I know I probably sound like a broken record, and I'll probably get flamed for this, but:
You cannot look at a realistic SHTF situation in the same way that you perceive and prepare for combat. They are just so different, and what works in one is going to get you killed in the other.
Rather than trying (and failing) to make some comprehensive list, let me just run a reasonable scenario. Lets say there is some big natural disaster near your hometown. The power is out, water is out, and people are starting to get pissed off. You decide you need to get out, but roads to your destination are impassable, or your car is broken. You have a small hunting cabin, lets say fifty miles away in a very rural area, and you have a goodly amount of supplies and gear there. Enough stuff to get you through the crisis.
The biggest difference between combat and SHTF is the mindset of the "opposition." Soldiers are trained, have an objective, are motivated to complete that objective, and have support. They are fighting. A miscreant in a SHTF situation is trying to survive. Any training he has is minimal (otherwise he would be prepared!), he has no real objectives, he has no support. In essence he is just trying to survive, using an opportunistic method.
To make a long story short, the opportunist isn't going to put his neck out too far when he tries to get you. As soon as he realizes you are a real threat to him he is going to back down.
Moving along, I think most people don't realize how heavy stuff gets after a day of hiking, especially when on minimal rations and sleeping on cold dirt. I think that everyone should take at least a day long hike (a real hike, not two miles in and out) with all of their kit, and see if they feel like they could do the same the next day.
I also read some of the comments on not needing food or clothing. I think that is a fatal blunder. Hypothermia kills you just as dead as a bullet through the heart. And provisions, again I must propose a test. Try doing a day of strenuous activity without water. Basically the brain turns to mush and your activity rate drops. Food isn't as severe, but miss a couple of meals and the pace drops radically.
Sorry if this seems a little disjointed, I will probably come back tomorrow and expand on some points when I am a bit less tired.
Back to the original question, if I were taking a semi-auto rifle with me, I would go as light as possible. Both in gun, magazine loadout, and ammo. For the gun I would equip one of those ultralight AR-15's, or a Mini-14 (gasp!). An M1 Carbine would be a fine choice too, as would a pistol caliber carbine. Take enough mags to have between 50 to 75 rounds of ammo, maybe more with a pistol caliber carbines. What I would do is pack a bit more loose ammunition in my pack. Yes, it isn't immediately accessable, but it saves weight (allowing more ammo to be carried overall).
You cannot look at a realistic SHTF situation in the same way that you perceive and prepare for combat. They are just so different, and what works in one is going to get you killed in the other.
Rather than trying (and failing) to make some comprehensive list, let me just run a reasonable scenario. Lets say there is some big natural disaster near your hometown. The power is out, water is out, and people are starting to get pissed off. You decide you need to get out, but roads to your destination are impassable, or your car is broken. You have a small hunting cabin, lets say fifty miles away in a very rural area, and you have a goodly amount of supplies and gear there. Enough stuff to get you through the crisis.
The biggest difference between combat and SHTF is the mindset of the "opposition." Soldiers are trained, have an objective, are motivated to complete that objective, and have support. They are fighting. A miscreant in a SHTF situation is trying to survive. Any training he has is minimal (otherwise he would be prepared!), he has no real objectives, he has no support. In essence he is just trying to survive, using an opportunistic method.
To make a long story short, the opportunist isn't going to put his neck out too far when he tries to get you. As soon as he realizes you are a real threat to him he is going to back down.
Moving along, I think most people don't realize how heavy stuff gets after a day of hiking, especially when on minimal rations and sleeping on cold dirt. I think that everyone should take at least a day long hike (a real hike, not two miles in and out) with all of their kit, and see if they feel like they could do the same the next day.
I also read some of the comments on not needing food or clothing. I think that is a fatal blunder. Hypothermia kills you just as dead as a bullet through the heart. And provisions, again I must propose a test. Try doing a day of strenuous activity without water. Basically the brain turns to mush and your activity rate drops. Food isn't as severe, but miss a couple of meals and the pace drops radically.
Sorry if this seems a little disjointed, I will probably come back tomorrow and expand on some points when I am a bit less tired.
Back to the original question, if I were taking a semi-auto rifle with me, I would go as light as possible. Both in gun, magazine loadout, and ammo. For the gun I would equip one of those ultralight AR-15's, or a Mini-14 (gasp!). An M1 Carbine would be a fine choice too, as would a pistol caliber carbine. Take enough mags to have between 50 to 75 rounds of ammo, maybe more with a pistol caliber carbines. What I would do is pack a bit more loose ammunition in my pack. Yes, it isn't immediately accessable, but it saves weight (allowing more ammo to be carried overall).
Some states are more tolerant of open carry than others, so check your local laws before resolving to trek across town with a rifle and a mountain of ammo.
