Which rifle

[Bawanna]

"But I start thinking like that, then I start getting all wrapped around an axle and thinking I gotta fill the garage w/ ammo and food and line the walls in my siding home w/ steel plates. "

You haven't done all that already?

It might already be too late, the hoarding has already started. Steel plate prices are record high, Bang sticks will continue to be harder and harder to find and if common sense doesn't win in the next election it may never get better.

[Barth]

I keep thinking AK or AR.
Kind of thinking AK just for reliability.
But If I can't carry it why have it?
I've got the Mossy 12 gauge.
Could always run slugs if I want.

Don't know much about rifles and find it hard to get excited
about them.

Except there is that Mares Leg...
Mmmmmmmm

[scotty_MK9]

Cant go wrong with an ak47... Rugged and reliable. Mite be over powered for the home though.

[Barth]

Cant go wrong with an ak47... Rugged and reliable. Mite be over powered for the home though.

I can't have too much power captain.

I'm a handgun guy and will reach for them first every time.
If things have broken down to using an AK?
All hell's breaking lose and it's damn the torpedoes and fire at will.

By then I've emptied my 44/357 mags and am going to let everything go.

[TheTman]

I went AK because of cost/performance compared with an AR at the time. Also you can legally hunt deer here with the AK, but not the AR15, you have to use at least a 6mm bullet. Not that I bought it for deer hunting, but it could be pressed into service for that if needed. What I really want is an FN-FAL in 308, or possibly and HK-G3, or even an AR10. A Springfield Armory M1A would work too. Probably ought to get an AR15 just for compatibility with the Army's primary rifle, although I keep hearing they are thinking of replacing the M-16 with something newer, I suppose if I buy an AR15 they surely will. That design is getting around 50 years old now.

[jeepster09]

I agree with the lack of faith in the 223.

I'm finding myself enamored with the Ruger Gunsite Scout in 308.

Mag fed, bolt action reliability, forward optics. If I only had one, I think that would be the one or something similar.

I like good ole Mossberg 500's for a defense type shotgun, I have a Model 12 which are nice too but you gotta pay for a good one.

Mmmmm Gunsite Scout....

[jeepster09]

For a SHTF situation, the first consideration is where you live. Sorry, but if it's California, unless you are in the boondocks it's not going to matter much which brand and caliber of weapon you have, with the possible exception of some weapon that is clearly illegal.

Regarding which rifle is best, well, it's like asking which car is the best?

We can debate Chevy vs. Ford until the cows come home (mine just did), but for a weapon, it comes down to what you can afford and what works the best for you.

If you lived in Pakistan or similar, that might an AK-47 or clone. In our country, even California, the AR platform offers the widest flexibility of parts, options, and ammo availability, not withstanding all the doubts people have about 223/5.56. Our military uses this caliber and platform for good reasons.

Also, another thing everyone forgets in SHTF situations is that you have to be able to carry all this stuff. That's one of the main reasons for the 223/5.56 round, and also an argument against many weapons.

But I'm still wondering who is actually going to attack us?

Buy a rifle for fun. I'm really enjoying my M&P 15-22 right now. Looks and acts like an AR, with no regard for ammo cost at all.

Who's going to attack us?......Your neighbors when the economy totally collapses and nobody has nothing and like one novel I read, the Chinese to reclaim all their equity on our debt......makes you go hmmmm

[Bawanna]

I forgot you had one Jeepster, I gotta start keeping better notes.

Maybe you could share your thoughts on it when you have the time. Good points, bad points etc etc.

Either here or via PM.

I figure I can be running the bolt accurately while the AR's are spraying and praying and cleaning and lubing, replacing gas rings and tubes and carbon build up and dressing them like a Mr. Potato Head when the action is slow.

Edit to add, I see what threw me now. You added a long rail on top and mounted a conventional scope so the forward scope look isn't there. I like it very much and you still have the option of going forward if you wish.

Be nice for a flip up rear sight too.

[gm412]

I went to the local gun shop and they say they cannot Eyven order the gunsite scout. I think I found the ar I might buy but very interstead n the gunsite scout. Please let me know how you like it. The guy at the shop said hey has sold a few in the past. He said the people liked it but that they did not love it either. I sure like the looks and what I have read about it is good also.

I am thinking about getting a Windham Weapony AR. They are the old bushmaster. Looked at one and really liked it. Only thing i don't like barrel kis one turn for 9"

[Barth]

[jlottmc]

I'm a bit surprised that no one mentioned a Moisin-Nagant. They can be had cheaply, are rugged as anything, surprisingly accurate, and are the ballistic twin to the .308. Yes it's an old bolt gin and stripper clips are really nice, but its good stuff.

[ParabellumJ]

May I throw the .308 M1A into the ring as a .223/5.56 alternative? My bud has one and its a hard hitting s.o.b. As far as a shotty...Mossberg 500 is hard to beat.

[jg rider]

I've been debating this for awhile, still no decision on my part. But I want a rifle, just can't decide, .22, AR, pistol caliber. I keep coming back to a pistol caliber, 9mm, for that exact reason...commonality of ammo. Then maybe a .22 of some kind.

I just can't see a scenario where I need to reach out, given my skillset, needs, plans. I don't hunt, have no plans to, if things get THAT bad, well, I suppose I'll just give up. I don't intend on fighting a war, if it gets that bad, same story. If a target is further away than a pistol caliber is effective, then I just need to get the heck out of that area, or sit it out hoping the need for closer range doesn't materialize. SHTF, I just want to sit tight and be able to protect my self coming and going wherever.

The more I read in the news, the more I am disgusted, but in the end...I am only going to be able to defend my immediate family and my immediate area and I don't see the need for anything past 50-100yds or less.

This made me think of an old friend whose strategy is, in case of a group attack, is to shoot at them as a lone person with small caliber fire. Once they B.G.s get up the courage to advance closer, then he and his wife will open up with the big guns. I believe there is so validity in this plan.
Now my immediate family is my wife and she'll have to be able to defend herself which she can. Years back when we had a young son at home he was handling firearms at a very young age, and competing at 12 yrs old. I like to think that if the SHTF back then he would protect himself.

For a SHTF situation, the first consideration is where you live. Sorry, but if it's California, unless you are in the boondocks it's not going to matter much which brand and caliber of weapon you have, with the possible exception of some weapon that is clearly illegal.

Also, another thing everyone forgets in SHTF situations is that you have to be able to carry all this stuff. That's one of the main reasons for the 223/5.56 round, and also an argument against many weapons.

But I'm still wondering who is actually going to attack us?

If we had to bug out, which I don't see happening, when broken down all the firearms I posted above will fit in a duffel bag.

Probably for those of us that live in rural areas, I don't see the SHTF. But in urban areas, I imagine mutated violent occupiers.

Bill_K and jg_rider,

Good points, yes, I have thought of both scenarios (local security or larger scope militia) and that'd be the one and only reason I could see needing to own/have something more like an AR or AK, full size.

chris,
If someone lived in a city I possibly would think hand guns an/or shotguns. But you live in a rural area with your closest neighbor 1/4 mile like we do, long guns are the way to go.

I went AK because of cost/performance compared with an AR at the time. Also you can legally hunt deer here with the AK, but not the AR15, you have to use at least a 6mm bullet. Not that I bought it for deer hunting, but it could be pressed into service for that if needed. What I really want is an FN-FAL in 308, or possibly and HK-G3, or even an AR10. A Springfield Armory M1A would work too. Probably ought to get an AR15 just for compatibility with the Army's primary rifle, although I keep hearing they are thinking of replacing the M-16 with something newer, I suppose if I buy an AR15 they surely will. That design is getting around 50 years old now.

I've had FNFal .308, HK 91 and a 93, match grade Springfield M1A, Israeli Gallil
When I was in my late 30s and early 40s, and moderately fit, I used all of these in competition where I had to shoot and move. After a while they got too heavy and fatigue set in early. And some weren't reliable, especially the M1A. IMO competition is the place to find out how reliable your piece is and if you can handle it.
I went back to what I knew and carried for long periods of time during the Nam era, the AR platform. Except in 1:9 twist 5.56 using the 62 gr. ss109 or the newer 77 gr. I don't think if the SHTF I'd be going against body armor.

I figure I can be running the bolt accurately while the AR's are spraying and praying and cleaning and lubing, replacing gas rings and tubes and carbon build up and dressing them like a Mr. Potato Head when the action is slow.

Did you mean to put a smilie with that statement?
ARs are 1 shot accurate for head shots out past 100 yrds, and fast for follow up shots. Any further then that I'm not gonna give away my presence. I clean and lube mine about every 500 rnds. or more and never had any malfunctions. In the thousands of rounds through my ARs, I've never had to replace gas rings or tubes. The days of carbon build up are long gone.

I thought you had ARs

I'm a bit surprised that no one mentioned a Moisin-Nagant. They can be had cheaply, are rugged as anything, surprisingly accurate, and are the ballistic twin to the .308. Yes it's an old bolt gin and stripper clips are really nice, but its good stuff.

If it were me I'd keep away from any firearm that ammo isn't readily available.
For me that would include 7mm. I'd go .22, 5.56, 30-30, 308, 12 ga, and my favorite 30.06

Damn! I thought I outgrew this stuff. But I'm rethinking things with this embarrassing current regime

[chrish]

jg_rider, thanks for those thoughts. all good points.

i'm neither in the city or the country. basically suburbia of a small city/town. so houses pretty much on top of each other in my neighborhood.

so i've always focused on handguns. always thought at some point i'd look into both a basic pump shotgun and some kind of a rifle, AR, Mini 14, something. but shooting for me has always been a hobby. just something fun to go out and do w/ the family. more and more, i see the need/desire to carry. as w/ all areas of the country were people historically have felt pretty safe, crime is getting worse and worse here. i mean, it's not big city, hundreds or millions of people bad crime, but worse than what it used to be. i can honestly say alot of what i hear on the news in my town is significantly worse than when i was a kid 30 years ago. so until i can't, i'll be continuing to expand the 'collection' of firearms and supplies. not going to be a nat geo prepper, but i'm going to have some level of preparedness in the coming months/years.

[Popeye]

I'm a bit surprised that no one mentioned a Moisin-Nagant. They can be had cheaply, are rugged as anything, surprisingly accurate, and are the ballistic twin to the .308. Yes it's an old bolt gin and stripper clips are really nice, but its good stuff.

Agree with everything you said about the Mosin. Down side is there long heavy and a bolt action. That's why I said I'd take the Mini 14 or the lever action 30/30. I have an M1 Garand and a Mosin Nagant and there great fun to shoot rifles but for someone just getting into rifles and wants it for all around use there are better choices out there. IMO. Always wanted an M1 carbine till I got the Mini14 ranch rifle. IMO Ruger really did a nice job on the newer 580 series mini's.