CA SHTF rifle?

[jnojr]

Since an AR is out...

I'm thinking a Mini-14 I can use the 30 round magazines I bought before the ban.

An M1A would be nice, but they're twice the price, and I can't recall seeing a folding stock for them.

I'm thinking No on the SU-16 since it can't be fired when folded.

Anything else to consider? A folding / telescoping stock would be pretty important, as well as the ability to accept normal capacity magazines that can exist in CA.

Any other good contenders?

[Ironballs]

Mini-14, i dont want to deal with mag and reliability issues when i need performance. Pass.

M1A, a great rifle, but heafty, i prefer lug around less if possible. Pass

Su16- reliable, accurace, super light weight and handy, mags and rounds could be found everywhere (major Plus) Yeah, prolly top choice

Styer Scout- accurate, knock out power, nato round, costly. very light weight. Another top choice, or light weight remington 700?

Sks, reliable, proven, cheap, but also cheap, and not my cup of tea.

you maybe can see, i praise light weight and reliable over all... thats my CA pics anyhow...

[icormba]

In all honesty... with the options we have here?

SKS and/or a shotgun.

Then after the SHTF... go find a battlefield pickup AK, AR, FAL or even M14 (the real one).

and in all reality... SHTF may happen, but probably not in my lifetime. We gun owners in Ca will all have been round up and thrown in jail or re-education camps.

[bwiese]

Jnojr...

Folding/collapsible/telescoping stocks are essentially a no-no on semiautos in CA unless you go with a crippled gun like a FAB10/Vulcan AR-style rifle that has a fixed mag.

SAGE folding stocks are available for M1As but they're pricey and, of course, illegal in CA.

You can't legally put a folding stock on a Mini14 in CA either, and the aftermarket ones are crappy as compared to orig Ruger factory folder units (which Ruger will NOT sell).

Folding stock is far less important than ability to take detachable magazines so stick with that option.

And since you have Ruger hicaps already (I hope they work ;-) ) you might wanna get a NEW Mini14 - apparently the new ones for 2005 have new barrels from different mfgr and are quite a bit more accurate.

Some KelTecs are also CA legal and will take USGI M16/AR15 magazines (or low-cap equivalents) but I believe a Mini14 will be more robust and Ruger will still be around w/ spare parts & warranty work for it. Can't necessarily say the same for KelTec.


Bill Wiese
San Jose

[HEUER]

I would choose the Mini 14 if you already have high capacity magazines(it seems many people bought high caps in the early nintey's). The pre 1994 Ruger 20 factory magazines are very good, some of the other manufactures are real junk.

My pick:

Save your money and buy a M1A, they accept preban (I think 1994 was the last year you could legally buy M14 high capacity magazines in California) and the ten round mags have dropped in price since the sunset of the AWB. The ten round SP magazines are very reliable. GI twenties are exceptional, stiffer than AR magazines, but very heavy when loaded. 7.62 x 51 can also be used to hunt game if you need to eat.

Another option:

The Kel Tec SU 16 accepts GI magazines, and it has been my experience that if you replace the springs and followers, GI 30 rounders are very reliable.

[markalite@yahoo.com]

You didn't mention if you had Ruger or AR mags. AFAIK, there is a diffrence and the Mini 14 won't take AR mags. Maybe I'm wrong?
I would go with the SU-16, or an SKS and stock up ammo.
Some other ideas are:
8 mm Hakim or FN 49, M1 Carbine (I know, not the best), Swedih Lunjman (exspesive ammo), M1 Garand or a Cal legal FAL.

While not the best idea, a.22 like an AR 7 or 10/22 makes a good "bare bones" survival rifle. Light wieght and you can carry a ton of ammo easily and chaeply! Plus, they are a bit more concealable. Might make a good "Bug Out" rifle to carry in your car.

Good Luck!

[imported_Hylander]

First choice: Mini-14, never had a Reliability issue or a Mag issue.
If you already have factory Hi-Cap Mags you
are good to go.
Second choice: SKS (not chinese).
I'v had several and still have a Russian.
Never a hick-up, not once out of any of them.

[gloxter]

My Robinson Armament M96 Carbine...wait...I sold it to a fellow calguns member...darn!

[CaliTheKid]

My SOCOM-16. Great rifle-- and I bought it from a Calguns member!

[Guest]

Originally posted by bwiese:
Jnojr...

Folding/collapsible/telescoping stocks are essentially a no-no on semiautos in CA unless you go with a crippled gun like a FAB10/Vulcan AR-style rifle that has a fixed mag.

SAGE folding stocks are available for M1As but they're pricey and, of course, illegal in CA.

You can't legally put a folding stock on a Mini14 in CA either, and the aftermarket ones are crappy as compared to orig Ruger factory folder units (which Ruger will NOT sell).

Folding stock is far less important than ability to take detachable magazines so stick with that option.

And since you have Ruger hicaps already (I hope they work ;-) ) you might wanna get a NEW Mini14 - apparently the new ones for 2005 have new barrels from different mfgr and are quite a bit more accurate.

Some KelTecs are also CA legal and will take USGI M16/AR15 magazines (or low-cap equivalents) but I believe a Mini14 will be more robust and Ruger will still be around w/ spare parts & warranty work for it. Can't necessarily say the same for KelTec.


Bill Wiese
San Jose

You actually can have a folding stock on mini-14 as long as it was in that configuration prior to the California assault weapons ban and that is was registered as such. To do so now is a Wobbler with a second offense a felony.

[Mael]

+1 on the SOCOM 16. I love mine.

[Mike Searson]

Save your money and buy a M1A, they accept preban (I think 1994 was the last year you could legally buy M14 high capacity magazines in California)

If you mean standard 20 round capacity magazines as opposed to limited capacity magazines...the cutoff was 12/31/99.

I have no idea what a high capacity magazine is...would that be a 500 page issue of American Handgunner?

[ivanimal]

mini 14.
870 Pump.
22 airweight.
Spam.
Tortillas.

[-hanko]

For big bullets/getting out there/game to eat...FAL, M1A (not from SA, roll your own ), other .30 cal semi's OK, but you may have parts issues (like finding any). For a bolt gun, I like my Sako & I'd like to try a CZ.

For smaller bullets/not so far...an AR you've registered or a Mini-14 if you have the mags. Otherwise, a FAB-10 if you're feeling spendy and like to take time reloading, maybe a lever action in your standard revolver caliber if you're less financially able.

I've discounted a registered AK given it won't do anything with ballistics than a 5.56 can do...having said that & if you've registered your AK, that'd be my choice if utter reliability were the only requirement.

-hanko

[saki302]

Don;t give the Chinese SKS's a bad rap- if you CLEAN them properly (get all the cosmo out), they can be every bit as good as a Russian , Yugo, etc.- even better too!

I have about 10 SKS's of various mfr.- the best one, fit/finish wise is a 1964 Chinese made gun (milled trigger group). Even better than my 2 Russians. Accuracy is comparable on all of them, unless you get a lemon. If you go Chinese, look for a milled trigger group, and a screwed-in barrel.
It's fairly easy to reload an SKS with strippers a lot quicker than you can reload a bnox mag with some practice. If the SHTF though, I'd take one of my (reg'ed) AR's first.
I wouldn't feel under-armed with a good SKS though. YOu can always go bayonet-out and charge

-Dave