plan of action ?

[SHOOTALL]

The difference in most cases the military can expect resupply ( yes sometimes it does not happen) where civilians alone can not count on such in many cases . We went 14 days with out power on day 12 the fire dept came and left a case of water that was out of date by 5 years . We were at work  .
In long tern survival even at home you may need to be able to turn raw materials into useful things like weeds to food or vine to rope. In other cases you may need to aquire things either thru. trade ot stealing it.
The other side of the coin is being flush enough with goods to hire protection to keep your stuff from getting stolen.
 
Zombies don't exist right ? take the time to learn how the human mind changes as starvation sets in . It is why a normal human who would never hurt anyone can end up being a canable. Best to be able to stop these attackers and my reason why a rimfire is not such a great choice . Something in 12 ga seems better maybe    but this is all speculation anyway just a dicussion

[reliquary]

Good ideas presented here, but many of us are limited to our choices.  If I had unlimited resources, I'd have the things that TeamNelson suggested...Damnation Alley BOV, atomic-weapon-resistant shelter, gourmet SHTF foods, etc.  Reality "biting" as it does, I'm very limited...and suspect that others are, as well.
 
If one routinely carries a few things in the car that would help one get home in a crisis, and has a basic plan to go along with them, then one is prepared for that event.  Choices as to "a few things" are limitless.
 
If one routinely stocks survival supplies areound the homestead and has a basic plan to go along with them, then one is as prepared for EOTW as one is going to get.  Choices as to "survival supplies" are limitless.
 
If one has at leas one weapon and some ammo around his body at all times and maybe a few more around the homestead and a plan to go along with them, then one is as prepared as one is going to get.  choices as to "weapons and ammo" are limitless.
 
If one is physically capable...as I am NOT...then one should have a bugout plan and location. 
 
Note the common denominator...the word PLAN.  It is impossible to plan for every eventuality.  Have a basic plan and then be able to adapt it to the true scenario.  The best way to be prepared to survive is to grow up Redneck and then top it off with 20 years service.   

[pab1]

... then one is as prepared for EOTW as one is going to get. 
... then one is as prepared as one is going to get.

I don't have the budget to do much prepping. When I first began thinking about prepping, I had a pretty small list of things I thought would get me by. The more I started looking into it I realized how poorly prepared I am. You never know what you may be facing whether its as simple as losing your job or an EOTWAWKI situation. Its true, you can't prepare for everything especially with limited funds, but I also feel you can never sit back and figure thats as prepared as I'm going to get. You should always be making progress. Prepping is not just buying gear and supplies but also learning. There is an unlimited supply of knowledge to be had online for free that you can take advantage of. You only have to invest the time to master those skills. With a limited budget I welcome every bit of free info/knowledge I can get. 

IMO knowledge and skill is more important than equipment. A good example of this is Chris McCandless' story from the book Into the Wild. He had some equipment and killed a moose (with a .22lr) using it. He did not know how to preserve the meat and as a result he lost pretty much all of the meat. Equipment is great but if you don't have the skills to take advantage of it, the equipment is almost usless. It can also give a false sense of confidence which is very dangerous.

[blind ear]

A couple more good reads: Small Wars Manual, The Tigers Way, MCWP 3-11.2 Rifle Squad, MCWP
3-35.3 MOUT Doctrine

We all can't afford to have a caddy follow us around handing us the perfect gun for the moment.
That's why we have to really strip away a lot of presumptive thinking, and find one that works
90% of the time, and maybe one more for the other 10%.

-
TN, could you post the ISBN numbers if your books have them? There seems to be a lot of very close titles and some "imposters". thanks, ear

[Empty Quiver]

My plan of action is to use the weapon most suited to the problem presented. Your AR will not stop a Suburban at 400yards but a 300mag might well get the job done. Hiding in your closet with a M-70 Winchester would not be as productive as a Glock 17 in the same space.
 
The weapon system is a tool to be applied to a given problem. A hammer is very handy to have, nearly indispensible for any mechanic, but is fairly useless for changing a fan belt.
 
I want a very well stocked tool box.

[SHOOTALL]

I agree about the tool box if one can hang on to it but if on foot or getting caught away from the tool crib one needs dependable weapon (s) that they can use, hide, that won't draw undo attention, be repaired and ammo can be found for . Most would like to remain at home but that may not always work out. Sandy may be a proving ground . Many are being ask to leave their homes as thousands of people leave home and compete for rooms and food it could be a few places where tempers flare. It could also be places where weapons are frowned upon .

[Empty Quiver]

I agree about the tool box if one can hang on to it but if on foot or getting caught away from the tool crib one needs dependable weapon (s) that they can use, hide, that won't draw undo attention, be repaired and ammo can be found for . Most would like to remain at home but that may not always work out. Sandy may be a proving ground . Many are being ask to leave their homes as thousands of people leave home and compete for rooms and food it could be a few places where tempers flare. It could also be places where weapons are frowned upon .

In that scenario a pistol is the only option IMHO. Arguements can be made as to what sort and good reasons for everything from Mouse guns to Hi-cap duty pistols. But I think that your AR-15, pistol gripped Mossberg, or even the 30-30 lever action will draw unwanted attention and or be seized by LE. A well concealed handgun should evade detection, if found I'm not sure it would be any worse than a loaded shotgun by your side.

[reliquary]

The phrase "situational awareness" is a great motto.  We here in the region behind the Texas Gulf Coast have often coped with the effects of hurricanes and storms and see them as opportunities to refine our plans. The phrase "no plan ever survives contact with the enemy" is valid, as well.  No one can plan for EVERY scenario, but everyone should plan for a generic emergency, and then have developed sufficient coping skills that will help improvise.
 
Buggin-out isn't a valid option for us, with a semi-invalid wife on hand.  I try to envision us headed down the road in the F-150...her in the bed in a wheelchair or Hoverround, providing travelling overwatch with a Mini-14 on her lap, and I start laughing too hard to continue.  A combination of Granny Clampett and Rat Patrol?  Naaahhh, not a good option.  OTOH, if that's all that's left, we'll sure try it and we do have a piece of family land to try to get to...with whatever tools are in the box.
 
 

[teamnelson]

Ear, the references I posted are military manuals, and don't have ISBN, but if you go to the USMC doctrine site, you can download PDFs for free.

It's true a 300wsm would be the best choice to stop a suburban at 400yds ... but I'd need to know why I'd want to, and I'm a pretty clever guy; I might produce the desired result another way. Or choose a different tactic ... but I'm not going to tote a 300 around just in case. You don't plan for exceptions; you'll wear yourself out, and your bank acct.

Folks tend to either linear or nonlinear thinking. Linears tend to want the right tool for every job, and get flummoxed when life doesn't cooperate. Nonlinear thinkers tend to better in chaos, but are rarely the best at any one thing. You are who you are, regardless of your toolkit, so if you're a linear thinker, planning hypotheticals is a must.

[Empty Quiver]

Ear, the references I posted are military manuals, and don't have ISBN, but if you go to the USMC doctrine site, you can download PDFs for free.

It's true a 300wsm would be the best choice to stop a suburban at 400yds ... but I'd need to know why I'd want to, and I'm a pretty clever guy; I might produce the desired result another way. Or choose a different tactic ... but I'm not going to tote a 300 around just in case. You don't plan for exceptions; you'll wear yourself out, and your bank acct.

Folks tend to either linear or nonlinear thinking. Linears tend to want the right tool for every job, and get flummoxed when life doesn't cooperate. Nonlinear thinkers tend to better in chaos, but are rarely the best at any one thing. You are who you are, regardless of your toolkit, so if you're a linear thinker, planning hypotheticals is a must.

Well if you were a band of nogoodniks on a tour of the country side looking for baubles and something for your belly a Suburban might be handy. Now if you were going to be bugging in at some rural farmstead and had reason to put said nogoodniks afoot, why not do it at 400yards distance?  A 200 grain A-Frame should play havoc with anything behind the grill or windshield at that range. A compadre in the cuppalo of the corn crib with a 1895 full up with hot 45-70 rounds could make things pretty hot as things closed in.
 
I can see where a city bug in would have far less use for the range a good .30 cal rifle can offer. I agree there are better options while afoot. Hence the desire to have a big "toolbox". You don't know what you don't know yet. The local mechanic has tools for all foreseen repairs, those he hasn't forseen wil take a while to complete. Snap-On man comes on Thursday around here, gotta hope your problem can wait.

[SHOOTALL]

You need to consider your tool(s) when you make your plan of action. If you have a shotgun you might need to re think shooting a suburan at 400 yards . On the other hand you might not want to engage a group of bad guys with a bolt action at 25 yards . But then the best way to survive is staying out of gun fights. Many keep saying they will hunker down and defend their home . So do they have the home sand baged ? do they have thick wire over the windows to keep any number od grenades out from smoke to gas to......... most homes are really not defendable as they are. They burn , they fall down when hit hard. If things really get bad there is no telling what will come your way or how many. Defending ones house may get you killed . Leave to live and fight a more even battle another day.