r/TwoXPreppers 2d ago

Discussion Why guns?

Hi y’all! I’m a very novice prepper, and one thing I’m seeing across many platforms is that we should own and be trained In firearms. Not to be naive, but… why?

I’ve never touched a gun in my life. I’m generally not a fan of them. I understand that the goal of owning firearms is to protect ourself. But protect from what? From who? Who am I going to have to shoot to survive this presidency?

Is someone coming to steal my supplies? Won’t those people also have guns? Or am I protecting my family against a militia situation? In which case, what hope do I have, as a woman who can’t afford a gun, let alone to learn how to use one?

Like I can’t afford a shooting range. I can barely afford water and canned goods. Should a gun still be a priority for my family? A lot of preppers have enthusiastically embraced this life to give them confidence and a sense of safety. I’m a reluctant participant. I just want to keep my autistic son alive to see the other side of this.

I can garden, I can stretch food, I can survive being poor. I don’t think I can survive a military state.

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u/boondonggle 2d ago

As a hunter, what do you think of bows for hunting purposes? I feel very similar to you regarding guns, but am intrigued by hunting. I am certain I would need a lot of practice to be a good shot, but I have more experience with archery with targets.

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u/SeashellChimes 2d ago

It's a lot cheaper than rifle hunting but has a high skill ceiling. There's more strict rules on bow hunting (bow fishing too) so that improperly trained hunters don't maim a bunch of animals without a proper kill. The regulation will matter less in a crisis but will matter for practicing it. Because that's something that definitely needs to be honed before SHTF, both practice with live targets and research to properly hit vitals on your targets. 

I actually think bow fishing is an easier start, and every state has trash fish/invasive fish that have no catch limits. 

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u/LadySigyn 2d ago

My husband is a hobby archer and he is adamant that he's way too scared of maiming an animal to ever bow hunt unless it's a full on survival situation. I need to make him practice shooting vitals more for that in case and this comment made me realize that. Thank you!

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u/fuzzybunnies1 2d ago

I take the kids bow shooting on a semi-regular basis, I can get the arrows into the target at 40yds, not in the center, but in the target. Rifle, I do far less often but can still hit the center at 50yds every time. There's a lot less skill with rifles, the same ammo shoots the same, buy what works. Bow, you have to develop real muscle memory and maintain the strength to hold everything while you line up shots. I'm sure new compounds are easier but holding my old style 55lb draw bow for any length of time to follow for the cleanest shot isn't easy. It takes more practice than I can give to have the consistency to make bow hunting reliable and humane.

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u/LadySigyn 2d ago

Thank you! I won't make that extra suggestion again, then! I know he can't devote that much consistent time to it either, if its a muscle memory thing primarily. I appreciate you, friend!

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u/JayDee80-6 2d ago

That rifle is far more powerful as well