You can have only One Rifle, which one do you pick?

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Call me old fashioned but a good ole Remington 700 30-06.

Simple operation,
Long range accuracy
Dependable as the sun coming up.

I feel old. Everyone wants these gas operated guns. The first thing I think of is "If it operates on gas,its going to start leaking sometime":D
 
This is post #107, and to my thinking post #5 hit it on the head - a .30-30 Winchester 1894 or clone equivalent. An accurate, powerful rifle in a compact package I can carry easily anywhere. A useful firearm isn't about the biggest magazine or deadliest caliber - that's only a tiny part of the whole equation. A good rifle is a compromise of all aspects of action, reliability, accuracy, cartridge, size, weight, capacity, and feed mechanism. It may not be the perfect "battle rifle" or "hunting rifle," but that is not what the OP asked about. This is about "all around" rifle.

I've had bolt guns from .22 to .30-'06. Semi-auto guns in AR-15, SKS and other permutations. If I could only have one rifle for the rest of my life, it would be my 1894 in .30-30.

Had the lever-action .30-30 not been invented, a bolt gun in .308 or .30-06 would probably be my second choice, I think. A stock or sporterized 1917 or perhaps an Ishapore 2a - but these are quick estimates and not as well-thought as my first pick. I do know that my SKS, AR, or an AK would be well down on my list.
 
Not sophisticated, but 3/4 minute accurate, faster than any semi auto I've ever handled, and mucho deadly in the hands of someone savvy in the use of a scout rifle. Remington 700LH, .30-06, Burris scope & mount.
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I'd also go with the AK. Dead on-reliable, and in a one-rifle situation the owner may be in adverse weather conditions and away from cleaning and maintenance supplies for extended periods of time.
 
Since we're talking man or beast in North America, I'd take a 7.62 mm Nato over the 5.56 mm Nato AR-15. Granted, the AR can be had with a 7.62 mm upper. Come to think of it, that's the way I'd go. An AR based 7.62 mm with the gas impingment system. It's more accurate than the FN-FAL or the M-14 can ever be. Fewer moving parts, free floated barrel and if you bought yours a while back, you can get a toaster with the gun. :p
 
I'm now a bit prejudiced in a different way, despite having just brought home my first LE ("J. Carbine") days ago, and being a 100% carbine guy.

My wife and I just went to Bastogne, Belgium over a week ago and I stood in some of the original 101st Airborne's foxholes between B. and Foy, used by F and E Companies.

Although I've only handled M-1 Garands and never fired any, that would be my gun, but do not want the higher ammo prices required.
Allowed only one gun and cheap ammo-Garand, without a doubt:)!
 
.308 would be the one but I have a soft sweetspot for the 30-06 with that ability can go through wood,metal,concrete,and the more powerful impact would sway me to the 30-06
 
Only ONE rifle.

Okay. This rifle must be able to solve ANY AND ALL situations.
This immediately illiminates 5.56x45 NATO and 5.45x39 Russian caliber rifles.
What are we left with?
7,62x39, 7.62x51 and 7.62x54R, as well as 8mm german, 6.5 Arisaka, 6.5 Carcano, 7.7mm british.

Considering this is ONE rifle, it needs to have a chrome lined barrel for durability. This immediately kills M1A springfield, HK91. It needs to be 100% reliable and be able to eat ANY ammo - this kills ANY and ALL AR-10 and AR15 rifles

Here is my list:
In 7.62x54R: SVT-40, PSL-54, SVD/Tigr.
In 7.62x39, VEPR, AES-10B. The heavy duty, long HBAR AKs. SKS is good too, but I do not like it's rail thin barrel.
In 7.62x51: Polytech M14S, FN/FAL.
In 7.7 British - BREN Semi Auto. There are also version in 7.62x51.
In 8mm there is a Yugo rifle, there is also an M52 (aka MG42) for which 7.62x51 barrel is also available.

Bolt action rifles are also good, if you have nothing else better.
In 7.62x54 we have Mosin. Especially Finnish ones. However, it has weird safety and uncomfortable bolt action. Too far forward.
However, there is a superb rifle in 7.62x54 - Winchester M1895.
In 8mm we have K98. An excellent choice.
However, there is a rifle that I think is the best from non semi auto: SMLE
Available in 7.7 british, and in 7.62x51. It has highest mag capacity of all of these rifles.

If I had to go with 5.56x45, I would probably pick either my custom AR180B (with Bushmaster 24" chrome lined HBAR), or some HBAR version of AK - like VEPR. Or with gas piston converted HBAR AR-15

In 5.45x39, there is only ONE choice for me: RPK-74 Light enough for a rifle,
heavy barrel for sustained fire.

If I had to pick ONE and ONE only rifle, it would be either a POLYTECH M14S (due to its forged receiver and chrome lined barrel), or it would be and HBAR version of an FN/FAL, or it would be a VEPR308. Or Saiga 308v21. I would never pick up a springfield M1A due to lack of chrome lined barrel and cast receiver. While I am a HUGE fan of G3, the lack of chrome lined barrel and the lack of last shot BHO is a deal breaker for me. Maybe an HK21 clone. But I do not know enough about them

A rifle needs to be able to deliver accurate fire up to 600-700 meters. It should be able to penetrate light consealment, up to 1-2 bricks at this range.
It should have an ability of either automatic or high speed semi auto fire. This means 20-30 rounds magazine.
This limits the calibers to me to 7.62x51, 7.62x54, 7.7 british and 8mm german
The rifle needs to be light. That illiminates M53 (aka MG42), it also illiminates BREN and DPM-28 semi auto. PSL-54, SVT and SVD simply lack high capacity magazines.

There you have it:
Choice 1 - POLYTECH M14S
Choice 2 - FN/FAL HBAR
Choice 3 - Vepr 308 with 20 round clips.
Choice 4 - Saiga 308 v 21
Choice 5 - HK-91 clone tied with M1A
 
I have a few rifles that are running up against 100 years of age...some on their original barrels. Those barrels are not chrome lined. Not saying it's impossible to shoot out a barrel... but any circumstance that precludes replacing the barrel probably reduces the amount of shooting you'll do to the point where the barrel will outlast you.

I would choose a decent quality rifle in one of the following:
7.62x54RR
45-70
22-250
.223
7mm rem mag
30-06
243 win
6.5x55
.308
.270 win

Maybe: .454 casull, .45 colt, .44 mag

Pretty much any quality action will last forever with normal care. Bolt guns have the best track record of "current" guns simply because they tend to be the oldest modern guns still in common use. If a Webley revolver can last 130 years and several major wars pretty much any modern gun of decent materials and manufacture will be around in 150 years.

If a particular gun jams, fix it.

I think the problem people are having is that there are just too many GREAT guns available. They are all so good that people get caught up in minutia... trivial differences that sound important (or make the person saying them sound important) but really don't matter.

I have a number of rifles...again, the oldest reaching back towards 100 years of age... and any of them would work fine as that "One Rifle" for the next 70 years or more.
 
If the question had been presented for offensive, or for defensive capabilities, I would have been even more confused, because so many experienced rifle people appear to equate the two situations-for civilian scenarios.
 
Well, for a SHTF situation?

None of the above.

If we can stretch the rules a little, I'd pick a Mossy 500 or Remington 870 with 2 extra barrels. One shotgun barrel with screwin chokes, one rifled barrel for sabot slugs (that's the rifle part of this) and one smoothbore barrel for forster slugs and buckshot.

Plus a variety of loads.

If that isn't acceptable, probably something like a .22 hornet or something in that vein in a bolt action. Big enough to get the job done but not so big I'd have to lick the slug to get dinner on small critters.
 
My pick? "AK-47, when every motha****** in the room has gotta die" Sam Jackson, PULP FICTION.

Yeah gimme an RAA "reverted trigger" 7.62x39, a 4x scope and as much ammo as 1000 bucks got 5 years ago. I would feel fine pretty much anywhere.
 
Last edited:
Ruger 77 Hawkeye stainless laminate .30-06

Barrel cut back to 20"
Glass bedded
Crisp 3# trigger pull
Pachmayr 1" decellerator pad
Polymer finish
Eagle stock mounted ammo pouch

Topped with a Trijicon 3-9x40 green dot or Nightforce 2.5-10x32
 
I will take a Barrett 98B Bravo .338 Lapua magnum with 500 rounds. :evil:
that and a Glock 22 is all I would need.
 
Okay. This rifle must be able to solve ANY AND ALL situations.
This immediately illiminates 5.56x45 NATO and 5.45x39 Russian caliber rifles.
What are we left with?
7,62x39, 7.62x51 and 7.62x54R, as well as 8mm german, 6.5 Arisaka, 6.5 Carcano, 7.7mm british.

Considering this is ONE rifle, it needs to have a chrome lined barrel for durability. This immediately kills M1A springfield, HK91. It needs to be 100% reliable and be able to eat ANY ammo - this kills ANY and ALL AR-10 and AR15 rifles

Here is my list:
In 7.62x54R: SVT-40, PSL-54, SVD/Tigr.
In 7.62x39, VEPR, AES-10B. The heavy duty, long HBAR AKs. SKS is good too, but I do not like it's rail thin barrel.
In 7.62x51: Polytech M14S, FN/FAL.
In 7.7 British - BREN Semi Auto. There are also version in 7.62x51.
In 8mm there is a Yugo rifle, there is also an M52 (aka MG42) for which 7.62x51 barrel is also available.

Bolt action rifles are also good, if you have nothing else better.
In 7.62x54 we have Mosin. Especially Finnish ones. However, it has weird safety and uncomfortable bolt action. Too far forward.
However, there is a superb rifle in 7.62x54 - Winchester M1895.
In 8mm we have K98. An excellent choice.
However, there is a rifle that I think is the best from non semi auto: SMLE
Available in 7.7 british, and in 7.62x51. It has highest mag capacity of all of these rifles.

If I had to go with 5.56x45, I would probably pick either my custom AR180B (with Bushmaster 24" chrome lined HBAR), or some HBAR version of AK - like VEPR. Or with gas piston converted HBAR AR-15

In 5.45x39, there is only ONE choice for me: RPK-74 Light enough for a rifle,
heavy barrel for sustained fire.

If I had to pick ONE and ONE only rifle, it would be either a POLYTECH M14S (due to its forged receiver and chrome lined barrel), or it would be and HBAR version of an FN/FAL, or it would be a VEPR308. Or Saiga 308v21. I would never pick up a springfield M1A due to lack of chrome lined barrel and cast receiver. While I am a HUGE fan of G3, the lack of chrome lined barrel and the lack of last shot BHO is a deal breaker for me. Maybe an HK21 clone. But I do not know enough about them

A rifle needs to be able to deliver accurate fire up to 600-700 meters. It should be able to penetrate light consealment, up to 1-2 bricks at this range.
It should have an ability of either automatic or high speed semi auto fire. This means 20-30 rounds magazine.
This limits the calibers to me to 7.62x51, 7.62x54, 7.7 british and 8mm german
The rifle needs to be light. That illiminates M53 (aka MG42), it also illiminates BREN and DPM-28 semi auto. PSL-54, SVT and SVD simply lack high capacity magazines.
Click to expand...

Wow. I can't even tell if you're joking.

FYI the M1A IS available with a Chrome Lined barrel.
 
Been said, bears repeating:

The B-A-R.


That and maybe that ridiuclous Mannlicher-Carcano that can clone its bullets in flight, redirect them, and make them impact from different directions. WOW!
 
Marlin 39a because 22 bullets are cheap and you virtually kill anything in Texas if you get close enough and put the bullet in the right spot.
 
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