Best Indiana SHTF rifle...NO AK OR AR!

[Cpt Caveman]

SKS m model.

 

[ftbstrd]

what rifle?

VZ58!!! The Best of the Comm Block Rifles!!!

 

[flightsimmer]

Well for my money I would choose a blued, slicked up 20" Rossi model 92 lever action in 38/357 magnum caliber along with a good quality 4" revolver in the same caliber.

 

[nemo97]

I would go with a Marlin Model 1894C with a S&W Model 65 back-up. Have plenty of ammo and both models. Add to the fact that .38/.357 ammo should be fairly easy to find in a SHTF scenario. In no way would I feel undergunned with a lever action rifle and a revolver as a back-up as both are very solid weapons & very accurate for their intended purposes.

 

[Shootin'IN]

I just had a thought that maybe a FAL would work good for a Indiana SHTF rifle.
It can shoot out to 500yds or farther with open sights.
With the paratrooper version (folding stock) it should be short enough to do a little house clearing. The 7.62x51 NATO (.308) round is plenty heavy enough to take any game in Indiana. It has been in service since 1954 so there are surplus parts out there. Ammo is plentiful just a little on the expensive side. Mags run about $20 ea. (20rd)
Most I have found are right around 1K, remember you get what you pay for.
I would stay away from the Century Arms FALs I have been told they are not very reliable.
http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=GDPCT-7lL4Tq6gG189yeCg&ved=0CHYQ8wIwAQ
FN FAL - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And the best thing it is not an AK or AR!

 

[Bunnykid68]

10/22

 

[jeremy]

I just had a thought that maybe a FAL would work good for a Indiana SHTF rifle.
It can shoot out to 500yds or farther with open sights.
With the paratrooper version (folding stock) it should be short enough to do a little house clearing. The 7.62x51 NATO (.308) round is plenty heavy enough to take any game in Indiana. It has been in service since 1954 so there are surplus parts out there. Ammo is plentiful just a little on the expensive side. Mags run about $20 ea. (20rd)
Most I have found are right around 1K, remember you get what you pay for.
I would stay away from the Century Arms FALs I have been told they are not very reliable.
http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=GDPCT-7lL4Tq6gG189yeCg&ved=0CHYQ8wIwAQ
FN FAL - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And the best thing it is not an AK or AR!

Try a FAL with the stock folded...

 

[ChalupaCabras]

For me, a manually operated 223 is exactly the ticket.

Why? Load versatility. 223 is very cheap and common, and the components are common. You can throw together a load for any situation. 308 and 30-06 are unnecessary for anything here in Indiana.

A $20 "Lee Classic Loader" comes in a compact little box, and gives you everything you need to load cartridges by hand.

The two most important things a SHTF rifle needs to do in my opinion are penetrate a deer skull at 100 yards, and still be quiet enough to avoid attention in semi-rural environments.

A .223 can be loud sometimes ... but a quick throw of 8gr. Trailboss powder turns it into a re-loadable .22mag. You could even pull the bullets from a rimfire and load them up for close range shooting.

My first choice would be the CZ 527 Carbine. Second choice would be a 455 Lux. Why? because they are nice, durable, non-fickle rifles that come factory with good iron sights, and a 22mag would work in a pinch.

For the OP. Who requires cheap mags, why not the Remington 7615? You would still be able to cycle rounds of any power or quality, and you could have your cheap hi-cap mags.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

My first choice would be the CZ 527 Carbine.

Great rifles for the money.

A bolt action .30-30 is a great bantam weight rifle.

 

[Salty Possum]

Marlin 336BL

Slap a forward rail on it and mount a used aimpoint M2.

It'll do anything that 99.9% of shooters are capable of, even if it ain't pretty. Trust me when I say it's a hell of a fast shooting platform with accuracy to spare, and nobody will argue the effectiveness and availability of the 30-30.

Similar but a little more pricey to do. IMO it's drop dead beautiful.

When I have some more income I plan on doing a a shortened 45-70 SHTF rifle. I would go 30-30 but I can't be arsed with loading a rifle caliber yet, I have some weird fear of loading anything bottle necked.

In all honesty, I'd prefer a platform like this to anything offered in the tactical market. A self contained system, such as wheel guns and lever guns will be much better in a situation where you don't have much support behind you, plus you'll never need to worry about the laws leading up to then. Regardless what anyone says, a self contained system has its merits.

I've been in the market for a good SHTF rifle, I never considered a lever action, that's a nice Marlin , I looked it up on Marlin's website but I can't find the stock used in that photo. Do you know where I can get it? As well as that optics mount? I'm seriously considering get a Marlin 336 BL....

 

[huntall50]

Thats a no brainer, SKS! I love my .22's but given options I want something with a little more punch.

 

[Rollerman]

This one...MPA971 9MM carbine.
Neither AR or AK, some MAC 11 & a little FAL though.

 

[TiminMishawaka]

Seems your answer is pretty much anything here in Indiana.

 

[HARVEYtheDAMNED]

I would also consider a Mosin. Ammo is relatively available, decent stopping power for hunting and self defense. Some people would consider the Bolt action a negative, but if you know what you're doing, you'll take the first shot

 

[gunowner930]

I would also consider a Mosin. Ammo is relatively available, decent stopping power for hunting and self defense. Some people would consider the Bolt action a negative, but if you know what you're doing, you'll take the first shot

Yep, the 7.62x54r is more than adequate in that regard...

 

[jeremy]

I would also consider a Mosin. Ammo is relatively available, decent stopping power for hunting and self defense. Some people would consider the Bolt action a negative, but if you know what you're doing, you'll take the first shot

Taking the first shot is not the easiest thing to accomplish...

 

[drgnrobo]

My Vector Arms Uzi carbine, can take small game,common ammo ,plentiful cheap mags, small (not real light),not as loud as some of the thunder sticks mentioned,in a pinch with enough arc can make it out to 300 yds.

 

[Irishman]

FN-FAL reliable, plenty of punch, shoots .308 which is easy to find.

 

[mammynun]

VZ-58. No parts are interchangable with an AK.

 

[red_zr24x4]

My choice for a Indiana SHTF rifle(s) are--

M1a, .308 is easy to find, used mags are about $25. Although I've been getting them for about $10. Will take any game in In., will reach your 300 yrd mark easily.

M1 Garand, You can stockpile ammo(surplus or roll your own). Enblocks are cheap,about $1 or so apiece or they come on the surplus.
Will take any game in In. and again reach your 300yrd mark.

A bolt action .223, readily available ammo, I wouldn't be afraid to take game with it. No external mags to worry about. 300yrds all day long.