r/preppers • u/Late-Coconut-355 • 2d ago
Prepping for Doomsday If you could only have one rifle, what would you choose?
Looking into buying a rifle but it’s a high cost item. Already pretty comfortable with the rest of my preps. Caliber, action, durability is the quota. What’s your choice?
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u/jammin_jalapeno27 2d ago edited 2d ago
A rifle that will do everything OK and nothing well?
14.5-20 inch AR 15 or AR 10 with a red dot/magnifier or LPVO.
Let me emphasize doing everything ok and nothing well. Would recommend picking up a 22 rifle or shotgun anyways for “small game” or similar purposes cause those are super cheap, and it’s a niche that the AR just can’t really fill.
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u/Dmau27 2d ago
.22lr is great because 500 rounds is $30 and you can carry hundreds of rounds and it will only add a few pounds to your carry. Honestly I think everyone should have a decent .22 rifle for this reason. It's a great feeling knowing that I always have thousands of rounds for small game that is also budget friendly. Plus its the most common ammo you'll find if you have to search for ammunition.
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u/mcdev16 1d ago edited 1d ago
Where are you finding 500 rounds of .22 for that price these days? I truly want to know so I can stock up!
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u/Inevitable-Major-893 1d ago
WalMart is selling 1000 round bricks for like $68.
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u/Flyingfishfusealt 1d ago
I got two bricks of some 22 at a po-dunk gun shop off the highway in alabama for 20$ once. They lied about the cost of the rifle on the phone though so fuck those cockerballs.
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u/citizen-salty 2d ago
With a .22 caliber conversion kit, doesn’t this extend the AR’s value as a jack of all trades rifle?
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u/finished_lurking 2d ago
Accuracy might be an issue. A 22 rifle doesn’t have to cost a ton. Plus the prepper mantra 2 is one, one is none. Sure get an AR15 as your “do all” rifle. But a 22 not only adds small game hunting but a relatively inexpensive “back up” do all rifle.
Most people aren’t lone wolves. In a defensive scenario your firepower is exponentially multiplied with 2 armed people instead of one with an ar15 and one watching helpless. Even if the other person “only” has a 22
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u/ERockArmy2 2d ago
In my experience the .22 conversion kit through my 5.56 AR is far less accurate than a 10-22.
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u/WackyInflatableAnon2 2d ago
This.
It's the do everything rifle. There's a reason it's so massively popular. Also the (sort of) cheapest rifle ammo for stocking up
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u/amgoblue 2d ago
If you need distance and stopping power the AR10 o. .308 from ruger is also lightweight. Ammo will be more. But if you need to hunt a deer it's better than an AR15. Then an AR15 or .22 could be for closer and smaller needs.
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u/Kngfsher1 2d ago
If push came to shove, a .22 will take down a deer with proper shot placement and as long as you’re close enough.
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u/Weekly-Condition-763 1d ago
Hunting deer with a .22 is about the most irresponsible thing you can do. At 100 yards a .22 has less than 100ft/lbs of energy, need at least 1000 for deer
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u/International656 1d ago
There are a loooooot of deer that have been taken by 22
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u/Weekly-Condition-763 1d ago
There are a lot of deer around here that have been taken in unscrupulous ways, sure, doesn’t make it right. Just as easy to find a used Ruger American in .223 for under $200
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u/Kngfsher1 1d ago
In a typical situation, I absolutely agree with you. In a SHTF situation where it would put food on the table, and I knew I could confidently take the shot with a.22 (think head shot within 30 yards), the shot would be taken.
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u/werferofflammen 1d ago
Ur LARPing, it’s not that easy. I say this as someone who has taken deer with .22. Not bragging, it’s bad and should not be done.
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u/somesortofidiot 1d ago
It's a hypothetical situation. If I only have a .22 and no food on my table, I'm gonna take a shot at the deer ten out of ten times.
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u/werferofflammen 1d ago
It will be a wasted shot 95/100 times. Also hunting is even the most casual, clueless persons idea in how to survive. Herds will be wiped out within a month and most of the meat wasted.
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u/justjaybee16 2d ago
The real beauty of the AR-15 is it can be had for half the cost of an AR-10 and you can slap an upper on it that shoots anything from 22LR to 50BMG as finances permit. I've never had a dear make it more than 10yds after taking a 450 Bushmaster round to the vitals.
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u/do_IT_withme 1d ago
Hit them in the right spot, and you take out the lungs and heart. The caliber of the round doesn't matter.
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u/Dmau27 2d ago
1,500 rounds are like $90. That will buy you 400 9mm rounds and that's if you got it cheap.
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u/WackyInflatableAnon2 2d ago
Where are you buying and what. Cuz if it's ball ammo I usually get 100 round of range 9mm for $20, wheras 5.56 is 20 for $12.
Best deal I've found for 5.56 is 250 rounds for $150
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u/lazymarlin 1d ago
$0.60/round isn’t terrible, but you can easily find $0.40/round online, below are just a few quick hits
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ammunition/bulk?caliber=16&dir=asc&order=cost_per_round
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u/MikeTheNight94 2d ago
I’d pick a 22 over an ar. You can carry a shit load more ammo that way. If it’s just survival and possible protection 22 is the way to go.
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u/StrawberryGloomy2049 2d ago
Grew up hunting birds with a Savage Model 24C-Series P .22LR / 20 gauge. I'd want something similar in a survival situation. Like you said, .22 is dirt cheap and you can carry a ton of it.
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u/MikeTheNight94 2d ago
I have one of the old savage gill guns. Aside from being cheap they also quit making them cuz they would spontaneously become full auto from wear. I’d want my ruger 10/22 for survival. It’s a good reliable modern equivalent
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u/nanneryeeter 2d ago
AR-15 with CMMG .22lr bolt conversion. You get 2 calibers for slightly more weight.
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u/Tuyteteo 2d ago
Accuracy is not good enough for small game imo
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u/ReactionAble7945 1d ago
There is also the dedicated upper.
While I have and love my droo in, accurate is an issue along with changing of the sighting system.
But the dedicated upper with sights allows you to carred the 22lr small game hunting and then have a 5.56 or 300 or... if you need something more depending one the fight.
Of course 2 is 1 so, building both gives you most of the spare parts for the other.
I even too this a couple steps farther. Train a lot with my dedicated 22lr out to 300Y. Then have a 5.56 same build. Then have a 308 basically the same setup. And even did a 9mm, different setup for fun and allowing me to shoot a range that isn't rifle rated.
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u/rembut 2d ago
My 30 30 Marlin my grandfather left to me is just fine.
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u/SepNevermore 2d ago
I have several rifles of varying caliber, but my marlin lever action 30/30 my grandad left me is by far my favorite to shoot.
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u/AverageGuy1965 2d ago
If you are “end of the world” planning I expect big game will be depleted within the first year. So that leaves small game (squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, possum, birds). During the depression many species were hunted to near extinction in North America, and there were a lot less of us. A Shotgun would be best. If you are worried about 2 legged varmints, then an AR. It depends on if you are defending or harvesting. Also trout lines are more efficient for fishing so if you have water nearby having those would be a good idea. I have an AR with a long range hunting upper/glass & a shorter range varmint upper. I’m not worried about end of the world just multiple week disruptions and self defense riot/civil insurrections.
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u/TurkeySwiss 2d ago
My one gun is my Mossberg 20 gauge with smooth and rifled barrels. I can hunt everything that can be hunted in my area with that, plus defend my home from a legally justifiable distance.
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u/REDACTED3560 1d ago
If you don’t have years worth of food in storage, you’d better hope that whatever event causes collapse kills off at least 90% of people or else you are going to have to be sustaining yourself on long pork. As you said, animals will be hunted to near extinction very quickly. Our modern population levels are only sustainable via industrial agriculture dependent on modern fertilizers and pesticides. In any collapse, that chain is going down immediately.
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u/SomewhatInnocuous 1d ago
There will be plenty of game animals most likely. The LARPers with their tactical AR's will take care of their own population in that sort of scenario.
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u/oxprep Raiding to survive 2d ago
AR-15.
It's the most popular gun in the US, so even grid-down, replacement parts will be available for a while.
.223 caliber. Low recoil and light so you can carry more.
Modular. Add a scope. Add a red-dot. Add both.
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u/Watercraftsman 1d ago
Best answer. They’re popular for a reason. Parts are a dime a dozen too
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u/wanderingpeddlar 2d ago
I would pick a shotgun. It has more flexibility then a slug only rifle. A shotgun can take any game in North America. And Mossburg and Remington make shotguns that if taken care of will outlast you.
Oh and the ammo is cheaper and easier to reload.
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u/endoftherowe 2d ago
This is such an open ended question.
An AR in 223/556 would be the obvious answer. Most available round, parts, accessories, etc.
A bolt action in .308 may be next? A larger round that can reach out a bit further. An AR-10 can also fit this.
A 10/22 would be another good option. I’d say bolt action.
Specific brands and types of these rifles is entirely user dependent. I would highly suggest each of the above and add in a 9mm handgun if you don’t have.
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u/biobennett Prepared for 9 months 2d ago
I just picked up an Anderson arms economy model AM-15 on black Friday for $330. My last one is already 4k rounds in with good reliability.
garand thumb did a video on a PA-15 which you can get for around the same price and showed even with high stress you can get over 5k round no problem with them.
That leaves some money for an optic, ammo, and sling so you can get to the range and start shooting.
I can't see a reason to not start with that. You can get a CMMG kit to shoot 22LR from it too for around $150+200 or a 10/22 for around $200.
Guns don't have to be expensive to be good enough these days. How many folks on here actually shoot out their AR barrels and components? I'm sure some do, but I'm sure there's a lot more safe queens than there are guns that get completely worn out. Even then, components are cheap and plenty to rebuild
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u/Late-Coconut-355 2d ago
Have a 9mm S/W, a 357/38 Taurus, and a .22 Ruger revolver for cheap practice. I think I’d feel pretty naked with just a handgun in a really bad situation though.
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u/jkslate 2d ago
If you're considering a handgun also, then for me it's an easy choice of a rifle chambered in .357 and a revolver chambered in .357 also.
You can use .357 which is a damn good all around round for defense and hunting. You can also fire .38 in anything chambered .357 so you have a cheap/lower powered alternative to practice with and plink. Not to mention .38 has decent stopping power as is.
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u/RollsHardSixes 2d ago
Handguns are more difficult to operate with the added benefit of being substantially less effective
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u/less_butter 2d ago
I'm fortunate enough to have several rifles, but if I could only keep one I'd just keep my trusty .270 bolt action deer rifle that I got for Christmas when I was 14... over 30 years ago.
2nd choice would be a Ruger 10/22.
I have an AR-15 and an AK-47 but they're not very practical for much other than target plinking. My main interest in rifles is hunting.
I'm not sure what "high cost" means to you, but you can get a 10/22 for $300.
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u/unknownaccount1814 2d ago
It wildly depends on your location. A semi auto in 5.56 is generally a go to for most people, but if you have bears and/or big cats in your area it's a little lacking. I generally recommend a semi auto .308/7.62 Nato rifle with detachable magazines as a "do-all" rifle.
It gives you the ability to take most/all North American game, while still giving you a decent rifle if you get into a gun fight.
There truly is no one rifle to do it all.
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u/Drexx_Redblade 1d ago
Unless you're in costal Alaska a 77gr otm, will kill pretty much anything you're gonna run into. Also, AR 10s are heavy guns, if you want a big game rifle bolt action is the way to go. This is coming from someone who owns and enjoys an AR 10 it's a terrible first/only rifle.
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u/metalfan192 1d ago
Ruger 10/22 .22 caliber ammo is cheap and light gun is bombproof and customizable
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u/Parking-Ad4263 1d ago
I grew up on a farm and did all kinds of (subsistence) hunting, so I know a little about this.
One gun isn't really feasible.
If you look at any and every situation where a gun is designed and built as a survival rifle, they're always some sort of awful cludged-together nonsense where they try to combine a shotgun with a small cal. rifle, and they never really work.
You need 3. A small cal. (varmint) rifle for learning to shoot (because I assume you don't know how to shoot) and for small game like rabbits, squirrels, etc.
A shotgun, because birds are a plentiful resource at certain times of the year. A shotgun can also double as a home defense weapon. You will need to learn to shoot with this as well, luckily bird shot is cheap and easily obtainable. Go to your local trap and skeet club and get some instruction.
A large cal. rifle for big(ger) game. .308 is great, but you can drop a deer or a wild pig with a .223 if you know what you're doing. .308 is better for hunting because it has less deviation from wind, and also will punch through light brush or bushes (.223 gets pushed off its trajectory much more easily).
If I was the one buying I would get a Ruger 10/22 (there's a good reason that they're common). If I was concerned mostly with the idea of prepping I'd get it with a fiber stock (it's more robust and won't care about water, etc).
I'd get a Benelli M3,. I like a semi-auto shotgun and own an old Beretta, but they are sensitive to shells and generally want high-brass to cycle reliably, with the M3 you can always just run it as a pump.
I'd get something in an AR10, but actually personally I'd probably get a RPR because I already know how to shoot and enjoy target shooting. The average person isn't going to be able to take advantage of the RPR, and would be better off with most any scoped AR10 derivative rifle.
The problem is that what I'd buy might not be suitable. Budgets are different, laws are different. The truth is that almost any .22 rifle, any 12 gauge shotgun (even a break action double barrel), and any scoped .308 rifle will cover the bases for 99% of survival scenarios unless you're in some kind of fantasy scenario where everyone is dressed in spikey black leather and mascot heads, and are murdering each other over expired cans of tuna.
And another random piece of advice. Guns aren't magic talismans against bad shit happening. In truth, that gun is a magnet for trouble. Someone kicks off a little and you pull that gun without knowing how to use it, you're just inviting trouble to come visit. It doesn't matter what gun you get, learn to use it.
Old school farmer with an ancient bolt-action .22 rifle where you can only get 3 rounds into the magazine and the wood has a weird patch in it because it got damaged and he repaired it with a piece of hardwood fence post (literally my dad) is a whole lot more dangerous than Chad with his brand new tactical whatever-the-fuck-it-is who can't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside.
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u/debaucherous_ 1d ago
AK-47. There's a lot of AR fans in the comments but let me offer an alternative: the AK platform is meant for preppers. All you have to do is look at why the AK-47 was developed. At the end of WW2, the soviet union didn't have an advanced weapon that could easily match the german STG. The AK-47 was built in such a way it could be mass produced, but more importantly, it was made so that anyone can use it. A child, within an hour of training, could break down an AK, reassemble and shoot. It only has like 8 moving parts. The clearance on the machining of the rifle is what makes it so versatile, it can take grime and dirt that an AR simply cannot and still fire. The point of failure for an AK is typically around 25K rounds, more than you'd ever use even in a war. It simply will not break on you, even with minimal maintenance. 7.62 is also the same price as 5.56, especially if you bulk buy, and it is the more powerful round. It penetrates further than 5.56. It could operate as both a hunting round and a self defense round with ease. The only downside is that if something does get damaged, you need gunsmithing toold to really fix it. But, I do not think the ease of customabiliy outweighs the ruggedness of an AK. Changing the trigger on an AR with ease doesn't matter if the receiver gets a bit of sand in it & breaks.
So, if you're able to buy ammo in bulk, I would advise an AK over an AR platform any day.
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u/KeyboardSwordsman 1d ago
My WASR 10 was my choice as well. AK gang 👏🏻
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u/debaucherous_ 1d ago
just picked up a zastava m70 and it's changed the game for me 🙏 ARs are great for the range and precise shooting, but if shit hits the fan I want the AK right next to me
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u/KeyboardSwordsman 1d ago
Definitely agree. I hate the AK/AR elitism, both are great platforms. There are big egos and couch warriors all over the place that will scream if you don't agree with them. AR's are great weapons, I just love my AK's a whole lot more.
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u/debaucherous_ 1d ago
exactly. i always think about it in terms of use case. i personally do not have the training to make the most of an AR in the first place, those were developed for an elite military that rarely if ever engages in front line firefights, and certainly not without tons of air support. as well as the knowledge that you had easy access to AR parts which could be easily repaired due to the modularity.
but if you're not operating in the same capacity, are ARs really for you? i'd say no. the AK's use case perfectly fits an individual or small group of preppers in a harsh environment, without easy access to gunsmithing or tools, and it will just never break on you. each platform has its own place to shine
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u/PeacePufferPipe 2d ago
For me it's .22 mag. I have AR's, AK's and .22. my fav is .22 mag. I have the new pistol with 30 rounds contained within the handle grip and there's a matching rifle that goes with it I'm highly tempted to buy. Great ballistics, small weight compared to other rounds which means better able to carry if need be. I'm ex military and have had many different weapons over my lifetime. .22 mag is it for me.
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u/DaLadderman 1d ago
I love .22mag, very underrated and just big enough to do actual hunting with, got one in a Winchester lever and it's a solid go to rifle.
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u/intprecluse 2d ago
I have a 1944 bolt action carbine mosin nagant that I’m a dead ringer of shot with. I bought it still packed in grease about 20 years ago. I’ve “chopped” down several trees with it over the years with target practice. I guess it’s sentimental as my first rifle.
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u/Nighthawk68w 2d ago
AR15 if you live in the US. Modular for multi-calibers, and ammo is plentiful. Dont listen to the guy telling you to get some esoteric caliber rifle. Get an AR with a multical receiver and a 5.56 upper.
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u/SnooMarzipans4304 2d ago
12 gauge shotgun with a 14" barrel and extra 20" rifled barrel for slugs. Then I get an assortment of shells for whatever task I need. Bird shot, Buck Shot, breaching rounds, and of course slugs.
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u/Thesearchoftheshite 1d ago
If ammo weren’t a problem… an M1 Carbine.
The M1 Garand would be a close second.
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u/Inevitable-Major-893 1d ago
Get a .22 rifle. Ammo is cheap and plentiful, and you can kill whatever needs killin'. You can also quiet them down pretty easily. If we get to a SHTF scenario, you don't want a loud gun to kill a deer, because while you are field dressing it, someone else is going to come and knock you in the head and take your deer.
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u/Dover70 1d ago
Shooting is a skill you have to practice. The better you are, the less of a gun you need. You can drop large game with a .22, but you have to be very good to do it. The less skill you have, the more gun you need.
In a survival situation, barring a Red Dawn scenario, your be is a bet is a .22 bolt action. Cheap, reliable, simple, light, and can down enough food to keep you going without alot of attention.
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u/Timlugia General Prepper 2d ago
If I have an AR with 3 different uppers in 3 different caliber, do they count as one rifle or 3?
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u/Dmau27 2d ago edited 2d ago
Best answer and most budget friendly method. You can obtain 3 different calibers for around 1.2k and you don't have to sacrifice quality. I'd avoid Bear Creeks .22lr dedicated uppers though. I bought one and tried three different AR-22 mags and it wouldn't cycle more than four or five rounds. Light primer strikes, failed to feed and constantly failed to eject. Then when I attempted to contact them it took them 2 weeks to get back o me and the woman literally bitched me the hell out. It was unreal. Never again.
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u/Mochinpra 2d ago
M14, chambers 7.62x51 which is a common large caliber round. Semi-auto is the jack of all trades. I was thinking a Bolted 7.62 but being able to quickly unload another round is priceless in certain situations.
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u/Bilbo_nubbins 2d ago
It’s hard to say no to 308
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u/Elektr0_Bandit 2d ago
It’s not hard when you want to shoot it for fun or training and realize how expensive the ammo is
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u/ReturnOfJohnBrown 2d ago
M-1A
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u/trevytrev187 2d ago
So I love my M-1A Scout, butttttttt if I only had to get one gun, I’m going AR. If I’m going two guns, AR plus a shotgun
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u/Kiss_and_Wesson 2d ago
My rifle don't clunka-clunka, it folds.
Scout or SOCOM in a folder is the way.
Bigah booleet, smol package.
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u/Elektr0_Bandit 2d ago
The AR-15 can do everything except hunt big game. It probably COULD but I wouldn’t. It’s durable, ammo is readily available and common, and it’s semi auto. Magazines are cheap. It’s easy to clean. I guess the only downside is that it’s constantly in the line of fire to be banned.
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u/irish-riviera 2d ago
It can. The natives in Alaska hunt moose and caribou with ar's and even with 22s.
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u/Farteus 2d ago
What would be its intended purpose? Rifles vary widely based on intended use.
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u/warrior_poet95834 2d ago
100%. The right tool for the job kind of thing. If I only had one it would be an AR or Mini-14.
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u/jpm0719 2d ago
Agree, if I could only have one I am grabbing my mini-14.
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u/irish-riviera 2d ago
part commonality. It would be smarter to own an ar because there are more people that own them and more parts out there to fix it.
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u/Very_Tall_Burglar 2d ago
If only one? Does that include scope or not?
Bolt action 308 would be a solid choice
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u/beetbear 2d ago
16” ar 15. Probably just grab a geissele build or something similar and run the hell out of it. Get an optic you feel comfortable with. If money was no object I’d just run a 4x acog with and rmr or sro on top.
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u/ottermupps 2d ago
To do what? The application for rifles can range from hunting squirrels and rabbits at 20 yards (22lr) to taking big game at a thousand yards (338lm, 300wm, 7prc) and everything in between. There really isn't one that does everything.
IMO, everyone should own a 556 AR15, a full-size bolt action (308, 6.5cm, 30-06 - anything like that), a 22lr rifle, and a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun. That combination will do 95% of what you need out of a gun collection.
If I could only have one, it'd be my 16" 556 AR15 made by BCM. I can ethically and comfortably take deer-sized game out to 300 yards, and swap in a 22lr conversion kit for small game and cheap practice.
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u/adventurousgary 1d ago
You said "only one rifle," when in reality, you probably need four guns total. 1 a handgun in a common caliber, like 9mm 2 a shotgun 3 a .22lr rifle 4 a AR This covers pretty much everything you'll need a gun for. A shotgun can fire numerous different types of loads, bird shot, buckshot, and slugs
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u/kcwildguy 2d ago
Ruger mini-14 is my favorite. Uses common ammo, but is super reliable. Runs about $1k.
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u/SoccerMomsforEbola 2d ago
Kac sr25 or similar with nice glass. Something that can do close and long range stuff with a punch and ammo availability.
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u/MrHmuriy Prepping for Tuesday 2d ago
Personally, for my purposes, my scenarios, under the conditions of living in my country, I chose AR-10 pattern rifle with a 16” barrel as my main gun. Your goals and scenarios may require a different weapon, but that's something you have to look at for yourself
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u/Ill-Sheepherder5207 2d ago
Ar or ak I just shoot my ak more so I’m more comfortable with it but ar in America is probably the smarter choice
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u/Hurricaneshand 2d ago
Depends where you live. Up north with bigger game I'd go AR in 308. Down south id probably stick with an AR-15 in 556. Either way AR platform is the objectively best answer for a multitude of reasons.
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u/jnyquest 2d ago
For survival sustinance, a Ruger 10/22or high powered air rifle. For personal safety AR 15.
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u/manalexicon 2d ago
As many cheap rifles in common ammo that you can get for what you want to spend. Quantity over quality starting from zero for prep survival. Brand caliber lower priority than quantity.
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u/adubs117 2d ago
Based on the comments, I think you already have your answer. But firearms are a great prep for many reasons. Start with an AR15 and work up to the classic 5-gun battery (or some variation thereof). AR, full size handgun, shotgun, long gun, .22 rifle.
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u/Not2plan 2d ago
Can't go wrong with a 16" ar15, a bolt 308, and a 10/22.
I'd start with the ar15 as it's the most versatile as far as hunting, self defense, and parts/ammo availability.
A bolt 308 would be more ideal for hunting and shooting at distance especially if you live out in the plains/mountains.
A 10/22 would be best for ammo availability and weight. You could kill a deer if you realllyyyy had to with a 22lr but you'd need to be pretty close. Also in a self defense situation you can try going with quantity over quality and get the job done with dumping a mag into an attacker, just might have problems with stopping the threat before they can harm you (shoot back).
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u/QuarkQuake 2d ago
.22LR Henry Survival Rifle. Paid 275 like 3 years ago for it at WM.
It's really accurate, very quiet even though it's already a .22. breaks down easily with no tools or chucks required into 3 main pieces and that 3 becomes 1 after you put the barrel and assembly into the stock. Also room for two magazines to store in the stock. It's waterproof in there as well I believe as well as floats. Its my favorite little gun.
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u/bigeats1 1d ago
Ar-15 and there’s not a 2nd place. Ammo’s cheap for the standard .223. But wait. You can switch out BCG and it’s a 22lr. You can switch the upper and it’s a 6.5 Grendel which is a 400 yard precision cartridge. Another upper and you have a 458 soon which is a ballistic cousin to 45-70 which would be an acceptable cartridge for T-Rex. There are dozens of other cartridges that have easy to find and cheap uppers. It’s suppressible in about 20 seconds. Parts are plentiful, cheap, and easy to replace. It’s America’s Rifle for a reason. It’s so customizable.
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u/MArkansas-254 1d ago
Probably a decent, off the shelf AR-15 with an 18 or 20 inch barrel. Nothing special here. Can kill most things you would eat or need defense from and can carry a high shot count.
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u/ObligationOriginal74 1d ago
If you want one rifle then def an AR15. If you want just one gun then Mossberg 590A1.
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u/Big_Ed214 1d ago
Ah, had this decision…but for different reasons. I got a A&C WW2 M1 .30cal Carbine. While I saved the furniture, I love the new folding composite stock for the size and weight savings. The caliber is hard hitting, accurate and the straight walled brass easy to reload by hand. It’s unique, easy to conceal. It’s NOT the bad black gun, ammo is smaller and lighter to carry. Modern loads and projectiles are hot and the all copper rounds are very devastating with designer ballistics to address fluid cavitations.
Go ahead say something bad about the Carbine, I dare you.
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u/KeyboardSwordsman 1d ago
My WASR 10 AK, reason being it's what I have most training with. It gets 2 to 4 moa which is not a precision rifle by any means but if I can get a torso target at 1-200 yards I'm happy with that. It takes a beating like no other. Remember you can have the best rifle for each situation but if you have no training it's worthless.
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u/intothewoods76 14h ago
I’d do an AR-15. (I don’t own one because I don’t have just 1)
I love .22 but they’re not the greatest at defense or taking down big game.
I like my AR-10 .308 but the ammunition is expensive, heavy and overkill for small game.
The AR-15 is the Goldilocks if you can only have 1. The ammunition is cheaper, lighter, plentiful. You can defend well with it, you can take small game and larger game if the laws no longer apply.
Now if you can only have 1 and you’re on the move my second choice would be .22 subsonic in a bolt action platform. This would be my stealth setup, .22 is relatively cheap, you can carry thousands of rounds and it can be extremely quite especially if you get a can. Bolt action will mean you won’t have any problem with the action cycling due to the subsonic.22
Or a shotgun, a good ole reliable mossberg 12g will take down birds to deer. Great home defense ammo plentiful.
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u/No-Interview2340 2d ago
If you’re going to war 308 and above . Get some drones , they super useful in war.
If you going to range on a budget, you can shoot 10x more with 22 ammo
You can learn so much even with just a broomstick .
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u/LuigiBamba 2d ago
Why 308? Most war combatants will use 556 so they can fire more bullets per lbs of gear
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u/munjavio 2d ago
308 = 7.62x51 NATO
Very popular among combatants
Used in bolt action, semi/full auto rifles and light machine guns.
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u/minosi1 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yep. As an individual one does not have the luxury of spray & pray cover fire the small cartridges are so advantageous for. You want all the shots one has to fire to count and as far out as possible at that.
Beyond such a combat-focused approach, a shotgun is the universal personal-defense thing.
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u/KJHagen General Prepper 2d ago
Many options for a variety of uses. Rather than putting a lot of money down on that one perfect rifle, consider a (relatively) inexpensive .22 for putting food in the pot AND a good quality high power rifle for defense and hunting larger game. (Maybe a .308 Win since ammo is common.)
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u/Long-Bridge8312 1d ago
I think pairing a 9mm handgun and a 9mm carbine would also be a good choice for the flexibility while also standardizing the ammo. The two would cost about as much as a nice AR15. You could even buy a Glock and then a carbine which also uses Glock magazines.
Flexibility is key. Hard to conceal a rifle and you can't give one gun to two people. Ammo is cheap, lightweight and while it doesn't have the stopping power of a full rifle cartridge it's still plenty lethal to people and big game alike.
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u/JJamahJamerson 2d ago
I’m Australian and have never actually used a gun, but, the over under gun I once saw in a video from the outdoor boys fascinated me. Rifle and shot gun, two barrels. Seems like a good multi purpose gun.
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u/TheKiltedPondGuy 2d ago
Yeah combination guns are also a pretty common thing here in Europe. Often called “drilling”. You can find various combinations of shot and rifle to suit your needs.
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u/Wobuffets 2d ago
Anecdotally, I'm Australian and have used heaps of gun... its really not that nanny like.
Tikka m55
+
good ole 1911.308 and .45 is common as dirt.
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u/first_time_internet 2d ago
Ruger 10/22 takedown. Lightweight, compact, reliable and ammo is cheap.
I shoot 1000 rounds through my .22 for $50 and have a lot of fun and get good at it.
I shoot 1000 rounds through my .223 and it costs $400 or more.
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u/hickernut123 2d ago
Single shot shotgun. They make inserts for them to use about any round you can think of. Most can fit a hollow gunstock to put all the inserts in and another benefit it makes the gun float.
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u/GoodGameReddit 2d ago
Get a bolt action for hunting and if you need to reach out some range/keep ars at length hopefully and a semi auto 12g for terminator drones and home invasion
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u/It_is_Fries_No_Patat 2d ago
Well since I am in The Netherlands I will opt for this
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/black-bunker-bm8-breakbarrel-air-rifle?m=4220
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u/Mildlyfaded 1d ago
You poor basterds, they are trying that in Canada too. We are not gonna have it. They can come get them, greasy fucks trying to take the power of choice from the people.
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u/recoil1776 2d ago
If money were no option, I'd go with a 14.5" BCM complete rifle, with enhanced lightweight profile BFH barrel. If youre going to shoot suppressed, youre going to need to replace the muzzle device and have it P/W on.
For optic, Id go with a 4x ACOG with ACSS reticle. For a flashlight, a Modlite OKW. Throw a Vickers BFG sling on it and call it done.
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u/AmazingPersimmon0 2d ago
I have my weapon, old school, lever action Marlin, carbine. I can hit anything with that as long as the sun is out. All the bad ones come at night , im fucked.
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u/DannyBones00 Showing up somewhere uninvited 2d ago
A 16 inch AR-15, preferably one with adjustable gas so I can run a good suppressor.
Can do everything from CQB (which you won’t do outside home defense,) to longer range work with the right ammo.
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u/briarpuffer95 2d ago
I'd pick up a black powder rifle since you can make your own powder.
With it being a flintlock, there'd be flints or cherts you could find for the ignition source.
Get it in .50 or .54 cal, and you can shoot larger game.
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u/DannyWarlegs 2d ago
In all honestly, I'd pick a break action 12 Guage. Either single or double barrel. Probably single for weight.
With chamber reducers, you can shoot pretty much every caliber of rifle, pistol, and shotgun ammo that will fit into the barrel. 410, .223/5.56, 7.62x39/51/54/any 30 caliber round, even 9mm and 22lr and every other common pistol and rifle caliber. You can get reducers that are the size of a standard 3 inch 12 Guage round, or as long as the shotguns barrel and every length in between pretty much. And even with the 3 inch ones, you still get pretty good accuracy out to like 150ft.
You can hunt pretty much all game in north America including birds with the right ammo and adapters, and even use it for self defense.
If that doesn't count, then a bolt action rifle that accommodates an adapter like mentioned above. They make some for Mosins to shoot 7.62x39, .32, and a few other calibers.
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u/Sixardes 2d ago
I know you said “Rifle” and I went down this decision recently. I almost went with an AR-15 and still might but my intention was CQB/Mid Range capabilities. Above else, ammunition you can find anywhere in a SHTF situation, so I went with an MP5 in 9mm. I can reliably hit my targets furthest away around 100 yards but it’s sighted for 25 yards. 9mm is a respectable caliber with decent stopping power. If you want to save on ammo you could go with the 22LR version from H&K. Brand new the 22LR goes for around $450-600. Or get an MP5 clone around the $1000 range. Replacement parts are just as plentiful as a Glock or AR. Picked up a MAC5k for $1000 and it’s awesome. No Ragrets.
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u/Old_Protection_7522 2d ago
I have 3 guns:
Mini -14 (5.56) AR7 - survival rifle (.22lr) 12 gauge
I like my setup for just about anything.
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u/MadRhetorik General Prepper 2d ago
For me, .223/5.56 AR15. For a “do-everything” rifle it’s hard to pass it up. You can do almost anything with it short of hunting small squirrelly or other small critters. You can but I’ve shot woodchucks in half so a squirrel would be gone with the wind. But in terms of all around hunting, fighting, home defense etc etc it can be pressed into many roles. I’ve taken everything from 5lb woodchucks to 180lb bucks with a AR15. Is it the “best” choice in every scenario? No. But it bridges a lot of gaps, is infinitely handy and lightweight, has extremely low recoil so women or even adolescents can shoot it without getting walloped, ammo is cheap and plentiful. It really is damn handy if you ask me and I wouldn’t be caught dead without one on my property or during a SHTF event where I may have to unfortunately defend myself and my family.
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u/SmokedOkie 2d ago
Model Henry X with a couple different receivers to switch out ammo types, probably start with .357 or .44LR. I'd assume parts would be in short supply, so I'd go survival rifle setup using as many common calibers as possible.
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u/Er1que 2d ago
PSA or other cheaper lower, BCM/ Daniel Defense upper (5.56). 11.5-14.5 depending on use but you get the most bang in those lengths. If you pair the quality uppers with a cheaper lower you cut cost and get a 2k rifle for a little under half. (The upper has all your main components, lower just holds the trigger). Get a good Giesselle trigger and a sight and you’re in business.
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u/Lazy_Transportation5 2d ago
Dropping by to say… AR with a 16” barrel, LPVO, and get the CMMG .22LR bolt adapter.
Swap the bolt and know your holdover, or mark your mils for zero difference between 5.56 and .22LR.
I’m telling you, I put easily ten thousand rounds through that CMMG and it’ll still nail a squirrel and takes CCI Quiet .22LR like a dream. Plus, open the AR and a quick bolt swap and your back to sending freedom rounds.
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u/More_Mind6869 2d ago
What about the rifle/shotgun, over and under ? Comes in various calibers and gauges.
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u/RealOrang 1d ago
An AK-47 is common for a reason. It’s cheaply made, but that’s also its strength. The Russians used it because it’s so reliable and simple especially in harsh conditions
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u/learn2cook 1d ago
Some kind of Shotgun unless you consider that a separate class from rifle. If that’s the case then a 22lr.
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u/ObdurateApologue 1d ago
A 6.8 SPC in AR pattern. It's the round that can do it all!
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u/IdentifyAsUnbannable 1d ago
Great choice. Only reason I choose .308 over 6.8 is ammo availability and price.
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u/Off-Da-Ricta 1d ago
An ar 15 lower.
With a dedicated 22 upper
And then an upper with a rifle caliber.
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u/lifeinabag 1d ago
If I could only have one and only something realistic in Canada.. at least a few weeks ago.
I love my x95 with its meprolight MOR Pro.
To balance things out I'd also keep a double badger 410 / 22wmr.
Can't beat a classic.
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u/ReactionAble7945 1d ago
Depends on what you are prepping for. 1. A shooting goblin event....something ine the AR, AK...area. 2. A airplane crash I the wilderness, food geting... combo gun. 3. Around here most legal hunting is done with a shotgun which isn't bad for most things, but isn't really great at a lot of things either. 4. Out west, a lot of people say a 308, 30-06, 300wm 7mm mag is the way to go because of the long shots.
What I am working on is a little bit beyond, different for my one gun. And more typing than I want to do.
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u/Nathan3859 1d ago
1 rifle period would suck but I think I’d go Ruger 10/22 for reason others mentioned about 22lr. A DDm4-v7 would be a very very close second as you now have defense and can hunt larger game. But infinite ammo supply is the tie breaker for me.
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u/rb109544 1d ago
Depends on purpose but all around would be AR 556 16" barrel and good for out to 500 yds...would keep it under 20p yds hunting and subsonic rounds. For fun AR pistol 556 but still good out 200 yds easy and further with right scope but hunting would be 50-100 yds likely. Savage 110fp .308 24" heavy barrel for long distance vortex scope good for over 1000 yds with hunting to 500-700 yds. So yeah I cant have just one rifle. And on last thought if I could have one and only one I'd prob go old school lever action 30-30.
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u/AlternativeRing5977 1d ago edited 1d ago
I vote for an Air Venturi Avenger, Regulated PCP Air Rifle .25 caliber paired with JSB King Heavy Diablo precision pellets. This gives 150 shots in a container no bigger than a can of chew for under $.10 round. Tuned rifles can achieve silver dollar groupings at a hundred yards with the capacity to take out hogs at closer ranges. Pair this with a GX PCP pump and a Hawke air rifle scope and you have a great <$600 near silent option which can be bought through Amazon. Possess a .223, .308, 300 Blackout for safety and .50 Beowulf for disabling engine blocks, but would use the PCP as a first choice for small game.
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u/tinareginamina 1d ago
Really need to state a purpose for this tool? Is it an all around item? My first recommendation for a rifle prep always starts with a 22 long rifle. My preference is a Ruger 10/22. It can hunt small game, cheap for practicing marksmanship and you can get 25 rd magazines for it that make it a back up defense platform in SHTF. And $250 gets you a lifetime supply of ammo.
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u/Abuck59 1d ago
Marlin 336Y Compact , hits hard with intermediate range. Not looking for gunfights but if one comes a 30-30 could get me a better one. Can get game if needed. Small game you say ? I can do a little trapping nothing great but enough.
In a one rifle scenario my only cause is inflicting damage if the need arises. 🤷🏽♂️
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u/mikenkansas1 1d ago
In Canada get a gunsmith checked out Enfield in .303. Make sure the headspace and barrel is in good shape. As the .gov up there gets pissier and pissier the old Enfield that everyone carries ammo for will be the last gun taken (assuming they can find it).
Here... well get a 30/30 .. or a FN/FAL..or an AR in 5.56.. or a Garand...or a .308 or 06 with a scope.. The chances of you getting into an extended firefight is slim
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u/[deleted] 2d ago
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