Aside from two knives and a fire axe that I have for utility use but can employ as weapons if required, I tend to consider these four firearms of mine to be my "main" set of armaments that will go with me wherever a SHTF situation might take me.
Ruger Mini-14
The .223 Remington is sufficiently powerful to be used for hunting medium-sized game (deer, for example) and is effective against human targets if the need presents itself. Low recoil and high popularity make the round easier to obtain. .223 rifles can also fire 5.56mm, so military surplus ammo can be obtained for it. I was lucky enough to get several high-capacity magazines for a Mini-14 after graduating high school, but never had the rifle itself until recently. It makes an excellent all-round battle and hunting rifle.
12-Gauge Shotgun
Not much to say. A good shotgun is a fantastic weapon to have. It's reliable, versatile, easy to use, and the ammunition is extremely easy to find.
Ruger P89
I had to make a call between 9mm and .357 for a sidearm. However, the increased popularity of 9mm and the fact that I can obtain 100 rounds for $20 helped me make my decision. Automatic handguns are slightly less reliable than revolvers, but again it was the price and availability of ammunition that helped make my decision.
.22LR Lever-Action Rifle
A good, reliable .22LR rifle is a must in a survival situation due to cheap, plentiful ammunition and ease of use. Nothing beats a .22LR when it comes to hunting small game when larger game is hard to find or heavier caliber ammo is running low.
Ruger Mini-14
The .223 Remington is sufficiently powerful to be used for hunting medium-sized game (deer, for example) and is effective against human targets if the need presents itself. Low recoil and high popularity make the round easier to obtain. .223 rifles can also fire 5.56mm, so military surplus ammo can be obtained for it. I was lucky enough to get several high-capacity magazines for a Mini-14 after graduating high school, but never had the rifle itself until recently. It makes an excellent all-round battle and hunting rifle.
12-Gauge Shotgun
Not much to say. A good shotgun is a fantastic weapon to have. It's reliable, versatile, easy to use, and the ammunition is extremely easy to find.
Ruger P89
I had to make a call between 9mm and .357 for a sidearm. However, the increased popularity of 9mm and the fact that I can obtain 100 rounds for $20 helped me make my decision. Automatic handguns are slightly less reliable than revolvers, but again it was the price and availability of ammunition that helped make my decision.
.22LR Lever-Action Rifle
A good, reliable .22LR rifle is a must in a survival situation due to cheap, plentiful ammunition and ease of use. Nothing beats a .22LR when it comes to hunting small game when larger game is hard to find or heavier caliber ammo is running low.