Best SHTF rifle

[goalie]

If you think you will need a ton of ammo for self-defense, you are living with the assumption that you would live through a firefight sustained enough to require lots of ammo.

If you think you can "bunker down" in the burbs, keep in mind a couple of monkeys could burn you out without taking a single casualty.

If you think you are going to be welcome "in the country" even though you know nobody out there, well, good luck to you.


As for the best rifle, it's the one you can hit with. Always and forever.

[Maniac117]

I would pick either the AR-15 or the M1A depending on what the exact scenario is and what I expect to deal with. Both rifles have advantages and disadvantages.

I expect that raiding parties will be shot to shreds by those of us who have stocked more that just fun weapons & ammo. You don't think as well if you're hungry or thirsty....

Steelheart

I disagree, my friend. Think of the number unprepared masses, that far exceed those that have taken steps to prepare. Then you can count on factions in that grouping that will have a little, perhaps ALOT of weapon training (Mil, LEO, Navy.. ), then you have to at least consider their success rate, and if they can afford to await opportunity.

Lastly, think of capabilities, like a number of raiders with barrets from a distance.. I'd disagree with setting up a small "Eden", as I know there will always be somebody that wants your stuff. You can always count on someone being bigger and stronger than you, and human nature will always play it's course.
Nope, I'd choose the nomad life. A "Eden" for me would have to be centered in rough, thick terrain and complete with booby traps, IED's and underground escape routes, it would take far too long to prepare on short notice. Better to keep moving under the cover of darkness and stay low during daylight hours.

[gyrfalcon]

Hi-Point Carbine!

[Squib Joe]

If we have learned nothing else from The Road Warrior and The Book of Eli, it is that the sawed-off shotgun is the optimum firearm for the Apocalypse.

[White Horseradish]

Umm, what is SHTF? There is some S Hing TF in Japan right now. Rifles seem to be low on the list of things they are finding useful.

Oh, and have you ever head of FerFAL? He's a guy who did a very nice writeup on SHTF in Argentina when their economy took a dive into the toilet. Rifles were low on his list as well.

For some reason I have this feeling that your anticipated scenario reads like what used to be called "books for boys" back in the day when people knew who Capt. Mayne Reade was.

[Maniac117]

Just thought you should know, in such a situation..

[mn_smokeater]

Mosin Nagant

[mrokern]

Umm, what is SHTF? There is some S Hing TF in Japan right now. Rifles seem to be low on the list of things they are finding useful.

Oh, and have you ever head of FerFAL? He's a guy who did a very nice writeup on SHTF in Argentina when their economy took a dive into the toilet. Rifles were low on his list as well.

For some reason I have this feeling that your anticipated scenario reads like what used to be called "books for boys" back in the day when people knew who Capt. Mayne Reade was.

Although to be fair, different cultures are going to react differently. I'd expect less looting in modern Japan than we'd see in the US. They have a crime rate many times lower than ours...an extremely harsh justice system and pacifist attitude since WWII has bred their society into a majority of sheep. They also have a heavily aging population...let's face it, the elderly aren't going to put together gangs of highwaymen.

We've got friends who've been living there (non-military, among the regular population) for a few years, and the cultural discussions when they visit the US are pretty eye-opening. Japan may be modernized, but the country is not of a western mindset. They truly believe that the government will always be there to take care of them. Case in point, the current disaster...our friends are in Sendai-shi (right in the middle of SHTF world), and the population in the parts of the city that isn't underwater is not rushing to leave. They keep telling our friends, "It's ok, the government is coming." The news media keeps telling them, "It's ok, the government is coming." Baaaaa. They don't believe the images they are seeing on CNN and other foreign outlets..."It can't be that bad, otherwise the government would have moved us."

[White Horseradish]

Although to be fair, different cultures are going to react differently. I'd expect less looting in modern Japan than we'd see in the US. They have a crime rate many times lower than ours...an extremely harsh justice system and pacifist attitude since WWII has bred their society into a majority of sheep. They also have a heavily aging population...let's face it, the elderly aren't going to put together gangs of highwaymen.

I know. The Argentinian scenario is much closer than Japan. Have you seen FerFAL's essay? A good handgun combined wiht strategy seems to be the way to go.

Still, the OP should really expand on what constitutes SHTF in his world.

[Gustavs01]

I'd 2nd the post about ANYTHING you can get your hands on,

[mrokern]

Although to be fair, different cultures are going to react differently. I'd expect less looting in modern Japan than we'd see in the US. They have a crime rate many times lower than ours...an extremely harsh justice system and pacifist attitude since WWII has bred their society into a majority of sheep. They also have a heavily aging population...let's face it, the elderly aren't going to put together gangs of highwaymen.

I know. The Argentinian scenario is much closer than Japan. Have you seen FerFAL's essay? A good handgun combined wiht strategy seems to be the way to go.

Still, the OP should really expand on what constitutes SHTF in his world.

I've been looking at some of his writings, VERY interesting.

There's a recurring theme...be ready ahead of time, and don't hesitate when the feces starts flying. Those who get out early...well, get out. Those who hesitate just clog the drain more.

[Norsesmithy]

Although to be fair, different cultures are going to react differently. I'd expect less looting in modern Japan than we'd see in the US. They have a crime rate many times lower than ours...an extremely harsh justice system and pacifist attitude since WWII has bred their society into a majority of sheep. They also have a heavily aging population...let's face it, the elderly aren't going to put together gangs of highwaymen.

I know. The Argentinian scenario is much closer than Japan. Have you seen FerFAL's essay? A good handgun combined wiht strategy seems to be the way to go.

Still, the OP should really expand on what constitutes SHTF in his world.

Reading FerFAL's essay, I think the guy who really knew what he was doing was the guy who had a .357 he couldn't hit **** with, and a couple of hand grenades.

Someone pulls him into a van off the sidewalk, guy pulls grenade out of pocket, people in van deposit him back on sidewalk

In an economic collapse scenario, I think FerFAL's teachings are correct. You need, first and foremost, a handgun.

Because you can't just stay at home all day, and it's still impolite to take your rifle everywhere.

That said, I'd still want a rifle for around the house. They are scary looking, they are much more powerful than handguns, they are useful in scenarios where a pistol isn't (coyotes raiding chickens, etc).

If you need more than a mag or two, you should have brought friends, I think is the other lesson. But that's not why we "stockpile" ammo. we buy in bulk because it is cheaper that way, and because a pile of "saved up" ammo will let you keep your skills sharp when you can't afford to buy ammo now.

I choose the AR-15 out of that list, because it's the one I'm most familiar with, it's the one that's the cheapest to practice with, and it's a well proven instrument.

An AK would work just fine too, for most people, but unless you picked an AK-74, the days of AKs being cheaper to feed than ARs are over. Both have settled in right at 20 cents a round (for Russian made steel case), and I don't see them going lower.

[45Badger]

To the OP- A couple/few of each.. One is none, two is one, etc

To the Walter Mitty's among us-

Figure out what's the most probable threat in your life and plan from there. For most, it's prolonged unemployment. After that a weather related short term emergency (longer if a tornado wipes out your home). Zombie apocaplyse or economic and social implosion are probably pretty far down the list. For me it stacks up like this-

6-12 months living expenses in cash in the bank.
Three day bug out preps for family (cash, guns, water, food, clothing, shelter)
6 months dry food stored and then used/rotated
30 days drinking water stored

If the zombies or a large gang from the hood come tonight, I'll probably have issues. I prefer to think I'll have some sort of "heads up" the brown stuff's hitting the oscillator warning of those conditions. Be prepared to go mobile or stay home. Travel may be more of a hassle or dangerous. Like noted above, if you are gonna leave, get out while the getting's good.

[Pinnacle]

Bolt rifle in a common hunting power caliber - and ammo - lots of ammo - enough to kill food for a period of time.

[Flip]

6-12 months living expenses in cash in the bank.

IMHO ... cash would be useless. Who will want paper when what you really want is basic needs ... food, shelter, clothing, & such.

It almost sounds like some may be planning to take what they need rather than prepare with what they need in the situation. Is that the plan or am I not ready posts correctly?

I personally wouldn't consider this not just from a moral perspective but from a logistics standpoint. As has been mentioned previously, some defending themselves is in a far superior position than those in an offensive position in many cases. I'd think it'd be a better strategy to be prepared than to either scavenge/hunt and possibly run onto other's "territory" and have issues -or- try to take things and guarantee to have issues.

Juyst my $0.02
Flip