The best survival rifle

[Brickboy240]

I can buy a 700rd spam can of 7.62x39 for 159 bucks.

At Wal Mart, the cheapo 30-30 ammo is 14.99 a box of 20.

I am going to "survive" longer than the 30-30 people! LOL

If I can cleanly take a 150 pound pig with the 7.62x39...why can't this be used for a whitetail deer?

I also don't have to cycle a lever between shots and if thing get too close - there is always that big blade bayonet.

- brickboy240

[JustRick]

Originally Posted by GiddyUpGo

If you want to drag that old SKS out in the woods knock your self out my friend. I question just about every statement you have made concerning that rifle. It's heyday was over 40 years ago. Like many milsurps it is heavy it's ugly and it's noisy.

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

My 3 SKSs will group around 3-4 inches at 100yds. To be honest...most basic out of the box ARs (Bushies, Stags, etc.) don't do much better. However, the SKS costs a third of these ARs and its ammo is cheaper.

I have taken probably 5-7 wild pigs with the SKS and it is PLENTY of power for taking game like that at ranges 50-100yds or so.

So what if it is ugly...the fact remains that the SKS is very reliable and it will run clean or filthy. Function trumps looks if we're talking about survival.
- brickboy240

I guess some people just don't appreciate inner beauty

[Brickboy240]

The Glock is also nothing to look at and no..it does not have the ergonomics of a nice 1911.

HOWEVER...it will eat anything you throw in it and run clean or filthy and requires little maintenance.

We are talking about survival...nobody is going to care how pretty your wood grips or stock are. The gun must work...all the time...and require very little to keep it running.

- brickboy240

[GiddyUpGo]

Under a breakdown of society to the point of anarchy in the streets here I fully concede your points of semi auto advantages. I just feel like that isn't happening here anytime soon short of a major super volcano eruption or nuclear war. Not sure any weapons would help there. However I do have a few other goodies in my toolbox not discussed here that would fill the bill.
Ref ammo I cast and make my own and have plenty of lead stockpiled.
I have no "pretty" rifles. All synthetic stocks but one and that is cheap composite material. As Hank said... A country boy can survive.

[Frenchy]

Check the title of this thread, and you can't base your decision on one variable.

[DMWyatt]

If I had to pick just one, it would be a semi auto .22. If I'm in a position where I need to carry all the ammo with me, even 223 is going to get heavy fast. A .22 can kill anything I would want to eat in my location, and it's plenty big enough to kill or distract 2 legged creatures I might have issues with.

Even in a complete breakdown of social order, combat type scenarios most people conceive are unlikely. Remember, this would put everyone else in a survival situation as well. Offensive combat brings with it an extreme list of risks that most rational people aren't going to take if the lives of their family members and people they care about hang in the balance. Scavenging and thrift are going to be far more useful activities.

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by DMWyatt

If I had to pick just one, it would be a semi auto .22. If I'm in a position where I need to carry all the ammo with me, even 223 is going to get heavy fast. A .22 can kill anything I would want to eat in my location, and it's plenty big enough to kill or distract 2 legged creatures I might have issues with.

Even in a complete breakdown of social order, combat type scenarios most people conceive are unlikely. Remember, this would put everyone else in a survival situation as well. Offensive combat brings with it an extreme list of risks that most rational people aren't going to take if the lives of their family members and people they care about hang in the balance. Scavenging and thrift are going to be far more useful activities.

You make a good argument, DM. My 10/22 certainly would be handy in such a scenario.

[robinsre]

I'm amazed that no-one brought up various scenarios.

The right tool for where you live and who you are may not be the right tool for where I live and who I am.

I live in Reno, high desert. Nearly 400,000 people in my city, probably another 50,000 people in the surrounding 100 mile radius. I am NOT going to be hunting any large (or even medium game) to support myself.

Don't get me wrong, I love to hunt. I also know how difficult it can be to get game when only the folks with deer tags have a shot at it.

In the wake of a major food limiting disaster, the high desert hills around my home are going to be hunted to near extinction within a matter of days. This includes deer, rabbit, coyote and regrettably a lot of folks outdoor dogs and cats.

Hungry people are going to take what they can get, and I'm not gonna end up with a bullet between the eyes fighting for the last squirrel in the forest.

That said, the rifle for me is a tool to
a. Protect what I've got from people that might want to take it (needs to drop a human being inside 200 yards, needs to be set up for fast target acquisition, and have a moderate to good magazine capacity. Semi auto is a MUST)

b. Get me and my family the heck out of dodge (Needs to be lightweight, manipulatable, ammunition should be light and plentiful, ideally concealable under SOME sort of clothing)

c. Allow me to protect myself while scavenging, scouting or escaping the tight confines of a semi-urban environment (Needs to be small, shorter barreled, and quick to access)

d. Should be able to take at least medium sized game, out to 100 yards or so if I just happen to be lucky enough to stumble on it

d. Finally, must work first time, every time in sand, mud, dirt, grime and with prolonged periods of low to no maintenance

I've played with a lot of different configurations. In my defensive repertoire over the past 10 years I've had a Marlin 336, M1 Garand, AK-47 clone, SKS, Mini-14 and a half dozen other toys.

What am I most happy with? M4 configuration AR-15 with an Osprey defense piston kit

That said, I can definitely see the benefit in having a .30-30, SKS, M1 Garand, or M1A if I lived out in the country, with plentiful deer, elk or bear for the taking

[Groo]

Originally Posted by GiddyUpGo

You are obviously living in a playstation world and think when things go very wrong that the order of the day will be shooting hordes of zombies and gang bangers. I disagree. FOOD will be the number one priority.
If you want to drag that old SKS out in the woods knock your self out my friend. I question just about every statement you have made concerning that rifle. It's heyday was over 40 years ago. Like many milsurps it is heavy it's ugly and it's noisy. I do not believe for one second it is more accurate at distance over the 30.30. If anything maybe a short range shot might be as accurate. The cartridge may be a flatter projectile but it is overshadowed by the inherent inaccuracy of the SKS. You have problems with optics, the balance is horrific and the weight is undesirable in the field. I believe the 30.30 has the ballistic edge from the get go and with Lever Evolution is not a factor at range either. If reloading is brought into the equation you can approach the .308 with the right components using a 30.30. There is no comparison between the two rifles concerning quality. The 30.30 stands head and shoulders over the SKS. I really think that you are merely justifying your purchase of this rifle and have little significant experience hunting based upon previous comments you have made. As to my thinking, it's spot on.
Good luck with your hordes of zombies.

30.30 wins hands down.

If I couldn't get my hands on a 30.30 I would use my 10/22 over the SKS any day of the week.

I don't believe I didn't jump all over this sooner; but....
You do realize that the 30-30 cartridge was designed in 1895, during the heyday of lever-action rifles.... 2 centuries ago! .... don't you?
The SKS is cutting edge modern by comparison.

[GiddyUpGo]

Ha ha! I was wondering if you went to sleep or just dropped the ball. I was trying to get across the idea that the 30.30 is a current production model and well built. After I posted it I realized it was not worded quite right. In defense of the venerable (old) round it has improved over the years with new powders bullets and components. LeverRevolution is a nice addition to the reloaders basket which spices things up quite a bit.