trying to decide which rifle...

AR would be good......if u really scour the area/web/whatever, you MIGHT be able to find a low end, bone stock one used. I would think that you should be able to find an AK for this price, but seeing as you said you are a wimp about recoil, AK is not the lightest. Mini 14 would probably be a decent choice, but again not sure you are going to find a lot inside of $500.

Good luck whatever you decide.

why not a shotgun? just saying

For that price & home defense I'd look to a pump 20 ga shotgun. An 870 or Mossberg 500 come to mind.

with the new supercell recoil pad she most likely won't feel a thing shooting and 870 20ga

I would suggest a shotgun also, maybe a 20 gauge.

The Saiga is another rifle to look at and should come in under $400. I'd get the 223 which would be the lowest recoil. Stock mags for the Saiga are 10 rd which might be enough for the scenario you're preparing for. There are higher capacity magazines available or you could convert your stock Saiga to take high capacity mags. Either one would require you to make mods to the gun to stay compliant with federal law. You might find a 30 carbine for a little more. If you look for a carbine GI is best, Plainfields are okay but stay away from Universal.

While they aren't "tactical", a lot of folks are reconsidering lever-actions for a self-defense role.

In a pistol caliber like .357 Mag or .44 Mag, the carbine versions of these are light, have fairly low recoil, and are serious tools at 50-100 yds. (And there are concerns about self-defense shooting at 500 yds, no offense to all the scoped .308 types out there...)

The tubular magazines are easy to top-up at any time -- they don't have to be empty -- and you can't drop them or lose them.

With a recoil pad, a Marlin .44 Mag lever-action would be a pussycat.

Here's a link -

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/1894Centerfire/1894.asp

IF(and big if) you can find an "M" SKS (takes AK mags) you will be in fine shape. Last I bought was $400. Even regular SKSs are OK with a few stripper clips to hasten reloading. I have had mini 14s and they are fine shooters but I like the 7.62 X 39 rounds because of their low cost and reasonably hard hitting. They are fully capable of taking deer, protecting your home, or going in close if need be. I have one "tricked out" with folder, bipod, and scope. The others are plain janes but just as reliable. You really don't need a scope for most shooting needs--LOL, unless you are an "old fart" like me, wc

hi piont carbine 9mm 0r 40 smith wesson.

i reckon a marlin in .357 or .44 mag would perform admirably in that role...as stated above

For this situation I would want something dead reliable like a shotgun or a revolver. I would be worried that a round like that of an AR or AK might go farther then desired. My first line of home defense is my security six.

243 is not a big recoiler, but ammo is going to be twice the cost of the others, and you will pretty much only find this in a bolt rifle. you can get a kel tec, plr 16 in that price range easy, and they are pretty nice, just don't get the a or b versions; the front sight sucks. get a C or D version ; plus they take regular ar mags. Also a Saiga, can be had easy, and putting on a folding stock is easy as well.

i consider the hi point too unreliable, becuase of the mags, and they are low count mags. you could also get the ruger mini 14 or 30, used, they will both work. even better would be the old Marlin or ruger camp models, that would fire 9mm, or 45 cals, very nice, and light and handy. then there is the 30 carbine, maybe as nice and handy as possible, with very little recoil.
then the lightest handies of all would be the kel tec 2000, basically a steel tube from front to back, and if you get one, get the one that takes glock mags, the most reliable, and you can get 33 round mags for them. this rifle weighs about 3 lbs total.

Ruger 10/22 with hi quality 25 or 30 round mags, after market stock. If you are really recoil sensitive, this is the only way to go, even though a .22lr isn't a whole lot compared to most, it beast harsh language hands down.
If you can handle moderate recoil, then the Mini-14 might be your best bet, but the mags aren't cheap.

One more thing; before you do anything, you need to get a 22. they are cheap, easy, not expensive, you can break them and buy another, still not expensive, and you can learn the right way to shoot, while spending about 2 bucks per box of ammo, and you get 50 rounds a box. You need to learn on a 22, so get a semi auto, if that is what you want in your big boy rifle, and get one that is mag fed, since your adult rifle will be mag fed. May i suggest the fabulous and cheap marlin 795, or Savage 64?
I cannot stress this enough; get good, get fast, get deadly, get accurate, and get to really know guns, get to shoot off of a rest, with one hand, with both hands, with your weak hand, ALL WITH A 22 FIRST!!!! then with total confidence, you will move onto your centerfire or shotgun stuff, and you wont fear them, and you will be able to use them well.

AK- 5.45 (best choice, )
Marlin Camp Carbine/Ruger version (w/hi-cap Glock mags)
SKS

If you only plan on buying one, don't buy crap. If you really want a shtf rifle, do some more research. .22 LR and lever guns are not main battle rifles. Buy something that's been tested in battle or has a track record as a LEO arm.

AK- 5.45 (best choice, )


One down side to this caliber is it's not easy to find ammo unless you stock up in advance.

A hi-point or cx4 storm would get the job done
Their light cheap and ammo is everywhere

Well. Let's see here.

My Spouse and I wear a Recoil Pad issued by the PAST company sold at the local Gander Mountain store. Those pads cut down on the recoil.

Spouse has a very serious bone issue that requires a low recoil type weapon/ammunition.

For her, the 20 gauge mossberg bantam with reduced recoil ammunition wasnt bad at all. I hardly felt it. Up to 100 yards is fine.

I have a difficult time imagining a total civil insurrection/unrest sitation involving a horde of people intent on taking YOU, your home and family OUT and moving on to the next home.

For that reason, I urge you to consider wearing a recoil pad and use low recoil ammunition on a carbine or a shotgun.

I am presuming that you wont be taking a "Offense" or attacking position against the unrest in the street so, thinking defense... carbine or mossberg 20 gauge bantam will be good.

The AR15 is pretty common, and the very sight of such a weapon with rounds in the magazine is plenty for some folks.

There are recoil reducing stocks on some weapons. I have learned about them a little but not enough to convert to them.

My Big 870 has a nice soft rubber pad on the end of the buttstock, however when shooting mags or full loads it will kick like a horse. With reduced recoil loads... I feel .. hm... is there a gun there? But that's just me.

Some carbines require repeated application of bullets to drop one target. Maybe a slightly bigger caliber will serve to drop a target that is experiencing passion of anger or drug fueled emotion or effects that prevent person from immediately reacting to being shot.

It is good to think about your misgivings and go with what you think is best. But remember to think of this:

Whatever you choose to use as a weapon, pistol, shotgun, rifle, 155mm cannon, mortor or whatever (Being slightly humor here...) be 110% committed to it and it will serve you well.

But thinking of possible civil unrest, that requires me to think about things like Escape, evade and going to another location in the USA, any number of which Ive known to be rather quiet and free from unrest, except for black bears, cougars, etc.

Saiga in either .223 or 7.62x39. You can add a folding stock later. Very reliable and fun to shoot.

I second the SKS or Saiga options and add a Maadi AK if youcan find it. Whatever you choose, also pick up a 10/22 for practice. The cost of .22lr is still a small percentage of the cheapest Wolf or import surplus rifle caliber.

nessala76 I am a 32 yr old female who is a self admitted wimp when it comes to the recoil and weight of a rifle.

Click to expand...

AR with a mid length 16" ultra light barrel and an A2 rifle butt stock.

Low recoil, light, affordable, durable

I would recommend the CMP surplus US M1 Carbine or a used Ruger Mini-14, preferrably a newer Series 580 with the synthetic stock. These have virtually no recoil, are light, and are not impossible to find in your price range. The AR series (I own several) are not as durable, require fastidious cleaning, are heavier and currently ridiculously expensive. For what it is worth, the used Mini-14s are often offered with a scope in the deal; and the Mini-14 has excellent, integral scope mounts. Following are some internet sites that may be of interest.

http://www.thecmp.org/m1carbine.htm

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firea...ation=Mini-14® Ranch Rifle&bct=Yes&type=Rifle

The M1 has zero recoil, and lowstoppingpower, but there is better ammo avilable than the old milspec ball. Expensive, though.