The Effects of Japan's Earthquake

First and foremost I want to clearly state that I AM NOT A PROPHET, nor am I a son of a Prophet. I am a Watchman on the wall trying to sound the alarm. I am also a student of bible prophecy as well as history.
King Solomon, the wisest man ever to live stated the following…

Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

What he is saying here is that man is destined to repeat his history if he does not learn from it.
What is taking place in Japan is horrible and my heart goes go out to the Japanese people as well as our military men and women serving in Japan at this moment.
If you are not up on the latest, a second nuclear reactor has exploded, officials have stated that there is meltdown taking place, and to top all of this off the Shinmoedake volcano in southern Japan has erupted.
But that is not all, Officials of the Tokyo Electric Power Company said that due to the cut in water supply, cooling system of the third reactor at the Fukushima nuclear power plant is overheating and is at the risk of exploding.
But there is something taking place right now that is upsetting. Christians are coming out and making claims that Japan is being punished and the wrath of God is against them.
Folks, bad things happen to good people. Who are we to make claims on behalf of God? Japan has sinners just like the US has sinners.
All of us are sinners in need of a savior.
Soon after the surrender of Japan was accomplished and the U.S. occupation commenced, MacArthur reached out to U.S. churches and Bible publishing companies for assistance.
He requested thousands of Christian missionaries and millions of Bibles for Japan.

"After Japan surrendered in 1945, General Douglas MacArthur became Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in charge of rebuilding the Japanese government."

"To a visiting group of evangelicals, MacArthur said: 'Japan is a spiritual vacuum. If you do not fill it with Christianity, it will be filled with Communism. Send me 1,000 missionaries.' He asked U.S. missionary societies to send 'Bibles, Bibles and more Bibles.'

"Can you imagine a U.S. president or American general asking for missionaries as a part of our foreign aid program?"

"MacArthur knew that a spiritual vacuum resides inside  of every person."

"Without Christ, a life will be filled with something else. That something else can be very destructive and cruel, as the world experienced in the struggle against Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany." 1

We're seeing the same kind of cruelty today in the terrorism of Islamic fascism, but that is another story.
What the world needs now is Jesus Christ. The US church has failed their mission. Do you know that there are more missionaries coming home, than  being sent out.
No longer are churches sending out the gospel, they are more worried about their best life now and being purpose driven than they are in being diligent to God's Word and His ordinances. The primary being Matthew 28:19-20

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

See in every dark cloud there is a silver lining.
90% of the pastors today are dropping the ball. They have sold out to the social gospel, greed and popularity. They worry more about fannies in seats to fill their coffers than doing what is right in the eyes of God.
So where is the silver lining?
Us.
I have been watching the horizon. More and more "laypeople" are feeling the burning in their bones. They feel the need to prepare and be ready to take a stand, to boldly go out and share the gospel.
Home churches are on the rise, bible studies after work hours, the small bible preaching and teaching churches are seeing attendance slowly grow.
The remnant is stirring.
What is taking place in Japan today is going to have global consequences.
Japan's Radiation Coming To America
Already NOAA is keeping an eye on the radiation that the jet stream is moving towards the western hemisphere. In approximately 36 hours this radiation will be hitting the US, Central and South America.
Now radiation from Japan's nuclear plants is unlikely to be in any harmful amounts. I say this due to the distance traveled, being absorbed by the ocean, absorbed in the atmosphere, a lot of variables are playing out with the radiation.
The distance between Tokyo, Japan and Los Angeles, California is 5,478 miles. That in and of itself gives the radiation quiet some space to dissipate.
Now I am not saying the radiation will go away, what I am pointing out is that it will be spread out, dissipated, thinned out. That great  distance between Japan and the US will cause the radiation to be nominal at the most.
So to be honest, I do not have huge concerns about the radiation. But expect the tree huggers and Greenpeace to have a fit.
Japan' Economic Aftershock
What does concern me is the economic impact that Japan's disasters will have on the US.
Here are some quick high points…
- 3,400+ buildings were destroyed
- Japanese oil refineries were damaged and shut down
- Miles upon miles of roads and bridges were destroyed
- The Japanese economy will grind to a halt
In fact many of the economists are calling this a "black swan" event. A “Black Swan” event is something random and totally unpredictable that has a critical effect on the global economy. The Wall Street speculators, economists, and bean counters did not see this coming.
What has happened is a massive wrench has been thrown into works and there is a very good chance that things will grind to a halt.
Why?
Because the economy of Japan is the third largest in the world after the United States and the People's Republic of China.  But they are ahead of Germany, which is sitting at 4th strongest. This is of course according to the International Monetary Fund.
But how Japan really impacts us here in the US is that they buy a lot of our debt. In fact China is the first in foreign countries that purchase our debt, and Japan is second.
Here is what people need to think about really hard, and be ready to adapt to really fast.
With Japan's economy grinding to a halt, they will no longer purchase US debt. In fact  the financial pundits out there are already worried that with Japan needing a mass infusion of money to help recover, they will start selling off US debt.
What Will This Do To The US?
If Japan starts dumping US debt, expect the Feds to turn up the printing presses and flood the market with dollars and start QE3 sooner than expected.
Because Japan is dumping US debt,  other countries holding U.S. Treasuries may also sell in fear of an all-out U.S. bond price drop.
Holders of US debt have been losing money due to the fact that the US dollar has dropped in  value.  Couple with a massive sell off by Japan, prices fall, we may see a global selling panic with everyone getting out of the US  business as fast as they can.
Folks, this is something that many countries in the world have been waiting for and calling for.
China, Russia, many Middle East countries have been calling to dump the US dollar as the global reserve.
The effects in Japan taking place today, may be that catalyst that starts the serious demise of the dollar and here down fall.
In fact if we see Japan begin to dump US debt and other countries follow suit, we will have 7 days to personally react.  By that time the meltdown that takes place on wall street will hit main street and the common man will wake up to this fact and chaos will follow.
What will ensue is herd mentality, panic, empty store shelves, riots. Eventually banks will close, ATM turned off, Credit Cards stop working. It will be a cash only US for about 7 days or until the money system comes back on line.
When that takes place the US that we once knew will probably not be in existence anymore.
Welcome to the New Normal
Our country will probably be thrown into a great depression followed by massive hyperinflation.
This has happened to Argentina, Zimbabwe, Bolivia and it is taking place today in Greece with Spain on her heals.
If you have not built you and your families ark, you will feel the full brunt of the coming storm.
If you have built an ark for you and your family, you will be given the luxury of something very precious…time.
It is that time that will allow you to step away from the herd, make wise and rational decisions, and not be forced to accept what the herd follows.
You will not have to fight for the loaf of bread, the can of beans, the bag of rice.
You have secured your families welfare and security, you will not have to worry about the riots in front of banks, in front of city hall, capitols, etc.
Because you have done all that you could to prepare, because you have built your ark, your family will be able to weather the storm a lot better than many others.
And when the storm clears, you will then be able to be a comfort to others by sharing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to a world that will be greatly hurting and looking for answers that only God and His Word can provide.
If you have not built your ark, it is still not to late. Main Street has not woken up, but your time is slipping away.
If you have not read my article "11 Things You Need To Get Now" then read it. It is a good primer to help you build your ark.
You can read that article at - http://tinyurl.com/11-things-you-need2-get-now
We have a chance to make a difference in this country and in the world, but we must be ready and prepared to share the hope that is within us.
The storm is coming and it may be here quicker than expected due to the "black swan" event that has taken place in Japan.
What you need to do is secure at least 30 days of food, water, a means to protect yourself and get yourself several KJV bibles. I personally like the Thompson Chain Reference. You will need the tried, put through the fire KJV. If you want to make it through the storm's floods, then cleave to His Word that has been saving people for over 400 years, the King James Version, the Authorized Word of God for the English speaking people.
Now if you think I am crazy, some right wing nut case, some fundamental bible believer or something like that, let me ask you this…
"When the storm comes bringing with her floods and herd mentality,  how long can you and your family tread water?"
The storm is coming, there is no doubt.
Are you ready?
If I can help with any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. You can contact me at ray.gano@prophezine.com



By Ray GanoThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Endnotes
1 - http://amerisrael.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/03/general-douglas-macarthur-japan-and-bible-burning-in-afghanistan.html

How Would You Handle The "Brass Horde"

During the age of the Mongol Empire, the Mongol armies spread across Eastern Europe and Russia raping, pillaging and basically leaving whatever was left as a waste land. These invaders were come to be known as "The Golden Horde."

Fast forward today and we remember the LA Riots, New Orleans looting, I even experienced it myself during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. During all the confusion and the aftermath instantly after the quake, masses started stealing from the shops who's windows were broken and all within an arm's reach.  It got so bad that in some areas a "shoot to kill" order was issued. The earthquake struck at approximately 5:00PM, that night turned into hell on earth in some parts of the San Francisco bay area.

The horde was released.

In the prepper community we see " the Golden Horde" as a loosely organized mass of urban refugees streaming out of the cities in search of food and shelter after a natural disaster or social / financial collapse. Like locus, this mindless mass could possibly overwhelm local defenses,  "raping and pillaging" the country suburban area and stripping it of many of its resources while destroying everything in its path.

Now this sounds bad and is a situation that would most likely take place in the movies, but in real life a situation like this does not happen… in most cases.

But to be honest I am not worried about a mindless mass of people. These people are hungry  and pretty much are acting on instinct. They are not going to be very well organized, and lack really any true leadership. Some may be armed, but not willing to really "take a bullet" when it comes down to the rubber meeting the road. 

It is the group's "mass" that gives the "horde" its power. 

Aggressively confront then divide the mass and it will quickly give up and move on to another "easier" target.

But who I am worried about are the bugged out  Rambo wanna-be's traveling in their RVs who's idea of preparedness is cases of ammo, Spam & Budweiser. 

Let me introduce to you...The Brass Horde. 

The Brass Hordes are small groups of people, probably all deer hunting buddies who go out and play paint ball on the weekends and call it survival training. Now, nothing against deer hunting and paintball, I am a hunter as well; can't say I have played paintball though. Now airsoft wars are fun, but I am digressing here.

What these folks have neglected for maintaining good health and welfare, they have made up by being obnoxiously well armed. Thing is when the Spam and Budweiser runs out,  they will turn to what they love most their guns and ammo.

These are the groups I worry about.

Here is a very interesting story, one that is real world. The author who goes by the handle "BigBear" painted a very realistic picture. 

After reading this, I want to ask you, how would you REALLY handle this situation?  

I would like for you to hear your "end to the story" comments, so please post them below. 

The Brass Horde 

The Brass Horde at least tried to prepare.  They had a plan to leave the city, some supplies and a large stockpile of weapons. Their intent was to relocate to a remote site as a group and hunt for food. The small group is made up of family and close friends occupying the trailers used to escape the city. Unfortunately their resources are limited and unwisely thought out.

At first they have good luck taking a deer and several rabbits for a stew, all looks good. But after a week or so their water rations are getting low and their expensive filter systems are useless on the frozen lake. They are able to melt some water over the fire pit and on propane stoves but this consumes critical resources. Most of their daily man hours are spent collecting and transporting ice blocks to melt for water. The meat is running low, they are exhausted.

The Horde elders decide that a couple of the women should visit a nearby cabin and ask to fill their water jugs. The established local, not wanting to seem rude, invites the ladies into the warm cabin...the aroma of fresh baked bread fills the air. Warm cinnamon rolls and hot coffee are served over light conversation next to the wood stove. The ladies fill their water jugs from the solar powered well, thanked the local and reluctantly venture back out into the cold, it was the first time they had truly been warm since leaving the city.

That evening the women huddled around the fire telling the others of their days experience. A strong north wind brought frigid temperatures and a heavy snow started around sundown...the Horde retired to their campers to weather the night.

Then the propane runs out!

The temperatures quickly plunge after the heater went out in the far north trailer of the circled compound. The father whose survival skills were honed by many hours watching the discovery channel, decided to start a small wood fire in the oven to keep him and his wife warm. The ensuing inferno consumed two of their trailers and damaged the other six as over 10,000 rounds of ammo cooked off in the conflagration.

In the blinding snow the elders huddled for warmth around the smoldering ruins of their grand scheme...they knew what had to be done. After arming themselves and securing the women folk in the remaining heated camper, the horde took off for the neighbors cabin. The howling winds of the blizzard masked their plunder as they made off with six twenty pound bottles of propane, a chainsaw and five gallons of gas. The blowing snow filled their tracks as they retreated back to the compound confident in their escape.

Unbeknown to the Brass Horde the local had witnessed the entire thing from the warmth of the bedroom after being alerted by his growling dogs. Shouldering his gun he realized that confrontation was dangerous against eight heavily armed men and there was a good change he would die if shooting started. The local also realized that this was the first of many visits by the armed bandits who, made confident by their guns, would steal what they failed to store through proper preparation.

So he….. started baking cookies.

"Good morning, I have fresh cookies and hot coffee" shouted the local from his truck as he pulled into the Horde's compound. "You all look like you could use a treat on this cold morning" he continued. The men leerily looked at each other assuming that the local man had not yet discovered the robbery and was just being a good neighbor. The local waved and yelled "God Bless You" as he drove away. Over their snacks and wicked strong coffee the Horde laughed at how easy a target this cookie baking fairy would be...

Looking through the rifle scope from his vantage point in on the hill he saw no movement...the last one fell several hours ago.

Later that evening the local man returned to the compound, collected the bodies and placed them neatly in the largest trailer. Gathering the stolen items plus the Hordes guns and abundant ammunition for barter he proceeded to pour gas in each of the remaining campers then burned everything to the ground. Cyanide in the coffee and cookies.

A heavy snow that night covered over the remains and the evident "mass suicide" was not discovered until later that springs. It was chalked up to collapse related hysteria...no further investigation.

My Own Thoughts

How would you have handled the group and the situation?

Remember there are no police that are going to come to the rescue.

What would you have done differently?

Now this one struck me hard. Why? Because I am a God fearing Christian who has submitted his life to the Lord.

Several verses in the Bible that come to my mind is...

1 Timothy 5:8(KJV)  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Exodus 22:2 (KJV)  If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

What Do I Believe?

In the simplest terms, a believer is absolutely justified in the use of deadly force if faced with a grave threat to him or his own family or members of his own church (his extended family). Not to do so is a violation of both Jewish and Christian's reverence for life.

Deadly force does not mean that the results necessarily ends in death. It may be simply the presentation of the weapon that provides the necessary deterrent against violence on the part of the offender.

Christianity is not pacifism. There are pacifists who are Christians, but a clear reading of Scripture doesn't imply pacifism at all. We seek peace and pursue it; we earnestly prefer to avoid violence, but we don't stick our heads in the sand. We live in a world where violence is commonplace; it's been that way since the fall.

Violent people have absolutely no restraint on their behavior; a believer needs to be at least as aggressive in defending himself and others. Whatever it takes. If you have to shoot someone and drop them to the ground, that's most unfortunate, but you didn't ask to be attacked. 

Please go to the "COMMENTS" section and tell me what you thought and how you would handle it.

Finally, do you have a pit in your stomach like I did after I read that?

Prepping 101 - Where Do I Start?

For those of you wishing to be a little more prepared the biggest question is "Where do I start?".
The answer is quite simple. Don't buy anything until you've inventoried what you do have. It makes no sense to have an abundance of one item and a complete lack of something else. A good inventory of what you currently have on hand will show you the direction in which your preparedness efforts should be going.

If you're an avid hunter,with a fairly good arsenal already, buying more guns may not help you if you run out of food or water before the ammo plays out. Perhaps you're into gardening and canning and have a lot of canned items sitting on the shelves in your pantry or storeroom but don't own a gun. Either way you could have problems. So take an inventory! See what you have and write down what you need.You will also need to have a balance in your preparations.

Once you know where you stand on the basics of food, water,health, shelter and clothing, gear, education and protection, the next step is to develop a budget and a plan to get there. Next allocate a portion of your budget to each phase of your preparations. Then proceed toward being better prepared. It's easier than you think.

Prepping 101:

1.) Take an inventory of FOOD items you have in stock and compare it with your daily use to
determine the quantity needed to meet your short or long term goals. (dry goods, canned goods, etc.).

2.) Determine the items you have that will cover your WATER needs (storage containers, filters, purification methods, etc.).

3.) Figure out the items you need to address any HEALTH issues (glasses, prescription meds, first aid kits, etc.).

4.) Check your SHELTER status (temporary and permanent) and CLOTHING inventory (for both summer and winter) to determine any deficiencies in either category.

5.) Sort through your GEAR and equipment (camping, household items, and tools) and decide where you can improve things. Special Note: GEAR should always include the ability to make a fire for cooking and heat.

6.) Provide for EDUCATION materials (books, seminars, traing classes, etc.) so that you can increase your skills and knowledge base.

7.) Finally make sure you cover any needed items for your PROTECTION (guns, ammo, etc.).

8.) And above all other things, practice SAFETY at all times in your food storage, your medical preps, using your tools or your guns.

So determine what your budget will be and work towards your short or long term goals.

Hopefully, this will get you started towards being better prepared.

The Shotgun and My Reasons Why You Need One

The shotgun is probably the most versatile firearm that you can own and I believe that every prepper needs to have at least one in their home armory.

Now I know that there are folks out there that disagree with me, but it is more powerful than a handgun, but it does not have the range of a rifle. It also lack in its limited magazine capacity.

But what I wanted to do is give you my reasons why you should own a shotgun.

Reason 1 - Price.         

Like it or not, the first question everyone is concerned about is money. Good news is that you can go to just about any sporting goods store that offers firearms and find shotguns. They are everywhere and they are cheaper than the other alternative a AR-15 or a AK-47. 

If you have $200-$300 dollars you can walk into your local sporting goods store, gun shop or megastore and easily walk out with a shotgun under your arm.   

Knowing this, you can quickly save the money needed and within a week or two, you can upgrade your preps plan and add a shotgun in your home armory.

Now I did mention an AR-15 or AK-47, but those cost considerably more and the goal of this book is to get you ramped up with your preps as fast as possible. Once you are adequately prepped, you can then start expanding.

Reason #2 - Diffferent types of Ammunition

As I mentioned in a previous chapter there is a whole mix of different ammo that you can purchase for the shotgun and you can very your loads also.

Assuming you can carry at least 5 in the tube. You can make your first round bird shot for close range. They will not blast through walls and if it does, they lose its velocity really quickly.

Secondly you can put a couple of "00" buck shot followed by a couple of slugs.

Here is a home defense scenario.

It is late at night and you hear a noise in your home. You then hear multiple voices coming from the front of the house. Sitting next to your bed is your trusty Mossberg 500 and you have prepared just for this type of situation.

You know your home so you use the corners and concealment to your advantage. You see the first bad guy and he  has got a gun sticking out of the front of his pants. He is at a close range, and your first round in your shotgun is bird shot. At this range it will cut him to ribbons and take him out.

You fire and bad guy #1 goes down.

The second bad guy you see is coming towards you , he is to be a bit further but that is ok, your second round in the stack is buck shot  and it will take that person out before he reaches you.

You do not know if there is another bad guy, but you have another round of "00" Buck ready and waiting.

All of a sudden bullets are coming through the front window.  There is another bad guy who was driving the car. You have that Buck shot chambered already, so you fire busting out the car windows. But that is not all, you have some slugs that will go some distance in the stack and they do a lot more damage.

Bad guy #3 took up a position outside the car and is now shooting blindly through the blown out car windows. He is using the ol' spray and pray method and is not coming even close to where you are. You chamber the slug knowing these will go through walls as well as car doors. BLAM…CLICK CLACK…BLAM. Two slugs down range and both right on target. It is quiet. Taking more buckshot from you’re the rifle butt carrier you load more buckshot into your shotgun.

You have eliminated the bad guys. Your practicing this exercise over and over again has paid off, you and your family are safe and the bad guys are finished.

Yes this is kind of glorified, but this is a good example of stacking the different rounds in your shotgun anticipating the need.

There is bird shot, which is good for small game for food, or can be used for close quarter indoor defense.  There is upland game rounds where the "BB's" are bigger and pack a meaner punch. 00 buckshot, which is like sending 8 rounds of 9mm down range and then there is the slug. I big 50mm hunk of lead that is like a cannon ball hitting you. There is also many different types of rounds in between these I have named.

Shotgun even has the ability to shoot rounds that contain non lethal bean bags, rubber bullets, even small nets that deploy when the exit the shotgun bore.

So the variety of shotgun rounds are pretty extensive and for every need, there probably is a round to meet that need.

Reason #3 - Power and Performance

The power that the shotgun delivers beats a handgun hands down. Where the handgun has maneuverability and high capacity; the shotgun delivers a deadly volly of BBs, Buckshot and slugs .  They have been the weapon of choice for law enforcement. In fact the term "riding shotgun" comes from when there was a driver of the stagecoach and then the person acting as security who carried a sawed off double barrel shotgun. Shotguns were used during the bloody trench warfare  of WWI. The allies brutalized the Germans so badly with the shotgun that they protested their use and threatened to instantly execute any of the troops found in possession of them.

During Vietnam they were used by the tunnel rats who went deep into the Viet-Cong tunnels clearing out the enemy.

Fast forward to today and our military boys stationed in Iraq have used the shotgun effectively to clear out buildings in building to building searches seeking out the enemy.

Reason #4 - Easy To Maintain

Most shotguns are very easy to maintain.  In fact breaking down a pump shotgun is easy and with a little practice you can even change out to a different barrel depending on the situation that you are using your shotgun. There are plenty of different cleaning solvents and oils, that you can use and most if not all can be used on the common shotgun with no problem. In fact if things get bad, you can even use gasoline or diesel fuel with a bamboo pole with a cut up "T" shirt and get your shotgun clean. It isnt rocket science and it is made to keep it simple.

Reason #5 - Different Roles a Shotgun Can Play

The basic pump shotgun can play a vast array of different roles and gladly takes on those roles and performs. For example you can pull your long hunting barrel off and put on the  shorter home defense barrel and already your shotgun has changed from recreation tool to a "get the bad guys" defensive weapon. You can swap out the the common wooden stock and replace it with a cammo or flat black nylon stock and front forearm. You can even get dual pistol grips, one for the trigger and one for the forearm and you have a tactical weapon at the ready.

There are flashlights, lasers, 20 round bandoleer slings. You can get scopes, red dot sights, even holographic heads up sights for your shotgun. You can get a short barrel or a long barrel, even one the is between the two sizes. Folding stocks, collapsible stocks, even no stock using a single pistol grip. If you can think it up, odds are they have it for the shotgun.

The shotgun is capable of wearing many different hats and with each one, be just as effective for the role you have made for it.

Reason #6 - Protected by the Law

Even with all the different roles the shotgun can play, it is still seen as a sporting arm by legislators and because of this it will be the last type of weapon to be banned or have legislation drawn up against it. You can even own a shotgun is some of the most anti-gun havens in the US. New York they are legal to own, even in Chicago where handguns have been completely banned, a shotgun is legal to own.  This in and of itself is something that the modern day prepper needs to remember and why I say every home needs to have at least one shotgun in the home armory.

So we have discussed why "I" think ever home needs a shotgun, now lets talk about the type of gun that is good for you.

Choosing the Gauge

Ok I can hear it now, "what is the gauge?"

The gauge is the size of the diameter of the barrel measured from the rear of the weapon. It is the gauge that determines the size of round your shotgun can fire.

There are different "gauges" of shot gun, the most popular, starting with the smallest is 410, then 20 gauge, then the most popular, 12 Gauge.

There are other big bore gauges like 10 and 8, but these are not very common and ammo is at a premium, if you can find it.

The 410 Shotgun

The 410 is a small bore round, about half the diameter of a dime or a little bigger than a #2 pencil is round. This shotgun is usually a boy's first shotgun. Commonly it is a breach break and you have to feed one round per shot. These are good for small game and dove as well as taking  care of vermin like rats, snakes and mice. They have very little kick at all and I do not recommend them to be used in a home defense role. They really do not have the firepower, but can be used as a backup weapon if a fire fight ensues.

Rounds include snake shot, bird shot, upland game, buck shot (3-4 balls) and slug with some other sizes in between.

The problem is that because the round is so small in diamieter, it does not carry enough projectiles to be used as a primary home defense weapon. But I think it is a good weapon to have if you have a young teenage boy or girl learning to hunt and shoot. It is a good gun to start them out with.

Survivor Mall

http://survivormall.com

The 20 Gauge Shotgun

The choice most people get when it comes to a shotgun is usually a 12 gauge, but once they really start shooting it, their shoulders wished they would have taken a 20 gauge.

For a home defense weapon that everyone in the family can use, I recommend a 20 gauge. It has enough fire power to it to be effective but not quiet the kick that a 12 gauge has. This is a very woman and teenager friendly shotgun. Teaching everyone how to use and be effective with a 20 gauge is a very good home defense solution. One can not say that the "man of the house" will be within arms reach of the shotgun. Having one that both the wife and kids can effectively use is a very smart tactical solution. This is why I like the 20 gauge for an all around general home defense shotgun as well as a good weapon to hunt with.

The 12 Gauge Shotgun

For most preppers out there, the hands down standard for the shotgun is going to be a 12 gauge pump. As we discussed you can pick one up just about anywhere that sells firearms.

There is also the semi-auto shotguns which are great, but with more working parts calls for more chance of something going wrong. And you just cant break down a semi auto shotgun and do a quick repair on it; where with a pump you can usually pull it apart, find the problem and get back in the action.

Where pump shotguns are pretty inexpensive, the cost of a semi-auto shotgun is three to four times that of a pump. Sure you can find some that are less expensive, but they jam up, break and aways at the worse possible moment. Now are you willing to bet your life and the life of your family on a cheap semi-auto shotgun?

Then there is the issue of  parts. It takes more parts to cycle that semi-auto than there are parts in the standard pump shotgun. These parts will wear out and eventually break and again usually at the worse possible time.

There is the issue of bad feeds and finicky ammo. Where a pump shotgun will "eat" almost any round you put in the magazine. Semi-autos have been known to not like all rounds or sizes which result in the weapon jamming. If a pump jams up, it is relatively easy to clear, were if a semi-auto jams up, well you are basically out of the fight till you can clear that jam.

My Choices of Shotgun

Well when it comes right down to it, there really are only two choices. The Remington 870 and The Mossberg 500.

Mossberg 500
Personally I like the Mossberg 500 but when you butt up weapon to weapon, both are excellent and dependable shotguns. These two are probably the most famous and the most owned shotguns out there. They are both affordable, you can find them at almost any sporting goods store, mega mart and gun shop out there. Both Mossberg and Remingtion make different varieties of the individual shotgun.

For example, I own a Mossberg 500® TACTICAL TURKEY™ Series pump shotgun.

 

Here is the same model but it has been totally made into a tactical weapon

This Mossberg 500 has a  front and rear pistol grip, a modified butt that holds 6 extra rounds, the Tactical Turkey is already drilled for a scope but this person has added a weaver rail to the top so that they can use a red dot or a holographic rear site. This is a fine example of how one can modify their shotgun, specifically the Mossberg 500 Tactical Turkey series.

Remington 870

The Remington 870 Sportsman Synthetic.

As I have said, it is a toss up between the two. They are both fine weapons and the Mossberg wins by just a hair.

Actually when I was going to purchase my shotgun, I was using an older gun for a trade in. I had limited amount of cash and I had my eye on a Remington 870 Sureshot Super Turkey. I really liked the feel of this weapon with its Monte Carlo stock with built in pistol grip. But it was slightly out of my price range on what I had budgeted myself.

I would recommend it to anyone looking for a shotgun. With the Monte Carlo pistol grip set up, this was a very comfortable shotgun.

Both of these shotguns come in 12 gauge and in 20 gauge. What you need to do head on down to your local gun shop and feel both of these. Look at all their features as well as the third party add ons.

In fact, regarding third party add ons, the Mossberg 500 has a few more things out there over the Remington 870 and besides the price, it was that ability to have the opportunity to add a few more modifications that finally won me over to the Mossberg 500.

Either of these will fit the bill and will serve you for a long time to come.

Get a shotgun while you still can and while they are still affordable. A day may come when you wish you did.