Note from the Editor: This article is based on the fact that we won’t be able to repair automatic weapons after an EMP if they break down at any point. We’ll have a rough time reloading bullets as well.
In order to be able to refill ammunition, minimal to no ammunition supply means that the brass needs to last as long as possible. On brass, semi-auto rifles are tougher than bolts, dropping blocks or rifles of other types. You have brass elongation with semi-autos; you need to trim your brass regularly, full-length on any load. And you’re practically running out of brass life after a few reloads.
I personally think an AR-15 will still be a reasonable option from the same point of view. Since a lot of people have it, if it fails, you can quickly find replacement parts for your own.
An EMP is the one to hold our attention on all of the future TEOTWAWKI activities there are. An EMP is not only one of the most destructive catastrophes we can face, it is also one of the most probable. In the world, there are a variety of different bad actors who might use the EMP against our nation; not only rogue nations such as North Korea and Iran, but also terrorists.
Although the construction of nuclear warheads, especially the miniaturized ones required to launch missiles, needs extremely sophisticated technology, the construction of missiles does not require especially sophisticated technology. Actually, the SCUD missile is nothing more than a World War II German V2 rocket, but it reaches an altitude high enough to launch an EMP attack. Three SCUD launched nuclear devices could be launched off the East Coast, the West Coast, and the Gulf of Mexico, but not large enough to kill the energy grid nationwide). The launch platform may be ordinary container ships.
To us, this means two things. The first is that EMP attacks are more likely than many other major possible catastrophes. Although that’s not good news, the second is that we’re prepared for just about anything if we use an EMP as the basis for our long-term survival planning.
An EMP, technology wise, will bring our country back to the 1800s. However, at the time, we will not be as well off as our ancestors, simply because we don’t have or know how to use their technology. This was the tail end of the Industrial Revolution, with instruments and services that were very different from what we are using today.
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Few individuals know how to do the things that occurred in the late 1800s, let alone the early 1800s. There are many items without modern resources and facilities that we won’t have any idea how to do. We would have to reinvent technology and techniques literally, relearning stuff that our ancestors took for granted.
Rethinking our use of firearms is also likely to be advisable. In the late 1800s, early centerfire cartridges were used, with shotgun cartridges predating them by almost half a century. But the industry didn’t have semi-automatic weapons until the early 1900s.
While the semi-automatic weapons we have will not be lost, there was a reason why before the 1900s they were not invented; that’s because they are more complex. So, while our semi-auto rifles, shotguns, and handguns are working, we probably won’t be able to repair them once they break down. That is, we won’t be able to spare them, unless we have a stock of spare parts on hand to deal with.
Let’s take a look at what kinds of firearms we might consider adding to our arsenal with this in mind, specifically with the concept of using them in a post-EMP environment. I would disregard the notion of providing a stockpile of parts in this regard and focus on what will be workable for the average person who cannot do a whole lot of thorough repairs.
Semi-automatic .22LR Rifle
The .22LR rifle is perhaps the most valuable weapon to own in the post-EMP world. Big game would be scarce and overhunted, leaving nothing more than tiny game to hunt. You just can’t beat a .22LR for small game hunting. The small bullet does not waste a lot of meat and it is quick to use the light caliber. You can fire at a decent distance with a scope mounted on a rifle.
But in a little different light than other people, I’m speaking of .22. I think of it as a disposable weapon. For as little as $120, you can purchase these, not a whole lot of investment. So having a few spares around is really not much of a concern. You can easily turn your scope over to another one and keep aiming if the one you’re using breaks.
The cost of ammunition is another gain of the .22LR. Although the cost of ammunition has risen, it is still the cheapest product you can find. It is really not going to be a big deal to stockpile a few thousand rounds for hunting small game.
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Bolt-action Hunting Rifle
Since the early 1800s, the bolt-action rifle has been around, actually predating the lever action Winchester 1873 Repeating Rifle (carbine) that “Won the West.” From the time the Springfield 1892 was adopted by the US Army, until the M-16 was adopted during the Vietnam War.
There was a good reason for this – rifles with bolt action are extremely accurate. There is nothing, other than a broken ejector or firing pin, that can go wrong with the bolt. A broken spring is just about the only thing that can go wrong with the firing mechanism. So, chances are, without requiring repairs, a bolt action rifle will last well.
Lever-action Rifle
The Winchester 1873 Repeating Rifle was the rifle that dominated the West. This was a lever action, marketed both as a carbine and as a rifle (using pistol cartridges). Like the bolt action rifle, with nothing to crack, the lever action was extremely reliable. One can be used, without any serious problem, for years.
Revolver
This one is hard for me to say, but in a post-EMP environment, a revolver is certainly a better sidearm than a semi-automatic pistol. I myself am a semi-auto man, but I understand that there is a much simpler firing mechanism for the revolver, with much more robust components. In a time when making repairs to a gun may be difficult, this makes it highly desirable. While I love my Glock and my 1911, in a post-EMP world, I’d like to have a decent revolver by my side.
For me, what that means is to add a revolver to my stash of handguns, just to have something to use if something happens to my other weapons. I’m still going to keep my other weapons, but it’s going to be handy to have something easier to fix, just in case.
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Black Powder Rifle
Let’s go off the reservation a little now. I would highly recommend a black powder rifle or two as part of your arsenal, in addition to the above, which you will probably find on any of a variety of different lists. Specifically, I would recommend this as your main big-game hunting rifle. Please note that I am talking about a rifle, not a musket, which is a smooth-bore firearm.
With black powder rifles, the issue is that most of them are muzzle loaders. A couple of breach loaders are around, but they are not typical. Yet, I’d highly suggest finding a breach loader for the purpose of using it as a survival hunting gun. They can not only be reloaded much more easily, but they appear to be more precise than loaders for muzzles.
One of the major benefits here is that your own bullets can be made of black powder and cast. While the ingredients to make black powder could be difficult to locate, they can be found. Lead for bullets should not be a problem, as lead from car batteries can still be melted down. Only make sure to first rinse off the acid.
Percussion caps may be the one issue here, if you buy a muzzle loader that uses them. As far as supply is concerned, a flintlock would be better, but percussion is more effective. So, just make sure that if your weapon needs it, you have a good supply of percussion caps.
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Black Powder Revolver
Of course, you might want to get a black powder revolver to go with it if you are going to use a black powder weapon. A variety of replicas and kits are available for these, making it a decent choice for a sidearm for hunting. Just be sure to avoid the early Colt revolvers, which, since they appear to be fragile and split, do not have a frame strap over the cylinder.
Both black powder revolvers use a percussion hat, so you’re probably going to have to put in a good stock. Other than that, though, you can make that powder and shoot yourself. As for the grease that is used to pack the tubes, any animal grease that you may find can be used.
Speaking of Repairs
In the article, I spoke a lot about repairs. Although I’m standing behind what I’ve said about the firearms above, I really think the most important thing you can do is put in a good supply of repair parts, in addition to getting a good stock of ammunition to go with whatever firearms you have. You should have spring kits, pin kits, firing pins and extractors at the very least. The pieces that are most likely to split are those. If you have those bits, it’s likely that you will fix your weapons.
Take the time to watch some videos of the removal and repair of the particular model weapons you own as well. I have found that those that demonstrate a total takedown and restoration are the best videos to watch. You can fix just about anything if you learn how to do it and you can identify broken parts.
