SHTF Rifle of Choice

Originally I was leaning something AR based.

But I think I will be going Kalashnikov.

7.62x39 is a devastating round

I doubt I will need to carry THOUSANDS of rounds

They are pretty rugged.

Not a lot of investment$

I'll be going Synthetic stock, dot sight with irons as a backup.

Carl
 
Since you want a rifle to be dual purpose of hunting and a viable SHTF firearm, the .308 is a pretty good starting point. I like the A10, although I don’t own one; however, you’ll probably get funny looks while hunting if that’s a concern. I opted for a M1A that was originally an 18” Bush model and I added a scout scope for hunting (allows me to use stripper clips). It’s a little on the heavy side, but I’ve done enough hunting on foot that I’m pretty comfortable with the weight…plus a good sling makes a big difference. Other options are the Garand in .30-06, yet that too is a little heavy, but typical for a semi-auto military-styled rifle. If a mil-style semi-auto is too much, you can get really light weight and compact bolt guns (Savage, Ruger, Remington, etc.), however, they aren’t designed for extended shooting and high-rates of fire…unless you opt for a bull-barrel, but then the weights will equal or exceed a semi-auto. There’s a reason for military-styled rifles, and it’s their ergonomics, reliability and ability to sustain a higher rate of fire than your typical bolt, pump or lever action rifles. I love my Savage 110FCM Scout in .308; it is fast on target, light-weight, great trigger, excellent iron sights (although I have a Burris Scout Scope on it) and with removable magazines, pretty quick to reload. My only concern would be sustained firing (I wouldn’t want a sustained firefight needing 50+ rounds!).

If your hunting ranges are less than 150 yards or so, don’t discount the inexpensive lever-guns. Used Winchester 94’s and Marlins are common and easy to acquire inexpensively. The .30-30 is a very viable hunting and defensive caliber at realistic ranges…a tube fed rifle is easy to top off and on-board capacity is respectable most conceivable situations outside of being assaulted by a squad of Infantry. Adding a set of ghost ring sights will significantly improve target acquisition and speed.

I just picked up a Mossberg 500 12ga combo with an 18.5” cylinder bore barrel and a 28” accu-choke barrel. Another good option for those that can hunt bigger game at ranges 50-75 yards (slugs) and fowl with the longer 28” barrel…the bonus with the shorter cylinder barrel is to serve as a very viable self defensive gun with buck and slugs for most realistic ranges.

As mentioned, don’t forget a reliable pistol. Either a quality semi-auto or revolver would be at the top of the list. Most of your post-SHTF duties will involve repairs, work around the house, possibly picking up supplies, helping neighbors, etc. Having a pistol gives you a firearm on your person that can be very discreet, yet always accessible. Even in the military, duties of putting up tents/camo, filling sand bags, digging fighting positions, etc. we always stacked our rifles to work…of course we always had somebody on security, however as a civilian, you’ll have to pull double duty and a pistol is something to have on you 24/7 and allow you to get to your rifle if the situation requires it.

If I need a dual-purpose deer+game hunting rifle that can serve as a viable self-defensive rifle...here's my pick:

MIA.jpg



ROCK6
 
A Ruger 10/22 and 5,000 rounds of stingers.
You shoot a 2 legged predator with a Stinger and he is screwed.If you only hit him in the hand,he's still screwed.:thumbup:
A good spotlight and you can pop a deer in the eye at 50 yards, if you can shoot.
Dead deer.
 
Toucan Oasis said:
A Ruger 10/22 and 5,000 rounds of stingers.
You shoot a 2 legged predator with a Stinger and he is screwed.If you only hit him in the hand,he's still screwed.:thumbup:
A good spotlight and you can pop a deer in the eye at 50 yards, if you can shoot.
Dead deer.
Click to expand...


I think the 10/22 would be a good choice because of the availability of ammo and if there was actually crime and stuff you can get the high capacity mags and lay down a field of fire cheaply. Almost every discount store has .22 ammo and you could carry 1000 rounds on your person and not be weighed down too much.

Probably second choice would be some sort of pump or semi auto 12 gauge because you can shoot buckshot, birdshot slugs and ammo is nearly as plentiful as .22.
 
.223, 7.62x39 or .308 semi-auto of your choice. At this point I prefer the AR platform.

With that said we are much more likely to have use for a good .22 rifle in a SHTF scenario that we are a battle rifle. YMMV.
 
IF you want a self loading kind of rifle, then IMO SHTF = military because you want something that can take a beating and most sporting guns can't.

First choice would be a FAL -- cheaper than an M1A, same .308 round, and as reknowned as the AK for ruggedness.
Second choice would be an AK. Less expensive than the battle rifles, and so is the ammo. Accurate enough to 300 yards (you say 200 is tops, and that's the way it is around where I live, and I've used an AK to hunt with for years), and legendary ruggedness.

Want something less aggressive looking? M1 -- .30'06 cartridge, THE American hunting round (be careful what ammo you use unless you install a self regulating gas block), can still fire fast if needed, and plenty rugged.


Want to ditch the 200 yard requirement and drop it to 100? Get a good shotgun. Standard foster slugs can hit to 100 yards easy, even with a bead sight. All manner of shot as well as the Foster slugs can be fired from a smoothbore, no need for a rifled barrel and sabot rounds. From the time of muskets onward, a scattergun (like the gentleman above noted, from round balls to shot) has been THE survival weapon throughout firearm history.


You'll not that NOWHERE in that list is a rimfire. They are underpowered for self defense, not too good at larger game, and frankly, trapping and snaring is much more efficient for small game.
 
I can't seem to find the article. Its no longer on the Suarez website but Suarez International did an article on the "Tactical Lever Gun".

The only rifle I own other than .22's is a Winchester 94 in .30-30 so that would be my obvious choice.

Chris

Edit: Found a copy of the article posted at TFL.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148012
 
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Depends on the circumstances. For most crisis scenarios, I would choose a semi auto in a military caliber.
Having the rifle is just the starting point. Ammunition, parts, skill set..........all are important.
I wonder how many normal urban folks are ready to pop a cap on someone though. Its' not all that easy to kill.
 
What kind of s**t has hit the fan?

Am I staying home, or have I been caught out?

How long is this going to last?

Do I need to go and get somebody and bring them home?

I'd have a different choice for different situations.

Andy
 
Cpl Punishment said:
IF you want a self loading kind of rifle, then IMO SHTF = military because you want something that can take a beating and most sporting guns can't.

First choice would be a FAL -- cheaper than an M1A, same .308 round, and as reknowned as the AK for ruggedness.
Second choice would be an AK. Less expensive than the battle rifles, and so is the ammo. Accurate enough to 300 yards (you say 200 is tops, and that's the way it is around where I live, and I've used an AK to hunt with for years), and legendary ruggedness.

Want something less aggressive looking? M1 -- .30'06 cartridge, THE American hunting round (be careful what ammo you use unless you install a self regulating gas block), can still fire fast if needed, and plenty rugged.


Want to ditch the 200 yard requirement and drop it to 100? Get a good shotgun. Standard foster slugs can hit to 100 yards easy, even with a bead sight. All manner of shot as well as the Foster slugs can be fired from a smoothbore, no need for a rifled barrel and sabot rounds. From the time of muskets onward, a scattergun (like the gentleman above noted, from round balls to shot) has been THE survival weapon throughout firearm history.


You'll not that NOWHERE in that list is a rimfire. They are underpowered for self defense, not too good at larger game, and frankly, trapping and snaring is much more efficient for small game.
Click to expand...

Nonsense. If you take a hit from a hyper velocity 22 hollowpoint ,anywhere on your body, you are screwed.It aint about lethal hits on two legged idiots. It's about making them re-assess their " priorities"

I killed many a deer with a 541S Remington loaded with Stingers. Never lost a single one. Never tried over 150 feet or so. No need.
We had permission to protect the crops at harvest time in Craig county Va. I chose this weapon, and ammo, out of many in my safe, to prove a point to the nay sayers.
They were flying 30/06 at 50 cents a round, in 1978 or so. Same result.
" Survival", particularly in the context of self defense, has nothing to do with ranges exceeding 50 yards.
 
Wow. What a response!

Many have brouht this up. A pistol. I have a ccw and carry a Springfield Armory .40 XD.

So it seems that many feel a .223 would be sufficient. Also, perhaps a .22 lr kit for small game.

Discuss. :D
 
Captain Spaulding said:
Ok, the wife and I were revisiting the topic of the SHTF scenario as we were watching the stack bodies in Haiti. One of the few components we lack is a rifle. What would you recommend. I need a hunting caliber that will double as a security measure. I was thinking an AR-10 might fit the bill especially due to the ability to add accessory rails on it and the plus of being able to piece together components over time so as not to break the bank. Weight would also be an issue so no bull barrels or Barretts :D .

I used to own a Winchester Model 70 in 30-06 for hunting and it was great but the lack of ability to mount lighting would have me shy away from it for this purpose. I don't think I foresee any instance with a shot over say...200 yards. My 70 was spot on at 500 but in this instance accuracy is not an issue at those distances so bolt action is not necessarily a primary concern. However, cost of ammo and ease of obtaining it is.

So, give me your recommendation and tell me why...I am going to rightly assume that many of you are more schooled on the matter than I am. I have some knowledge of the Marlin, DPMS, ROck River, Bushmaster, and Winchester products but I am by no means an expert...school me.
Click to expand...

There's endless debate about this topic. You could visit a number of sites (http://zombiehunters.org/forum is fun) and check out their "What one rifle?" threads, which come out surprisingly like our "What one knife?" threads here. There are the AK/AR debates (which read suspiciously like the chopper/bushcrafter discussions here), the "manly rifle" v. "poodle shooter" arguments, and the traditionalist v. modern disputes. However, Your emphasis on relatively short distance and low weight help simplify the question.

The short version is this - buy an AR-15, lots of mags and ammo. The AR platform is lightweight, as is the ammo (critical if you're carrying it). The modern rifles are very reliable and accurate. They accomodate every accessory imaginable (for ludicrous example, here's a mount for a Glock 19 - http://www.fab-defense.com/en/categ...niveral-tactical-attachment-for-glock-19.html - insert "Pimp My Rifle" meme here: "Yo, dawg, I herd ya like guns, so I mounted a gun on yer gun so you can shoot while you shoot."). The ARs are also flexible, in that a user can change out barrels and upper receivers for different lengths and calibers.

More importantly for SHTF, ARs are the most popular rifle in the U.S. They are the duty weapons for almost all military and many - if not most - police organizations. Ammo, magazines and replacement parts are (and likely would continue to be) abundant. Familiarity with the AR system is therefore a useful skill to pick up.

This guy's put together a comparison guide for shoppers, and keeps it updated:

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=6642

His chart explains the desirable features of a quality AR, and which manufacturers have which features. Here's the chart:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pwswheghNQsEuEhjFwPrgTA&gid=5

According to that chart, one of the better bargains ("bang for the buck" - ouch) is CMMG. CMMG has been running something lately on their site called the "bargain bin" that might be worth looking into.

Have fun in your quest.
 
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I'm old school, so I've got a Winchester Model 94 lever action rifle and a Ruger revolver, both chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge. I've tried the AR's and M-forgeries but they just don't feel right. The Winchester does, and I can hit whatever I aim at. Besides, having to stock only one caliber of ammunition makes things a lot easier. I say try a few and see which feels right for you. The rifle you shoot the best and feel the most comfortable with is the one you need to buy.
 
I honestly can't see an advantage to the .223. It's commonly available, cheap, and not bulky as rifle centerfire goes. But it doesn't really do much.

I'd vastly prefer a .357 or .44 for a carbine round, or a .308 or .30-06 (or if I move north, a .375) for a rifle round. ***I'd love to see a resurgence of the semi auto .357 carbine!

For ranges under 150 yards, I see no reason not to use a shotgun (there are slugs that will hit minute of goblin at 150 yards from a smoothbore 12 ga barrel now) and for longer ranges I see no reason to use a .223 unless I'm very specifically trying to saturate an area with fire and just want to worry about people, not food.

All that being said, it's a VERY commonly available and cheap round, though even with that being said, in a bottlenecked carbine I'd probably prefer a nice inexpensive SKS overall.

a hunting quality .22 pistol is so easy to come by that there's almost no reaosn to have a conversion kit for a rifle. And having two independent firearms is going to be nicer in the long run than one do it all. no SPF.
 
Depends on the situation. For a disaster every man for himself type of situation I'd take my AR-15. I got a Armalite build with 16" barrel but with full length handguards for rifle length sight radius. It'll drop large animals. I do own an AR-10 but it's HEAVY and so is the ammo. plus in a sitatution like this your may be more apt to find 223 on the go over 308. And you'll be more apt to find AR mags on the go over AR-10 mags. More people have AR-15 stuff than AR-10.

For a wilderness survival type sitation I'd take my 22" Ruger 10-22 all day long.
 
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