The selection of arms should be based on practical concerns when it comes to prepping for any future urban or suburban crises. It includes ammunition availability, ease of use, and particular environments. Here’s a breakdown of three essential firearms that experts recommend for urban prepping.
A .357 revolver is versatile and utterly reliable. It shoots both .357 Magnum and .38 Special; thus, it provides a wider range of ammunition selection. For less experienced people, the .38 Special is softer in recoil, while the .357 Magnum carries a wallop that’ll stop anything but a bear. It is simple in function, allowing anyone to operate it, and six rounds should be enough in most self-defense situations in an urban environment. It is easy to conceal too, hence a very practical solution for personal carry.
These firearms afford a great balance of effectiveness, capacity, and usability; one could best describe this as being a 5.56 NATO-chambered semi-auto rifle, such as an AR-15, Mini-14, or SU-16. It is easier to shoot accurately compared to a handgun and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It is not ideal for hunting medium to large game, but its primary role in an urban environment is self-defense. The design of the 5.56 NATO round is lightweight with low recoil, enabling a user to carry more ammunition and stay in control during quick and multiple shots.
Another great choice for city prepping would be a break-action 12-gauge shotgun in either over/under or side-by-side configuration. While an extremely simple, reliable shotgun, it’s quite effective in close quarters, thus making it a decent defensive gun. The 12-gauge cartridge has a reputation for excellent stopping power, and the break-action design is simple to run and maintain. It’s large and cumbersome, so not a great bug-out gun, but otherwise, it will prove an excellent choice.
Other firearms that could be suited to this purpose are any striker-fired 9mm pistol, which balances ease of use with utility, and a .22 semi-auto rifle, known to be very accurate, with ultra-inexpensive ammunition. There is also the pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, less intuitive than a break-action but more capacious and exceedingly popular.
The 5.56 NATO round has from the beginning been surrounded by a great deal of controversy, conceived as it was as a lighter replacement for the 7.62 NATO. Accordingly, it can be said that its superiority lies in its lower recoil and the fact that the number of shots a soldier can carry with him is increased. At the same time, however, so many have questioned its overall effectiveness, especially against larger targets or at longer ranges. The round is supposed to tumble on entry and create significant wounds; this capability is supposed to decrease with distance. Heavier projectiles, such as the 77-80 grain rounds, were developed as a remedy for this situation, but the 5.56 remains extremely dependent on high velocity for effectiveness.
The newer shorter barrels in most modern rifles have further muddled the issue. With a reduced barrel length, which contributes negatively to velocity and energy, some discussion has been considered for a possible move to alternative rounds, such as the 6.8mm SPC or the 6.5mm Grendel, that have better performance out at range.
The proper choice of firearms for urban prepping balances practicality, effectiveness, and ease of use. The .357 revolver, a semi-auto rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO, and a break-action 12-gauge shotgun are highly recommended choices because of their versatility and dependability in an urban setting.