Better general purpose battle rifle than HK91

If you really want the best rifle for that application then it is indeed the AR. It is (IMO) the best defensive rifle currently made, and it is capable of taking up to deer sized game with the standard chambering of .223/5.56.

Of the weapons considered, I don't know how you can go wrong with an M1 Carbine. If the consideration in self defense is not only you, but your more diminutive partner (wife/girlfriend), you can hardly go wrong with one of these. Basic mag is 15 rounds.....though 30's are available.
Relatively inexpensive ammo, easy to maintain, and good for up to 250 yds.
If you need a bug out weapon that's light, this would be an intelligent alternative.

There is a reason everyone uses an AR or to a lesser extent an AK. Unless you are a total contrary-an I would give them serious thought.

carbine is cute,but ammo logistics are a problem.get a colt 6920,6940 or a 308 ar-15.

pick something where ammo/parts supplies will be greater

AR15 in 6.8 SPC

Great hunting round out to well over 300 yards

Over twice the punch of the 223


The Hornady 120g SST in 6.8 is a thumper

Its a DRT (dead right there) bullet on big Texas boars (250 to 300 lbs)


And I imagine 2 legged critters as well.......

Why not get you a Golani rifle in 5.56/ 223, it is a Galil clone, part M-16, AK-47, and FN, mine is rock solid, ya, I know it is a century arms built rifle but they built this one right Or a SIG Sauer 5.56 rifle

GraveMAL said:

I purchased a PTR 91, with the intention of a SHTF rifle.

I (want) to avoid an AR....I prefer something different, not (what) everyone else has.....

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These two sentences do not belong in the same paragraph.

If I had to do it all over again I'd forget the 5.56x45mm M4 and go with a 7.62x39mm AK instead.

With an AK the cheapest ammo will allow you effectively engage someone inside a automobile. With an AR it's going to cost over $1.00 per cartridge for barrier blind ammo to achieve the same kind of performance.

I purchased a PTR 91, with the intention of a SHTF rifle.

I (want) to avoid an AR....I prefer something different, not (what) everyone else has.....

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These two sentences do not belong in the same paragraph.

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This.

How about a dragunov?

Better SHTF rifle than HK91

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For the same money buy 2-3 10-22's, enough for your entire family, 8-10 25 round magazines and as much ammo as you can afford.

Or an AR.

Hmm... criteria for your rifle? Limited to "military" cartridges?

Have you ruled out Traditional lever rifles, mini-14, or a pistol caliber carbine?

I vote for a 357 lever and a revolver. Second goes for a rockola m1 carbine with a blackhawk in 30 carbine, blackhawk has to be a old model.

If you're set on a .308, how about a FAL? There's good reason that it was adopted by 90+ countries. It also made quite a name for itself during the Rhodesian conflicts. While its not the most accurate or lightest rifle around, it's more than accurate enough for social work to 500 yards or more, hunting out to 200 yards or so, and what's more you can always expect it to go bang every time. Plus, the ergo's aren't half bad either.

An other option to consider is either a .308 VEPER or a a M1A. The M1A has much better sights in my opinion, but the VEPR .308 is lighter. If we're comparing apples to apples, the FAL, M1A (a Basic NOT a National Match!), and VEPR will all have similar accuracy.

David E said:

These two sentences do not belong in the same paragraph.

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Is this relating to your likes or dislikes of ARs, or is this a grammar intervention?

If anything ever really happened i'd be giving a AK to everyone in my house and then a lever gun to whoever didn't get a AK. AK's are a much better shtf gun than AR's in my opinion. I have shot several AR's and M-16's and cannot like them,they honestly would be one of my last ever choices of a shtf gun.

Is this relating to your likes or dislikes of ARs, or is this a grammar intervention?

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You cannot ask for the best rifle for SHTF and then also say that you don't want an AR or AK. The sentences are mutually exclusive.

Not the same as everyone else has

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Is about the worst possible criteria in the world you could possibly use when choosing a SHTF weapon.

It would not be a 'mine is different then yours" pissing match during a video game.

It would be what you can find common ammo, mags, and parts for in the aftermath.

And in America in the foreseeable future, that would be a 12 ga shotgun, a 30-06 bolt action, a 30-30 Winchester, or a .22 RF like a 10/22 Ruger or Marlin 60.

And any AR-15 in .223.
Like them or hate them, they are Americas gun, now, and in the foreseeable future.
And your best chance of keeping something running is one of the above.

Now, this thread will soon be locked.
Because we don't do SHTF & EOTWAWKI threads on THR.

rc

If you slammed someone upside the head with a mosin nugent.. nevermind.

I've got an Arsenal SGL-21 and a Ruger Mini-14 586. Honestly, for a dependable gun, I'd have to go with my Mini-14, but thats just because of how I have it outfitted. I think the most important thing for you to consider is how do you want to equip your rifle? Irons, red dot, or scope? Rails/Pistol grip or a simple traditional stock? How far do you want to be able to shoot?

My Mini 14 feels like 8 lbs and looks like a 5.56 M14 with an Accu-Strut, m14-style flash hider, choate vented handguard, Nikon 3-9x scope, and sling. It's much more consistent than my AK (With the strut and 55 grain V-Max reloads I've gotten 10 shot groups around 1.5-2"). The Minis aren't so accurate out of the box, but theres stuff you can do to them to fix that. I like the feel of the rifle better than my dad's AR, or even my AK. Its lighter, more comfortable, lower profile, and easier to shoot. YMMV.

My SGL-21 AK weighs...probably close to 10lbs with a Leatherwood CMR (Good scope, but heavy), Midwest AKSM mount, and a crappy paracord sling I made. It shoots OK, but the round is pretty much limited to 300 yards. Ammos cheaper, but its less expensive for a reason, non-reloadable and not incredibly accurate. Not worth more than .30 a round IMO.

So if you're dead set on a semi auto, I'd suggest a Mini-14. Great little guns, especially with the accu strut. AKs are great choices...but they're significantly overpriced right now. I got mine two years ago for $700 (CA prices mind you), and now the same guns are going for at least $200-300 more. Not worth it if you ask me.

Well, easy way to keep the AR-15 running in a SHTF scenario is keep a quart of V-twin oil on hand to keep it lubed up and running well. Versus a motorcycle or a car engine, a rifle is a very very mild system. You can always salvage some motor oil during a SHTF scenario.

If you had like a sporting model of the 91, like the SL-7, that'd be the ticket. The fan wouldn't know what hit it!