Recommend a good all-around defensive rifle (if I can't get an AR/M4)?

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+1 on the SKS.

As it sounds you've got other financial priorities and now the prices of AR/AK style rifles is through the roof. Who knows what will shake out in Washington, but I doubt that the SKS with it's 10 round internal mag will be banned.

My advice wait and pick up an SKS when you can afford it and once this gun buying frenzy slows down.
 
For the moment, your 10/22 with long magazines is the only rifle you really need to worry about. You're unemployed. Your finances have other priorities than buying guns, which is why you didn't already get your AR.

If you really think you need more power, then get a Mosin or a lever .30-30 or something.

IMHO, what you really need is ammo and mags for what you already have. When your finances get straight, the feeding frenzy should have died down and prices stabilized - hopefully, they will be closer to what they were two weeks ago than to what they are today. At any rate, it will be a completely different ballgame when you are employed w/disposable income. By then, the fallout from the current market silliness and vultures looking to make political hay should be somewhat resolved, and you'll be able to know what you can legally do in that climate, as well as having money to actually doing something with.

You can hunt anything in North America with that 12g and .22. May not be optimal for some things, but they will be effective.
 
None of us know what legislation will come, but if AR 15s are banned for sale, I would expect the Mini 14s and 30s, AKs, SKSs and even M1 carbines to be covered the same way. So, other than the shotguns (never a bad choice), a nice lever action in some caliber seems to me to be the logical choice, plus it fits a thin budget.
 
The AAR (Appalachian Assault Rifle)

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Seriously, I'd far rather have an AR. But if not an option, then this.
 
IMHO, a good .357 levergun carbine is about ideal. Forget the nonsense about pistol cartridge carbines. The .357 gains 300-700fps from rifle length barrels and that completely changes the game. Although a .30-30 might be easier to procure. A practiced rifleman with a levergun gives up nothing to a semi-auto until the rifle runs dry.
 
Not really a Plainfield M1 Carbine where I live goes for $250.00 on shelf (im thinking about it)

If you can buy a Plainfield M1 Carbine locally for $250, you'd better stop thinking about it and rush down there to shove everyone out of the way and buy it! My Plainfield shoots circles around my two USGI carbines. Don't let that one get away!
 
the shotgun is more than adequate, as would be the pistol. remember, we're talking shots inside your home only. a short-barreled rifle will also work, but there is really no pressing need (for a rifle) as you won't be shooting anyone out in the yard or across the street, at least not for home defense.
 
I'd say go for a Saiga. If its duties include home defense, I would get it it 5.45x39 or .223. The nice thing about one of those is that as your finances allow, you can buy the parts to convert it back into real AK configuration.
 
AK would by my vote, but if you're worried about a new AWB it'll probably be in the same boat as an AR. 7.62 or 5.45 will take care of any normal game, and will take care of varmints regardless of the number of legs.

If you're not stuck on a semi-auto a SMLE in .303 British is one of the finest bolt action fighting rifles in the world. .303 British will put down pretty much everything in the US but a pissed off Grizzly easily. Extremely fast on the action, 10 round capacity (can reload via stripper clips, the magazine, or by the round), very good bayonet if it gets to that, and very accurate. Also it has the juice to shoot out to 1K yards without any issues. Ammo will be a bit more expensive/harder to find then say .308 or 30/30 but it's not hard to get or expensive compared to other specialty calibers.

Best of all SMLE's in good "truck gun" shape (ie the wood may be banged around, but they still shoot great) are under $300 usually.

-Jenrick
 
Is your shotgun some kind of long barreled 3-shot bird gun or something?

Actually even if it is you might be able to get an extended tube and defensive barrel for less than the cost of a new rifle. Though sometimes those are surprisingly expensive.

If you have a decent defensive shotgun than I'd be looking for something out of a rifle that you can't get from the shotgun. And if you aren't going to be able to get scary looking or high capacity things you might want to consider something with long range capability and the ability to down big game or armored threats.
 
Good recommendations all around.

Don't forget about the Remington 76xx slide action rifles:

The 7615P is in 5.56mm, and takes AR15 mags
The 7600P is in 308, and makes a sweet patrolmans carbine.

Either of those will reach out several hundred yards, have good combat sights, look fairly scary in black, and be capable of shooting military surplus AP ammunition.
 
Wowee, you guys are fantastic! I must be out of the loop to not know that the SKS models were that cheap...I just knew what I preferred.

As far as slugs, I didn't know you could hunt or use them at that kind of distance. That is something to look into when I get that Mossberg. My stepdad says it's supposed to kick like a 20 gauge, so they may have a compensator or something on it. He didn't know the actual details to give me but he's only had it for a short while.

I wanted to get a .44 Magnum lever carbine and revolver combo at some point down the road after I got my AR and another backup pistol (long-term goal...at least two firearms for every caliber of ammo I would store for obvious reasons). However, now that things have changed, I don't prioritize the revolver very high at all but want the rifle, so maybe I should follow advice here and get a true rifle caliber like .30-.30. I read that the energy from a carbine-length barrel, a .44 Mag bullet was in the neighborhood of 30-06, I think. I am pretty sure it was Doubletap or Buffalo Bore's site (whichever one it is that posts real measurements on all of their ammo from several guns). Still, a rifle is a rifle.

Also agree that I should be getting spare mags and ammo for the few firearms I do have. I should make the most of them and not just pine for greener pastures. We all want more guns and are passionate about them...that's why we're here on the forums. But there's need and there's collecting. I certainly have enough to make my needs met but I've got tiny gaps that I'd like to fill in a minimum collection for overall home and SHTF scenario (survival), you know?

Thanks again and keep it coming if you have any other thoughts or feedback. I admit I'm not up on my M1A info, so I will be researching that as well. And who knows what the future holds, but lets all pray that the laws don't bend this fine country over too much.

(That's not unreasonable of us, is it? :) )
 
Okay Scotty45. I just went through this over the last two months. I pained over the choice. I considered every AR and AK platform, bounced around lever actions, looked at every semi-auto military rifle that I could possibly get my hands on. Do you know what I settled on? The Yugo M48 Mauser that was already in my gun safe. Got it for $200 (you'll pay a bit more), good ammo is not terribly expensive, it is very accurate, practically indestructible, and pumps a very powerful cartridge. For game, marauding wanna-be felons, and SHTF situations, it's just fine. We can rattle our brains all day (I did) considering every scenario that we can possible face, but in the end a solid, accurate bolt action is just fine. Look at the Ruger GSR is you want something more modern. Maybe the CZ 527 if you want a light shooting catridge.

Remember: a man with his rifle, and one which he really knows how to use, is a fearful thing. It's not the rifle, but the man.
 
Another vote for the Remington 7600 series. Good solid rifles and the controls are in the same place as the Remington 870 shotguns. The tactical type stocks for the 20 Gauge 870s will also fit the Remington 7600s.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Since the OP spoke of reasonably priced means of a firearm to defend his family, I would state that it is a solved problem. A pump shotgun is the method of choice. Reduced over-penetration risk, less reliant on exacting accuracy, relatively maneuverable (if the barrel length is not skeet-scale), and almost certainly the best stopper of the OP's noted targets.
Again, for home defense, I would certainly stay away from an AR/AK or a high-powered rifle. Tough to maneuver and aim, blinding flash and disabling noise (though a shotgun is troubling in that regard as well). It is not, in close quarters, an appropriate defensive weapon.
V

Not a fan of pistol caliber rifles. If you're paying the size penalty of a longgun then use a rifle cartridge.

If no M4/AR15, I'd go for the AK47 or Ak74. If that's not available, I'd go for the SKS. If that's not available, I'd go for a lever action 30/30 (same basitics as the SKS).

A 12 gauge with buck or slug will do just fine also.
 
B!ngo, you seem to be a little behind the times on ammo testing. The 5.56 AR or Mini 14 is an excellent HD weapon. A 16" carbine with a collapsible stock is shorter and lighter than most shotguns that have stocks, making it very maneuverable. If you compare a person holding a full-sized pistol and a carbine in firing position, the muzzles are basically the same distance from the person's face. The carbine holds 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, or 100 rounds (depending on magazine size) of medium powered rifle ammo (you can choose whatever hollowpoint or softpoint or prefrag load that you think is most effective) that is LESS likely than buckshot or slugs to overpenetrate through typical structure walls (proven in multiple ammunition tests), has MUCH better shot-to-shot recovery than any pump shotgun due to gas operation and low recoil, and is very, very accurate. Additionally, if needed in some unusual situation, it can make a shot down the block more accurately and reliably than the shotgun.

I can definitely see why the OP is lamenting the lack of funds and on-the-shelf stock that is preventing him from getting one.

On the other hand, the pump shotgun has a lot going for it as a defensive weapon - it is indisputably powerful, holds a reasonable number of rounds, and he already owns it. That last point is the trump card - he doesn't have any spare cash, and he already owns an effective, reliable HD weapon. The 10/22 with a 25 round magazine isn't useless, either.

Yes, they're noisy. Keep electronic ear muffs by the bed.
 
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ARs ARE still legal, but the gun that sits next to my bed is a Rossi M92 with 16"bbl in .357mag.

It's a great, handy rifle that can be shot quickly with minimal recoil.

Compared to .30-30 leverguns it has:
1) Higher capacity than its .30-30
2) Cheaper to shoot
3) Compatible ammo with sidearm.

Sounds like a win to me.
 
armoredman said:
If I were an out of work new dad, I'd stick with the shotgun -

Me too.

There are a lot of things more important to spend scarce money on than new firearms. The pump shotgun (whatever barrel length) will handle home defense issues just fine.

Wait until you're back on your feet and have disposable income to add to the firarms accumulation. For what it's worth, that's my advice.
 
Sound advice from everyone from two sides of the coin...both informational on the firearms advice itself, but also the practical side on keeping priorities straight and making the most of what I have (which I'm blessed to have a fairly well-rounded, just small, but it covers several bases) in my safe now.

Thanks! I love my "comrades" here. ;)
 
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