Remembering Mel Tappan ('Survival Guns' author)

[AJMD429]

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A book I read as a teen, and which motivated me to generate my own 10-gun 'battery' list when I was about 15; I'd already gotten the first few, and knew a gun shop where used guns were reasonably priced.

My teenage-kid 'Tappan List' emphasized sharing ammunition, as you can see:

22 LR - Ruger 10/22
22 LR - Ruger Mark-I Pistol
44 Mag - Marlin 1894 caarbine
44 Mag - Ruger Super Blackhawk
223 Rem - Ruger Mini-14
223 Rem - Thompson Contender Pistol
12 Gauge - Mossberg 500 8-shot
12 Gauge - Ithaca M-66 breakopen
6mm Rem - Ruger M77V
7mm Rem Mag - Ruger No.1

I managed to get all the above items accumulated from age 12 to age 20 with a bunch of farm jobs and saving.

If I started out again, I think it would be similar. In the order I'd get them, I'd start this time around with a Ruger Redhawk 45 Colt/ACP, because it would meet the "if only one gun" requirement pretty well (self protection, home protection, hunting, recreation). I would expand from there, overlapping ammunition a bit less aggressively.

45 Colt/ACP - Ruger Redhawk - good for 'all things' as a first gun

223 Rem - AR-15 18" with ACOG 4x sight, 45 degree irons, good trigger - Gemtech Trek suppressor - hard to beat as an all-around home protection gun that doubles for mid-size game and fun recreational shooting

22 LR - Ruger Charger 12" threaded to share Trek suppressor - as an 'only rimfire' it makes the most sense; almost as accurate as a 10/22 carbine but more compact, multiple sight options, and if needed can be 'SBR' setup

357 Mag - Marlin 1894 CST carbine with Red Dot sight and etched reticle backup, Streamlight Light/Laser - threaded to share Mystic suppressor - Good for mid-size game, easier to shoot at longer range than the Redhawk, great home-protection gun; could set up a 45 Colt 1894 similarly but couldn't share suppressor with the 300 Blackout

12 Gauge - Mossberg 500 8-shot - good all-around shotgun, more for home protection but ok for hunting

9mm - Taurus 92 Pistol - the 1911-style safety is better than the Beretta; time-proven design and I don't pick a CCW gun to fit wardrobe, but rather adapt wardrobe to fit the gun

300 Blackout - AR-15 10" with Holosight, 45 degree irons, Streamlight Light/Laser - Liberty Cans Mystic Suppressor - IMHO the perfect home protection setup; can 'SBR' it with folding stock

375 Ruger - Ruger Alaskan with 2-7x Redfield - nearly as flat-shooting as the 270 Win, but as powerful as 375 H&H; for big stuff with fangs or claws that needs to know it got shot

500 S&W - Big Horn Armory 89 lever action carbine - not as long-range useable but similar purposes as the 375 Ruger but faster shooting, more capacity, and with right loads can cover anything upstream of the 357 Mag levergun

Muzzleloader - Savage Model 10ML - many others would do, but this is one that the manufacturer dares to officially sanction smokeless powder loads for

That 'ten gun battery' would serve a person well. Tons of other alternatives, and of course if one has a handgun in 45 Colt, then one 'needs' a rifle or carbine in it as well, and if one has a 357 Mag carbine, one 'needs' a handgun in that chambering, and everyone should have a Glock 9mm. And if your Redhawk can shoot 45 ACP, you need a 1911, maybe with a MechTech 1911 carbine adapter so you have a 45 ACP revolver, pistol, AND carbine. And OF COURSE everyone should have a 30-30 levergun; that goes without saying. Pretty soon 'ten guns' doesn't seem like it is enough. But it sure can be a good start...!

[JimT]

I read that also! I remember he had a place in Colorado and a place in Mexico to "bug out" to if need be. Then he died unexpectedly. I wonder if he was prepared for that?

[Bill in Oregon]

He lived in Southern Oregon, either near Rogue River or Merlin, can't recall which. His widow, Nancy sold his books for a while.
I just read an article in Backwoodsman where the author makes the case for a flintlock smoothbore as the "one gun" that you can pretty much depend on in a primer/ammo shortage.
There are some really fine Youtubes on safely making black powder; not that long ago it was one of those "NOOOOO! You'll blow yourself up!" kind of deals.

[JimT]

There are some really fine Youtubes on safely making black powder; not that long ago it was one of those "NOOOOO! You'll blow yourself up!" kind of deals.

I have a pound of home-made black powder a friend made and gave me. Haven't tried it yet. He said his was not a powerful as Goex but worked well. I will give it try and see how it does in the 1862 Police and in the Dragoon.

[junkbug]

I remember him also. I must be about the same age as the Doctor. When I recall him, I remember an article he did on the HK-91. Among other things, he shot ammo out of it coated wit tooth paste. Maybe to approximate brass corrosion.
I also recall reading he was badly diabetic and died from complications from it. Supposedly, he cut his foot in his own swimming pool during a party after someone accidentally dropped a champagne glass in it.

[AJMD429]

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I think another firearm one could add to the category would be a 50 caliber or 45 caliber air rifle, especially if it could be manually charged. Soft metal or whatever projectile you can fit in a sabot would work.

That's one of the reasons I chose the 500 Smith & Wesson as the cartridge for the large bore lever action, although 45 caliber would certainly do. In a pinch if you have primers you could reload those straight wall cases at low pressure for a long long time and shoot pretty much anything you could fit in a plastic muzzleloader sabot. The problem with most 45 Colt lever actions is that unlike the 500 Smith & wesson, the chamber specifications are significantly larger than the brass specifications, so you do get a lot of stretch of the brass. However if you don't mind having funny looking cases you can minimally resize those 45 Colt cases and use them for a long time.

[Walt]

I remember Mel Tappan's articles on survival guns as well. He tested a number of semi auto centerfire rifles under severe conditions, rifles like the Remington 742, Winchester 100, H&R 360, M-1 carbine and Browning BAR. He poured a handful of dirt into the actions, dumped them out and tried to fire them. He did underwater tests as well. If I remember correctly, he squeezed toothpaste into the HK-91 action followed by dirt. It was the only rifle that functioned thereafter and those tests included the HK-93 as well. I wouldn't be surprised if the ribbed chamber of the HK-91 contributed to its proper functioning.

[jeepnik]

I’ve got his books around here somewhere. Parts made good sense. But even then I read “experts” with a bit of skepticism.

[kaschi]

I used to read his Guns and Ammo monthly column called "Survive!" in the late 70s, pretty sure that's what it was called. Never had his books though.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I read that also! I remember he had a place in Colorado and a place in Mexico to "bug out" to if need be. Then he died unexpectedly. I wonder if he was prepared for that?

Few people can appreciate your sense of humor like I do Jim.

[JimT]

I read that also! I remember he had a place in Colorado and a place in Mexico to "bug out" to if need be. Then he died unexpectedly. I wonder if he was prepared for that?

Few people can appreciate your sense of humor like I do Jim.

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