Which One Do You Grab?
- Thread starter amprecon
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nastynatesfish
Member
I would say the M1. In a given situatio I think it would be easier to find more .308 ammo than the 6.8 or the 39 depending where your at. If your in the city maybe the ak but in any rural setting I'd have to say all the little stores will carry some 308 rounds.
ADKWOODSMAN
Member
Not a choice but I would take the M1 Garrand and hand my wife the M1 carbine.
I used an M1 in competition for years.
I used an M1 in competition for years.
230therapy
Member
I would grab the one with the ZEROED optic on it.
The other two would go to family members or friends.
The other two would go to family members or friends.
stchman
Member
Either rifle would do a good job of shooting hordes.
The AK and AR will hold more rounds in their mags and you can carry more mags. The M1-A has a lot more power, but any will work.
The AK and AR will hold more rounds in their mags and you can carry more mags. The M1-A has a lot more power, but any will work.
I really think you'd be ok with either the M1a or the slr-95. anything you or your buddies might have mags and ammo for. that's what I would look for. I'd hate to be in a sh*t storm and have my buddy toss me a mag full of 5, 6, or 7 point whatever and I'm still sitting there with a usless weapon. get a 5.56 upper for gods sake!
Most who served in Nam already had the M16 in hand and were never trained on the M1 or M14. Only the earliest participants had that experience. Those that used both have stated in the past their preference for either. It's not a slam dunk they universally hated the M16. It's another internet myth perpetuated by big caliber piston fans.
Unless the house is burning, I wouldn't leave. When we did have a disaster, we didn't leave. No power, no water, in May, and the roads were initially closed by tornado debris, then later by the authorities to prevent sightseers clogging the streets.
The first thing anyone grabbed was a chain saw. In America, that's always been the #1 disaster tool of response. Not a gun. Obviously small town America can deal with things, because they have to. Power outages aren't infrequent, the weather can close roads, and it's just part of life.
We go camping - but stay at home. Propane is the fuel, ice in a cooler becomes the commodity item. Canned goods are already in the pantry. If you have to do without refrigeration, ok. Everyone grills a lot of stuff before it thaws. Generators are dragged out of garages and fired up, although the last ice storm did make believers of some that the price of fuel ($40 a day for a 10KW unit) had finally gotten out of hand.
Point being - leaving the home is largely a URBAN fantasy. Those who want to go wandering around on foot looking for a high school gym to live in, or hike into the wilderness we just spent 150 years hacking our way out of, are not going to get a warm and welcoming reception at the farmer's door step with any kind of gun visible.
I can't imagine why so many are clueless about this. But then again, live in a population of more than 1000 per square mile, and people get dense.
One thing that's alway missing from these scenarios is that your neighbors in outlying areas are not going to be at the city limits with the keys to Town Hall in their hand. Refugees will be directed, contained, and controlled. Wanderers will be rounded up, even involuntarily, and dropped off at relief centers. Roads will be closed, and the SUV's directed to the next gas station. Hope you don't run out.
Don't study downtown New Orleans for your zombie scenario, ask around about the clogged interstate out of town, no gas, no food, no water.Check with those who had their vehicles towed, vandalized, etc. when they had to abandon them.
This survivalist fantasy isn't the answer and is largely one based on ignorance. Those who know better (quite a few in this thread) are trying to point it out.
Unless the house is burning, I wouldn't leave. When we did have a disaster, we didn't leave. No power, no water, in May, and the roads were initially closed by tornado debris, then later by the authorities to prevent sightseers clogging the streets.
The first thing anyone grabbed was a chain saw. In America, that's always been the #1 disaster tool of response. Not a gun. Obviously small town America can deal with things, because they have to. Power outages aren't infrequent, the weather can close roads, and it's just part of life.
We go camping - but stay at home. Propane is the fuel, ice in a cooler becomes the commodity item. Canned goods are already in the pantry. If you have to do without refrigeration, ok. Everyone grills a lot of stuff before it thaws. Generators are dragged out of garages and fired up, although the last ice storm did make believers of some that the price of fuel ($40 a day for a 10KW unit) had finally gotten out of hand.
Point being - leaving the home is largely a URBAN fantasy. Those who want to go wandering around on foot looking for a high school gym to live in, or hike into the wilderness we just spent 150 years hacking our way out of, are not going to get a warm and welcoming reception at the farmer's door step with any kind of gun visible.
I can't imagine why so many are clueless about this. But then again, live in a population of more than 1000 per square mile, and people get dense.
One thing that's alway missing from these scenarios is that your neighbors in outlying areas are not going to be at the city limits with the keys to Town Hall in their hand. Refugees will be directed, contained, and controlled. Wanderers will be rounded up, even involuntarily, and dropped off at relief centers. Roads will be closed, and the SUV's directed to the next gas station. Hope you don't run out.
Don't study downtown New Orleans for your zombie scenario, ask around about the clogged interstate out of town, no gas, no food, no water.Check with those who had their vehicles towed, vandalized, etc. when they had to abandon them.
This survivalist fantasy isn't the answer and is largely one based on ignorance. Those who know better (quite a few in this thread) are trying to point it out.
CoastieShep
Member
AK if I'm going to be hiking around in the woods, or staying in an urban area and planning on not coming home.
M1 if it's the zombie apocolypse for the accuracy and pure head removing power.
M1 if it's the zombie apocolypse for the accuracy and pure head removing power.
FROGO207
Member
Of the choices provided M1a for 308 being available and able to reach out and touch someone. Me however, I would be using a 22WMR slinged bolt rifle with optics and a revolver with 22LR/22WMR cylinders and sufficient ammo. Powerful and not too loud, lots of ammo carried easily and reasonably accurate. Compass and knife/magnesium fire starter in stock good to go!! I look at it as I sit here writing this--always within easy reach.
Gramps always said: Good luck is just that--bad luck is poor planning.
Me however, I would be using a 22WMR slinged bolt rifle with optics and a revolver with 22LR/22WMR cylinders and sufficient ammo. Powerful and not too loud, lots of ammo carried easily and reasonably accurate. Compass and knife/magnesium fire starter in stock good to go!! I look at it as I sit here writing this--always within easy reach.Gramps always said: Good luck is just that--bad luck is poor planning.
Ignition Override
Member
Do all of these rifles always have magazines inserted, without exception?
Is contained ammo within view by the guns every moment?
A friend who is from Essen, Germany plans activities very well, thoroughly/"grundlich".
He brought over his Colt AR to plink, but somehow had forgotten to bring the magazine.
And this won't happen despite the need to clean etc before a sudden disaster grabs our attention?
If young kids were around, finding their shoes, coats etc might be much more important If needing to Leave Home right now in cold weather (very soon up north). My wife would require extra insulin from the refrigerator for her insulin pump.
Guns won't help with these critical needs.
Is contained ammo within view by the guns every moment?
A friend who is from Essen, Germany plans activities very well, thoroughly/"grundlich".
He brought over his Colt AR to plink, but somehow had forgotten to bring the magazine.
And this won't happen despite the need to clean etc before a sudden disaster grabs our attention?
If young kids were around, finding their shoes, coats etc might be much more important If needing to Leave Home right now in cold weather (very soon up north). My wife would require extra insulin from the refrigerator for her insulin pump.
Guns won't help with these critical needs.
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230therapy
Member
The easiest thing to do is to get a sneaky bag or similar and put loaded mags into it. Place next to the rifle in the safe.
wally
Member
I didn't vote because I don't really think it matters, the strategy is likely doomed anyways.
Better to make arrangements for a couple of friends to rally at your place and then bug out so you can have all three guns against the mobs instead of just one!
Better to make arrangements for a couple of friends to rally at your place and then bug out so you can have all three guns against the mobs instead of just one!
leadcounsel
member
Where do you plan on going? What is the disaster? Flood? Nuke? Economic meltdown? Forest Fire? Earthquake? Why don't you have a 100 gallons of water and a weeks' worth of food stocked up? How are you going to travel (on foot or car)? How are you going to conceal a rifle if you are on foot? Aren't you concerned you'll just end up as a target; disarmed by the police in a government camp of some sort; or shot first by the looters?
You are probably more likely to get injured if you leave the house - and nearly any injury could become life threatening to you and all of your travel partners if you become immobilized, get sick, weak, etc. A simple twisted ankle could do you in out in a disaster zone.
Stock up on a few weeks worth of supplies so you aren't faced with that decision. Buy some lumber so that you could board up your house if need be. Maybe even a hundred feet of razor wire to roll in front of your house if it gets really bad.
You are probably more likely to get injured if you leave the house - and nearly any injury could become life threatening to you and all of your travel partners if you become immobilized, get sick, weak, etc. A simple twisted ankle could do you in out in a disaster zone.
Stock up on a few weeks worth of supplies so you aren't faced with that decision. Buy some lumber so that you could board up your house if need be. Maybe even a hundred feet of razor wire to roll in front of your house if it gets really bad.
Exactly!!!
Waywatcher
Member
Thank you Tirod, for the well thought out post.
It was very informative, and I appreciated it.
Same for leadcounsel.
It was very informative, and I appreciated it.
Same for leadcounsel.
glazer1972
Member
I would pick up the AK or the M1A as they would be the easiest to find more ammo for.
zfk55
Member
Staying in or close to the house....... This one because its compact and has both short range and long range sightin capabilities.
Latigo
Latigo
Having seen what recent evacuations are really like, ahead of hurricanes, around here, I will stay put. (We stayed put, for real, because our jobs involve public duty.) But, since the mods have let this one stay active, I will play.
The AK variant has the strike against it of looking like an AK. AKs catch the attention of authorities, all else being equal. While Texas has a law that prohibits confiscation in times of disaster, I have seen what happens when some LEOs encounter AKs when everything is rather normal. I may be a tolerant LEO, but not all of my colleagues share my tolerance. A previous generation of LEOs, some still active, learned to hate the AK as a symbol of communism. The current generation tends to hate the AK as a symbol is Islam. For the sake of this exercise, I will assume I am John Q. Privatecitizen, and will choose to carry a less AK-ish weapon, all else being equal. Moreover, I am sold on the advantages of a high-quality red-dot optic.
The RRA has the strike against it of being chambered in 6.8, but has the obviously superior sighting system. I have been trained in the use of the AR15, though it is not my favored rifle platform.
The M1A has the common cartridge advantage, and my use of Mini-14s has familiarized me with the controls. OTOH, I am at the point of really needing an optic, as I am about to turn 49 years of age, and my formerly 20/13 vision is really going downhill.
My answer, with the weapons outfitted as presented, is the RRA.
If I can take that Aimpoint, and put it on an M1A Scout Squad, I would go with that combo.
With what I have at the house, right now, I would grab a .223/5.56 Mini-14 with an Aimpoint Micro T-1, or a Remington 870 shotgun. If I have some time to prepare, I would figure out which of my rifles, probably a .308 Browning BLR, would get to wear a still in-the-box Leupold 2.5x scope, sight it in, and then decide whether the BLR or the Mini would get the nod as the one to grab-and-go. Of course, if moving in a vehicle, it would be more than one long firearm, anyway.
The AK variant has the strike against it of looking like an AK. AKs catch the attention of authorities, all else being equal. While Texas has a law that prohibits confiscation in times of disaster, I have seen what happens when some LEOs encounter AKs when everything is rather normal. I may be a tolerant LEO, but not all of my colleagues share my tolerance. A previous generation of LEOs, some still active, learned to hate the AK as a symbol of communism. The current generation tends to hate the AK as a symbol is Islam. For the sake of this exercise, I will assume I am John Q. Privatecitizen, and will choose to carry a less AK-ish weapon, all else being equal. Moreover, I am sold on the advantages of a high-quality red-dot optic.
The RRA has the strike against it of being chambered in 6.8, but has the obviously superior sighting system. I have been trained in the use of the AR15, though it is not my favored rifle platform.
The M1A has the common cartridge advantage, and my use of Mini-14s has familiarized me with the controls. OTOH, I am at the point of really needing an optic, as I am about to turn 49 years of age, and my formerly 20/13 vision is really going downhill.
My answer, with the weapons outfitted as presented, is the RRA.
If I can take that Aimpoint, and put it on an M1A Scout Squad, I would go with that combo.
With what I have at the house, right now, I would grab a .223/5.56 Mini-14 with an Aimpoint Micro T-1, or a Remington 870 shotgun. If I have some time to prepare, I would figure out which of my rifles, probably a .308 Browning BLR, would get to wear a still in-the-box Leupold 2.5x scope, sight it in, and then decide whether the BLR or the Mini would get the nod as the one to grab-and-go. Of course, if moving in a vehicle, it would be more than one long firearm, anyway.
My purpose was not to fantasize about SHTF scenarios, but for people to give opinions on the rifles presented, which one they'd prefer over the others. I presented the situation because people will invariably ask, "what are you going to use the rifle for?" Otherwise I'd of just asked "Which rifle do you like better?"
People consider the possibilities for scenarios all the time, if not we'd not even need this web site to talk about guns because we'd never feel we'd need a gun in the first place.
I do not intend to disqualify or question the experiences of those who have undergone disaster situations, as a matter of fact I strive to learn as much from them as possible so that I may be better prepared if it were to ever happen to me or my family, heaven forbid.
If it makes you feel any better, ignore the 'SHTF' scenario and just consider which of the rifles I submitted that you either like or don't like for the "scenario" of your choosing.
MPdad
Member
I'd have to say the SLR because when you DO eventually run out of ammo, it'll be easier to find 7.62 than 6.8 to restock. Plus, I wouldn't have to worry about keeping it as clean when on the run. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my AR and just couldn't abandon my "Betsy" but YOURS ain't my Betsy LOL
I WOULD GRAB THE AK OR THE M1A BEFORE THE AR. BUT YOUR QUESTION IS VAGUE. ARE YOU ON FOOT? URBAN OR WILDERNESS? WHAT ARE YOU SHOOTING AT? IF YOU DONT KNOW THE SITUATION PICK THE AK. YOU CAN TOTE IT IN A CAR EASY AND IT IS THE JACK-OF ALL TRADES WEAPON. IF YOU WANT TO SHOOT AT PEOPLE IN CARS OR TAKE LONG RANGE SHOTS PICK THE M1A.
Not leaving the house unless on fire or similar. Another vote for shelter in place. We have spare food, power and our own well. Armed people wandering about are likely to be scavengers or worse. I don;t live in the city, and even if I did, I wouldn't care to be trapped with the masses streaming out in time of disaster.
While often amusing, these discussions seem better left to survivalist boards. When has there ever been a disaster in the US that required people to shoot their way out?
While often amusing, these discussions seem better left to survivalist boards. When has there ever been a disaster in the US that required people to shoot their way out?
even though i prefer the Ak or M1A.....of your guns id grab the AR because it has the red dot on it. put a red dot on the AK and there is no better gun for that situation. the M1A is good too for staying at home. if they are at your door....dont even open the door.....just start shooting!
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