Question for the shooters out there:

I’m looking to buy a fun / end of the world rifle. I want to be able to go out and play around – plinking and such - with the guys but still have some serious firepower should the stuff hit the fan. It’s not that I expect the government to break down tomorrow……but I’d hate to be standing around looking like an idiot and counting on the kindness of strangers if it did. I’m pretty much sold on something semi-auto and high-capacity.

While my first choice is a Springfield Armory M1A, that’s way outside my budget right now. I also considered ARs but prices are kinda’ high and I’m not too fond of the 5.56 cartridge. The Mini-30 was attractive until I found that high-cap magazines are much rarer than for the Mini-14.

Things are getting narrowed down to an SKS or some sort of AK. I owned an SKS for a few years and, while I wasn’t disappointed, I wasn’t terribly impressed. Pretty crude and the trigger left a lot to be desired…..but they’re cheap and available. Stock rifles don’t handle detachable mags well, but I’ve seen mods to allow them to accept AK mags.

I don’t know a whole lot about AKs. From what I’ve seen online, there are tons of manufacturers out there turning parts kits into US-legal rifles in a wide range of configurations. Prices vary from $300 to well over $1K. I’m thinking about something in the $500-600 range. Any suggestions on outfits to look into / avoid? Any features to look for? Thoughts on folding stocks – side- and under-fold varieties?

 

I can't really answer your question, but a buddy of mine has an AK-47 and that thing is a BLAST to shoot. I've never really been into assault rifles but after shooting his I'd sure like to have one. I don't know if his is good, bad, cheap or expensive, but I do know that we fired around 1,000 rounds through it in a very short period of time and it never even hiccuped (although it did get way too hot to touch).

 

Bushmaster AR15 (they have .308 and 9mm)

Gunbroker and you can get an AR for 6-7 bills.

 

I can reload my bolt action pretty darn fast, not as fast as a clip, but you can't beat the accuracy...

Savage model 110, 30-06. Hope you weigh something or you might not be able to shoot it in prone position. hahaha

it is like a cannon...

 

I've got the mini-30 with an optical dot sight. It's no hunting rifle (nor is the 5.56, both are too gutless) but it is a fun plunker and a well made piece of hardware. What I wanted was a gun made to the AK design philosophy, that is tolerances loose enough to put up with a full load of dirt and cra% and still spit the bullets out. Pick the gun up and shake it, if you can't hear the parts, it's too wimpy (IMHO)

The beauty of 7.62X39 or 5.56 is the CHEAP Wolf ammo. It's only about 4X what .22 ammo costs so you can shoot a lot for cheap.

There are better guns for more money but all things considered, the stainless/composite mini-30 was a good compromise and the optical dot keeps the cans moving up the hillside.

 

Another good one is the Armalite AR-180B.

MikeyB

 

i love my military .30 carbine. bipod, muzzlebreak, scope, 40 rd mags. not a hunter, but tons o fun to shoot with. real accurate to 125 yards. very little kick. unfortunately my 9 year old would take his hands off it long enough for me to do anything but reload mags for him.

 

I've got a national match AR-15, its actually a Bushmaster. I like it. Don't shoot it much, but I got it if I need it, like you said.

 

I've been looking at an "end of the world" rifle for the past 2 years. I already have a Ruger M77 30-06 and a S&W Model 66 .357 Revolver, so maybe something with medium range is what I need. I'm leaning toward a .357 lever action for ammo-compatibility reasons. Either Marlin or Winchester. Both are at Big 5 Sporting Goods and run in the low $300's.

 

some of the best guns i have owned and used are the savage 110e.best for the money

 

If you want an AR and don't want the 5.56mm then the AR-10 in .308 ought to do the trick.

 

I'll take my Winchester .30-30 and my 1911 .45 into anything. The rifle is super accurate (pre 1900) and the pistol is from WWII and both are as reliable as anything. Granted I have been eyeing a Bushmaster for quite a while now...just don't have the bills...

 

Here is my choise in order of preference:
1. AR-10 would be my first choise.
2. AR-15 chambered in 6.8 SPC
3. AR-15 chambered in 7.62mm X 39mm (or atleast the upper if you go with the 6.8 SPC)
4. Mossberg 500 in 12 gauge.
5. Anything else I could get my hands on.
6. SKS or AK

The 6.8 SPC is basically a .270 bullet on a hot loaded 5.56N brass. The military is starting to use it for Special Purposes.

In any SHTF senario, you will be far ahead to go with a shotgun, a highpower rifle (.30-06 or better) and a pistol in .40 S&W or better .45 ACP.

Ultimately, the easier it is to find ammo, the better.

 

My 12 ga Mossy 500 18 1/2" cyl bore is my "Do Everything" choice.
Buckshot, Shot or Slugs, it's very versatile.
(but I'll still eventually pick up an AR-style just 'cuz I want one)

Guns are like Lay's Potato Chips.
Betcha can't stop at just one.........

 

Do not get a mini 14, or mini 30, do not get bushmaster either, i am pretty knowledgeable of assault type rifles as i have a good size collection and have built ar's before to.

mini 14, mini 30 make alright plinking guns but jam very easy and only good mags are the small quantity mags, anything over 10 you will probably jam.

bushmaster has great customer service, but there is better ar's out there i.e. colt, lmt, rra. colt has bad customer service but you wont need it cause there rifles are far better than anyone elses. LMT (louis machine & tool) have great customer service and make a great product compareable to colt. LMT used to make parts for colt and FN, but FN doesnt sell to the public. RRA makes a really good product and also has a good customer service, they won a contract with Federal Law enforcement agencies beat out bushmaster and prices are compareable.

as far as AK's Arsenal Inc. makes the best one in the whole wide world, they are pricey I paid almost 800 for each of mine with prices climbing cause of the fear that they may not be using milled recievers anymore. Arsenal Inc. are the only AK's made in the United States, they import some stuff from bulgaria and build them here. I recommend milled reciever AK because the gun will basically outlast your great great grand kids, they dont need alot of cleaning like AR's and you can bet your buns it'll work when you need it. also the ammo is so much cheaper for AK's and pretty accurate at 300 yards. Dont buy any romanian stuff, the guns always work but rattle alot and are not very accurate.

What i recomend you do is research before you buy, there is some good message boards with alot of info, like AR15.com, there you will also find a group of AK enthusiasts.

I dont have pics of my stuff but i have 3 1/2 AR's (1/2 is only lower reciever, haven't decided weather or not i will build a pistol AR yet, not illegal since my reciever is registered as a firearm and not as a rifle) 1 colt LE6920 (M-4) 1 RRA, 1 that is a franken'AR made from parts of the big 3 i mentioned, best rifle ever, and cheapest as i bought everything seperately. 1 remington police magnum 12g shotty 18" barrel, 2 AK's 1 underfolder, 1 fixed stock (arsenal inc.).

a rifle that is also a need to have is the Springfield M1A, they are one of the best also, in caliber .308 you cant beat the accuracy and aslo good for colse quarter combat, there is a shorty version that is also very good.

and for those of you that will think how do i know that bushamster is not as good as the other ones, well when you put 1000's of rounds through your rifles including my first one which was a bushmaster you will be able to give this advice. my bushmaster started having problems after only 300 rounds, customer service traded me for a new one, same thing with the other one and i just sold it. the other ones have about 5000 rounds through them with the only jams being operator error (me).

dont ask me about pistls cause i dont know much

ETA: there is other brands of ar's which i dont know much about but i recommend you stay away from, Stag arms, Olympic arms, DPMS, Ameetec, Armalite, and some other ones where i have read enough bad reviews i would stay away from.