"backpack rifle"

[1911user]

What do you need to shoot at thats more than 100yards away in a self defense situation?

hmmmmmm....they might be shooting at me from over 100 yards away????

 

[rbernie]

they might be shooting at me from over 100 yards away????

In which case I'm moving and communicating rather than shooting. I mean, let's be real - who's REALLY gonna stand off and play sniper with another armed assailant if there is any other possible choice?

 

[1911user]

I'm not saying 100+ yard shots would be the most common problem (or solution), but to intentionally limit a rifles' capability to 100 yards is not wise IMO. In a lawless situation, the rules change (at least for a short time) and shooting someone who was trying an amateur sniper attempt on myself or family seems easily justified. That doesn't mean I can't move around a bit or get people under cover first.

The premise of this thread is a bit fantastic, but possible and certainly worth pondering.

 

[rbernie]

The premise of this thread is a bit fantastic, but possible and certainly worth pondering.

The premise that has been built out of this thread is that someone is going to find themelves in a SHTF situation that will require that they publicly remove and assemble a long weapon from a backpack while under fire from an assailant that's at least 100 yards away, and subsequently return fire upon completion of the weapon's assembly.

In the harsh glare of reality, do you REALLY believe that's 'possible and certainly worth pondering'?

 

[Andrew S]

The premise that has been built out of this thread is that someone is going to find themelves in a SHTF situation that will require that they publicly remove and assemble a long weapon from a backpack while under fire from an assailant that's at least 100 yards away, and subsequently return fire upon completion of the weapon's assembly.

In the harsh glare of reality, do you REALLY believe that's 'possible and certainly worth pondering'?

Not to mention if the person is 100yrds away they are likely to be firing that first shot well before you identify them as a threat or even notice their presence.

And unless they do fire that first shot its going to be hard to convince someone else it was a self defense situation with that kind of distance.

If the original poster gives us a better idea of his goals/worries maybe we can figure this out a bit better. Until then I say go with the Kel-Tec Sub2000. Hicap glock mags are cheap and easy to acquire now.

 

[bad LT]

What do you need to shoot at thats more than 100yards away in a self defense situation?

Um, if I were hungry and I say a deer was at a 150 yards....

ummm, venison

 

[1911user]

The premise that has been built out of this thread is that someone is going to find themelves in a SHTF situation that will require that they publicly remove and assemble a long weapon from a backpack while under fire from an assailant that's at least 100 yards away, and subsequently return fire upon completion of the weapon's assembly.

In the harsh glare of reality, do you REALLY believe that's 'possible and certainly worth pondering'?

My assumption is the carbine will not remain in the backpack all of the time, but it must be capable of being carried in the backpack and deployed relatively quickly. I do think that's worth pondering. If you don't, that's OK.

What caused me jump back in was the idea (not yours) that one would NEVER want to return fire at someone over 100 yards away and should therefore limit the weapon choices to pistol-caliber carbines (also not rbernie's statement). Never is very limiting and I choose not to limit tactics without a good reason. A rifle-caliber carbine could meet the requirements and give more options (like shooting a deer).

EDIT: clarification about selecting a pistol-caliber carbine

 

[rbernie]

should therefore limit the weapon choices to pistol-caliber carbines.

I never suggested that in this thread. I *did* suggest that the idea of needing to carry a long rifle in a concealed manner to deal with SHTF situations was a bit of a fantasy. I still believe that to be true. We'll just have to agree to disagree on that. That's OK.

For what it's worth, I tote a long gun in a rifle chambering with me on a daily basis. It's in my vehicle, and that's where I'll find it when I need it. I have no illusions of getting so far from my vehicle in a SHTF situation that I can't fight my way back to it (so to speak) with my pistol. That's all I saying. Needing to tote the rifle with me in some break-down form strikes me as a bit, ah, over the top.

Different strokes, and all that.

 

[student]

For what it's worth, I tote a long gun in a rifle chambering with me on a daily basis. It's in my vehicle, and that's where I'll find it when I need it. I have no illusions of getting so far from my vehicle in a SHTF situation that I can't fight my way back to it (so to speak) with my pistol. That's all I saying. Needing to tote the rifle with me in some break-down form strikes me as a bit, ah, over the top.

We are all entitled to our opinion...that is what makes this discussion worthwhile. Snide remarks denegrating others ideas is not what makes this worthwhile.
That said, I hope you never break down away from home and have to explain to an unfamiliar cop that you have a rifle (especially if it looks militaristic) in your vehicle and you now must haul it around with you while the vehicle is being towed/repaired. That wouldn't be the end of the world, but out of site is out of their mind and would avoid trouble. What if you had to evacuate to somewhere and ran out of gas (I am sure that would not in happen in Texas) and had too go ahead on foot. At least where I am concerned, a concealed weapon is always better in the far more likely non-combat situation (I hope the Chinese aren't invading this week). Who will be more likely to be shot, a guy with a rifle in his hands or a guy with a backpack? I personally don't have fantasies about whipping this thing out to take head shots at long range targets. My CCW pistol would suffice for reactive close encounters. But if I need my rifle I can get it, if it becomes a liability it can disappear. It is just a convenience thing. My favorite rifle doesn't do this, so I compromise. I have previously heard comments like "the only place for my rifle in SHTF is in my hands". But SHTF is not usually a black or white event that can be predicted, I want my response to be as flexible.

 

[JShirley]

On the one hand, the chances of needing to take over 100 meter shots may be slim. OTOH, we saw a situation just a few weeks ago, in New Orleans, where snipers were repeatedly (sometimes for days at intermittent intervals) firing at passerby. In such a situation, it would be entirely possible to not be able to easily evade, but have a pressing need to suppress or eliminate a threat at over 100 meters- and we just saw it happen.

John

 

[ctdonath]

Needing to tote the rifle with me in some break-down form strikes me as a bit, ah, over the top.

In a "bug-out" situation I'd find a breakdown rifle very handy: if travelling on foot, situations may necessitate carrying inconspicuously over instant deployment. I've spent $60 on a minimal-sized inconspicuous soft case for my AR15; I've found it easier to transport it broken down in a shorter duffel bag. Putting it together takes a minute; answering "what's that" may take hours.

To each their own (haven't found an ideal yet).

 

[mec360]

Here is an interesting solution that doesn't require that the rifle take-down:

http://tadgear.com/x-treme gear/packs main/gs05m_gunslinger.htm

A less concealed version:

http://tadgear.com/x-treme gear/packs main/f_a_s_t__pack_alpha.htm
Scroll all the way down to the bottom pictures.

As an alternative, personally I would consider a powerful revolver if I needed to carry a firearm in a backpack (I'm assuming you would also be carrying some sort of CCW piece); an 8 3/8" .44 mag with a scope, or if you really need range and power, a .460 or .500 S&W X-frame with a scope. Not a rapid fire tacticool solution, but faster and handier than putting a take-down rifle together. It just depends on what you want to accomplish. Obviously you are going to want to avoid any sort of firefight in any emergency situation, especially if you are trying to get from here to there in a situation where you don't want to carry a firearm visibly, and most especially if you are traveling alone.

 

[antarti]

I'm with mec360 on this one

Why not a scoped revolver in .44 mag in addition to your CCW piece?

Would seem to offer hard-hitting and accurate (but slow) fire out to 150 yds for food gathering or other chores. Easily concealable and 'splainable.

I'd like to have an entire arsenal with me at all times, but it's just not realistic. A hicap CCW piece with spare mags, plus the aforementioned revolver would be as compact as possible, and still not leave you high-and-dry if someone were behind cover at < 150 yds. A pistol caliber carbine isn't likely to punch through much cover at that range. I doubt the .223 is much of a penetrator out there either.

Hell, a Savage striker in 308 or the short 300 mag, with LER scope might be a good choice, for that matter. Even a lightly armored target won't present a problem, and neither will hitting it. A bolt action or revolver-action anything won't raise too many eyebrows.

 

[Shalako]

That scoped pistol idea is a good one.

This thread is starting to get my mind going on the possibilities. Back during the DC Sniper craziness I started considering the need for a close at hand long gun or scoped highpower pistol in case that insanity started up near me.

What about the classic gun in a guitar case? You could fit about anything in an electric guitar case and not look to conspicuous, especially if you have a feathered eighties hairdo ( )

I believe I could really rely on my 1894c in Bad Times. I can fairly reliably hit coke cans at 100 yards using a field rest with .38 specials. I know a .357 would give much better results down range than that and take me out to maybe 200 yds.

If the 1894c could fit in, say, a pool cue case, it would be quite awesome in your proposed role.

 

[bad LT]

A nice lever action that breaks down is a very good idea. Who other than Wild West Guns makes them?

My only real problem with them is that most lever action rifles take a rather long time to load. (Come on Savage, please make some more take-down model 99's).

 

[Onslaught]

I never suggested that in this thread. I *did* suggest that the idea of needing to carry a long rifle in a concealed manner to deal with SHTF situations was a bit of a fantasy. I still believe that to be true. We'll just have to agree to disagree on that. That's OK.

In July, I would have agreed with you...

Until I read a news article about a group of tourists in New Orleans that, although originally strangers, had banded together because the remaining "locals" were preying heavily on them because they stood out so obviously as tourists, and were stuck without vehicles or any place to go.

Here is an interesting solution that doesn't require that the rifle take-down:

Dude, that's a drag bag for sniper rifles. EVERYBODY's gonna know what you're packing. But thank you for taking the time to contribute nonetheless.

My thoughts... Even if God himself guaranteed me that I would NEVER have to defend myself at a range greater than 100 meters, I would STILL prefer the significant power increase of a rifle over a pistol caliber... But that's just me.

Ultimately, I'm with SpookyPistolero and others in my personal setup. When possible, I CCW. My vehicle has a well mounted Versa-vault to store my pistol when necessary, but allows instant access. Here again, I considered this next part complete fantasy until Katrina, but IF by some extreme stretch, I actually needed more than 26 rounds of .40, I will be adding a Ruger Mini-14 folder with factory 20 round mags as an option for my every day vehicle setup. When we travel, I can cable the little Mini through the open action and directly to the mounts under my back seat. The action is so big, I can use REALLY thick coated cable and as large and tough of a lock as I want...

It's not quick access, but it's something to "fight to" with my Glock.

Gosh, now I'm embarrassed just saying that out loud. I'm one of "them" now.

 

[spartacus2002]

Paratrooper SKS with folding stock.

 

[1911user]

Unless converted to US made (replace 7 parts, not trivial to do on an SKS), a folding stock SKS could be serious legal trouble if a DA or the ATF wanted to seriously mess up your future. My guess is that there are very few SKSs with folding stocks that are legal. For a backpack rifle like this, I'd want to make sure it was in a legal configuration given the potential exposure after a shooting. FWIW, I've also heard that the folding stocks available for an SKS are mostly junk and not something you'd want to rely upon in a serious situation.

 

[carebear]

.30 Carbine in a folder wouldn't be bad either.

 

[rbernie]

When possible, I CCW.

Yup

will be adding a Ruger Mini-14 folder with factory 20 round mags as an option for my every day vehicle setup

Yup

It's not quick access, but it's something to "fight to" with my Glock.

Exactly my point all along. Being able to CCW a break-down rifle is a nice idea until it bumps up against the reality of being able to actually find such a beast, package it, have it with you wherever you go, and then be in a position to deploy it when needed. What Onslaught just said is exactly what I've tried to say all along with an obvious lack of success.

Trunk guns are good. CCW is good. Use CCW, concealment, cover, and wits to get to trunk if needed. Everything else presumes too much to be reasonable, IMO.

 

[student]

Another idea could be a Contender type pistol for a rifle caliber, accurate with possibly more penetration than pistol caliber, if not slow and loud.

 

[nipprdog]

how about this...

Choate folding stock. cut barrel to 16&1/2"

http://www.riflestock.com/catalog_p...ductCode=36&ProductSubCodeID=203&NewProduct=0

 

[middy]

I don't think it's a bad idea at all, thinking of it as a truck gun that can be toted concealed if the need arises. I think the KelTec SU16 series would be perfect.

Along with a decent backpack it would be a great start to a bug-out bag; just add MREs and survival supplies.

Edited to add: For purely survival situations (no combat or close range defense only) my truck gun might be better. It's a Rossi 2in1 single-shot 20ga/.22lr with some slugs, buck shot, bird shot, and plenty of .22lr. breaks down to about the size of the KelTec SU16, but takes a little longer to assemble. And it's less than $150.

 

[JG]

A nice lever action that breaks down is a very good idea. Who other than Wild West Guns makes them?

Dave Clay, DRC........tad expensive, long wait.

But the final product is a work of art.

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

10 1/2" AR-pistol(~24"with carbine buffer)(~20-21" with Bushmaster buffer tube)

Will fit in a ,"Travel-type" backpack fairly easily and with softpoint ammo, stopping power is a non issue even out of the short barrel . Put a 10 rounder in it for easier removal from concealment, plus ten rounds of softpoint .223 should either solve the problem, or atleast get you to cover for a reload of a fresh 20 or 30 rounder . Be sure this would be legal where you stay. I have a concealed carry license(+an AR-15 Pistol) and may have to give this backpack idea a try . A 10 round mag of softpoints, a 20 or 30 round mag of softpoints, and one 20 or 30 round mag of FMJ,just in case , equals 50-70 rounds of mixed ammo that will handle 99.7% of the situations/ranges we could face(especially if you add a red dot)...

Too Many Choices!?

PS-We don't got lions, tigers, or bears here, and the largest predatory animal I have seen was a barn owl that could have taken a GROWN goat if it liked . So my percentage (99.7%)is based on my experience and area fawna, and , as always, YMMV(especially if your area's got lions, tigers, and bears, Oh my! ).