One of the staple topics that gets beaten to death regularly on survival forums is the “guns to keep caches at your [BOL/BOV/cabin/cache].” The post usually starts of with someone saying how their normal end of the world gear is a nice Rock River AR, a tweaked out Springfield 1911 and maybe a nicely appointed 870. Then they’ll start talking about the guns they have hidden away ‘just in case’…and it’s an SKS, Mosin Nagant, and maybe a HiPoint or two.
How does this make sense? Yes, anything you store off site is going to be at risk for loss and you want to keep potential losses low. BUT…think about it: if you have to resort to the guns at your cache or family hunting cabin then you’re life has hit a point where you want the best you can get, right? I mean, if those guns are good enough for your offsite stash then shouldnt they be good enough to be your primary guns?
I bring this up because I love the notion of disposable gear but with a high quality to price ratio. On a good day I can buy a used Glock for $300 but thats still more than I want to risk losing on a ‘truck gun’ or ‘stash gun’. At the same time, I am not going into Katrinaville with a HiPoint pistol. But…there is a gun out there that is high quality, reliable, and cheap enough that if you lose it you don’t really cry….and is far more confidence inspiring than any Bersa, Taurus, or HiPoint.
This is a Ruger P95. It is supremely rugged, and I’ve yet to pay more than $200 for a used one. It’s a gun I am perfectly comfortable leaving under a car seat or in an ammo can under the porch with no real concern if it gets stolen, at the same time it is a gun I’d feel totally comfortable facing hordes of zombies with. These guns are ridiculously cheap on the used market, are built like tanks, have as few parts as the Glock, are lightweight, and run about as reliably as anything costing three times as much.
While I tote the Glock around day to day, I’d have no reservation carrying the Ruger. Although Ruger orphaned the P-series pistols two generations ago (the Ruger SR and Ruger American are Rugers latest failures at capturing the police/military market) they are still plentiful because they were inexpensive. Need proof? Go look at photos from ‘gun buybacks’….there’ll always be a P-series in there somewhere.
This one rolled across my desk when someone said I could have it for $200. It’s an outstanding choice for a gun you don’t care what happens to but it still worthy of carrying through an episode of The Walking Dead.
So, before you spend money on a HiPoint or Bersa, go look around and see if you can’t find one of these.
FWIW, tank command bought 5,000! Of the Rugers about 10 years ago.
The say that memory is the second thing to go (I can not remember what the first thing is). But last time it was “I don’t think I paid more than $215 for any of them”.
http://www.commanderzero.com/?p=2452
http://www.commanderzero.com/?p=3032
The ones I get from gunbroker are 200 and 15 to ship, but face to face sales I keep it at 200 or less.
I’ve been a long time fan of Ruger revolvers and own both single and double actions from them, but have not one single Ruger autoloader. I have heard from friends and acquiantences of good experience with the Rugers. I guess I should look one up, the .45 version looks particularly interesting.
I count the ‘disposable’ description as something which has no paper trail to yourself.
It’s not truly disposable unless you can field-strip it, hastily wipe it down, and throw it in a dumpster on your way home from a crime scene.
Damn me – should have said no Ruger CENTERFIRE autoloaders above. The .22 Ruger Target is a very good pistol (5 1/2″ bull barrel target).
I agree with your S&W auto comments below, a family member has a 639 stainless that has meh accuracy and is heavy as hell to boot. Not much to gain there. S&W non lock revolvers – oh hell yeah, different tune there. Pre – 3 frames are nice guns.
Never knew that you did not like Taurus I know that you did not like steel Smiths.
I’d be happy with a Ruger, Taurus, Bersa, Smith 669 or fourth generation or even a newish Sigma. Though I’d hate to lose a Ruger the most but be OK with the Sigma.
Hell I’m in the UK I’d make do with a HiPoint with no mag.
Actually, I live Smiths….I just think the Ruger is a more durable product.
Memory going again “The old 3/4 digit ‘Third/Fourth Generation’ autos were, in my opinion, terrible. ”
http://www.commanderzero.com/?p=3032
They were, I’ve never had anything nice to say about Smith autos. (Their M&P series seems to have redeemed them, but Ive no experience with them and I honestly dont think they bring anything to the table that other guns dont already do.) However, Im a fan of their revolvers. But, for End Of The World use, the nod goes to Ruger for their brute reliability.
I’ve been looking into Taurus firearms it looks like they are in no way as well made as they where in the late 80’s. OK I have to say it you are right.
P-95s are great. The only point of difference to me is using more of a mulit-layer PACE system (primary, alternate, contingency, emergency). When you get to the 4th layer, finances may dictate a “better than nothing” layer. But I agree the main back-ups should be solid performers.
I have three of these,but man I’ve never paid just two hundred for a used one. I need to go shopping with you. But I do agree their great,an I love my P95’s!
I think you’ve commented before on the Ruger Brick-shitehouse toughness of the P-Series. I’ll have to give them another look, as I’m currently in the market for another G23 that will get stashed with a Lone Wolf 9mm barrel. (Another project… so many… so many…)
I used to think that way, I’ll stash some cheap weapons as backups. But as several have mentioned, what is your life worth to you (or your life worth to your family?) So I’ve backed up and started on the 2 is one plan, where the 1 goes in the hole with spare parts and ammo. While The Two is the high speed low drag uber tactical mall ninja carbine, there are probably four more like it that hardly ever see the light of day stashed here and there. It takes time I’ll admit but I don’t doubt the hardware or my ability with it. (To tell the dirty secret, once I’ve built The Two and wrung it out at the range, it goes in hiding and I build it’s replacement. Shhhh. Don’t tell the Little Lady, she is none the wiser. I think.)
I’ve thought of stashing some Mosin M44 varients (I don’t need to stab someone across the Volga, so the 91 is not really needed) and a spam can or two in the local forests, just as last ditch (Defiance movie) thing. (See above, so many projects)
P.S. If you don’t know the Volga is not a body part. Look it up.
P.P.S. Go Team Infidel
amazing, just amazing – $200 range? Locally I’ve never seen one under the $380 range because for some damn stupid reason people think they have some mystical magical collector value. I can barely find a Hi point in the $150-180 range.