If you could only take one....

[problemchild]

Because of weight and room restriction you can only take one rifle, which will it be?

7.62x51
Pros:

Reach
Knockdown power
Hole punching ability
3x15 scope, illuminated reticle, better ID at distance
More accurate if ammo is in short supply
Heavy barrel manages heat better
Shoots 1/2 inch groups at 100yds with 175smk's

Cons:

Slower follow up shots
Heavier
Ammo is heavier, carry less
Not great for CQB work

5.56x45

Pros:

Faster in tight areas CQB
Lighter
Lighter ammo, carry more
Illuminated reticle

Cons:

Not as accurate (pencil barrel)
Light weight barrel gets hotter faster
Not as much reach
Lower power scope 3.5x
Not as much punching power
Shoots 2" groups at 100yds with military ammo

[jigenax]

7.62 hands down.

You got range and knock down power. If you run out of ammo, the heavier weapon will make a better club. And for CQB work, use your secondary... your handgun.

[POLICESTATE]

^ yeah, CQB better with handguns IMO. Go with the 7.62mm, longer range is a good advantage. Also less bullets is fine since 7.62mm is a more effective round than 5.56mm in terms of stopping power, so in theory, less shots required to neutralize threats.

[rudigan]

.308, you'll waste less ammo.

[Maddog5150]

Fail to see why 2 inch groups at a 100 yards is really a con. Are you hunting field mice? Are these feel mice heavily armed and shooting at you?
Figure how large a kill shot is fr a deer and 2 inches are more than accurate enough. Figure to hit a bad guy and 2 inches is way more than enough in accuracy. Less you're disarming bombs at 100 yards away by shooting the wires, I fail to see the issue with that.

[asheron2]

In SHTF survival my .22 is definitely the one i would take above all else(definately want a larger rifle too).......... One box of ammo is more than you could possibly want to carry in .223. Also nothing says you have to be nice and fight in daylight or head on. You can be an A-hole and shoot people from hiding, in the head, in the back..............i know for a fact .22 drops deers easy if you spotlight them and pop them right in the head.

[mindwip]

If a could add a 22 bolt to the 223 I will take the 223. Other wise the lighter one.

[problemchild]

At 500 yards with wind now you have possible 20 inch groups. Large enough to miss your targets multiple times wasting ammo. A big guy is 8" from center chest to side of torso. So with no wind 300 yards might mean a miss aiming at center mass. The 308 would hold maybe 2" groups at 300yds meaning a sure hit if you do your part.

Fail to see why 2 inch groups at a 100 yards is really a con. Are you hunting field mice? Are these feel mice heavily armed and shooting at you?
Figure how large a kill shot is fr a deer and 2 inches are more than accurate enough. Figure to hit a bad guy and 2 inches is way more than enough in accuracy. Less you're disarming bombs at 100 yards away by shooting the wires, I fail to see the issue with that.

[problemchild]

In SHTF survival my .22 is definitely the one i would take above all else(definately want a larger rifle too).......... One box of ammo is more than you could possibly want to carry in .223. Also nothing says you have to be nice and fight in daylight or head on. You can be an A-hole and shoot people from hiding, in the head, in the back..............i know for a fact .22 drops deers easy if you spotlight them and pop them right in the head.

Got it but that wasn't one of the choices. I would not want to go into a firefight with a 22.

22 is a big fail in combat

[glockman19]

Definitely the 7.62 over the 5.56.

[jmsenk]

I would normally go with the 5.56 because of the AR frame, but seeing as how they are nearly identical, give or take and inch or two, I would go with the 7.62 primarily for the ability to reach out and touch somebody.

As far as those who think CQB is best done with a handgun... nope. there is a reason it is called a "Secondary" weapon. I have cleared many, many houses, and run through many, many back alleys and hostile markets. I'd choose either of those carbines any day over a pistol.

[CAHighSierra]

Being more mobile would be more important to me. If a threat is out 300 yards, im better off fleeing than fighting.

[MudCamper]

If you could only take one....

...rifle to the range? ...rifle out to plink? ...rifle home for self-defense? 223 FTW.

[kaligaran]

Weight of both rifle and the ammo to carry is a concern of mine.

In addition, 223/556 is more common and more likely to find while scavenging than 762.

[rspar]

If your considering weight and room then how much ammo could you carry and where would you get extra...so 223 would be the choice since I would think it's more readily available and lighter. For self defense in the city who is shooting at you from more than 100 yards with no obstructions?