All purpose, defense, fun to take to the range rifle?

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drbeans

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So here is my issue. I own a 556 RR M4 as well as a nice Gi parts M1A. I would like to sell the M4 in order to fund other toys. I am sure this has been debated here before. What would be your primary all purpose (even SHTF) rifle in a caliber other than 556? I LOVE my M1A, but it is not the most accurate and it is long and heavy. Is there a better option? Maybe a M1A Socom? I am not a huge "zombie apocalypse" guy, but I believe in being prepared. I buy ammunition and spare magazines for the range and just in case, I also have a bug out bag full of mags and ammo. That being said, I will spend more time at the range than killing zombies or humping it through barren post apocalyptic wasteland. I am also on enough of a budget that I cannot have one of everything. Nor would you want to carry one of everything in an emergency. I prefer the 762/308 round to that of the 556. I prefer .45 and .357 in a pistol. Maybe a lever .357 in order to use the same rounds for pistol and rifle? But then are you compromising on rifle caliber in order to use a pistol round? Thanks gang.
 
How'bout an AK? Seems perfect for what you're looking for. They're great fun at the range! I suggest looking into an Arsenal SLR-107FR (bulgarian) or an Arsenal SGL-21 (Russian).

The 7.62x39 seems perfect for what you're looking for.

EDIT: They are also very easy to mount optics on! They have side rails which you can simply slide a POSP scope onto, like one from this website:
http://www.kalinkaoptics.com/
 
I heard about those side rails and was a little confused. The scope doesn't actually mount offset from the barrel, does it? If anyone has a picture of an AK utilizing this type of mount, I'd love to see it.
 
I would go with a FAL. Probably a DSA if you can afford it. My personal favorite would be a 16-18" para carbine folder, but all of the DSAs are good rifles. Mags aren't too expensive either and you've already or your ammo set up. I'm not sure about accuracy though if you say your M1A is too inaccurate, they're usually the most accurate of the battle rifles...

An AK would be my second choice, but I see it more as a short range use rifle (even though I know they can reach out, but my FAL definitely hits harder at range).
 
I know AKs are bullet proof reliable, but I have just never been a fan. Would prefer the FAL or G3 route.
 
Sure, here are some pictures:
The side rail is a piece of metal on the side of the receiver that various mounts can latch on to. Looks like this:
T2leftrecsmall.jpg


A Russian POSP/PSO scope like this will sit to the left of the barrel:
POSP2.jpg

It is slight and it takes a bit of getting used to, but it was DESIGNED for the gun.

Alternatively, you can buy mounts with a picatinny rail on top and mount your own scope: Here is one of Buddy Hinton's with a german scope and a K-Var scope mount:
AK74MineLeft.jpg
 
I had an AK when I was younger and it was a ton of fun at the range! Mine was a Chinese MAK-90 which I bought off of a friend. It came with two ten round and four thirty round mags, a case, and 1,000 rounds of ammo. I wish I had never sold it...

I wouldn't suggest the MAK, as it is pretty heavy, but a good light AK with a folding stock and several extra mags would be a great choice. It is the epitome of a SHTF rifle, IMHO. I may not be the most accurate rifle at a distance, but it is extremely rugged and will go bang everytime. They handle well and are basically indestructible. What more could you ask for when the SHTF?

I see a couple of people mentioned the FAL. You can't go wrong with one of those either. Get what you like, but for what you're describing, make sure it's reliable and ammo is readily available.
 
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A lever action Savage rifle, in .300 caliber. No, they won't spray like the AK-hoses do, but the knock down, flat on their butt reaction is what you're after right? One well placed round is better than 10 rounds sprayed at them, hoping to hit something. I also know this isn't what you're wanting to hear, but rifles are like opinions, everyone has one!
 
I was a socom 16 for a very very long time.

magazines are $55.00 a piece.


so I moved to the FN-FAL magazines are $15.00 a piece. I still have the socom 16 but I will carry with FN-FAL when SHTF.
RvR
 
For an inexpensive and cheap to shoot range toy, bug out rifle, etc. the Hi-Point Carbine in 9MM is rocking. It's not too spendy and shoots cheapo 9MM. The downsides are it only holds 10 rounds in the magazine, it's kind ugly too.

Upsides, reliable, inexpensive, cheap to shoot, accurate and has a great lifetime no questions asked warranty.

I bought my old style 995 in June for $125.

These are also available in .40S&W and .45ACP
 
For me, without a doubt it would be a lever action 30-30. I just like its compactness and out to 200 yards I don't need holdover if I use leverevolution rounds. I can hunt, social plink, and defend myself. I know its not for everyone. If I had to reccomend something else that is more mainstream, I'd suggest the 308 Ruger Scout rifle that is sold internationally - stainless, 18" barrel, no flash hider.
 
Given:
What would be your primary all purpose (even SHTF) rifle in a caliber other than 556?
Click to expand...
I second the motion of Ham and Sheepdog! A good lever-action rifle in one of the more powerful calibers is a highly capable, light & shorter, decent rapid-fire general purpose rifle. The Cowboy Carbine or RedNeck Assault Rifle is not perceived as an evil black rifle for general toting around field, farm and range, BUT is almost as powerful, in effective stopping power and rate of fire combined. This is true for under 100 yards for the magnum pistol rounds (.357 Mag, .44 Mag, .454 Cassull), which is adequate for both HD and survival meat harvesting. The true rifle rounds (.30-30 or Browning BLR in any cartridge/caliber you want) give somewhat more "reach". Lever guns are handy to carry and shoot, plus you can get one to toss around like a truck gun or a polished show piece; your choice.

If you're open to lever guns, we can re-hash and update what's available now for your needs/preferences...
 
Living on a farm, a Marlin 336 in 30-30 with Williams Peeps is the all-purpose rifle of my choosing to always have in a cab-tractor or pasture truck. My FEG AK-47 side-folder is an outstanding fun-gun though, and if the SHTF, I think I would "give it the edge" over the lever, to put it mildly.
 
Well, I'm a 5.56 fan since I have 10,000 rounds of it stockpiled in ammo cans w/ silica packets jammed in with them. But, my close second is the Saiga 7.62 AK I picked up a few months ago. Ammo's cheap, gun works well, and is despite AK rumors, very accurate. 7.62x39 hits as hard as a 30-30 & you can bring lots of loaded mags to the party.
 
Civilian (non-LEO) self-defense scenarios at a distance of more than 50-100 feet seem to be almost unheard of.

It would be very interesting to read about some, because criminals always want to sneak up on people to reduce the victims' chance of escaping.

I could easily be wrong, and please describe situations during the LA Race Riots or in the Katrina aftermath etc where non-LEO people were fired on from about 50 feet or much further.
 
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If I gotta travel light I would grab my Marlin 30-30 if not then I'll grab my favorite rifle the SOCOM.


"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety"- Benjamin Franklin
 
Marlin 336SS in .30-30 or VZ.58 in 7.62x39mm. One is better for food, the other better for 2 legged critters. It depends on what you mean by SHTF. Both have similar ballistics though and neither are punishing to shoot, yet better than a pistol caliber.
 
My AR-15 chambered in 7.62X39 - ammo is cheap - gun shoots everything - but lower needs heavy Wolff hammer spring for some foreign ammo with hard primers.
30 round clips - don't bother to pick up the steel cases - can't reload them so let them rust away (unless at the range, then I clean up what I can).
 
What I mean by SHTF is simply being prepared for the unknown. In a rifle, this means the following: Relatively light and easy to handle, reliable, accurate, powerful enough to take large game, easy to find (or stockpile) and then reload ammo for, preferably magazine fed, simple in design and operation (making parts and repair easier), etc. Since the dookie may not hit the fan in my lifetime, I want to be able to shoot the thing and have fun in the meantime. I have a lot of 308 already, which is why I am leaning this way. Plus I find the caliber fits my needs in terms of inherent accuracy, big game take down, ease of finding components to reload, etc.
 
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