goon said:
If you had to choose one rifle, what make, model and caliber and why?
I would have to go with a DSA FAL. Powerful, accurate, and with a nickname of "the right arm of the free world" they are a chick magnet to girls who know guns.
Seriouly though, I just like them. If I could only have one, that is what I would choose.
It depends upon why we have to chose one. SHTF, society collapses, and we have to run on foot may call for a very different choice than money or new laws require we get rid of all but one (and then, can we only keep one we already have, or can we sell off what we have and buy a different/nicer rifle?).
Anyway, if SHTF and society collapses (or there is an invasion, etc) I figure that most of us won't last long if we take up the partisan role trying to fight head to head against a trained, equiped and massed enemy (or even a mob). We either need a defensive rifle in case a small group or individual comes against us, or a long range or stealth rifle to go on the offensive against hostile individuals or small groups (the sniper type role).
If I go on the defensive strategy I'd go with one of two options.
Option one is an SKS. Very hardy rifle, very reliable, cheap ammo (so I can have a lot stockpiled before anything happens). Also, a lot of people out there have SKSs so finding parts may not be too hard (though convincing someone to trade for the parts may not be easy) and there is alot of 7.62x39 ammo out there should you run out.
Option two is a nice lever rifle. PC looking (easier to pass as a hunter), in 30-30 or .44mag it would make a good defensive rifle or hunting rifle, very handy, very lightweight, quick shots, and you can load on the fly (you don't need to wait until empty).
For the offensive option I'd go with one of two. Either a medium caliber bolt rifle to take out hostiles at a distance, or a .22lr rifle to take them out quietly. I'd be a little more likely to go with one of these options over the purely defensive option since you only said one rifle, thus suggesting that I could still have a shotgun for the defensive option (if not, I'd go defensive and hide out).
For the more likely situation where a law or finances require only one gun, and I'll be staying home, I'd still have a couple options. First, since I can still have a shotgun, as much as I'd love to do the .357mag or .44mag lever for home defense, and it's quite fun, all HD applications can be taken care of by the shotgun. I don't hunt so that isn't a criteria, but even if I did a shotgun can handle most medium (to 100 yards with slugs) and short range needs (depending on shot choice you can use it against small game up to decent sized deer) so I'd likely go either cheap to shoot or long distance. Most likely I'd go with a SKS for cheap shooting but centerfire flexibility, my AR for the same reasons, a 30-30 lever (fun, fun, fun), a decent .22lr rifle (cheap), or go the other way and get a nice bolt rifle in a medium caliber for long range shooting (less likely). Out of those choices the lever rifle is most likely, but depending upon my mood at the time I could easily go with any of the listed choices.
