Recommend a good all-around defensive rifle (if I can't get an AR/M4)?

SKS will do it all (hunting, defense, plinking), and with a Tech-Site is the rifle the Garand should have been (lighter, bigger magazine, lighter ammo). They are still reasonable around $300 (and stripper clips are MUCH cheaper than mags) and will last till your grandkids pass it to their grandkids. I prefer the Norinco for the chrome-lined barrel and the lighter weight (bayonets are useless, IMO). If no to a semi-auto, the .357 levergun with a 16'' barrel is the winner for similar reasons.

But remember - much more important than the rifle is your having practiced with it sitting, standing, squatting, at ranges from 20 to 150 meters, in the heat and cold, at sunset and mid-day and dawn, and when you are overcaffeinated and when you are tired, loading, clearing jams, and firing rapid, aimed, strings. If you are 'one with your rifle', any of these choices are perfectly adequate for family defense unless you vacationing are in Somalia. You should spend as much on ammo getting good with your rifle in the first year as the original cost of the rifle.

Now go have fun!

Warp said:

...what scenario is that??

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Pretty much any one that involves defending against an in-progress home invasion.

I6turbo said:

Pretty much any one that involves defending against an in-progress home invasion.

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...so home defense? A great scenario to have an AR/M4 type rifle, right there.

if it was me I would stick with the shot gun until the moneys not tight. a 12 gauge will take any game in north america with slugs in inside the house its a very intimidating weapon

Shotgun FTW. I keep a loaded Ithaca Model 87 next to my bed. I too was in the market for a SA rifle just before the craze began. I decided to set that dream aside for a while, though I did pick up a PSA lower so I would be grandfathered in. I plan to get an SKS whenever prices go back under the $300 mark and slowly find parts for my future AR build in the meantime.

VZ 58 rifle

I suggest a vz 58 or ak 47 .

The Mini14/30 would be fine if you could get it, but I'd lean toward a levergun and would look at pistol caliber versions if that would still be suitable for your hunting needs.

As I am in Chicago, I went the lever action route.

In regards that that, I suggest looking at what range you may ever have to deploy it at. For the most part, a pistol cartridge carbine will be perfectly fine, especially for any SHTF situation that may ever happen in a city, given 200+ meter areas can be notably rare. It also has the plus of accepting the same cartridge as a pistol, leading to less of a resource issue as the same resource can be shared for the two.

30-30

I would say a 30-30. You can kill anything with 2 legs and most with 4 and ammo is readily available. I think the 30-30 round is one of the best of all time. Some will disagree, but something cool about a lever action in 30-30.

I looked through Diane Frankenstein's new freedom robbery bill and did NOT see the SK listed. Maybe it was just bad reporting but maybe they overlooked that fine weapon. It's probably not a good time to actually buy one right now with the panic buyers out in force but maybe that all changes soon (I hope).

Cee Zee said:

I looked through Diane Frankenstein's new freedom robbery bill and did NOT see the SK listed. Maybe it was just bad reporting but maybe they overlooked that fine weapon. It's probably not a good time to actually buy one right now with the panic buyers out in force but maybe that all changes soon (I hope).

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The what?

You do realize that the ban would prohibit every firearm that has the wrong features, right?

Lots and LOTS and LOTS of firearms would be banned even though they are not on the list.

For me, a lever action works more smoothly and rapidly than a bolt action (your dexterity may vary.) For home defense, any of the pistol cartridges would work just fine.
However, a 30-30 will more than do the trick and has more uses.

I would suggest, at this time, that you look not to, a semi automatic rifle.

I would suggest to you, a nice little Rossi lever action rifle, in a revolver caliber, preferably a .357 Magnum.

For HD/SD, all the 125 grain JHP's, or, .38 Special Plus P JHP's, would work, so find a load that fits for you, and stick with it.

For hunting, any 125 or 158 grain Jacketed Soft Points will give all their energy in penetration, which is what a hunter needs.

Yes, it is not a longer reaching firearm, as a semi-auto is, but you will have a greater versatility within the two caliber parameters than you would with a semi-auto rifle.

I own such a rifle, in a 16 inch barreled model. I have owned revolvers, prior to the purchase of this rifle, so it is a further extension for me.

Good Luck.