Guns I Would Grab if the Power Went Out and Didn’t Come Back

Photo credit: Kit Badger/YouTube

Most folks talk about a long-term blackout like it’s an action movie. I don’t. I picture a cold house, thawing freezer, a well pump that doesn’t run, and nights that get real quiet except for coyotes and the occasional truck you don’t recognize. In that kind of mess, “best gun” turns into “what runs, what I have ammo for, and what I can carry all day without hating life.”

So here are 20 firearms I’d want within reach if the lights went off and stayed off. This isn’t about looking tough. It’s about covering the boring realities: putting meat in the pot, dealing with pests, not getting pushed around, and having options when parts and ammo aren’t easy to come by.

1. Glock 19 (Gen 5)

If I could only have one handgun, it’d be a Glock 19. It’s not romantic, it’s not fancy, and it doesn’t have “soul.” It just runs, and it runs dirty, dry, and with a wide range of ammo.

Magazines are everywhere, holsters are everywhere, and the size hits the sweet spot between carry and shootability. In a world where you might actually have to walk a fence line or check on neighbors, a pistol you can live with on your belt matters.

2. Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact 9mm

I’ve watched plenty of shooters pick this up and immediately shoot it better than what they showed up with. The grip texture isn’t gentle, but that’s kind of the point when hands are sweaty, cold, or gloved.

It’s a durable, boring tool with good capacity and solid sights from the factory. If your plan involves training at all, a pistol you can run fast without feeling like it’s slipping around earns its keep.

3. Ruger GP100 (.357 Magnum)

A solid .357 revolver is one of those “old man” choices that starts making sense the longer you’ve been around guns. The GP100 is built like a small anvil and doesn’t care if it gets bumped around in a truck or cabin.

.357 gives you flexibility: mild .38 Specials for practice and small game, or full-house loads when you need penetration and authority. It’s not high capacity, but it’s straightforward and dependable with basic maintenance.

4. Smith & Wesson Model 642 (.38 Special)

This little Airweight isn’t pleasant. It’s snappy and it’s not a range toy. But it’s the gun you actually keep on you when you’re doing chores, splitting wood, or running to the barn in the dark.

In a long outage, convenience becomes a survival skill. A small revolver that disappears in a pocket and works without fuss is easy to underestimate until you need it right now.

5. Ruger 10/22 Carbine

If you grew up around the outdoors, you’ve probably seen a 10/22 that looks like it survived three generations and a couple house fires. They just keep trucking. .22 LR is light to carry, easy to store, and useful for actual living.

It handles pests, squirrels, rabbits, and the kind of “don’t waste centerfire ammo” tasks you’ll have a lot of. And if you’ve got kids or new shooters in the mix, it’s the easiest on-ramp to safe marksmanship.

6. Marlin Model 60 (.22 LR)

The Model 60 doesn’t get the same tacticool attention as the 10/22, but I’ve seen them shoot surprisingly well. Tube-fed isn’t trendy, but it’s simple and it doesn’t rely on detachable mags that wander off.

In a drawn-out mess, “simple” wins. This is a porch rifle, a trapline rifle, and a “keep it behind the kitchen door” kind of gun that ends up doing a lot of honest work.

7. Mossberg 500 (12 gauge)

A pump shotgun is still one of the best all-around long guns for uncertain times. The Mossberg 500 is common, tough, and forgiving of neglect. It’s also easy to keep running without needing a gunsmith every time something feels off.

Birdshot, buckshot, slugs—one gun can cover birds, deer-sized game at close range, and home defense. It’s not magic, but it’s versatile when you don’t get to choose the problem.

8. Remington 870 Wingmaster (12 gauge)

I’m talking about the older Wingmasters that feel like the action is on ball bearings. The newer stuff can be fine, but those older guns have a smoothness you don’t appreciate until you’ve run a gritty pump in the rain.

An 870 with a plain barrel and a good light is a serious tool. And in a long outage, a shotgun that shoulders the same every time is worth more than a safe full of “almost right” guns.

9. Benelli M2 (12 gauge)

If I’m picking a semi-auto shotgun for hard use, the M2 is high on the list. It’s light enough to carry, cycles well, and holds up. It’s not cheap, but it’s the kind of gun that keeps you from burning energy fighting your gear.

When you’re tired and stressed, the simple reliability of a proven semi-auto is a blessing. There’s nothing fancy about it, and that is kind of the point.

10. Ruger AR-556

An AR in 5.56 isn’t just a “tactical” choice. It’s a practical one. Parts, mags, and knowledge are everywhere, and the platform is easy to keep running if you’re even slightly handy.

The Ruger AR-556 is a solid, no-drama version of the idea. Light recoil, decent accuracy, and enough capability for defense and predator work without beating you up.

11. Colt 6920

I’ve handled a lot of ARs that look great on a table and feel great for five minutes. The 6920 has a track record that matters when you don’t have the luxury of “it should be fine.” It’s not the only good AR, but it’s one I trust.

It points naturally, it’s reliable with standard mags, and it doesn’t require you to become a parts tester. In a world with no customer service, proven is good.

12. Springfield Armory M1A (Standard)

This is the one that a lot of folks will argue with, because it’s heavier and less efficient than modern rifles. Fair. Still, a .308 with reach and authority is hard to ignore if things get weird in wide-open country.

The M1A isn’t a “clear the house” gun. It’s a field rifle. If you’re protecting livestock, dealing with predators at distance, or hunting larger game, a rifle like this earns its calories.

13. Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle

The Mini-14 carries easy, handles quick, and feels like a ranch gun because it is one. It’s not a precision rifle, and you can chase accuracy gremlins if you expect it to be something it isn’t.

But for a handy 5.56 that rides in a truck, leans in a corner, and still makes sense around livestock and outbuildings, it’s hard to hate. The only real downside is magazine availability and price compared to AR mags.

14. Palmetto State Armory GF3 (AKM pattern)

I like the AK idea for long-term rough living: simple controls, generous clearances, and it tends to keep going even when you treat it like a shovel. The PSA GF3 is one of the more accessible ways into that world without rolling the dice too hard.

7.62×39 is a legit “work” cartridge for medium game and general use. Just be honest about optics mounting and magazine quality—AKs can be picky about the little stuff.

15. Ruger American Ranch (5.56 NATO)

A bolt gun in 5.56 sounds odd until you carry one all day. It’s light, accurate enough, and doesn’t chew ammo. This one is the rifle you grab to check a pasture or walk a creek line when you don’t want a full-size rig.

It’s also a good suppressor host where legal, but even without that, the short barrel and simple action make it a solid “always works” option. It’s the opposite of flashy and I like it for that.

16. Tikka T3x Lite (.308 Winchester)

If you’ve ever shot a Tikka and thought, “Well, that’s almost too easy,” you know what I mean. The action is smooth, the accuracy is usually there right out of the box, and the rifle doesn’t weigh a ton.

.308 is common and useful, and the T3x is a legitimate hunting rifle you can live with. In a long outage, one good bolt gun with a sane scope does more than three “project guns” that never got sorted out.

17. Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle (.308 Winchester)

This one is polarizing. It’s not the lightest, and the scout scope setup isn’t everyone’s favorite. But the overall package—short, handy, rugged—makes sense when you’re moving through brush, getting in and out of vehicles, or working around buildings.

The controlled-round feed and iron sight capability are nice insurance policies. If an optic takes a hit and you can’t replace it, you’ll be glad you aren’t stuck staring at a broken lens.

18. Marlin 1894C (.357 Magnum)

A lever gun in .357 is one of the most useful “walkaround” rifles you can own. Light recoil, fast handling, and it hits harder than people expect at reasonable distances. It also carries comfortably slung over a shoulder all day.

Pairing it with a .357 revolver simplifies your ammo situation. That matters more than folks admit when stores are closed and you’re counting what’s on the shelf.

19. Henry Big Boy Steel (.44 Magnum)

Now we’re talking thump. A .44 Mag lever gun is not subtle, but it’s effective for hogs, black bear country, and close-range problems where you want a bigger hole and deeper penetration.

It’s heavier than the .357 carbines, and you’ll feel it after miles. Still, if you’ve ever tracked a tough animal in nasty cover, you understand why a lever gun with real horsepower keeps showing up in camps.

20. Savage 110 (12 gauge with rifled slug barrel option)

I’m sneaking a second “deer solution” in here because food is the whole game. A Savage 110 slug gun setup, where it’s legal and makes sense, is a brutal, effective tool inside its range. It’s not pretty and it’s not light, but it’s reliable.

In thick woods and short fields, a dedicated slug rig can put venison down without needing perfect conditions. If your regular deer rifle goes down or you’re out of its ammo, you’ll be glad you had a backup plan.

If you noticed a theme, it’s not “the coolest gun.” It’s common calibers, proven models, and stuff that still works when you’re tired, cold, and irritated. Also: none of this replaces good neighbors, good locks, a plan for water and heat, and the discipline to avoid dumb confrontations. Guns are tools. In the kind of outage nobody wants, you’ll want tools that don’t ask for much and still do their job.