One rifle for all occassions?

[Jeff F]

Goon I do hear what you are saying. I think in 98% of situations a bolt action will get you through. If it was total anarchy which probably won't happen all at once, there will be warning signs. If your up against an armed mob with bad intent its not going to matter even if you had an M60.

A rifle in a common caliber makes the most sense be it a bolt action or semi. My self here at the homestead its going to be one of the Enfields. I shoot them an average of 100 rounds a week sometimes a little more and have gotten to know them intimately. I have about six thousand rounds of loaded ammo and can make more if thats not enough. If I had to go out and about on any kind of a long trip or to another town I would take something in .308 or 06 just for ammo availability.

 

[goon]

Jeff F - sounds like you'd probably hit more targets than I would then. I haven't been able to get to the range much lately. But I'd still probably make more noise than you.
I'd be sobbing about burning up $100 worth of .308 ammo.
IMO, your assessment is dead on though.
If you got yourself in such a bad situation that you can't fight your way out with an Enfield, I doubt that an M1A would make it any better.

J-Frame - IIRC, Sgt. York put a 1917 Enfield to good use and then switched to his 1911 when the Germans realized that he was one man working alone. They tried to rush his position. He shot them from rear to front because he knew that if he shot the first man coming at him, everyone else would stop and fire on him with their Mausers. At least that's the account I heard (Tales of the Gun, I think).
From this, we can learn some things:
1. A good man with a bolt action rifle can be quite a threat. York silenced several machine guns on his own before the Germans figured out what was going on.
2. A handgun is a really good thing to have around.
3. A brave/trained adversary may be able to successfully charge you if you have only a bolt action rifle. Apparently the Germans in this scenario felt they could get away with it. If your rifle is a something other than a semi-auto or an Enfield (because Enfields are fast) invest in a handgun.
Hell, just invest in a handgun anyway!
4. One man working alone had better not let anyone figure out where he is. If York had been a little less skilled or a little less lucky, he would have been killed and none of us would have ever heard of his remarkable story.
I don't know about any of you guys, but personally, I am no Alvin York...


There is another thread pertaining to the use of a bolt action in modern combat. For that, I think it's really only useful as a sniper's weapon. It just doesn't have the firepower to deal with the tactics that are used (like using overwheming firepower to pin the enemy down while someone sneaks around his rear and kills him).
But for guerilla warfare, I don't think you could do much better.
One good marksman with 100 rounds of ammunition and some hunting experience would be a terrible enemy to have to face.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Here's the catch... it can't be a black (re:evil), tacticool, hyper-combat, sniper-grenade launching, combat AR 6000. (please recognize extreme hyperbole)

This is probably stretching it, but the only rifles I have now are AKs. Plain jane wood and metal. It's the only rifle I'll ever need and it fills all of your requirements.

 

[no_problem]

M1 Garand in 30.06, it shoots through brake rotors!

 

[JShirley]

If your up against an armed mob with bad intent its not going to matter even if you had an M60

Unless you have position. That means distance, and perhaps elevation.

If your rifle is a something other than a semi-auto or an Enfield (because Enfields are fast) invest in a handgun

Goon, it's important to differentiate which rifles you're talking about, here. Though it's often called the Enfield, the Lee-Enfield (actually Short Magazine Lee-Enfield, or SMLE) was first produced in 1904. This is the rifle especially known for being very rapid for a bolt-action.

The U.S. Model of 1917 rifle is often called an Enfield. It also cocks on close, but it and its British-designed predecessor the Pattern 1914/P14 are especially known for being extremely sturdy and accurate rifles.

John

 

[Art Eatman]

One rifle for all occasions? I'd make Justin gimme back my old Weatherby '06. With it, I figure anything inside of 500 yards belongs to me. I'm married up with it enough that I snap shot a turkey gobbler at 125 yards and didn't ruin any meat; field-dressed him at the same time, though. Lotsa one-shot kills on Bambi out to 350 and 450 yards. Versatile, too. I can load round lead ball at pipsqueak level for squirrels...

, Art

 

[MCgunner]

I agree with JShirley on the tactics thing for survival against armed mobs and such. Distance and concealment are golden. Take 'em out, one at a time. At some point, the fear will get to 'em anyway, I'm betting. Nothing like seeing your buddies fall and not from where it's coming or from where to hide.

Again, I'll let the military practice fire and maneuver. I'm a hunter, not a fighter. At some point in age, you just gotta ask yourself how long you CAN survive anyway. And, I have a wife in a wheelchair. I ain't leavin' her in a bad situation, don't care if I have to die with her. If the military fails, ain't much use in survival, anyway.

 

[jhco]

an ar-15 because you can change out the upper to make it into what ever you want it to be

 

[SFvet]

AR 15 lower reciever wont take a 7.62 NATO though. Theres more 7.62 out there than 5.56 so IMO thats the way to go. Then again im pretty biased LOL.

 

[funfaler]

M1A or FAL, in that order.

either will do most jobs well.

Can reach out to 500 yards without much effort. Semi-auto for those times when bolt action just won't do.

Chambered in 7.62x51 (308), which is more utilitarian than most other sub-calibers, more common than most other full powered calibers.

Other 308 semis either lack in reliability or in ability to make easy hits to 500 yards.

Other semis in less calibers are sacrificing range and power for volume, not worth it for a rifle for all occassions.

Either rifle will work for 90% of the jobs you can imagine for a rifle, giving it the most utility of all.

Still, there are many, many rifles that offer performance near to the two listed above.

"Plinking" is the one area that these rifles do not excel in.

 

[EHCRain10]

needing to go long distance and still be quick for CQ but also be chambered in a full power round would make me think really hard about a pump action Remington in 260 or 7mm08, low recoil for faster follow ups but still has enough power to take large game with proper shot placement

 

[mejeepnut]

I am with the bolt action crowd.Something in 308 or 30-06 as long as it had iron sites.

 

[Tequila jake]

Marlin 30-30

Just bought a scoped Marlin 30-30 today at Dicks. My rationale:

I've never shot a deer beyond 100 yards and probably never will.
The 30-30 offers lots of cartridge options, ranging from managed recoil loads to the new LeverEvolution polymer-tipped rounds. This makes it very versatile.
I don't handload and 30-30 ammo is available everywhere at very reasonable prices.
The recoil isn't bothersome.
And, I really like the way it looks.

In other words, for me and my situation, it's just a very good all-around choice.

Tequila Jake

 

[JFrame]

This has been a really good thread -- lots of great ideas, thoughts, and knowledge tossed around. And nobody jumped the shark with a phased plasma rifle in 40-watt range...

Clearly, a shooter's environment, preferences, and other personal situations dictate a variety of choices.

But I have enjoyed everyone's contribution, and have learned, which I guess is what The High Road is all about.

 

[kludge]

M1A in 7mm-08.

With a wood stock, of course (not black).

 

[JShirley]

Well, that'll certainly be easy to find ammo for in every ammo shop and the big chains in an emergency...

 

[goon]

I don't know...
It's possible that there won't be any ammo for ANYTHING available in a crisis.
I wonder if a guy with two M-48 mausers and 5K of 8mm milsurp might be better off than you or me with a .308 and only 1K of ammo.

I like the .308/30'06 too because of the common ammo but I think the biggest thing is to get some ammo NOW.
Not because it won't be available tomorrow or because it will be too expensive to buy tomorrow, but because your '06 is totally useless once you use up that half a box of ammo you had left over from last hunting season.
IMO, everyone should at least have a 50 caliber ammo can full of ammo for his/her chosen rifle.
It's a realistic amount that most anyone can afford (sorry, but even in the old days I couldn't have afforded 5K of any kind of centerfire ammo), it's portable in case you have to flee (ammo is HEAVY), and it should be enough to get most of us through most situations as long as it's put to careful use.
But however much you feel you need, get it soon. It's just too important to leave the situation up to Wal-Mart.

Goon, it's important to differentiate which rifles you're talking about, here. Though it's often called the Enfield, the Lee-Enfield (actually Short Magazine Lee-Enfield, or SMLE) was first produced in 1904. This is the rifle especially known for being very rapid for a bolt-action.

The U.S. Model of 1917 rifle is often called an Enfield. It also cocks on close, but it and its British-designed predecessor the Pattern 1914/P14 are especially known for being extremely sturdy and accurate rifles.

John

I have only one thing to say in response to that...
Nitpicker!

 

[Cosmoline]

My Tikka M91. I know it extremely well and I'm comfortable with it.

 

[frankd4]

only one long gun

If you only have onr long gun then you want a shot gun then you can shoot slugs or buck if you are going to have just one a shot gun can do all.

 

[j_charles]

Yeah, you're probably right... but there's just nothing as pretty as a good quality, well-built rifle. I just don't like shotguns as much.

 

[NCsmitty]

What's your take on the multi-barrel firearms such as the Baikal 223/12ga or 308/12 ga or Remington's version or the Savage model 24? These could be viable single weapon alternatives IMO.

NCsmitty

 

[goon]

If you only have onr long gun then you want a shot gun then you can shoot slugs or buck if you are going to have just one a shot gun can do all.

On paper it sounds good, but after awhile you just start to wonder "Why should I have this shotgun that requires me to switch ammo if I need to go outside when I could just buy a lever action rifle that will work well out 200 yards without any ammo concerns?"
A shotgun is a good tool for specific tasks, but IMO, it's better to have the right tool for the job than to try to make your shotgun pretend to be a rifle.

If you want a shotgun, buy one.
If you want a rifle, buy a rifle too.
Just my $.02.

 

[IndianaBoy]

Hard to rule out 22 sheerly because of how much ammo I have and can carry with me.... and how superb it is for subsistence hunting.


So.. for anything EXCEPT TEOTWAWKI




+

 

[bleachcola]

Rem 700 .30-06

Wide bullet selection for your "meets-all" scenario.

 

[kludge]

M1A in 7mm-08.

Well, that'll certainly be easy to find ammo for in every ammo shop and the big chains in an emergency...

In an emergeny, you won't be able to buy any ammunition at any store.

The OP asked for "one rifle for all occasions."

If I had to use a rifle when there are zombies etc. I wouldn't be around much longer, so I might as well choose a rifle that can do everything else well, for the things that are 1,000 times more likely to happen.

If the question were just what rifle caliber for "zombie uprising, sentient machine uprising, or foreign invasion" the answer would have been different.