What rifle is best for SHTF situation?

shtf situation ,, i would prefer a Ruger 10-22. easily modified, cleaned and light enough, (with ammo) to go the long distance, if on foot.

many people think big is great, but LOUD is not my cup of tea..
i dont want to draw attention to my position.

with practice, you can hit a silver dollar at 250 yards. and the (cheap)cost of ammo,
you can practice ALOT!!

folding stock, lightweight extra clips, good mag sight, even night-vision are relatively inexpensive, compared to "big boy guns" and i would hand this off to my TEN year old, if needed, while daddy used his 50cal black powder..

for the BEAR shot..lol

just my opinion..

By "rifle" you need to be more clear. You listed a set of criteria that cannot be met all at once with any single gun.

Choose what's most important to you and restate the question. What is your budget? What are the targets this will be for? How important is ammo availability/price? How powerful must it be? How accurate? What ranges will you be using it at? Do you want something terribly loud or quiet? Etc.

Here are some good examples, though:


Ruger 10/22 or Marlin Model 60 in .22 Long Rifle:
Pros: Low price, cheap & plentiful ammo, light weight, quiet, semi-auto
Cons: Low power, short range

Remington 700 in .308 Winchester:
Pros: Great power, great accuracy, long range, reliable
Cons: High ammo cost, long & heavy, loud, slow reloading

AK 47:
Pros: Good power, ammo plentiful, semi-auto, relatively cheap ammo, fantastic reliability
Cons: Large-ish, Heavy-ish, not super-accurate, medium range, loud

AR 15:
Pros: Good power, ammo plentiful, semi-auto, accurate
Cons: A little pricey, large-ish, loud, ammo is a little expensive

Lever Action .30-30, .357 or similar caliber
Pros: Good power, medium priced gun, good accuracy, reliable, fairly fast reload, handy, fairly light
Cons: loud


These guns should cover 95% of most shooter's needs. What you buy depends on what's important to you.



[edit on 12-6-2010 by 30_seconds]

reply to post by 30_seconds


Geez dude it's Armageddon, SHTF, you will have to fight with it and hunt with it,at multiple ranges.
Are you going to drag a gun cabinet around with you or what?
Just pick something that you think will cover most of your needs.
Lets just say you can carry two weapons max.
As previous posters have pointed out, ammo is key,if you run out then you need to be using a readily available caliber.
Don't worry about the price, if the SHTF nobody's gonna be paying for anything.

[edit on 12-6-2010 by Cosmic4life]

Originally posted by intrepid
Once it's worn it makes a good club. I just thought it was important.

Note to self: carry nails and hammer...just in case you need to make a deadly club out of useless gun stock

Response to question of the thread (in general):

Best gun: one that kills enemy so you can collect more guns...and more ammo

[edit on 12-6-2010 by Aggie Man]

A rifle?

I'm going with my Remington 700

Take your pick of caliber. I have one in .270 right now but I think I'd take a .308

reply to post by Judohawk


Awesome hunting rifle, but what are you going to use against the gangs of scavengers in this SHTF post-apocalyptic scenario?

All you need is a AK47 it never needs cleaned, and well fire after sitting in mud...
and a shotgun with a Pistol grip... now" keep that one around for close encounters"

I guess a XP-100R .223 would be very useful
Just kidding

But do you really think you'll ever get your hands on a ak?

[edit on 12-6-2010 by kybertech]

you guys are gonna laff

i like my little 22 air rifle
magnum 2200 pump
4 x32 low light scope
I don't plan on shooting people
I don't think thats going to be the problem here

for small meals
silent
light
I have 10,ooo pellets
no recoil
everything goes into a 1 inch group at 50 yards
no registration needed

i also like my 65 lb hand made bow
hand made arrows
never run out
i make the heads from glass or metal
got some funky heads
chemistry in motion

I can practice my ass off
in the basement or back yard in the center of town

being Metis
I was taught bush made traps for everything
so the gun is kinda the lazy way

got mine from a friend who nver used it with the scope for 40 dollars
im not the only fan
www.reviewcentre.com...

back to the artillary












[edit on 12-6-2010 by Danbones]

reply to post by Cosmic4life



Well if that's all I had I would try my best.

However for hordes of people I'd take a simple AR-15.

a mussle loader you can pack it full of rocks if need be better yet a few of them

Well,it would probably be the one I pry from the hands of the dipstick I put a steel ball bearing in their brain with my wrist rocket sling shot.

Either that or the idiot I took out with my compound bow and arrow.

Either way if you are not alone,their buddies won't really know which way it is coming from,until it is to late.

You can't go wrong with the AR-15. Like what has already been said here...parts and ammo are abundant and cheap.
From what I've read, you need to keep a minimum of 1500 rounds on hand. (for this gun) Sounds right to me if you get in a few shoot-outs. Don't forget to get plenty of clips.
My other advice is to buy NOW and don't wait for SHTF.
Also, practice, practice, practice.

Preparation and readiness!

reply to post by Oneolddude


I guess a bow is good to get off 1 shoot before getting turned into swiss cheese. Ask the American Indians.

Heh heh, I love it.

"The AK-47 never needs cleaned!"
"You can shoot a silver dollar from 250 yards with a .22!"
"You can shoot rocks out of a muzzle loader!"
"50 cal is amzinfgz omgz lollzz!"

The zombie forum I post on is better informed.

Yea, I'm not even going to bother posting in these threads anymore.

The amount of ignorance is ridiculous.

I guess I should at least answer the question.

I'd prefer a well made AR-15 rifle.

reply to post by Cosmic4life


The Ruger 10/22 is a very dependable rifle that will allow you to hunt medium size game.

There is a 25 round and 50 round magazine available besides the factory 10 round.

It is like the AK-47 as it will shoot even when very dirty. They are easy to clean and ammo is still inexpensive.

If used for protection it is small but if you had the vantage any thing would incapacitate if well placed.

It does not matter about range unless you are with a large force as they are better trained then you and with that said you do not want to worry about long range attack,only food supply.

AR 15 nice but touchy, 8 MM Mauser great for reaching out and touching someone, 12 Gauge pump tactical with both buckshot and slugs great for close quarters up to about 75-100 yards like urban areas.

What ever plenty of ammo, tactical vest and magazines.

[edit on 12-6-2010 by ACTS 2:38]

Originally posted by Citizen-X
reply to post by ventian

 

No offense but neither one of those weapons has much range to them. They are 200 yard guns at best. And even at that range you would have to very skilled shot to keep a tight group. They are cheap and that is for a good reason. I do like the 7.62x39 just not out of those guns.

I understand what you are saying. It is just personal preference. I will always go for the shotgun myself. I don't have very steady hands so I won't ever hit anything further off than 200 yards anyways. My first killshot on a deer was from 100 yards off with iron sights and I missed my mark on it. (aim for the shoulder and hit the neck). I figured if this guy was asking for a good rifle then he won't hit further away than 200 yards either, so an AK or SKS are about as good as any. Cheap and reliable. Hope this clarified my post and please understand, I completely see where you are coming from. I just am no marksman.

reply to post by jeh2324


Rounds without magazines is useless.

Parts are not cheap an AR 15 cost from 800.00 and up depending.

Magazines are about 20.00 each and one should have about a min. of 20 30 round mags. that is 600 rounds when loaded.

If long term loading is going to be done load only about 25 rounds per mag. and only ten of the mags every six months change mags to relieve the tension on the springs.