recommendations for "#$%$ hits fan" rifle

[themailman]

sock full of man sh*t

I agree. No one messes with the dude who carries that and is willing to use it.

[z-bob]

Marlin 1894C carbine in .357/.38. Cheap to shoot, holds a lot of rounds and you can top up the magazine whenever there's a pause, the ammo is light so you can carry a bunch with you. And it doesn't look "evil" (this might be important when society is breaking down but not totally lawless yet.) .357 Magnum packs a lot more punch than you'd expect from a long barrel.

Second choice would be a .22 autoloader.

Third choice might be the loaded diaper.

[Ready4whenSHTF]

I tell you what isnt conjecture, if S does HTF those who didnt prepare for it will be the first to die.

[Leoshik]

Yeah, it's like everyone needs to justify buying a rifle with a silly end-of-world fantasy instead of just saying "I want this gun to shoot **** up and feel good about myself." Repeat after me: "I just want to shoot **** up." That's what I did. Now go buy it.

Amen.

[dandingo13]

+1000. I wish this were a more common belief. Great post; this should be stickied.

Cheers,

--Inq

Tell that to the Jews in the '30s and '40s, the Russians in the '40s or the Chinese under Mao. Just under these 3 dictators, 90 million + people were slaughtered. All of these happened within about 20 years.

I'm guessing a lot of you weren't old enough or even around for the L.A. riots. I don't live all that far from where it happened and have friends that lived just on the skirts of it. If you don't think you'd ever need to use a firearm for an extended time, watch this...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3be_1237333767

This in in CALIFORNIA. This isn't some far off, fairy tale land. And this wasn't because food stamps stopped coming or water and food were scarce. This was just because they could!

Why not be as prepared as possible? You may not have a family. Having a huge family, I would like to have the best defense money will allow. I don't own firearms because they're 'fun to shoot and look cool'. I own them for worst-case scenarios. Our forefathers owned them to defend and survive.

Whatever reason it is, instead of criticizing him, appreciate the fact that there is one more person that wants to exercise his or her 2nd Amendment rights and not have to depend on the .gov to protect us. I wish there were more people that were worried about the direction our country is headed and decided that it was time to start prepping for a worst-case scenario. If nothing happens, he has firearms, food and water and has learned a lot. If something does happen, he's able to defend himself and loved ones. A win-win.

Back on topic, I do believe he should have done a little more searching on the forums since there are other threads on the same topic. I don't even know if the OP is still interested in opinions, but I'd start out with something like an SKS. Inexpensive, extremely effective, reliable and battle-proven. Ammo is plentiful and inexpensive as well. $500 can get you an SKS, plenty of ammo, accessories and stripper clips. A great start, in my opinion.

[glockwise2000]

Saiga 5.45x39

[Inquirer]

Tell that to the Jews in the '30s and '40s, the Russians in the '40s or the Chinese under Mao. Just under these 3 dictators, 90 million + people were slaughtered. All of these happened within about 20 years.

I'm guessing a lot of you weren't old enough or even around for the L.A. riots. I don't live all that far from where it happened and have friends that lived just on the skirts of it. If you don't think you'd ever need to use a firearm for an extended time, watch this...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3be_1237333767

This in in CALIFORNIA. This isn't some far off, fairy tale land. And this wasn't because food stamps stopped coming or water and food were scarce. This was just because they could!

Why not be as prepared as possible? You may not have a family. Having a huge family, I would like to have the best defense money will allow. I don't own firearms because they're 'fun to shoot and look cool'. I own them for worst-case scenarios. Our forefathers owned them to defend and survive.

Whatever reason it is, instead of criticizing him, appreciate the fact that there is one more person that wants to exercise his or her 2nd Amendment rights and not have to depend on the .gov to protect us. I wish there were more people that were worried about the direction our country is headed and decided that it was time to start prepping for a worst-case scenario. If nothing happens, he has firearms, food and water and has learned a lot. If something does happen, he's able to defend himself and loved ones. A win-win.

Back on topic, I don't even know if the OP is still interested in opinions, but I'd start out with something like an SKS. Inexpensive, extremely effective, reliable and battle-proven. Ammo is plentiful and inexpensive as well. $500 can get you an SKS, plenty of ammo, accessories and stripper clips. A great start, in my opinion.

I actually was around for the LA Riots - I lived about five blocks from K-Town. You make a good point, but the Koreans busting caps indiscriminately isn't helping the case much. Granted, they're probably scared out of their wits but it doesn't look defensive, it looks like they're shooting "anybody" as mentioned in the video. And that doesn't look like an extended firefight to me. But in either case, I think there needs to be a distinction between getting a rifle for home defense and sinking $2500 into having a Mall Ninja-ed AR. I feel like tacticooling out an AR for SHTF is like having a Corvette Z06 for your bug out car. But I do agree that there's a need for a bug out car.

[dandingo13]

I actually was around for the LA Riots - I lived about five blocks from K-Town. You make a good point, but the Koreans busting caps indiscriminately isn't helping the case much. Granted, they're probably scared out of their wits but it doesn't look defensive, it looks like they're shooting "anybody" as mentioned in the video. And that doesn't look like an extended firefight to me. But in either case, I think there needs to be a distinction between getting a rifle for home defense and sinking $2500 into having a Mall Ninja-ed AR. I feel like tacticooling out an AR for SHTF is like having a Corvette Z06 for your bug out car. But I do agree that there's a need for a bug out car.

He never said he wanted to spend $2500 on a mall ninja AR. In fact, he stated the opposite. He wants something for less than a $1000 that looks as non-AW as possible. I believe that's a great place to start and very wise on his part.

And if a mob was looting your business or house, I'm guessing your opinion would change. The looting would, in essence, be putting your life at risk by bankrupting you and making it unable for your family to survive. I'm not saying it justifies their shooting, since we don't know the entire story and what they were even shooting at. I'm just pointing out the fact that this even happened, and right in our backyard! Saying that this won't happen here is to live in a fairytale, since it did.

[Inquirer]

I didn't say he was looking for a $2500 AR. But that is the in-vogue thing to buy, from the looks of things. As for the looting - like I said, not an extended engagement, and more importantly, not a two way shootout. I'm not a shop owner, so I won't get into the speculation of "If I were a shop owner would I yadda yadda yadda."

My position is this: Have a gun on hand in case you need it, have cool parts around in case you like it. You are right in your belief that if people are invading your space, infringing on your rights, exhibiting the potential for lethal harm, you should have a gun on hand. It just shouldn't be the first thing you reach for when SHTF. Your car keys should be!

[23 Blast]

^Just so long as your keys are contained on a Magpul keychain!

[dandingo13]

I didn't say he was looking for a $2500 AR. But that is the in-vogue thing to buy, from the looks of things. As for the looting - like I said, not an extended engagement, and more importantly, not a two way shootout. I'm not a shop owner, so I won't get into the speculation of "If I were a shop owner would I yadda yadda yadda."

My position is this: Have a gun on hand in case you need it, have cool parts around in case you like it. You are right in your belief that if people are invading your space, infringing on your rights, exhibiting the potential for lethal harm, you should have a gun on hand. It just shouldn't be the first thing you reach for when SHTF. Your car keys should be!

Now THAT I agree with!

[chead]

Did the **** hit the fan yet? Just checking.

[peterhodges]

Did the **** hit the fan yet? Just checking.

Any day now!

My vote:

Saiga in any caliber

Lots of comments about the $$ never hitting the fan, and a few comments about incidents of where indeed the $$ has hit the fan.

Let us not forget 1991, the Soviet Union.

And that is closest analogy to the situation in which we currently find ourselves. It won't take an earthquake, floods, or riotous mobs. All it will take is for the credit system to quit working. Within two weeks the entire country will be back in the middle ages.

Stock up on mental flexibility, water, food, trade-ables, and most importantly good relations with your neighbors.

A firearm, everyone should already have

[RangemasterP226]

1. I already said in my second post that i agree, this is some childhood bull****. I'm not LEO or military. I agree food stuffs are more important than weaponry.

2. If i knew the sh*tstorm this post would create, I wouldn't have bothered. Or, I would've left out the word "zombie". By adding the word zombie, I thought point (1) would be obvious -- I'm not delusional, zombies don't fricking exist. I like guns. I want a high power rifle that isn't tactical in looks. If you don't like it, I don't care.

3. If you hate these SHTF threads, then don't post on them. You're just bringing more attention to the thread when you say how you hate posts like this.

4. It's the internet. You have your cozy forums that you like and now you are getting SHTF threads. Deal. If you want a closed forum then apparently you are in the wrong place. Or ban me and everyone like me, it wouldn't bother me, it's a forum I found that i wanted advice from. If i'm not welcome that's not a problem.

5. Thank you to all the people who have posted actual responses with ideas on rifles (including personal msgs). The people talking about liberal vs conservative philosophies and the fricking peace corp, you need to check yourself IMO. I want a gun, not political advice.

Your friend,
wideLoad

Holy ****, nice attitude new guy....

Whats with kids these days???

How about you take some time to read and absorb before posting questions and then lashing out when you don't get the advice you want. Ever heard of two ears...one mouth?

[Ready4whenSHTF]

Tell that to the Jews in the '30s and '40s, the Russians in the '40s or the Chinese under Mao. Just under these 3 dictators, 90 million + people were slaughtered. All of these happened within about 20 years.

I'm guessing a lot of you weren't old enough or even around for the L.A. riots. I don't live all that far from where it happened and have friends that lived just on the skirts of it. If you don't think you'd ever need to use a firearm for an extended time, watch this...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3be_1237333767

This in in CALIFORNIA. This isn't some far off, fairy tale land. And this wasn't because food stamps stopped coming or water and food were scarce. This was just because they could!

Why not be as prepared as possible? You may not have a family. Having a huge family, I would like to have the best defense money will allow. I don't own firearms because they're 'fun to shoot and look cool'. I own them for worst-case scenarios. Our forefathers owned them to defend and survive.

Whatever reason it is, instead of criticizing him, appreciate the fact that there is one more person that wants to exercise his or her 2nd Amendment rights and not have to depend on the .gov to protect us. I wish there were more people that were worried about the direction our country is headed and decided that it was time to start prepping for a worst-case scenario. If nothing happens, he has firearms, food and water and has learned a lot. If something does happen, he's able to defend himself and loved ones. A win-win.

Back on topic, I do believe he should have done a little more searching on the forums since there are other threads on the same topic. I don't even know if the OP is still interested in opinions, but I'd start out with something like an SKS. Inexpensive, extremely effective, reliable and battle-proven. Ammo is plentiful and inexpensive as well. $500 can get you an SKS, plenty of ammo, accessories and stripper clips. A great start, in my opinion.

Well said. Those that wish to prepare, let them prepare, those that want to run, let them try to run.