Best SHTF rifle

[archerychamp]

If the SHTF (**** Hits The Fan), what rifle would you sling over your shoulder as you leave the house and head for the hills? An AR15, an AR10, or a Springfield, M1A?

.223 ammo is cheaper to accumulate and probably easier to find in tight spot.

.308 is going to have the energy and long distance advantage, though.

I'm thinking AR15 would be the one to take, but the M1A would be very tempting.

Other opinions?

[farmerj]

the one you can get your hands on and actually use.

[mnglocker]

How about a bolt gun. It'll actually work in all climates and weather conditions.

[infidel]

.22lr

[Maniac117]

Chuck Norris.

But seriously, choose something that is durable, that you can stock up on ammunition for. Personally, I'd go with a AK47 because the ammo is cheap. Downside is the ammo weighs MUCH more than .223/5.56, so it's a judgement call.

Maybe a Henry Arms .22 mag levergun?

[solidgun]

I have given this some thoughts and I had to settle for the AR-15.

If **** happens, 1st, the mobility is the key as we live in cold region of the country.....we would need to move down south.
M1A weighs a ton. Just try carrying it around your home all day.

2nd, amount of ammunition
I like the 308 win. But, SHTF means staying with small groups, possibly fighting similar size groups. When you are working in a group, it means laying down cover fire. There is a reason why you don't want your partner to carry a revolver....this is a big reason. 6 shots of cover fire, means exposure. I know you can carry larger round mags for M1A or AR-10....but have you tried carrying ammunition?

3rd, argument of distance.
What are you shooting? **** just happened. If it is far enough away, stay away. You want to avoid fights. What about hunting? As you are moving, it may be advantageous to hunt small games. But 556/223 can take down large game animals.

4th, reliability
I make sure I keep my firearms in good shape and reliable by taking care of it and feeding it good ammunition or cleaning it right away if I am using corrosive ammo. It doesn't matter what you will grab when you go, make sure that you have tested it and know its reliability. And know other rifles that when you pick up another rifle to fight, you are able to pick the right one. You will not always fight with your firearm.

It really depends on what you are doing. I have enough rifles that I don't have to worry about what I am doing. Am I staying? Am I going far? Am I moving to different locations locally? I have plans, equipment, knowledge to deal with various situations. But it doesn't matter what firearm you have ready. What matters is that you are willing to fight for what is right, ready and willing to adept to new situations, ready to help your fellow man......


As for AK, I personally do not choose that option here as when **** happens....I am talking the worst possible scenario. While I understand that ammunition is widely available, way too many people own corrosive cheap ammunition. Firearm being taken apart to get cleaned is no better than a candybar in a fight. I know they remain reliable for a long time without being cleaned with corrosive ammo, but how long will you be relying on this rifle.


there are unimaginable number of different scenarios, but these are just my plans.

[1911fan]

Context means everything.

Survival vs insurrection vs invasion.

To much to evaluate. Terrain, temps, known destination vs wandering nomad.

A .22/410 o/u makes a lot of sense as a survival gun. Here, where almost all threats are modest in size. Kodiak island you might choose differently. If it's really really cold a .22 rimfire is not the best choice.

Some might say a hawkens style rifle has some advantages. Bulk powder and a lead round ball.

I heard a guy who had a lot of t shirts once say a M1 carbine was pretty close to perfect.

[archerychamp]

The context is:
Our financial system collapses
Our power grid collapses
Our access to fuel collapses
Our government starts to collapse
& it's every family for themself;
or a "Red Dawn" situation.

A .22 isn't going to cut-it for defense. For small game & survival, fine. But I was thinking more for defense as well as for survival.

[1911fan]

The context is:
Our financial system collapses
Our power grid collapses
Our access to fuel collapses
Our government starts to collapse
& it's every family for themself;
or a "Red Dawn" situation.

A .22 isn't going to cut-it for defense. For small game & survival, fine. But I was thinking more for defense as well as for survival.

Here in Minnesota northern or southern? Northern means forest, southern means open lands. Red dawn infers foreign troops. General collapse means national guard, us military weapons. Etc.

[farmerj]

So you have your "red dawn"....

I hope you like becoming nomadic. Because you will be moving a lot until things start to sort themselves out. During which time, you will need to a LOT of ammo to feed whatever system you choose.

The other option is to choose to sit and lay low. Be unobserved and see where the factions will lie. Start with a small group of trusted friends and family, develop your own commune and stay out of the way of folks.

Improve your conditions, but not so much that you draw attention to yourself. Start going into town with trucks full of veggies to barter for things, you'll get someone to eventually follow you to the garden of eden you have created.

[Maniac117]

So you have your "red dawn"....

I hope you like becoming nomadic. Because you will be moving a lot until things start to sort themselves out. During which time, you will need to a LOT of ammo to feed whatever system you choose.

The other option is to choose to sit and lay low. Be unobserved and see where the factions will lie. Start with a small group of trusted friends and family, develop your own commune and stay out of the way of folks.

Improve your conditions, but not so much that you draw attention to yourself. Start going into town with trucks full of veggies to barter for things, you'll get someone to eventually follow you to the garden of eden you have created.

Where you can ambush them with your ingeniously created veggie-guns, so you can acquire their meager supplies?? I see where you're going!

[farmerj]

You've got your garden of eden. Life is good.

Think about light disipline. How far away do you think an electric light will be seen when the entire section is without power? It will be a star guiding people to you at night. "What's with that light over there? Haven't seen one for over 10 months at night." How about that generator droaning away in the backyard powering those lights. If they can't see it, they can certainly hear it.

People are eating dandelions and weed bulbs because that's all they can scrounge up walking for miles around. You come rolling into town with your petroleum burning dinasaur months after the last gas station closed up with a box full of veggies for the local hardware store looking for some copper pipe for the chicken coop.

So forget about all the rest of it, just go buy that fancy $2000+ black rifle with all the ammo you can collect.

I am thinking $2000 will buy a lot of water filters, veggie seeds and a couple months payments on that out of the way garden of eden off the beaten path.

[EJSG19]

The context is:
Our financial system collapses
Our power grid collapses
Our access to fuel collapses
Our government starts to collapse
& it's every family for themself;
or a "Red Dawn" situation.

A .22 isn't going to cut-it for defense. For small game & survival, fine. But I was thinking more for defense as well as for survival.

Besides a gun, what other preparations for this scenario do you have in mind? A gun is important, but certainly not the only concern.

[Maniac117]

I think the joke may be on us, if he's taking notes on who is going to be better prepared.. After all, with a $2k weapon and stockpile of ammo, there is a fair chance he plans on being part of a raiding party.

[Steelheart]

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