Sir Galahad
member
Back in the 1980s, "survivalists" were always talking about the best rifles to have in case of the big nuclear war everyone thought was coming. Except, they didn't have the internet.
Ok, I'm sure the whole "SHTF" has been flogged to death here, but how about this scenario:
You wake up to discover that a nuclear exchange is impending. (For those of you in target areas, you'll probably be vaporized, but what the heck, play along.) You don't have time to run out and buy ammo or supplies. You figure on getting as far away from fallout as possible using backroads. This will entail hunting for food and possibly defending that food. Count on not gettng resupplied for ammo. But, possibly, you might run across abandoned stores. Based on what you have on hand, how would you choose 4 rifles and all their ammo that you can pack into a vehicle and carry? The two duties of the rifles are hunting and self-defense.
My Choices:
1.) Ruger M77 International .308---For hunting, it will drop most big game animals I will encounter. I have a scope for it, but it also has iron sights. I always keep a few hundred rounds for it on hand. Ammo can be found many places. Can be pressed into self-defense if necessary. Light and compact and stows easy.
2.) M-39 Finnish Mosin Nagant---What am I thinking?!?! Ah! It is what we have ON HAND! Accurate and of substantial caliber for hunting and defense (if need be) and I happen to have several hundred of rounds of ammo for it. I can also pull the bolts and trigger/mag assys from all my other Mosins and have plenty of repair parts for it. The liability is the uncommon caliber, but it would be a waste to leave it, all the ammo, and parts behind. Especially with ammo in sealed containers.
3.) AK---This is for self-defense. Ammo is pretty common all over these days and I have lots of mags for it as well as ammo. Reliable and will still take deer. Still fairly compact for stowing. Lasts under harsh conditions.
4.) CZ 452----This is for small game. Rifle is light and has superb iron sights. Solidly built, should last a lifetime. Very accurate. I had thought of my Remington 513-T, but it is a lot heavier and a larger package overall. The sights on the CZ are not as likely to get damaged as the Redfield peep on the 513.
Other thoughts:
1.) AR-15s and Mini-14s make a lot of sense from the standpoint that abandoned military ammo stock can be used. 2.) The .30-30 makes a lot of sense from the standpoint of the availablity of ammo.
3.) The M1A and M1 Garand make a lot of sense from the standpoint that they can defend and drop big game both very well.
4.) The AR-7 makes some sense in that it could be kept stowed in it's buttstock and the extra room could be used for another light carbine such as a Bushmaster.
5.) The M1 carbine makes sense as a defensive weapon since it's light and stows easy.
What are your choices and thoughts?
Ok, I'm sure the whole "SHTF" has been flogged to death here, but how about this scenario:You wake up to discover that a nuclear exchange is impending. (For those of you in target areas, you'll probably be vaporized, but what the heck, play along.) You don't have time to run out and buy ammo or supplies. You figure on getting as far away from fallout as possible using backroads. This will entail hunting for food and possibly defending that food. Count on not gettng resupplied for ammo. But, possibly, you might run across abandoned stores. Based on what you have on hand, how would you choose 4 rifles and all their ammo that you can pack into a vehicle and carry? The two duties of the rifles are hunting and self-defense.
My Choices:
1.) Ruger M77 International .308---For hunting, it will drop most big game animals I will encounter. I have a scope for it, but it also has iron sights. I always keep a few hundred rounds for it on hand. Ammo can be found many places. Can be pressed into self-defense if necessary. Light and compact and stows easy.
2.) M-39 Finnish Mosin Nagant---What am I thinking?!?! Ah! It is what we have ON HAND! Accurate and of substantial caliber for hunting and defense (if need be) and I happen to have several hundred of rounds of ammo for it. I can also pull the bolts and trigger/mag assys from all my other Mosins and have plenty of repair parts for it. The liability is the uncommon caliber, but it would be a waste to leave it, all the ammo, and parts behind. Especially with ammo in sealed containers.
3.) AK---This is for self-defense. Ammo is pretty common all over these days and I have lots of mags for it as well as ammo. Reliable and will still take deer. Still fairly compact for stowing. Lasts under harsh conditions.
4.) CZ 452----This is for small game. Rifle is light and has superb iron sights. Solidly built, should last a lifetime. Very accurate. I had thought of my Remington 513-T, but it is a lot heavier and a larger package overall. The sights on the CZ are not as likely to get damaged as the Redfield peep on the 513.
Other thoughts:
1.) AR-15s and Mini-14s make a lot of sense from the standpoint that abandoned military ammo stock can be used. 2.) The .30-30 makes a lot of sense from the standpoint of the availablity of ammo.
3.) The M1A and M1 Garand make a lot of sense from the standpoint that they can defend and drop big game both very well.
4.) The AR-7 makes some sense in that it could be kept stowed in it's buttstock and the extra room could be used for another light carbine such as a Bushmaster.
5.) The M1 carbine makes sense as a defensive weapon since it's light and stows easy.
What are your choices and thoughts?
