3 most useful rifles...

[mustanger98]

This is what happens when you ask everybody an open-ended question like this. Everybody has a different idea and it may turn out to not be much help.

 

[stubbicatt]

A 22 long rifle of your choice for plinking and keeping vermin at bay, a "home defense carbine" in your choice of chamberings, 223, 7.62x39, or the same cartridge as your sidearm, and a 308 rifle for hunting or shooting at things further away. Your choice of action design, but I would stick with semi automatic for the carbine.

 

[AirplaneDoc]

10/22 22lr
ar15 .223
garand/1903 30.06

I would probably take the garand just for the larger magazine, but a 1903 would do just as well

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

pretty much as stubbicat says, but I have the 4th rifle (carbine for HD) in pistol caliber loading with hi-cap mags. that's 2 rifles that take pistol rounds (.22lr and .45acp), a bush rifle in .30 (AK, SK, AR, or Mini or some such) and a long range rifle w/scope in 7mm, .30 or so cal., 270, 6.5mm, something along that line. 300 Win mag is good too. good question. actually a lever in .357 or .44 mag could actually do double-duty (HD and hunting) with good handloads, and companion to a pistol.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

A good reliable and accurate .22 long rifle. A good reliable and accurate .308 and a good reliable 12 ga. pump gun.

 

[larry24]

My 3 Picks

EVERYONE NEEDS:

-a good .22 (hard to beat the 10/22
-Marlin 30-30
-a REM. 700 (whatever caliber you desire)

 

[SA Friday]

22 rimfire of any accurate repeating action of your choice

A good working AR

A scoped bolt action 30-06 of your choice

anything else is simply because you want it. I have these three and more, but these three are the three that get shot the most. The rest are simply trying out something different.

 

[07Lway]

Well judging by these responses, you have to have a .22 rimfire. It will always be the cheapest to shoot, and it will work for small game hunting.

There is also a lot of support for an accurate rifle with a .3+ caliber.

These are the two with the most recommendations.

I would think that there isn't much you can't get done in America if you reload and have a .22lr, .223, and a 30-06 rifle. Add a nice 12g shotgun and the versatility that they bring, and I doubt you will find yourself in a situation that you don't have a gun that can do the job.

 

[collateral]

In no particular order:

1. a .22 LR
2. semi auto/bolt action .223
3. A quality AK in 7.62x39
4. A lever/bolt action .30 cal


A good .22LR can be used for just about anything you'd need a rifle for. If I was lost or on my own in the wilderness for a long period of time I would take a good .22 and a few thousand rounds of ammo over a bigger rifle with only a few hundred rounds. The .22 would be lighter much more quiet.

I think an AR type rifle or a good bolt action .223 is just an all around fun gun. It can be used to drop small or medium game, people have even taken deer with them (however its not what I'd call an ideal deer cartridge.) They can be used for defense as well.

A good AK in 7.62x39 is what I would want in a defensive situation, its an all around good SHTF gun, the ammunition isnt too heavy and it still doesnt hurt the wallet too bad. Its rugged and reliable, and who doesnt love 30 round mags?

The 30 cal bolt/lever action gun should be self explanatory

 

[wuchak]

Plumberroy,

You're right, I like Marlins and I think we did this before. : ) There's just something about leverguns that is lacking in all other action types. I also like the idea of having the same action type for all three guns so practice with each builds shooting skills that are directly transferable the others.

 

[full metal]

22 Semi-Auto Small Game, 308 Bolt Action with Scope Hunting, 7.62x39 AK-47 Defense,
NUFF SAID.

 

[mustanger98]

Ya'll notice how, with this open-ended question, everybody's either into all levers, a mix of levers and bolts, or a mix of semi's and bolts? My observation is this split is along the usual lines of whether someone's a EBR fan or not.

 

[tpaw]

A .22, 30.06, and I know it's not a rifle, but a .12 gauge shotgun.

 

[CalamityJane]

Well judging by these responses, you have to have a .22 rimfire. It will always be the cheapest to shoot, and it will work for small game hunting.

There is also a lot of support for an accurate rifle with a .3+ caliber.

These are the two with the most recommendations.

I would think that there isn't much you can't get done in America if you reload and have a .22lr, .223, and a 30-06 rifle. Add a nice 12g shotgun and the versatility that they bring, and I doubt you will find yourself in a situation that you don't have a gun that can do the job.

Yep, this is what I came up with. I really appreciate everyone giving their opinion on this. That's the reason for the open-ended question, to get a variety of opinions and see what got suggested the most. Doesn't mean that's what I'll get, but it's a good place to start looking and learning about.

Thanks again.