What guns would you take to a Jurassic or Cretaceous place?

Posted by overlordThor0@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 52 comments

Last night I tried out a show, Terra Nova, It is basically a story of humans going back 80 million years or so ago and making a community. I'm only 2 episodes in, but I noticed how terrible their guns were at doing anything to the dinosaurs. It seemed like airsoft guns would be more effective. It got me thinking about what I would bring, assuming I could pick from modern firearms.

I've thought about this in the past with a few other things, like the mercenary team in jurassic park 3, or some other movie/show like the lost world. The Lost world, as in the early 20th century story of a lost land of dinosaurs trapped on some hidden plateau.

Assuming the dinosaurs are regular flesh and blood creatures, not super bulletproof monsters like some movies make them out to be, what would you bring to these scenarios? Trying to keep in mind they might be era appropriate weapons.

Settlement of modern humans going back about 80 million years ago, some skilled soldier or hunter types, but mostly just scientists and workers. Assume starting small building up to a maybe a thousand people. Regular expeditions out beyond any walls will be normal. Since it is governmentally organized, we can assume they can get nearly any modern military weapons, but regular supplies cant be expected, and nothing too big.

2.A mercenary team, 3 mercenary types are going to Isla Sorna to rescue a kid, with Alan Grant, one of his aides, and 2 concerned parents, set in roughly 2001. You know dinosaurs like a trex will be on the island, one did terrorize San Diego for a day.

3.The Lost world, assume its shortly after WW1, so early 20s, with 1 serious hunter, a few science types and maybe a journalist that served in the war.

[-]

LOL_YOUMAD@reddit

Ar10 would likely by my choice here. I don’t expect that we will be fighting T. rex all the time, more so raptors and smaller to mid size stuff. We can have some larger equipment at the base to air strike the T. rex type stuff and they should be pretty avoidable on the day to day being large and all.

[-]

Mountain_Man_88@reddit

If money is no object, some double rifle from Holland and Holland.

If I'm not concerned about weight, one of those CQB Barret .50s, I guess with an eotech and a magnifier if they'll survive.

If I have to hike around and want multiple guns, .45-70 Marlin 1895, .45-70 Magnum Research BFR, .45-70 Bond Arms Cyclops, just so if I lose rifle and pistol I still have something to feed that .45-70 to.

If I'm going one gun and as much ammo as I can carry. BAR or whatever semi automatic .30-06 with black tips.

[-]

BaronvonBrick@reddit

My 45 70 with 500 grain hardcast flying at 2k fps. I call it my whale gun because it would stop a charging blue whale.

[-]

OG_Fe_Jefe@reddit

There's a reason the whalers went to explosive tipped harpoons.....

[-]

Stelios619@reddit

AC-130U

[-]

Stelios619@reddit

AC-130U

[-]

230Amps@reddit

There's only one rifle out there actually advertised to take down a T-rex

[-]

xtreampb@reddit

.577 tyrannosaur?

[-]

Palehorse67@reddit

This one right here.

[-]

Infanttree@reddit

4570 Marlin Trapper. I got one.

[-]

number__ten@reddit

Just give everyone a BAR.

[-]

overlordThor0@reddit (OP)

Definitely a good choice, a bit heavy for the long treks, but it'll get the job done.

[-]

TacTurtle@reddit

Colt Monitor. Improved BAR that was much lighter and controllable... and much noisier with the Cutts brake.

[-]

HWKII@reddit

Thirty ought six don’t play.

[-]

quickscopemcjerkoff@reddit

I would take an Ar-10 or semi auto 12 gauge with slugs. The biggest dinosaurs are 10k+ pounds. You would need a 20mm cannon for the big boys. But a few 12 gauge slug into the boiler room is probably enough to make them think twice about eating me.

[-]

TacTurtle@reddit

40mm HE should do nicely for the bigger dinos.

[-]

TacTurtle@reddit

Scenario 1 & 2 : AR-10 or Ruger SFAR in 358 Winchester with a can and a M203. The .358 should have plenty of ooph for anything smaller than an elephant, the 40mm HE anything bigger.

Scenario 3: Colt Monitor in 35 Whelen or .30-06 loaded with M1 Ball.

[-]

winston_smith1977@reddit

Nemo Watcman semi auto 300 Win loaded with 180 grain copper or brass solids, for everyone.

[-]

ttkciar@reddit

Let's see .. you really want shotgun slugs against grizzly bears, and T. Rex is estimated to weigh about 16x an adult grizzly, so I'd want an autocannon of at least 40mm bore diameter (shotgun bore is 17mm, cube root of 16 is about 2.5, and 17mm x 2.5 = 42.5mm).

Supposedly the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle could be upgraded to use the 40mm Bushmaster IV, but I don't think the US Army ever ordered any in that configuration.

For the more budget-minded, the UK's Stormer 30 fighting vehicle mounts a 30mm autocannon which should be effective against most carnivorous dinosaurs and marginal against the largest land-dwelling carnivores.

There were some very large herbivores like the Brontosaurus which would shrug off 30mm and keep eating their leaves, but there's not much point to shooting those in the first place. They shouldn't have been aggressive, and they were too big to process for their meat.

IMO you would want a platoon (four vehicles) of autocannon-armed fighting vehicles, to allow for some tactical flexibility, and then for the smaller critters you should assign two men per squad .30-caliber machines guns (either 7.62x54R PKM or 7.62x51mm NATO FN MAG) and everyone else semiautomatic rifles chambered in a full-power but low-recoil cartridge, like Noreen's BN36 chambered in .25-06, loaded with 100gr softpoints.

[-]

B1893@reddit

Someone else's guns, not mine...

They can go, and they take their own guns.

I'll stay right here, with my guns.

[-]

overlordThor0@reddit (OP)

My initial thoughts.

Standard issue will be some "battle rifle" type of firearm. 7.62 Nato caliber, or near equivalent. Perhaps a scar 17 or H. Sidearms will be 10mm for standard issue, maybe the P220 in 10, though I would include some bigger handguns, like a .454 casull double action revolvers of some kind.
A few .50 bmg rifles, mostly for long range, but the power is more than enough for even a sauropod. Perhaps the Barret m82A1.
A few general purpose machine guns, like maybe a couple m240's not for carrying and using on the go, but for mounting somewhere, maybe on a vehicle.
A few good high power big bore rifles, so they can have them for a quick take down if they go hunting or something, the biggest things people take for elephant hunting.
Some good 12 gauge pump shotguns. Mostly for small game, using buckshot and birdshot, 7.62 is overkill for small things if you need to get a meal, or have an avian problem. Maybe a remington 870 mossberg 590.
Given the era, and the mercenary nature, I'd say a FN fal feels nice, maybe bring 2-3 of them.
A good 50.bmg, like a Barret M82A1. Mostly for securing the airfield, get up on a good position and take out anything big and dangerous, not for checking out the woods.
A few good high power revolvers, perhaps .44 magnum.
2 SMLE mod 3, given a few of the guys likely have war experience using an SMLE and it was a british expedition.
.416 rigby for the big game rifle.
Colt single action Army for the handguns.

[-]

Comfortable_Guide622@reddit

Yes, essentially for me too, well thought out man

[-]

ybarracuda71@reddit

Any hunting caliber like a 30-06 will probably serve you just fine. At the end of the day they're still just flesh and bone. It's not like the movies where a trex can take like 100 shots before it goes down.

[-]

Crazykeebler13@reddit

If ammo wasn't an issue, and had means to store and transport it. Some sort of a mobile rocket explosive. If I had to pick a rifle, probably 300 win mag semi auto, drum mag. Sidearm a collapsible stock mp7 chambered in 10mm. And probably a break barrel BB gun to shoot the pigeon sides mosquitos and cat sides horse flies.

[-]

NoNameJustASymbol@reddit

I kinda feel obligated to take my Marlin 1895 Trapper.

[-]

MandaloreZA@reddit

I mean a M240 with M80 ball will kill pretty much anything. Famously Karamojo Bell dropped 800+ elephants with a 7x57 Mauser rifle firing 175gr Round nose FMJ.

You hit the head in the right spot they drop. I don't see why any Dinos would be any different.

[-]

Technically_Tactical@reddit

I think carnivorous dinosaurs have a distributed nervous system so they have to be shredded to a pulp to stop. Single headshot may not do it.

^the above is the Crichton-era accepted literature (Horner, et al), but we don't know because the fossil record doesnt show such things

[-]

MandaloreZA@reddit

Well, I guess throw in a 40mm GL with HEDP rounds. Dino can't do much when it's body is blown to bits.

[-]

Technically_Tactical@reddit

Muldoon from the books wanted TOW Missiles.

[-]

overlordThor0@reddit (OP)

Yeah, that is along what I'm thinking M80 ball and any equivalent should be great against most things. Even if it isn't a quick drop on a trex, or a sauropod, it should be pretty damaging, especially with repeated shots.

[-]

Jigglepirate@reddit

Everyone out here talking about AR10s and m240s, like you need the optimized rifles for this. Just need something rugged and reliable, and the most reliable battle rifle ever is the G3.

[-]

MandaloreZA@reddit

Why go with a G3 when you could run HK21s

You must not be afraid to dream bigger

[-]

overlordThor0@reddit (OP)

I agree, the G3 would be a fantastic choice, I thought about the fn Fal as one they should have taken for something like Jurassic park 3, but the G3, could be better, just debatably.

[-]

jgmu17@reddit

I'd take a 1917 Eddystone rechambered in .35 Whelen

[-]

Technically_Tactical@reddit

Can it be threaded 5/8x24?

[-]

MandaloreZA@reddit

I mean I have a 416 Rigby threaded 5/8x24. I wouldn't see why you couldn't thread a 35 Wheelen the same.

[-]

Edwardteech@reddit

Mounted ma duce on a solar powered electric truck.

Then 2 m240s with ball for the little stuff and a 40mm sixgun for croud control.

Then of corse shotguns and small arms for the little stuff.

[-]

SturmGizmo@reddit

For Scenario 2)

FN FALs for two mercs, Barrett M82 and Glock G20 for the third.

[-]

Infanttree@reddit

Previous post from a Jurassic Park Thread.

I think I would look into some kind of frequency weapon. SPECIFICALLY one that you can block with those elctronic headphones that magnify quiet sounds and muffle loud ones (Peltors). The frequency weapons would be on their own power source, either rechargable deep cycles or something similar. Every car, building, maintenance bunker, feeding hut, and shack would have several with pre charger batteries stored behind easy break glass, the way you store an AED or fire extinguisher.

The launchers muldoon purchased stay in the armory same with the Gas grenades and pneumatic dart guns like they have in the book.

Because the SPAS12 is a little dated now, I would pick a larger capacity 12g like the TS12, its a semi automatic shotgun that has three separate tubes you rotate through. I would fill those tubes with with 00 Buck and Slugs. No pumping but a pretty substantial wall of lead. I dont like the idea of 15 rounds being the reload mark so if I found something comparable with detachable magazines I could grab some of those aswell. The TS12s would be in buildings, security rooms and vaults, the magazine fed 12gs would be in locked cases in any vehicle that goes out into the park, especially the gas powered jeeps that be taken off road/tracks. Jeep key opens the gun rack, dead mans switch on electric car cases. Power goes out, weapon becomes available. Jeep stops, you can unlock the shotgun.

An AR platform in 458 Socom make sense aswell, with a holographic sight and at least a 20 round capacity. These would be what you find in the SPAS12 lockers With 10mm Glock pistols.

Radios, FAST helmets with mounted IR/thermal nightvision optics, kevlar weave vests, thigh garments, neck and forarm gaurds (for cuts and stabs protection to vital areas and arteries but well vented and as lightweight as possible) webbing to carry at least 5 mags for the AR15 458SOCOM, water bottle, radio with spare battery, flashlight and small first aid kit. Gun belt with parachord, marking tape, compass, map, knife and holster for the 10mm with at least space for 2 magazines. 72 hour backpacks with toiletries, rations, water purification tablets, matches, flaregun and flares, blankets, poncho and an emergency distress transmitter maybe a machete or something aswell.

Every adult who survives long enough to make it to the armory in the first place would be able to use that equipment. 458 Socom, 12g and 10mm make short work of any unarmored dinosaur smaller than an elephant, and the rex can help itself to HE rounds from the launcher.

But the real task is hiring a few teams of quiet professionals to be on rotating shifts as patrolmen and security. Highly vetted, highly paid and ALWAYS on site with access to the armory and animal tracking system.

Jurassic World had it right with a dedicated asset containment... too bad they pitted them against a human intelligence camoflaging garborator the size of a building with non lethals. The high availabily of the frequency weapons also means that while armed with lethals, it would be possible to corral any escapees back without wounding them.

[-]

overlordThor0@reddit (OP)

I'd argue the TS12 and its like just aren't the durable rugged reliable shotguns you would want. That might work well enough in a very controlled environment, not trucking through jungles or woods. If we are talking about a well built up settlement of fancy clean homes, it might work, but at that point any walls and such are probably pretty well established and the gun is mostly pointless. I think the fcus for a shotgun would be on a good solid reliable shotgun that can handle rugged environments. Even if in the Jurassic world containment team they have to trek through the woods to capture dinosaurs, the gun needs to be able to take falls, drops, water, and dirt.

[-]

No_Dragonfruit8254@reddit

Ammo is going to be a major problem. Genuinely, I would bring a hundred tons of saltpeter and lead (plus percussion caps and kit for all this) and design (using modern metallurgy and technology) some kind of specialized muzzleloading repeater, or something with multiple barrels. Design it to have quick change barrels that can be pre-loaded. Yes, AR-10s etc will be good for base defense, but ammo production won’t be going for a long, long time and running out of ammo for our arsenal is almost worse than running out of food.
Modernized FAL carbines loaded with HP for dinos, one light machine gunner with a C2A1, one lance grenadier with a 22mm spigot on his FAL for firing flare and HE rounds to scatter small dinos without a fight.
Lee-Enfields using the prototype converted Bren mags and two Madsen LMGs in .303 Brit.

[-]

Eldorath1371@reddit

M1 Garand chambered in .458 Win Mag. Because fuck your shoulder, the guy your shooting at, and the next three houses behind him.

[-]

Uzi4U2@reddit

Ma Duece never let me down.

[-]

ryno7926@reddit

I believe someone converted an M1 Garand to .458 win mag. Assuming it's reliable, probably that.

[-]

Hovie1@reddit

All I need is my Glock 40 here. My problem solver.

[-]

weredragon357@reddit

Gun for dinosaur, by L.Sprague De Camp covers this well

[-]

Khaden_Allast@reddit

There are a few things to consider here. For starters, the real issue is less the type of gun than it is the type of ammunition: FMJ vs JSP vs JHP vs AP vs etc, etc, etc. We have a lot of different types of ammo for most guns, most all of which perform different functions and would have wildly varying effects on different dinos.

The second issue is just that, different dinos. While your imagination may run wild with thoughts of having to shoot a T-Rex or whatever, they're probably not the kind of dino you'd need to worry about on a day-to-day basis, unless you're really unlucky and/or just really suck at choosing locations to set up a camp or whatever. Those kind of dinos were the apex predators of their time, and apex predators are not the most populous animals in their territories. Meaning even if you're in a territory that's roamed by a T-rex, there's a good chance you wouldn't see it most days and would have to deal with other dinos instead, never mind if you're outside of their territory. So do you need to worry about velociraptors* daily, those little ones that swarm, some other dino? The best gun will be geared more towards that.

A final consideration is location. Consider Jurassic Park, everything supposedly takes place on a small group of islands off of Costa Rica (save for the San Diego incident and whatever nonsense is happening in the JW timeline). That's basically to say that most of the island(s) is a tropical rainforest. A large predator like the T-rex wouldn't really be well suited to such an environment, even if they're large enough to bulldoze trees there'd be hundreds of them between you and it if one wanted to chase you, more than they could reasonably get through. In short, in that instance so long as you're halfway intelligent you probably don't have to worry much about the megafauna. Now the smaller dinos are even more important to worry about.

* - I know "velociraptor" triggers some people because "ackshuly thyr trky szd!" By modern classification yes, the velociraptor is the size of a turkey. The raptors in Jurassic Park were closer to Utahraptors, which at the time the book was written were considered a subtype of velociraptor. Regardless, if you think something the size of a turkey can't rip your throat out, you've probably never dealt with an actual male turkey who thinks you're getting in the way of his breeding rights. Give that a giant razor sharp claw, and no thank you.

[-]

DaCrowHunter@reddit

A 1/3 of what Kentucky Ballistics own.

[-]

overlordThor0@reddit (OP)

Yeah, I thi k that would serve someone pretty well.

[-]