So What's the Best Legal gun I can get in CA?

[vsse]

"You see, the motive to all my curiousness is that I am writing a story. It is a sci-fi fic where a man is forced to get up a band of Freedom Fighters to bring order to a post-apocalyptic US. The catch is, they have only civilian weapons, while they are facing remnants of "The Old World Order", who have weapons that are normaly unobtainable by civilians (e.g automatic weapons). I just wanted to see what weapons my "Freedom Fighters" would have."


(edited for clarification by Dr.Rob)

 

[Carnitas]

I assume you are asking about ban skirting semi auto rifles. That being the case. M1A. Hands Down.

 

[El Rojo]

Another vote for the M1A. Only down side is you are going to have to settle on 10 round magazines unless you can find that lot of 20 rounders you bought back in 1985 and found in the garage.

 

[vsse]

Dude, I was not of this world in 1985 (in short: not born yet)

 

[pbhome71]

M1A is good, but you have to save up for that $1400.00, and not getting any cheaper. I would get the Scout/Squad rifle (shorter barrel version).

SKS is a good choice. In fact, my first rifle is Russian SKS, which I still enjoy shooting it. I also looking for a Yugo too.

 

[vsse]

Are there any short-barreled versions of the SKS?

 

[Damnathius]

Dude, I was not of this world in 1985 (in short: not born yet)

In that case, perhaps a Daisy Red Ryder.

 

[BamBam-31]

Paratroopers have shorter stocks. Yugos have longer barrels cuz of the launcher. Other SKS's barrels are shorter by a couple of inches.

M1 Carbines are pretty handy. I don't like the caliber, tho.

 

[vsse]

how would you rate the Ruger Mini-14 in price and accuracy?

 

[BerettaNut92]

Do you plan on staying in California?

If I had to do it all over again, I'd just get a Yugo SKS, but my SLB2000 is doing the job.

 

[vsse]

Are there any "Paratrooper" models of a Yugo SKS?

 

[enichols]

Are there any "Paratrooper" models of a Yugo SKS?

Not to my knowledge. However, there are Chinese paratrooper SKSs floating around. I wouldn't mind having one, in fact. Very handy little carbine.

 

[natedog]

Despite what many will say, the Mini-14 has ok accuracy (3" groups are the norm).

 

[rayra]

M1A, if you can afford it.
Otherwise, Garand.

 

[DragonRider]

May I point out in terms of reloading a lever action would allow you to top off as needed instead of 10 at a time? Granted, I'm not in Kali, and I've saved all my Gramps guns. But if I was in that sit, that is the way I would go.

 

[larryw]

"Best' for what? Hunting, target shooting, plinking, SHTF?

 

[vsse]

I dunno, something that can be used for most of those things.

 

[El Rojo]

I was only 8 in 1985 when I bought all of my 20 round M14 mags.

VSSE you are all over the place. What is going to be? I say go for the SKS. You are young, you don't have a house payment yet. Your gun collection will grow with time. Just don't be in a hurry to get married or have kids and you should have a good 4-5 years left of good gun buying. I purchased one gun when I was almost 17. By the time I was about 22 I had somewhere around 15-20. Now I am 26 and I have 28. Bad thing is I have a house payment now and guns are on the back burner. I did enough buying before I got married that now I can just relax and enjoy what I have.

Start with an SKS. In a couple of months, get an M1 Carbine, an M1 Garand or maybe a surplus bolt gun like a Mosin Nagant or a Swiss K-31. Eventually save up and get a M1A and then get a good Remington 700 VS in .308 to match the M1A. Get your C&R license and buy suprlus bolt guns for between $50 and $200 and get them shipped to your door.

One gun will not do. Get one and then start planning the next. You will get the most mileage with your money with the SKS. Now quiting post and go do some buying! Then post back when you are done.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

it appears the rifle is for a science fiction epic set in CA

In that case, i would saunter my squad down to the local NG armory and invest in USGI technology at fire sale pricing.