Your chosen 'MinuteMan' rifle....

Status
Not open for further replies.
Spencer, they've explained why the M1 Carbine, and as for ammo and magazines, they have them stockpiled, so they don't need to worry about emergency acquisitions. And they understand the limitations of the ammunition, which aren't so bad as to make this a contemptible choice. I have no problem with it -- I'd take one, but I don't think I can afford to buy one nowadays. I have an SKS and a K31, which should cover most stuff. After my bonus next February, I think I'm going to get a Garand.

My dad used a carbine as a cop, and a friend of ours used one in the Pacific. Both worked, did the job that was needed, every time.

OTOH, my grandad carried a .45 as an officer in Europe. When he actually needed to shoot something, he used a bazooka.
 
Last edited:
I'm in the same position with my MN 91/30. IF SHTF and its post-apocalyptic red dawn, my 91/30 will only have the ammo I carry as it'll be very hard to find. But, its extremely accurate with irons, which IMO is important since banging a rifle around can damage a scope.
 
..I have owned an M1 carbine, and for a light, fast-handling 'longarm' it is hard to beat...it is intended for fairly close-range shooting...if I was guarding an area where shots beyond 100 are not likely, I would use a carbine without hesitation...an average man can swing it with one arm easily, quick, quick...and it is real manstopper..esp. with hollow or soft points...the complaints of the gun came when it was pressed too much into front line use...it was not designed for that, but because production was so easy and prolific and the need for A WEAPON(often in short supply) so important in WW2...many issued them in quantity in front line troops...the gun is best suited for city fighting(house to house) or in areas where a long weapon is a hindrance(thickly vegetated places)...but it really was a secondary weapon for use by soldiers who had another weapon to man(mortar, machine gun, bazooka, radio, etc)....
 
Spencer, they've explained why the M1 Carbine, and as for ammo and magazines, they have them stockpiled, so they don't need to worry about emergency acquisitions. And they understand the limitations of the ammunition, which aren't so bad as to make this a contemptible choice. I have no problem with it -- I'd take one, but I don't think I can afford to buy one nowadays. I have an SKS and a K31, which should cover most stuff. After my bonus next February, I think I'm going to get a Garand.

My dad used a carbine as a cop, and a friend of ours used one in the Pacific. Both worked, did the job that was needed, every time.

OTOH, my grandad carried a .45 as an officer in Europe. When he actually needed to shoot something, he used a bazooka.
Click to expand...

Are they going to carry around 5000 rounds of ammo?

And as far as the .30 carbine performance, it's not horrid, but why would you have a rifle chambered in this when you could have a similar rifle chambered for something much more powerful?

I see the M1 Carbine as a novelty maybe, but as far as combat goes, it seems like alot of people would use it just BECAUSE it's a novelty.
 
...because of the light recoil, the gun can be fired very quickly with repeated shots and is probably at least 2 to 3 pounds lighter than any AR...if you are thinking you will find ammo along when forced to travel, think how many people live in this country and would be looking for ammo to scrounge too...supplies would be snatched up worse than supermarket food aisles!
 
I would have to go with the Yugo SKS too as others have suggested. Some of the reasons why:
-The Yugo can take an easily made cup granade launcher and a spigot grenade.
-It can be made full auto with certain modifications and since it is heavier than the AK, it might (or might not?) be easier to handle on full auto.
-I don't live in a very open area so I probably would rarely have to shoot anything beyond 400 yards.
-Since if we were invaded it would probably be by a country that uses 7.62x39 so I could take the ammo from the dead soldiers.
-The gun is practically idnistructible and if for some reason I had to reload my own ammo using a home recipe for nitrocellulose which is probaby messy or corrosive, then I won't have to worry about fouling as much.
 
...because of the light recoil, the gun can be fired very quickly with repeated shots and is probably at least 2 to 3 pounds lighter than any AR...if you are thinking you will find ammo along when forced to travel, think how many people live in this country and would be looking for ammo to scrounge too...supplies would be snatched up worse than supermarket food aisles!
Click to expand...

I think .223 pretty much settles the issue about quick follow up shots. It's just about as easy as it gets, besides .22 LR.

And yes the carbine only weighs five pounds, but alot of ARs and Mini-14s/30s only weigh six.

Does that one pound make that much of difference to settle for the less capable/practical round?

I would have to go with the Yugo SKS too as others have suggested. Some of the reasons why:
-The Yugo can take an easily made cup granade launcher and a spigot grenade.
-It can be made full auto with certain modifications and since it is heavier than the AK, it might (or might not?) be easier to handle on full auto.
-I don't live in a very open area so I probably would rarely have to shoot anything beyond 400 yards.
-Since if we were invaded it would probably be by a country that uses 7.62x39 so I could take the ammo from the dead soldiers.
-The gun is practically idnistructible and if for some reason I had to reload my own ammo using a home recipe for nitrocellulose which is probaby messy or corrosive, then I won't have to worry about fouling as much.
Click to expand...

I would just go with the AK. All the advantages there and then some.
 
As much as I love the M1 Garand, I'm afraid its obsolete as a modern battle weapon. Not enough fire power, too long and heavy, too powerful, and ammo is too bulky. I'd have go with an AR15 variant and a hi-cap 9mm sidearm.
 
Mosin Nagant of whatever flavor is nearest; I have all three. M38 is the lightest by far, but I can't help but think that the lack of a bayonet would come back to bite me in the ass somehow. :neener:

Throw in a few 20-round packages of milsurp 7.62x54R and go, go, go.

Whatever the situation is, I'd rather solve it from a distance and change position constantly than get into a close-quarters firefight. Granted, the Mosins are the only centerfire long guns I currently own, but I'd still head for high ground even if I owned an honest-to-god M4.
 
I hate to rain on your parade Novus Collectus, but what would be the point of making the Yugo Full auto??? It is far from being easy to do, (Aside from the shoe string method.) you only have a 10 round mag, and Semi-auto is used 90% of the time. You stand a good chance of the gun firing out of battery or otherwise FUBAR the trigger group.
 
-Since if we were invaded it would probably be by a country that uses 7.62x39 so I could take the ammo from the dead soldiers.
Click to expand...

How do you figure? Neither Russia nor China use 7.62x39 anymore and even those two countries lack the logistical support necessary to invade mainland North America. The third-tier countries that still use 7.62x39 certainly aren't going to be invading.
 
I hate to rain on your parade Novus Collectus, but what would be the point of making the Yugo Full auto??? It is far from being easy to do, (Aside from the shoe string method.) you only have a 10 round mag, and Semi-auto is used 90% of the time. You stand a good chance of the gun firing out of battery or otherwise FUBAR the trigger group.
Click to expand...
It was just a thought. I have no practical experience with full auto and it was pure speculation on my part.

From what I have read, it is not easy to make an SKS full auto as it is some other firearms, but with some epoxy and some shims the trigger bar might be held at the right height for full auto. Of course since the firing pin moves freely in the bolt there is a good chance of it striking a primer and firing out of battery like you said.

Magazines on the SKS can be replaced with 20m round fixed (I have one) or with with some kits that change it so it can take AK mags (don't think they manufacture the kits any more though).
 
How do you figure? Neither Russia nor China use 7.62x39 anymore and even those two countries lack the logistical support necessary to invade mainland North America. The third-tier countries that still use 7.62x39 certainly aren't going to be invading.
Click to expand...
Wow, I'm out of date. I figured that at least China still used 7.62x39.
What does the Venezuelan army use?:D
 
You guys and your survivalism!

"Minuteman rifle" implies you will be called up to join an organized unit, much like the national guard and maybe even augmenting the actual guard, does it not?

In that case, wouldn't it make sense to use what they are using? Then you could share parts and supplies, getting or giving help and materiel where necessary.
 
. . . join an organized unit . . .

by WolfMansDad:
"Minuteman rifle" implies you will be called up to join an organized unit . . .
. . . wouldn't it make sense to use what they are using?
Click to expand...

Well, you see, there's a problem with that.

Since the STANDING ARMY that our country maintains DOES use a standardized weapon, then it would make sense that they'd be issuing something standard.

This scenario enlists the UNORGANIZED MILITIA, which decades of social engineering have sought to eradicate. Consequently, the standard weapon of choice for the gov-sponsored military is mostly unavailable to your average armed citizen, either explicitly (cf the PRK) or by virtue of pricing or local ordinances that require red [huh-huh, he said "red"] tape to own one.

Consequently, unlike say, Switzerland, your average household WON'T have standard mil-type arms, and current political climate discourages the kind of peaceful assembly required to form a localized, agreed-upon standard ('cause militias are BAD, don't you know).

So we're left with trying to evolve a standard that will probably only encompass a dozen people in any given locale.

Although, it might be interesting to have a "virtual rally point" where anonymous, like-minded folk (who treasure their nation and are loathe to allow its collapse in the unlikely event of an invasion) could evolve a standard appropriate to their geography/climate/etc. against the day when events conspire to outflank the government's ability to keep them safe.

You'd not want to use inflamatory nomenclature like "militia" though. That once honorable term has been co-opted by political cowards who believe such force would (naturally) be used against THEM, since they trust not the motives and integrity of the common man.

Did that turn into a rant?
 
I'd be more like a "30 Minute Man". It'd take me that long to decide between the AR, FAL, and Galil...okay, maybe not. But I'd still have to think about it.
 
Sorry, Bart

I was actually trying to establish why one could not count on a standardized weapon in a militia emergency situation.

Oops, got carried away.

In light of the fact that there isn't an advertized standard, I might be inclined to grab a secondary weapon chambered in something more popular, like a lever gun in .357 or a folding carbine in .223/5.56 or even a Sub 2000 folder in 9mm.

I would also be inclined to bring along minimal quantities of ammo for rifles I don't have on me, just in case.
 
I think it would be my AR-15. I have a ridiculously overblown loyalty to my .243 (probably because it's my first rifle, LOL) but for SHTF/breakdown of social order, yeah, the AR.

Of course, after the barbarian hordes have left and I need to HUNT to eat, it's back to the .243 :neener:

Springmom
 
LOL!
Can I be on your team?

Have to agree with the AR. Especially for cleaning out alien zombie invaders from Houston's city streets. However, I'm torn in thinking that a true reach out and touch someone sniper rifle is needed as well. But since I'm no sniper, I'll stick to sub 100 yard shots at their nasty little Alien Zombie heads.

Of course, this is all predicated on me actually GETTING an AR. Until then, SKS all the way.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
M1 vs SKS: Ultimate Comparison
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
WardenWolf
W
cluttonfred
  • Locked
Rugged, reliable, lightweight .22LR survival rifle
2
Replies
32
Views
4K
foggy
F
Doug Bowser
  • Locked
Italian Military Rifles 1870 - 1941 Part
Replies
11
Views
882
Doug Bowser
Doug Bowser
B
  • Locked
Build your ultimate rifle
2
Replies
39
Views
3K
manitou210
M
H
  • Locked
Wired Article on the AK-47 : is accuracy inversely related to reliability?
2 3
Replies
57
Views
3K
Jaws
J
Back
Top