Does anyone else Not own a semi-automatic battle rifle?

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scotjute

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I have 2-3 bolt action rifles, 2 or 3 shotguns, and some revolvers. Everything I now have has a purpose and gets used or carried at least occassionally.
I know I need a semi-automatic battle rifle to defend freedom and home if the need should arise, but I really don't want the hassle and expense of acquiring one and keeping it up.
A "semi-auto battle" rifle would be in a different caliber requiring another set of cleaning equipment, more ammo, more time spent cleaning it, cost a lot of money, take up space and time spent storing/shooting it. It would never be something useful that I'd be using in everyday life, such as hunting, etc., unless of course Armageddon or some-such disaster actually occurs and becomes my every-day life. Even then, I have these nagging doubts that I might be better off using my scoped deer rifle or shotgun anyway, as I'm used to shooting these, and they're very effective in their own areas.

Well I'm glad others are fully prepared to defend freedom, and perhaps tomorrow I will repent of my bad attitude and acquire a sleek new battle rifle and store 2,000 rounds of a caliber I don't hunt with, but until then I remain unrepentant.
Does anyone else struggle with these decisions and doubts?
 
Does anyone else struggle with these decisions and doubts?
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Nope. The thing that does strike me from your post is that you do hunt but you don't have a rifle in .308, .223, or .30-06.

That amazes me more than anything.
 
Get an SKS. For about a $400 investment, you can get an SKS, about 50 stripper clips and 1,000 rounds.

A hunting rifle can be effective, but the only thing that would be holding you back would be how quickly you could reload. Besides, as a range toy, the semi-auto rifles are pretty fun to shoot.

Well I'm glad others are fully prepared to defend freedom, and perhaps tomorrow I will repent of my bad attitude and acquire a sleek new battle rifle and store 2,000 rounds of a caliber I don't hunt with, but until then I remain unrepentant.
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It's called being prepared but it is only as a last resort. Same reason that you keep a fire extinguisher at home. Owning one can be crucial in a Katrina-type situation which can be likely depending on the area in which you live.
 
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No worries here. I buy what I like and don't get caught up the "politics" of it.
 
Nope. The thing that does strike me from your post is that you do hunt but you don't have a rifle in .308, .223, or .30-06.

That amazes me more than anything.
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he could be using 30-30 or even handgun maybe muzzle loader. You dont necesarlily need a .308,30-06 or 223. Especially when a .50 cal muzzleloader can take down an african bull elephant. Not all hunters go for military style calibers. Though they would be good. Not needed
 
You dont necesarlily need a .308,30-06 or 223.
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Oh I know you can do without but those 3 account for such a large percentage of rifles out there it's kind of surprising a person doesn't own at least one of them.

Not likely 30-30 since he said he's got several bolt actions. That would be even more unusual.
 
I've been shooting for almost 24 years without one. If you don't want one, no big deal. Shoot what you like.

I've never had one, but always wanted an AR-15 for light hunting, varmits, and just plain fun. I've got a AR-15 lower now and a .22 lr upper on the way. I'm still trying to decide on a .223 uper. I'm not getting one for the end of civilization, just for some fun shooting. The defense capabilities are just a plus.
 
I would not buy one unless I felt like I wanted it and would like it.

So far I haven't felt the need or desire. That could always change though. :)

Personally, for the end-of-the-world scenario I think my pile of handguns and rifles each fully loaded and accompanied by all my spare mags and speedloaders would match the effectiveness of a battle rifle. But I hope never to find out whether I'm right or wrong!
 
Buy what you like. If you are looking for a justification in getting a semi auto, get a 10/22, an AR or a garand from the CMP, go to an appleseed and possibly even a high power match. The appleseed will teach you how to shoot high power and it's a lot of fun.
 
The OP didn't mention what the calibers of his 2-3 bolt action rifles were, so you might as well assume that at least one of them indeed is a .30-06 or .308.

I don't have a semi-auto battle rifle. One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to get one, but that's something that I've since decided to forgo. I understand all of the reasons that people should have such a thing, I even appreciate and agree with all those reasons.

And then, the sheer reality of being a working-class person is that I can't justify dropping that amount of money on something that, other than range time, I'm not likely to use anytime soon.

Someone above said that one could drop $400 and get an SKS and 1,000 rounds, which was probably going to be my plan for the resolution I mentioned above. However, I have an opportunity to go elk hunting this fall, something I've never done and would love to do. So I just dropped a comparable amount of money on a bolt action .30-06 instead, because I didn't really have a rifle capable of doing the job otherwise. I've made the decision to buy something that I know I have use for now instead of something that I might have use for in the future.

And I totally agree with cerberus' last paragraph.

Josh
 
Nothing wrong with the collection you already have as it covers most of the bases. I have semi-autos more for range toys than SD purposes. I agree with a previous poster, if its bothering you, or if you just want to expand your horizons a bit, get an SKS. The Yugos can still be had cheaply and ammo isn't too bad......yet. If it doesn't float your boat, forget about it.
 
I've got an AR type rifle in 5.56x45 NATO and a Kalashnikov type rifle in 7.62x39mm, but I don't consider either of them "battle rifles". I do think they're adequate for the type of use you're asking about though.

I've always considered a battle rifle to be chambered in a full power rifle round such as .308, .30-06, 7.62x54R, 7.5 Swiss, etc.
 
Every rifle I own is a semi-automatic version of a battle or assault rifle :evil:













.
 
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Ihave 14 guns, rifles and handguns. No semi-automatics.

Cisco Kid:"Poor cringo shoots much, but badly". So I was reading when I was 7 years old.
 
semi-automatic battle or assault rifle
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Nope cant say i own one . I do have a FAL , AR , and several sks rifles that seem to work well for chasing loose/rogue town dogs off from the cattle herd tho lol .

If you dont want your dog shot keep it out of my pasture . In return i wont bring my cattle to pasture your lawn .
 
Define "battle rifle".

If you really want a semi-auto rifle that you don't really need to put much effort in to, buy an AK style rilfe and stick it in a closet. Guaranteed when you pull it out in 10 years to check on it, it will still work.

Otherwise, don't worry about it. It's your life, do with it as you will. :)
 
Used them in the military but don't own any. Don't need any. My bolt actions, lever actions and pump actions get the job done.
 
I solved the problem described by selling the non-military chamberings and hunting with my semi-auto rifles.

<shrug>

Works for me.
 
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