Idahou
Member
Mostly to keep myself busy and to have some goals, im thinking about my next SHTF rifle a lot. Currently i have vz. 58 in 7,62x39 which is good gun (that trigger si awesome), but i find that cartridge not so suitable for longer term SHTF scenario - by my opinion, 5,56 NATO/.223 is better option.
But what are the most important features for SHTF gun....in EUROPE?
In US i would say that best SHTF option is AR15 - ammo, mags, parts and rifles itselfs are probably most common in all US, at least for now, and this alone limits discussion just to barrel lenght and so
But in Europe? Its little bit more complicate. First of all, its more denser populated - you can get lost in wild, but on most places there is just few kilometers to next town, village or at least few houses. Thats mostly given by europes history where almost every farm just had own village, fort or even castle. That means in most of scenarios you will meet ppl a lot and because feudal system is still kinda natural for these lands, its very likely that they will be very terrtorial focused communities
Second - countries what adopted AR15 mags compatible guns are just so scattered in such a way, it kinda means mayabe benefit, but not exactly "must" (Spain - G36, France - stang Famas, Germany - G36, Austria - Steyr Aug, Czech Republic - stanag Bren 2, Poland - stanag Grot, Slovakia - vz. 58, Hungary - mix stanag Bren 2 and AK) and you can also count in mix Russian with its AK74.
All EU countries ising 5.56 NATO tho.... and 9mm ofcourse
Civilian gun ownership in EU is ... not like in US and it also its not that popular even in countries where its quite easy to own guns (Czech republic have abou 300K gun owners per 10 milions of citizens). So you mostly encounter some hunting rifles and shotguns with diffrent calibres
AR15 would seems still as number one pick, but here is the kick - you will need to maintain longer barrel and in same time compactness to hide your gun because you will have to travel around or through settlens and gun coul make you target. So folding stock or bullpup design becames a huge plus.
Or do you really need longer barrel? Hunting would be limited option since you will be propably on somebodys ground, there are only few dangerous animals (wolves in few areas, bears are very rare) and i cant say how likely is to get in firefight in such a scenario
So mayabe again AR-15 with backup upper? Nope, for some reasson (my guess - its better to sold new rifle than just its part) there are just few (and i mean like 3 on all local market) uppers what you can get here
Hm, what about vz. 58 in .223? That could work, but you will not be able to reload (new CSA 5,56 will ding casing hard while ejecting) and it us own mags and i didnt heard much reviews about AR mag adapter
Ordinary huntig rifle? Not sure how would ppl react seeing you walking in theirs wood with such a gun, also - cmon, im looking for reasson why to buy some cool rifle!
So what you think? What features should SHTF rifle in EU have? What would you pick and why?
But what are the most important features for SHTF gun....in EUROPE?
In US i would say that best SHTF option is AR15 - ammo, mags, parts and rifles itselfs are probably most common in all US, at least for now, and this alone limits discussion just to barrel lenght and so
But in Europe? Its little bit more complicate. First of all, its more denser populated - you can get lost in wild, but on most places there is just few kilometers to next town, village or at least few houses. Thats mostly given by europes history where almost every farm just had own village, fort or even castle. That means in most of scenarios you will meet ppl a lot and because feudal system is still kinda natural for these lands, its very likely that they will be very terrtorial focused communities
Second - countries what adopted AR15 mags compatible guns are just so scattered in such a way, it kinda means mayabe benefit, but not exactly "must" (Spain - G36, France - stang Famas, Germany - G36, Austria - Steyr Aug, Czech Republic - stanag Bren 2, Poland - stanag Grot, Slovakia - vz. 58, Hungary - mix stanag Bren 2 and AK) and you can also count in mix Russian with its AK74.
All EU countries ising 5.56 NATO tho.... and 9mm ofcourse
Civilian gun ownership in EU is ... not like in US and it also its not that popular even in countries where its quite easy to own guns (Czech republic have abou 300K gun owners per 10 milions of citizens). So you mostly encounter some hunting rifles and shotguns with diffrent calibres
AR15 would seems still as number one pick, but here is the kick - you will need to maintain longer barrel and in same time compactness to hide your gun because you will have to travel around or through settlens and gun coul make you target. So folding stock or bullpup design becames a huge plus.
Or do you really need longer barrel? Hunting would be limited option since you will be propably on somebodys ground, there are only few dangerous animals (wolves in few areas, bears are very rare) and i cant say how likely is to get in firefight in such a scenario
So mayabe again AR-15 with backup upper? Nope, for some reasson (my guess - its better to sold new rifle than just its part) there are just few (and i mean like 3 on all local market) uppers what you can get here
Hm, what about vz. 58 in .223? That could work, but you will not be able to reload (new CSA 5,56 will ding casing hard while ejecting) and it us own mags and i didnt heard much reviews about AR mag adapter
Ordinary huntig rifle? Not sure how would ppl react seeing you walking in theirs wood with such a gun, also - cmon, im looking for reasson why to buy some cool rifle!
So what you think? What features should SHTF rifle in EU have? What would you pick and why?
