I need ONE rifle for hunting AND STHF do I go .223 or .308?

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JLStorm

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I dont want to get into models of rifle I should get, but I do want to get in caliber. I have searched the forums and I have found threads on hunting rifles and threads on STHF (many threads on SHTF), but I can afford one decent rifle and for a while it will be my ONLY rifle, so please dont say get both! I will be getting an semi auto magazine fed, not a bolt action, and plan to spend around the $1500 - $1800 price range, so it wont be top of the line, but wont be a POS either. I am set on either .308 or .223, yes I have considered 6.8, 7.62, etc but I have decided against them for various reasons.

I plan on hunting in the north eastern united states, nothing bigger than deer I would imagine. I can afford to shoot .223 over twice as much as .308, but if I cant hunt confidentally with .223 without being forced to track a wounded animal for a while it doesnt really matter how often I can shoot. I already have several handguns (45 and 40) and I plan to get a shotgun eventually for home defense.

I am not sure what other info I can provide to help you help me, but please ask if you can think of anything.
 
You can kill deer with 223, but in a lot of places it is illegal to do so. In Georgia, it is legal to use 223. I think 308 is a much better choice though.

If you were going strictly for SHTF purposes, most people would recommend the 223.

If you add in the hunting requirement, I think that opinion would change to 308. Its a more versatile cartridge.

For the budget you describe, you could either get a Springfield M1A or a DSA FAL. Both are very good rifles.
 
One rifle, Hunting and SHTF:

Shoot Deer, Elk, Bear... whatever
-To me means larger is good

Close up (CQB)
.223 is faster on target, but you'll haveto triple tap them (Or more)

Out to several 100 meters...

Penatration:
Say what you like. From my observations .223 is inadequate, and .308 is good to go.
-THIS is the big point. When you have the enemy behind cover, it's good to call up the 240 (.308 beltfed) and have their cover become concealment.
An individual does not have this option.

Another point, in SOME states .223 is Illegal for deer hunting...

Ammo: Plinking, perhaps, but you'll need GOOD/expensive .223...

I perfer a M1A scout, although a FAL carbine with DSA's AR style rear site would also do well...
Ether will be less than your budget.

JMHO

A AR and a $150 Handi rifle in a hunting round would be a way to go the other way.
 
308, without a doubt.

Without getting into rifle selections, there are plenty of 308's that will pull double-duty as you have indicated. FAL, M1A, Saiga 308, AR-10, etc. are all excellent in the SHTF+Hunting large/medium game animals department.


John
 
I will be getting an semi auto magazine fed, not a bolt action, and plan to spend around the $1500 - $1800 price range
Click to expand...

If you're not including optics in that price range then get both.

You can be in an AR for around $900 and the rest will get you in a decent .308 bolt gun for hunting and "other precision work".


Or you could look at getting a couple of Saiga AKs, one in .223 and one in .308.



But if you're dead set on only having 1 rifle, then I'd say get a .308 because it will be more versatile than the .223
 
$1500 or more to play with?

Shoot, get a 16" AR-15, and then go to a pawnshop and get a used Marlin 30-30 for about $200.

If "SHTF", the game warden won't be ticketing, so you can stash or trade your 30-30 and stick with the AR-15.

-MV
 
It depends on where you live. Around here the biggest game we have is whitetail, and .223 will take them. If you plan on hunting anything bigger go with .308. I like the .223 myself since the ammo is much cheaper (and easier to find) than .308, it has no trouble taking any local game, it has no trouble taking down two legged varmints either despite what some keyboard commandos will tell you, and after a long day at the range my shoulder doesnt hurt like hell if I have been shooting my AR-15. If I have been banging on the AR-10 I will be sore later that night.
 
308 sounds like the better choice per your requirements. Not sure which state you are talking about hunting in but if it's PA then remember that it's illegal to hunt with a semi-auto.
 
308 sounds like the better choice per your requirements. Not sure which state you are talking about hunting in but if it's PA then remember that it's illegal to hunt with a semi-auto.
Click to expand...

Crap...I missed the line about semi autos only being allowed if you are disabled. Ok...well since I cant hunt with the damn thing, I guess I need to go .223 for SHTF and 308 bolt action for hunting...crap... :banghead:
 
hehe... then we have a different discussion.


Again, I don't want to get into the discussion about picking specific firearms-- that's your choice. But it does open up a lot of economic discussions.

Going that route, you could grab a Saiga in 223 or 7.62x39 AND a Savage 308. You'd have plenty left over for good optics on your Savage. Or you could even add getting a good handgun to compliment your others.

I also don't want to get into the whole SHTF thing again, but this may bear saying. During Katrina, I found that my Glock was much more versitile and needed over my AK. Having something you can carry all the time without drawing attention to yourself is a good thing in cases like that.

Just something to think about.


John
 
May be a possibility Nomad.

Only flaw I can see is that 308 is gonna be more expensive to shoot if you want to practice with it. 223 and even 7.62x39 would be more economical if there was a lot of shooting involved.

I've come to that reality myself. I stock 7.62 NATO, 7.62x39, 9mm, 12 Gauge and 22 rimfire. I'd trying to hold to those calibers for economic and practicality concerns.

Oh... I forgot that I have 7.62x54R for the Mosin Nagant-- but this was an after-thought to my caliber considerations. For my needs, I consider 7.62 NATO and 7.612x54R as roughly equal calibers so there is redundancy there (Bad John! Bad!)


John
 
Silly PA semi auto hunting law

or you could try to get the PA Game Commission to remove the silly restriction on hunting with semi-autos. That one has irritated me since I move to PA from CO. It's one of those "tradition" laws that have no grounding in reality... they just never allowed it and figure if allowed the woods would run red with the blood of many... Funny though how it doesn't happen in the States that allow semi-auto hunting. Guess we PA hunters aren't as responsible or something.

</rant off>

I have used 308 for deer for 30+ years... it hasn't failed me yet.
 
.308, no contest. with .308 you get much better range and you dont get in trouble with the game warden.
 
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