I'm in the same situation for the next purchase... just can't make up the mind, it's getting harder to "control the population" and make resonable purchases, trying not to get too carried away, because I'd love to just walk into the store and buy about $40k worth of guns, although my wife might toss the toster in the bath tub soon after.
I want a Remmy 700 or an AR style .308 or a M14/DMR, liveing in CA isn't my limitation, it's getting back home to make the rifle purchase, cause I'm not one to nueter a "sport utility rifle" commonly called an assult rifle by the not-so-inteligent gun banners. The Bolt Gun, just seems like it would be a safe queen unless I painted it, cause it can't go to work in stock configureation, and then there's the cost of glass, the AR .308 would be great, but the M14/DMR would also need the glass latter on.
For Pistols I'm really wanting a stainless 9mm commander sized 1911, I already have 4-1911's but I had 5 and I'm really thinking I should have one for each finger + my thumb, but I'm also thinking about a stubby revolver .357, I'm also considering getting rid of my XD-40 for a XD-9 or just buy a XD-9
Then there's the shotgun issue, I sold my 20ga, now I can't decide weather I want to go with a decent double barrel 12ga or an older Browning A5 or a Remmy 870 12ga with a 18" barrel & an AR stock.
Really out there but kind of crazy; I'd love to go get a Barret M82 or M107 50 BMG, just to imagine the shock on the CA DOJ peoples faces when I sent in the registration paper work... out of state military, qualified weapons instructor, weapon to be used for training purposes
As far as a SHTF goes, an AR would be your best choice, the AK is a close second. The US Military is on 5.56mm or .223, there isn't much difference, they'll both chamber, if the USA ever came to that point there'd be plenty of 5.56mm NATO around. AR's and M16's are easy, break them in with 1000 rounds, keep a light coat of lube on the bolt carrier, keep the ejection port cover closed when not in use and keep a magazine in it. "Any Good" combat savvy Marine or Soldier will tell you, the weapon stays cleaner when it has a mag in it. The stories about AK's and mud, sand, dust and grease is all a bunch of noise, they jam up too when dirty, they just have a little higher thresh hold for grime than an AR/M16 have. AR mags and accesories are dirt cheap, they're modular to just about anything, ammo prices aren't that bad, but two shots are a "standard response" with 5.56mm, a good AR will reach out past 600 meters, try that with a 7.62x39.
I'm begining to think the best SHTF rifle would be an AR in .308, .308 is the same as NATO 7.62x51, which is the chambering of most US Sniper rifles and the M60 and M240G & B, it packs alot of knock down at close range, can reach out to longer ranges, and could be a 16" carbine rifle with a collapsable stock, down side is that mags are expensive and ammo isn't the cheapest.
