Best SHTF rifle in .308

[mustanger98]

Hey Lancer, What make and model is your's? It looks nice.

 

[trbon8r]

Mtang45

Obviously you either didn't read what I said, or more likely you are incapable of understanding.

The FAL while being a good rifle was marketed by a sales force around the world by a private company looking to make a profit.

On the other hand the U.S. armory system which was only in the business of supplying the U.S. military, couldn't care less if the M14 could be marketed for a profit or not. That was my point. Anything else you want to infer from that is strictly speculation on your part.

For the record, I own a FAL. While a good weapon, it's not nearly as good a tool as the M14. Of course my opinion is the same as yours, in that it's just an opinion and is worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

[PATH]

M14 and then the FAL. I like them both.

 

[Fire4Effect]

well my opinion is it depends on what kind of SHTF situation you think you are gonna find yourself in, but my choice on the .308 gun is, and I can hear all the moans and laughs now.... Saiga AK-.308

 

[rangerruck]

i'll go Saiga, with the 16 in bbl.

 

[Lancer]

mustanger98, that's just a pic off the web while I was at work. But mine is a Winchester M70 in .30-06

 

[azflyman]

VEPR in .308 I think would be my choice or a FAL. Otherwise I would just stick with my Les Baer AR-15. If someone hit me with either a .308 or a .223 at 500 yards I think I would be out of action.

az

 

[mtang45]

Mtang45

Obviously you either didn't read what I said, or more likely you are incapable of understanding.

The FAL while being a good rifle was marketed by a sales force around the world by a private company looking to make a profit.

On the other hand the U.S. armory system which was only in the business of supplying the U.S. military, couldn't care less if the M14 could be marketed for a profit or not. That was my point. Anything else you want to infer from that is strictly speculation on your part.

For the record, I own a FAL. While a good weapon, it's not nearly as good a tool as the M14. Of course my opinion is the same as yours, in that it's just an opinion and is worth exactly what you paid for it

trbon8r,
Your first sentence is half right. Although capable of understanding most intelligent beings you on the other hand present other challenges.

I fail to completely understand your argument that because the M14 was not "marketed" it failed to be as wide spread in use and acceptance as the FN-FAL. I would think that the primary reason the M14 was never universally accepted by a vast array of other countries (ie FAL) is because it was only manufactured for 5 years (1959-1964). While reliable, it had obvious shortcomings that forced the US military to adopt the M16 during the Vietnam war. The M14 still serves in specialized roles but its use is very very limited.

The M16 has been the standard since Vietnam AND you also see its design duplicated by many companys AND the M16 has become the standard small arms rifle for many many countries. This wide spread use and longevity of service life indicates the M16, like the FN-FAL, is a successful weapon in design and function.

 

[Mad Bodhi]

The Fal is not and never has been the equal of the M14.The M14 boasts superior reliability and accuracy.A self adjusting gas system that automatically compensates for a wider range of loadings than the manually adjusted Fal. The M14 has far fewer parts which adds to the reliability factor.It's lighter than the Fal.The M14 is functionally ambidextorous.The m14 was not replaced because of any shortcoming, the M16 was McNamara's doing,pure and simple.Units under USSOCOM are given greater lattitude in choosing their weapon still regularly choose the M14. The SEAL's have favored it for some time and it was employed by them during Desert Storm and C.M.H. recipient and Delta sniper Randy Shughart carried an M21/ M14 variant in Mogadishu.

 

[longhorngunman]

And there you have it, case closed. Besides cleaning from the muzzle end is the preferred way anyways.

 

[aaronrkelly]

My favorite .308 is my CETME.....its a good time to shoot. Mine has been very reliable.

 

[LAK]

IMO any reliable and acceptably accurate bolt-action with a 2.5X to 4X scope. Although I would expand the chambering choice to include anything from the 6mm's on up through the 8mm/.35 class.

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[Don't Tread On Me]

Everybody knows that .308 isn't the ideal SHTF cartridge!!!

.223 or 7.62x39mm will do 95% of what the .308 will do in a SHTF scenario, while weighing less and allowing more to be carried.


I think the best SHTF .308 is the Saiga 16". It is thin. It is LIGHT. And handy. It is an autoloader of 10 rounds, which isn't bad for a .308. Sure beats a single shot or bolt action. Has the proven AK action which is much simpler and more robust than either the M1A or FAL. Chrome lined chamber and bore. It costs a whopping $350 new. Which saves money for more ammo or other essentials. You could outfit it with tritium sights, preferably have a gunsmith mount some sort of rear-peep. Then you're in business and still come in cheaper than the other candidates.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

NICE Socom Mugs !

whats that optic you have mounted on the front?

 

[wgungho]

The question would seem to boil down to personal experience and preference. The M14/FAL question is in the same boat. I'd lean toward the M-14, myself. Reasons? I carried one for a year and a half. It never failed to function, not once. When I hit a target, the target was out of the fight, period. It was bigger and heavier than the original M16, and the ammo was heavier, too. I still liked the M14.
The M16 we were issued was the original-no chrome bolt, chamber, etc. It was a piece of @%#*, period. Too many marines died trying to clear a jammed or non-functioning weapon before the problems with the weapon and ammo were fixed.
My M14 performed the way it was intended, from 5 feet to 700 yards. Consider that personl testimonial. From the coastal sand in the Northern I Corps to the mountains around Khe Sahn during the monsoon, it NEVER quit. As a recon team member, you frequently used your weapon, and you rarely had a chance to clean your weapon while in the bush. So you needed something you could depend on, no questions.
If you get a chance, talk to some of the SoCom guys coming out of Afganistan. They're sucking up every M14 they can get their hands on. There's a reason for that!

Just my two cents!

 

[Rampant_Colt]

PTR-91 baby! (or G3 if you will)

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

I think either the CETME (if you get a good one) or an FAL (DSA of course being the best)

 

[Line Rider]

What is the best SHTF rifle, gun etc... the one that you can afford and that function every time, period.

I have a DSA StG 58 w/ bipod. It was about $ 950.00. I bought magazines for it from $5.00- $10.00 each. I bought 2 case of NIB Steyr magazines from TAPCO. I also found TAPCO had a kit w/ all the replacement springs in it at a good price. I have had my Stg 58 for about 3 yrs and had zero problems. I've got about $1500 in the gun, parts and 50 magazines.

I would love to have an HK 91 but, $2500 to $3200 LNIB. WOW! I just can't afford that. And parts are high if you can find them. But magazines have come down, thou.

I would rather put the $1000 to $1500 difference into ammo and training.

 

[50 Freak]

One more time for the cheap seats. The M14 was designed and manufactured through the U.S. armory system (read federally funded). It's construction and production was designed solely to fill U.S. needs. It was never intended to be sold overseas in quantity. The FAL which was designed and built by a private company for profit and sale abroad is a totally different animal.

Just like the M1 Garand, the M1 Carbine and the M-16....oh wait, they are all over the world serving in many different armies/security forces (still to this day). Wonder why the M-14 isn't?????

Actually I'll stop stirring the pot. I have both a FAL and a M14 and my preference is my FAL para. Lightweight at 7.5 pounds, reliable and headshots at 200 yards are a breeze.



Also don't forget a good knife