Best/Most Useful Combat/SHTF Rifle under $500

[Jason P]

On a budget, looking to get one centerfire rifle under $500 for paranoia purposes. Ammo prices, rifle price, cheap reliable accessories are a plus but not super important, just a sling of some sort is my only issue. Probably never go over 2-300 yards max.

I already have a shotgun, handgun and .22

Let the fun begin

[zfields]

AK. Ak 74 or saiga 545 for cheapest ammo.

[0351USMC]

Saiga 5.45x39 and converted

[gotshotgun?]

Saiga 5.45x39 and converted

This

[tgriffin]

Pst... Hint.... Replace rifle with shotgun in the title and you'll get closer to what you actually need.

[BlackReef]

Yugo SKS or other SKS variant

/end thread

[mike_the_wino]

Best SHTF? Not a rifle, that's for sure. You want machete! Never jams, never runs out of ammo. But spear or claymore works too.

[Milsurps]

Saiga or SKS. 7.62x39 ammo readily available.

[Jason P]

Pst... Hint.... Replace rifle with shotgun in the title and you'll get closer to what you actually need.

Covered on the shotgun, handgun and .22, time for something with some longer range nastiness.

[Striker]

On a budget, looking to get one centerfire rifle under $500 for paranoia purposes. Ammo prices, rifle price, cheap reliable accessories are a plus but not super important, just a sling of some sort is my only issue. Probably never go over 2-300 yards max.

Let the fun begin

I guess an AK of some type would be closest to your price range. I'm not an expert on AKs and the only ones I've looked at are Arsenals and they tend to run in the $800.00 price range, so still above what you want to spend.

If I were spending $500.00, I'd find a used Remington 870 Police Magnum or a Mossberg 590 shotgun; equip it with an extension tube, a sling, a light, a set of sights, load it with slugs and be done with it. I think in your price range you can get a good pump shotgun and equip it with what you need or a questionable rifle. IMHO, if you want a go to rifle and the shotgun doesn't appeal to you, you're better saving a little more money and buying something a little nicer. Just my opinion.

[luckystrike]

If I'm buying a rifle for "shtf" and there is even a 1% chance of me needin it I will buy the best rifle money can buy. But that's just me, personally I think I am worth more than $500

[Jason P]

If I'm buying a rifle for "shtf" and there is even a 1% chance of me needin it I will buy the best rifle money can buy. But that's just me, personally I think I am worth more than $500

That whole on a budget thing, kinda changes my mind on that. Also, I'd ather have something inexpensive to feed that I can train with constantly.

[BRANDON7766]

Build an AR for near that price and you can do it slowly.

[Ryan in SD]

OMG he used 3 of the worse thread word modifiers. "best, most, and shtf"".

ibtb

[InGrAM]

Save a little more and get a Mini-14 or 30. The ones at the prisons in CA are all treated like **** and they run day after day and have been for many years.