SHTF rifle for $1,000.00

I went the AR route. But it's really up to you. You can spend $1K on an AK too...think Arsenal. You can get more mags and ammo by going the less expensive AK route; but either AR or AK will serve you well.

Even less expensive is an SKS. A rifle and LOTS of stripper clips and ammo can be had within your budget.

Or how about a Finnish M39? Very accurate and ammo is DIRT cheap right now.

Just depends on what type of SHTF you're planning for and how you see yourself functioning post-event.

JLD PTR-91.

If you get an AK, get some glass to go with it. Nothing super expensive, but set aside 2-300 bucks for a zero or low magnification optic. The AK has mediocre sights and something like a kobra, pk-as or aimpoint helps a lot.

Also, get some gear to actually hold your magazines. You can't really carry around an armful of magazines while you are holding a gun. I would personally advise getting a lot of 30 round magazines since vests and pouches that hold them are commonplace. There is some 40 round RPK gear out there, but such vests and pouches are very rare. It took me months of hassle dealing with a russian milsurp vendor to get an RPK gunner's vest to hold my 40 rounders.

AK ammo is also heavy. Even with load bearing gear, you notice you are carrying something. It also adds to the weight of the gun quite a bit. My gun is feather light when empty but feels pretty substantial when I have the 40 rounders in it.

Get a sling also.

For a grand, I'd get four SKS's and ammo.

Or 3 Saigas or AK's and ammo.

Or two Mini14's and Ammo.

PTR 91

PTR 91 ..... $ 750
50 genuine HK mags..... $ 65
1000 rounds of ammo..... $175
sling to be able to shoot it right..... $10

being able to drill a guy with an assault rifle at 400 yards before he can drill you........priceless



If you like, substitute an M1 Garand for the PTR and en-block clips, still be under $1000

For just over $1000 I was able to purchase a Bushmaster XM15-E2S A2, twelve magazines and a good deal of ammo. I prefer to shoot .308 but I have conceded that the AR carbine is probably the best choice for an all around SHTF rifle. The .223 round is plenty effective and the amount you can carry on your person is staggering. I do not recommend the AR platform cambered in .308 if it is configured with a short barrel. And don't forget, .308 surplus is getting to be pretty scarce.

One of our STG FALs, plenty of mags, any related gear you need. That should all come in under $1000. I prefer .308 as a SHTF gun as it is versatile. You can fight and hunt with it anywhere in North America. The FAL is AK simple in its internals. It runs in all weather and with the adjustable gas system you can make if function even if it does not want to. You can also still get spare parts easily. One could lay in almost a complete unassembled spare rifle to keep on hand just in case something breaks.

John

AR-47

Accuracy and adaptability of the AR-15, power and controllability of AK-47.

1. Flattop AR-15 w/A3 sights, standard A2 buttstock and a 16" chrome-lined barrel in 5.56mm (i.e. $850 for a Bushmaster or Rock River Arms, Colt is a little more)

2. 5 30-round G.I. magazines (i.e. LaBelle) (approx. $100)

3. 3-point sling (i.e. Eagle) ($50)

Later, add:

1. as much 55-gr. M193 ball ammo as you can find
2. 4x scope on 1" risers (to maintain proper cheek weld)
3. cleaning kit


You can carry plenty of 5.56 ammo; low recoil improves accuracy; iron sights are good to at least 100 yards; M193 will reliably tumble to 100 yards out of a 16" barrel; 4x scope allows for more precision at longer ranges.

I have found the AR platform to be better ergonomically than the AK platform. The rifle/cartridge combination is more accurate. Recoil is lower. There are more options for upgrades/aftermarket parts. Reliability of my Bushmaster XM-15 E2S Patrolman's Carbine has been ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS for the past 4 years.

AK-47 clone. Cheaper, plenty of mags and the 7.62x39mm ammo is roughly equal (ballistics-wise) to a .30-30 Winchester. If SHF and I have to hunt for my dinner, I don't want to be trying to take Pennsylvania deer with .223 Remington caliber rifle.

The AK can also run for longer without cleaning or lube than the AR.

The stock iron sights stink but you can fix that with an Ultimak gas tube mount and a ton of batteries for your EOTech or Aimpoint.

I currently have 3 sks's and a stg fal , still need to pick up a flat top 16" ar , or a 20 and mod the gas system to have the long handguards which i like . I kinda want one bad but $$ holds me back since i wont rid myself of anything " off paper " ( most of my traders ) right now lol .

check out Tromix.


still have plenty of x39 ammo around, more of the 7.62 than the 5.45, but either would do quite well in a SHTF situation.

My choice is an Imbel FAL on an Imbel parts kit.

everyone is diffrent...find you a gunshow and shoulder up some...see what is comfortable...see what feels "right" on your shoulder...


D

$300 WASR, $300 ammo, $400 training

training....

kfranz "$400 training"

thats money well spent regardless of platform !

Try an Appleseed for $400 worth of training for $70 of actual cost.....they are Nationwide

www.rwva.org

i think it really depends on what kind of shtf situation you are talking about. in a katrina situation i would go w/ an ar-15, m1 carbine, etc...something you can point and shoot. in a "red dawn" type of shtf scenerio, go w/ an sks or ak so you can pick up some ammo, easily repair your rifle, use it dirty, and put down the enemy w/ an adaquate round. in a mad-max post apocolyptic shtf situation, i would seriously consider a really accurate semi-auto rifle in (winchester, remington, etc) .308 or 30-06 (easily obtainable...ie bombed out wal-marts lol). since the katrina looting scenerio is far, far, far more likley then the other 2 i would go w/ a carbine of some sort. really, you should have no business shooting outside of 150 yards anyway, so pistol calibre carbines and small-bore centerfires are the way to go. ease of use, concealability, and abilty to carry some ammo AND precious family heirlooms, gear, etc. is the way to go. you can pick up any reasonable, non-bulpup rifle gear and plenty of ammo all for under your 1k budget. just go out and find what fits you.

Camp Perry? AR. SHTF? AK.

A tromix converted 223 siaga with a decent optic. Several mags, and a lot of ammo.

I used to keep an ar15 platform 223 for my SHTF rifle. Too nice of a gun. Way too worried about inclement weather or rough treatment. Not so with an AK.

Grayrider

Looking on your web site I don't see any STGs for under $1,000 let alone adding "plenty of mags" and "any related gear you need". I'm not trying to be rude about it I'd just like to think it could be done.

First, take a look at your surroundings, and the type of community you live in. What possible issues might happen there?

Then decide what type of rifle you want.

Do you live in a place with lots of wide open spaces, where long range shots are a real possibility? Or do you live someplace where all your shooting will be at close range?

Is this rifle just for you? Or will other family members need to use it? What is their level of training?

Will you have to carry your ammo, or will you probably be staging out of a vehicle?

What will your friends and neighbors be armed with?

There are about fifty really good rifles to choose from, in several really good cartridges. Everyone needs to analyze their situation and then pick.

Personally, I own one of each, and plan on raiding my gunstore as needed.

Forget AK and AR carbines, you want an almost every situation powerful performer, get yourself a real battle rifle. Might be pushing your budget, but not if you shop used. Something in Win .308: CETME/HK-91, AR-10, M14/M1A, FN FAL, ect...

Or I would buy 5 Yugo SKSs and some cases of ammo and cache it somewhere.

SHTF?????

Well. . . it looks like for .308 surplus tsHAShtf, unless you purchase LC at (currently) not-such-a-deal prices.

As for surplus, from what I'm hearing and reading, there won't be any more .308 surplus, because of import/export bans (that's what I read) and as for .223, well. . . the US military is needing all that they can get, and are buying from outside the US sources. (There goes the foreign surplus supply, for us civilians.) As for anymore 8mm surplus, I've read that when the supply that is in the US now is gone. . . it's gone.

With that said, IF I were in the market for a NEW SHTF rifle, I'd go for a lever gun in either .357 or .44 magnum.
Granted, you won't find surplus ammo for it, but, no matter where you go, you will find some sort of either ammo.

I've gone from thinking long range shots, to short/medium range shots, to surplus ammo availability, to no ammo supplies available, to what can I REASONABLY carry and/or expect to obtain.

For $1,000. . . . you could get a Marlin 1894 and LOTS of ammo. Literally. . . . LOTS of ammo.

That's my 2¢. Thanks for reading.

I'm working on Correia's option. Get one of each!

For an inexpensive .308 option I'd suggest a Saiga. Inexpensive, semi-auto, .308, AK reliability, integral scope rail for multiple rugged optics options and soon to have hi-capacity mags available. What else do you need?

For in the city, my 1894C marlin will do with what I need if the excrement impacts a rotary air impeller. I have walked out of my house with it in broad daylight and did not get any raised eyebrows.

I would say go for the cheapest reliable rifle possible (any action will do) and spend as much as possible on training, practice and planning.

then hunt mall ninjas for supplies as needed. (if needed, the more you are prepared the less likely you may need ammo simply by knowing how to avoid BG's after it hits the fan) Your best weapon is still your brain and training is the best improvement.

that's my silly .02