IN TODAYS WORLD

[sliclee]

SHOULD EVERYONE HAVE oops at least one rifle- one caliber most use for hunting big game and/or defense.
This is not a fantasy wish list your life might depend on it! Lee

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I'll take a Ruger 96/44 levergun. I got one of those after hurricane Andrew when I saw all the looting during the aftermath. That's all I think I will ever need. My other rifles are just extras.

 

[Big Old Boy]

Mine is a RAR compact in 300blk I do enjoy this gun.

 

[Goldstar225]

In addition to my hunting rifles I have a mini-14, just in case. Besides, it's fun to shoot.

 

[Rocdoc]

How about a well maintained 12 ga auto for home/property defense? 22" dedicated turkery gun should fill the requirements.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

The requirements for hunting big game and defense rifles are considerably different IMHO, particularly if you are talking about a collapse of the social fabric.

For mobs in the street type defense I’ll take a semi-auto with a high-cap detachable magazine. For that I have AR-type rifles in .223 and .300BLK. An AR-10 type in .308 Win is high on my priority list for a build and would suffice for a big game rifle as well.

For hunting I have any number of bolt rifles that would work but my .308 Ruger Scout comes the closest to one that would work well in a survivalist environment. My Marlin lever guns would also work well in that role.

 

[Don Lovel]

1952 M1 Garand, purchased for $165 in 1984 from the CMP, added a Smith Muzzle Brake
carry it and a bandoleer of 1965 Lake City everywhere I go in my truck locker ever since Jihad became YEEEHawd in my book. Figure as much as I am all around the country, some goats boyfriend will start a shoot em up, it would be my pleasure to use an American made rifle with the best quality American made black tip ammunition to shoot his sorry ass through several car bodies in a Wal Mart parking lot

 

[GunnyGene]

Given your premise, I'll submit that while guns are efficient, they are also noisy, require ammunition and regular maintenance, perhaps parts which may not be available. This would not be a desirable position to find oneself in.

There are alternatives which are much less likely to attract unwanted attention, and are also more likely to put food on the table than a gun. So no, I would not rely on a rifle or other firearm as my first choice for any number of things, but would have one (or more) for those occasions in which a firearm is warranted.

My logic is simple: Relying on a single thing or method for accomplishing some task, unacceptably limits your options, and is foolish and shortsighted.

 

[groberts]

SHOULD EVERYONE HAVE oops at least one rifle- one caliber most use for hunting big game and/or defense.
This is not a fantasy wish list your life might depend on it! Lee

I think every should have at least one semi-auto rifle for hunting and self defense for 100 to 300 yards, one shotgun, also for hunting and self defense, but for 20 to 100 yards and one semi-auto pistol for self defense for 0 to 30 yards. If you live in the middle of a big city then you can forgo the rifle. The shotgun can use #3 buckshot for self defense, slugs for big game and birdshot for, of course, shooting game birds and squirrels. In the big city you might have a problem with over penetration which is why I suggest 380s and #3 buckshot.
Now here's where it gets more controversial. I believe that these weapons should be able to be used by all (within reason) family members which is why I suggest a 380 pistol and a 20 gauge shotgun. I also suggest a 223 rifle because in a SHTF situation ammunition will be hard to purchase but may be available on the street if you don't mind taking off a dead guy.

 

[groberts]

I know people love their 300BLK, and what's not to love about it, but finding ammo when the SHTF is a huge problem.

 

[Big Old Boy]

If and when shtf I have plenty of ammo loaded and ready to go, you should to.