How to Build the Ultimate Survival Shotgun

As a Survival and Preparedness instructor, I take my line of work very serious – sometimes too serious. Occasionally, though, I like to take on survival projects that are just down right fun. This article highlights one of those projects.

I’m fortunate in that I’ve been able to turn my passion into my profession – this being the study of Survival and Preparedness. I’ve always enjoyed building survival kits of all shapes and sizes. I enjoy the challenge of fitting life saving survival necessities into small compact containers. I’ve built survival kits using film canisters, candy tins, key-rings, boxes, bottles, tubes, bags and everything in between. For this project I decided to build a survival kit using a shotgun platform – creating the Ultimate Survival Shotgun. My challenge was that everything had to be included in or on the gun itself – no extra pack items or containers. Below is what I did as well as the survival logic behind each decision.

Ultimately your survival needs fall into 5 main categories. Your situation dictates the order. They are:
• Water
• Fire
• Shelter
• Signaling
• Food

Every survival kit must include contents that directly or indirectly meet these 5 basic survival needs. The shotgun platform I decided to use is the Mossberg 500 – PUMP. I chose a pump action because it is easier for me to troubleshoot and work on in the field compared to other models. I chose the Mossberg brand because it is a very popular gun and there are literally 100’s of aftermarket modification pieces and parts designed to fit this gun. I knew I would want to add on some of these ‘extras’ to increase ‘survival value’. In this step is a photo of the shotgun ‘off the shelf’ before my survival modifications.

Step 1 Ammunition

First thing first – the gun itself. A shotgun’s primary purpose is hunting. Clearly, you can use this shotgun as a hunting weapon to ‘restock’ on valuable calories. Humans can go for 3 weeks without food but it’s not fun. Lack of food leads to light headedness, weakness and poor decisions. In a survival situation, meat is the fastest and most effective way to replenish lost calories. Meat comes in all shapes and sizes. Carrying different shot shells designed for different applications increases your chances of a successful hunt.

For this reason, I chose to pack a variety of shotgun shells:
• BIRD SHOT: Designed for birds and other small game such as rabbit and squirrel
• 00 BUCK: Good for turkey and larger game such as deer
• SLUG: Designed for large game such as deer, hog or elk

Comments

[willowhavenoutdoor]

I sure do - here is the link to the resource/parts list:

http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/featured-wilderness-survival-blog-entries/build-the-ultimate-survival-shotgun-modify-your-pump-shotgun-survival-style/

[frisbeechamp1983]

You could get a bandolier strap, that would certainly increase your round capacity.
I'm thinking of using an AR-15, with 37mm flare launcher on the front.

[black hole]

Great job. The people who go wailing on, "Oh, now your gun is too heavy!" "Oh, if you're disarmed, you've lost your survival kit" really have no idea what they're talking about. First, who's going to disam you in the woods? Second, this should be intended as a backup to the main kit.
5 stars.

[koehavael09]

Just when you think this gun couldnt get redneck enough there's a bible verse on it too lol Just poking fun its a pretty awesome gun

[georgelstuart]

to those who are concerned about carrying more than one type of shells in the field and getting in dutch with the authorities - don't! Carry only shotshells - birdshot is good and if you need a slug, make a quick cut shell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3M46XVfVOU

[sevenTseven]

This is pretty much awesome. I just need to buy a shotgun to add to my arsenal so I can do this.

[altomic]

This is awesome.
Just what I need for when the Soviets invade.

[Marcos El Malo]

This option seems less useful for me personally. I'd rather keep my knife in my belt or boot. (Or as is usual, the pocket knife in my pocket.) I sometimes carry my machete in a back sheath when I'm doing ranch work or know I'm going to be hiking in heavy brush.

[mgalyean]

I have spare knives everywhere. I always have a folder or two on me. An extra on the SG would just be a bonus! About every pack, bag, case I own has folder of mediocre to good quality in it at least. A knife is just too central to have your only one break with or dropped in a crevasse or down a storm drain with no back up. A human without at least one sharp pointy thing and the ability to start a fire is just whining hairless ape in most survival situation.

[Lt.Greg]

"" A human without at least one sharp pointy thing and the ability to start a fire is just whining hairless ape in most survival situation.""

Now YOU sir - are an intelligent thinker also! LOL
(Just don't try to live in NY or NJ with those knives in your pocket or in your gear bags - the authorities around here tend to view anyone who carries a KNIFE!!! (OH MY!) as a de-facto criminal! Their attitude seems to be "Why would anyone carry a knife unless they were planning to cause trouble?" My answer has always been - "Why would anyone NOT carry at least one knife with them at all times?

[ilpug]

I usually have a multi-tool and a nicer pocket knife on me. I kinda feel naked without them.

[astrong0]

now the only problem i see is if the compass is too close to the ferric steel barrel of the shotgun it would make it almost useless.

[ilpug]

The compass is on the flashlight which is aluminum or titanium. The light detaches, so you can get a reliable reading that way.

[mrwalch]

Beware of local hunting laws. In my state of MN, carrying 2 types of ammo in one gun (sabot slug and bird shot) is a big no-no and can result loss of hunting privileges or worse. Hate to be the square.

[jdbak]

I'm not sure what some of these comments are based on. This is a survival tool. ie. outdoors personal protection-now lost. Not some face-painted militia yahoo or a poacher/hunter. So if the authorities show up to give you a ticket for two types of rounds in your shotgun, the happiness of being found may overwhelm the bummer of the "ticket". The official may even understand that your circumstances were alittle one-off the norm. Don't lose the plot.

[mrwalch]

That's a fair criticism, however, encouraging people to enter the wood with a potentially illegal weapon is not something to take lightly.

[jdbak]

True. As I understand it, the weapon isn't illegal , the loading of two types of ammo is. Would it be unreasonable to assume you carry the two or three types( 2-4 of each type required ) and load what you may require given your situation? Ie. if you were to get lost.

[mrwalch]

That's what I do with my 870.

[Beemerboy]

You know.... After reading all of your prep stuff, I don't think you know anything about survival at all.

That shot gut was a pretty practical weapon till you went overboard with the add-ons. Plastic stocks? Fine. Adding a flash light will only cause your adversary to shoot at the light! and you get shot in the head! Your knife goes in your belt.

I look at it this way... If all of my junk is attached to my shot gun, as soon as I'm disarmed, all of my most important survival stuff is gone too. My game is going to be to lay low, be quiet, stay away from military and police groups and share with my neighbors.

"Rambo thinking" is not thinking.

[jamesrboyle]

WOW really guess what if you got disarmed and your main weapon of survival is a shotgun then your a dead man any ways to be so stupid to let some body take your weapon.... the shotgun is to use for hunting and SELF DEFENSE you use the shot gun to make sure you don't get disarmed STUPID PPL REALLY...

[witmoreluke]

That's fantastic if you're trying to lie low. He's talking about being out in the wilderness, where you might have to do what he said that you might have to do, which is why he said it. If you're trying to fight someone off, get a new AK with a polymer stock. Something reliable that won't break, and you can still keep things in. If you're going deer hunting, are lost in the woods, are shipwrecked, stranded, etc., this is perfect. I'm afraid that you misunderstood, reread it with a different mentality, and you might rethink your conclusion.

[bobert610]

Dude, this would be bear gryl's / McGyver's dream tool. Excellent Instructable, with some of the clearest instructions and steps. Most survival kit 'ibles just say here is what you need and here is where to put it, but they don't show how or where. They just say "here's an altoids tin, shove it all in willy-nilly". This Shotgun has organization and efficiency! Beautiful Project!

Happy surviving my friend!

[mr.mountaineer]

Don't you know MacGyver, he hates guns

[rocketsprock]

Know what I want for Christmas. Good job!

[Airth]

I admit I was skeptical at first, but this is a great modification that will pay dividends should you need any of it. If nothing else, having an aspirin and some sunscreen available *in* your weapon will impress all your huntin' buddies!

[dovehunter2]

Nice! a Bible verse! You should add a New Testament in the stock. I love the shotgun

[kgoetowski]

How about this one? It's my favourite!

Jesus sez 'Pack Heat' Luke 22:36: "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."

[RangerJ]

I enjoyed this instructable and both videos. Very interesting. Good job, thought provoking.

[lol link]

epic fail not its epic how could you make something like this on your own

[shicks-2]

Great Instructable. Great way to put everything all on your weapon. Though I will say like a few others have I wouldn't put a few of those things on there personally. But like you said at the beginning all you wanted to do is put it all on there. And you never said said you would prefer it that way. again great instructable, and I will definitely be stealing some of your ideas.

[RangerJ]

I would include at least a rudimentary gun cleaning kit, if nothing but oil, patches, and a string to pull a patch through the barrel. This would be something that I would carry in the handle.

[Eye Poker]

If I might be so bold to suggest a small tube of super glue. Works for both medicine and potentially fixing small plastic breaks.

[voyageur10]

Great build! Thanks

[zerochance]

Very clever mod here, I love it.

[Tuck Tucker]

I wish I could find a better folding front grip. Those kind break easily. Looking for something more durable. They are under $10.00 on Amazon and I bought a couple spares after the first one broke for unknown reasons before I even got to fire the rifle.

[hdmca]

Very good tutorial. I think that survival is a very personal subject, that a lot of people are going to disagree on. I think that the author has spent a lot of time on his shotgun and on this tutorial. For that, thank you sir. Myself, I have a Remington 870 Express with a 18.5 inch barrel and collapsible stock. As for add-ons, the only ones are a good sling, on-board shell holder, flashlight and laser aiming device. The light and laser are controlled by pressure switches so they can be switched of and on quickly. The rest of my survival items are held in a bug-out bag and tatical vest. Not all situations are going to call for the same items. Being stuck/lost in the woods one just has to worry about getting to help alive. Should we ever find ourselves in a time of social/economical collapse, things will most different. God forbid something like that take place, survival will take on a different meaning. There will be haves and have-nots and I bet that the have-nots are going to outnumber the haves. When that happens, I will defend myself and my family. Just my opinion, though.

By the way, myself, I would lose the knife/bayonet thing. Don't see a point in it (no pun intended).

And for those planing to defend themselves with swords, that idea hasn't flown for a few hundred years.

[rahlquist]

swords and other melee weapons work well in areas where firearm use or ownership is either banned or extremely restricted . If you find yourself in a country where carrying a gun has serious judicial penalties, then a fire arm may not be appropriate. Please see see the laws in larger U.S. cities, Brittan, Canada, Australia for the more kinder gun bans in the world.

[the walking stick]

This is done brilliantly! you've really covered all your bases

[aattura1]

Interesting! But how does all of this affect gun balance, weight distribution and heft???

[Kyrc00]

*shakes head* Just like any modification, you'll get used to it.