14, a -proven-AR variant, an AK platform, a SKS, Marlin 336, Savage Scout, Sprinfield M1A, Remington 870 (20 and 12) with both a slug and a 28 inch Remchoked barrel, and a Mossberg 590 with ghostring sights, AR type, recoil reducing stock and 8 rnd tube. These are what work for me. Extra mags and spare parts are a given. So, thats cheating? I didnt play by the rules!? I will abide by the rules if everybody else does. OK. Ill take the nearly idestructable, accurate, uber-reliable 10/22. However, if the rules go out the window and my family is at serious risk, that risk will face at least, all the above.

  • NC FREEDOM

    9/26/2012 12:55:32 PM

    Little know fact that Vet told me, as to whether this is true or not I do not know but that more people have been taken out with this weapon in a clandestine manner than any other.

  • JIMMYJET

    9/24/2012 11:27:30 PM

    The 10/22 is obviously the best pick for the thinking man interested in survival who doesn't plan on indulging in knock down, drag out gun fights or announcing his presence to every armed threat in the county by blasting away with his center fire safe queen. Not all disasters are hurricanes or earthquakes that let you stay in your house along with your $2M tactical shotgun or 3-gun gamer rifle and 10 cases of ammo. Anyone forced to flee for their lives will want a light weight firearm and as much ammo as they can carry without getting a hernia. With the 10/22 you just grab your rifle, throw a carton of 500 .22's in your jacket pocket and bug out. Try that with 500-rds. of .223 or .30 caliber, (you choose the caliber) and you'll be exhausted in no time. The little Ruger .22 is remarkably effective against man or beast and in the right hands will keep any threats away from it's bearer.

  • Chris

    9/18/2012 8:31:50 PM

    My Norinco MAK90. Ultra reliable,stopping power with lots of ammo.

  • Jack

    9/18/2012 8:20:03 PM

    The 10/22 was the first one that came to mind for me. I have one set up with see-thru mounts, an old steel Weaver K-4, extra magazines and plenty of rounds which are easy to carry.