Selecting HD carbine

[bubba in ca]

Over the years I`ve accumulated several arms for home defense/SHTF.

my choices are:
mini 14 ranch rifle stainless
yugo SKS
chinese SKS

All 3 are good shooters and in original, like-new condition.

I am cutting down on my number of guns and number of calibers to KISS.
I am not concerned about bullet choice beween the 2. My perceived need is 50 to 100 M as I have other arms for other distances and my prioritites are reliability and low -breakage.

any suggestions?

 

[unwise11]

Mini 14, I like them more than SKS's.

 

[bigfatdave]

My perceived need is 50 to 100 M as I have other arms for other distances and my prioritites are reliability and low -breakage.

Do you want mags or stripper clips?
Are you more confident in your abilities with either?
Are you more confident with someone else handling one or the other? (wife/kids/friend/the other people holed up at your compound after Z-day?)

If the choice isn't obvious, you don't have the right rifle yet or you need a lot more range time with the candidates.

 

[rondog]

50 to 100 meters? Who you gonna shoot at at those distances? That's not s/d or h/d, unless you're expecting an invading horde.

 

[Waywatcher]

50 to 100 meters? Who you gonna shoot at at those distances? That's not s/d or h/d, unless you're expecting an invading horde.

Let's assume that he has two buildings or some other such need.

The SKSs would work fine. Since you already have two it would make ammo considerations simpler, and you would have parts commonality. Also, the SKSs are a lot easier to get replacement parts for and are just easier for general maintenance. Either choice would be accurate enough for the distance, but the 7.62x39 would definitely be better if barriers might be anticipated.

My vote: SKSs

 

[W.E.G.]

AK-47... the very best there is...

 

[Waywatcher]

AK-47... the very best there is...

Agreed that it would be a great choice. Unfortunately it wasn't an option listed.

If the OP is looking really looking to "KISS," I highly recommend ditching the Mini-14 to pick up an AK Pattern Rifle. WASRs seem to be around, and affordable. Ammo is the same as the SKSs.

 

[W.E.G.]

Oh,... that's right he's in Calinotamerica in the west.

How about the gun that won the west?

 

[mbogo]

HD - the Yugo SKS. A 7.62x39 has more punch in close.

SHTF - a .223 carbine, since ammunition is more common. I will never, EVER recommend a mini-14 for anything other than a throw-down piece.

mbogo

 

[InkEd]

I would go with the Mini-14. If you're going Soviet design then get an AK variant. What are you defending at those ranges?

If you live in a normal suburban neighborhood, you need to think more about penetration. All of those calibers will tear through walls and possibly even into other houses.

Of course, I own a carbine in 5.56NATO but it's not for ordinary home defense.

 

[General Geoff]

If you live in a normal suburban neighborhood, you need to think more about penetration. All of those calibers will tear through walls and possibly even into other houses.

Of course, I own a carbine in 5.56NATO but it's not for ordinary home defense.

.223/5.56 penetrates less through spaced layers of drywall than most pistol rounds and even buck shot.

 

[bubba in ca]

Normal SD range is 0 to 20 feet. I have a Moss 500 for this and out to 30 m or more. The carbine is for SHTF, or camping, or the case where i might need more accuracy or penetration.

 

[brandon_mcg]

my chinese norinco SKS currently fills the spot you are attempting to feel. it does well from 50-100 yards as i can hit a 6 inch paper plate with it.

however, mine is not in original condition as i put a tapco stock on it with vertical foregrip and BSA red dot sight.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Since the training is several thousand times more important than the gear, I would go with whatever rifle you are most proficient with and will actually get out and shoot in a variety of realistic situations.

Otherwise, all of those rifles are capable of the task you are asking of them.

 

[merlinfire]

Any of those guns, and a host of others would do well.

Ignore the Mini haters. Get any with a serial of 580xxx+ and you're fine.

 

[ECVMatt]

Here is a different angle: sell them and buy a Saiga. They are Cali legal and sort of combine all the good attribute of the two different rifles you have. They use detachable mags with no bullet buttons, it is in 7.62x39, is relatively compact, and runs off the simple AK system. It can be easily converted to a full AK if you ever move out of state. Otherwise I would probably go with the Chinese or Yugo SKS.

 

[merlinfire]

Quite a few tests have showed that 7.62x39 and 5.56nato start fragmenting after 2-3 sheetrock walls, so i wouldn't worry about penetration unless you live in an apartment.

 

[unwise11]

Over the choices you listed, an AK, AR, or even a solid .308 Boltgun would do well.

 

[hirundo82]

If you live in a normal suburban neighborhood, you need to think more about penetration. All of those calibers will tear through walls and possibly even into other houses.

I was thinking the Mini-14 would be my choice in an urban area for this reason, since .223 will penetrate less than most pistol rounds. 7.62x39 would IMO be suboptimal due to overpenetration concerns.

If the use would be in a less built-up area (ie semi-rural) and good penetration is desired (cars, etc.), the choice would be reversed.

 

[c-bag]

You could trade the mini-14 in for a mini-30 and keep ammo commonality. If that is not an option I would probably sell off the two sks for another mini-14. I like the sks but the 14 beats it IMHO with its detectable mag and ergonomics.

 

[Rshooter]

I gotta go with the Mini-14. This is from personal experience as I actually own one. The SKS is not bad either but the Mini is much easier to handle.

 

[country boy marksman]

you can mod the sks to accept ak mags... but I would use the mini 14 because of reliability. I trust ruger more than I trust norinco for production standards!

 

[FMJMIKE]

If you ever have to go to court for using your home defense carbine I believe it would look better if you used the Mini-14. It is not considered a communist assault rifle like the others. The Mini is also just as reliable as the others.

 

[lizziedog1]

My perceived need is 50 to 100 M

Do you have a good attorney on retainer?

 

[USSR]

Don