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

[cwillour]

Then again, post SHTF there will be all kinds of new places for animals to hide when nobody is mowing their yards and the grass gets high. It's possible some animal populations could really take off in that situation, but I highly doubt it.

I have heard that rat burgers have some serious protein.

Just have to watch out for those pesky diseases.

 

[stephen87]

Never have done it, but have seen it done. I honestly wouldn't go for a deer though in SHTF just because I think they'll be hunted to the max when food gets scarce.

If SHTF, unless you're planning on staying put for awhile, deer would be a bad choice to hunt anyway. To me, a SHTF situation warrants getting out of dodge so I'm taking rabbits and small game. Only my girlfriend and me, so a scoped .22LR would be the ultimate rifle.

 

[Beowulf]

If SHTF, unless you're planning on staying put for awhile, deer would be a bad choice to hunt anyway. To me, a SHTF situation warrants getting out of dodge so I'm taking rabbits and small game. Only my girlfriend and me, so a scoped .22LR would be the ultimate rifle.

I've seen rabbits brought up a lot. I swear I read somewhere that you can't actually survive on rabbits and other rodents. Something about them missing some key nutrients for us to survive. They can augment a diet, but can't be the main source of food.

::::quick Google search later:::::

Ah hah.

Rabbit Starvation

I guess the problem is that rabbit meat is too lean. It's not fatty enough for us to survive on. So, I guess we should be focusing on wild hogs instead of rabbit.s

 

[ThrottleJockey]

I've seen rabbits brought up a lot. I swear I read somewhere that you can't actually survive on rabbits and other rodents. Something about them missing some key nutrients for us to survive. They can augment a diet, but can't be the main source of food.

::::quick Google search later:::::

Ah hah.

Rabbit Starvation

I guess the problem is that rabbit meat is too lean. It's not fatty enough for us to survive on. So, I guess we should be focusing on wild hogs instead of rabbit.s

Much like human meat, it takes more energy to digest than it provides.

 

[BigMoose]

My choice would be the M1 Garand in 308 or 30-06 from the CMP.


-Because of forests and hills, 300 yards is probably the max distance you'll be shooting.

No problem here, your using battle rifle ammo here.

-Ammo must be common.
No problem 308 and 30-06 can be found most places.


-Parts must be somewhat easy to find.
This is going to be a massive problem with any gun.. but any mil spec gun is made to take the punishment.

-Reliability is a huge plus (must be easy to care for as well).
Again mil spec, keep it lubed up with common wheel bearing grease and your good to go.
In Korea in the cold, the troops used to pee on their M1 rifles in the terrible sub zero cold and they would unfreeze and fire like that, everything else was useless. Try that with an AR!

-Optics are allowed, but not nessecary.
M1 (and M14) have the best Iron sights around, And there are scout scope rails for the Garand.

-You have only $1000
CMP service grades are $625 in 30-06, CMP 308 specials are $995

-Magazines (if used) must be relatively cheap.
This is the best part, M1 Garand enblocs are a buck or two, and often COMES FREE with much mil 30-06

-Primarily used for taking game but can be used for self-defense in a pinch.
No problems with ether role.

Oh yeah, NO AKs or AR-15s!
Who needs them, I own neither of them.

To me the M1 Garand would be a no brainier.... (The M14 too but perhaps out of your price range and the magazines are more expensive too).

30-06 may be the better choice, and there is a ported out gas plug that allows higher pressure commercial 30-06 ammo in your Garand.

308 Garand might be a little more, but there is perhaps more ammo available. The 308 Garand is known to handle better too, quicker shot recovery.

Personally mine is an M14 rifle. But the M14 is basically an improved M1 Garand.

 

[Ted]

Mech Tec attachment to a pistol lower, making it a PCR. A high cap magazine completes its ability.

Fits all the criteria in the OP.

 

[kawtech87]

A lever gun in .357 would be sweet with a matching side arm

My thoughts exactly! .357 and .38 are abundant and although not the cheapest choice maybe one of the most versitile.

.357 for anything up to and including deer and .38 for smaller game.
Both are proven SD calibers and are effective within realistic SHTF scenario distances.

Lever guns and revolvers worked well enough to win the west, and the materials and manufacturing processes have only improved in the last couple hundred years. Should be GTG.

 

[HICKMAN]

I also have a bb gun at the house with the idea in mind that if I had to start popping birds for chicken wings then I could do that as well.

Yeah, a Gamo or the like will go a long ways for small game as well. Had forgotten that we have one tucked away for that.

 

[mrzachary]

SHTF can mean alot of different things but I would definitely lean on my FAL. Whenever I think about this I picture myself hiking through the woods with no food or gear or water...just all my guns strapped to my back because I couldn't decide on just one to take.

 

[duffman0286]

Any of those beautiful quality built highpoint carbines cant beat perfection!!!

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

What F is the S H'ing? I have a lot of things for various purposes. Blue helmets? G3 with a scope. I'm goin huntin. Food riot coming up my street? M4/AR/AK and a pantload of mags. They're going down. Small game? 10/22 or 77/17. Don't forget geese. "Unrest" has settled down and I'm just out in the world? Ishi Enfield jungle carbine in 7.62x51. Reach out and touch someone? Win70 in 7mmRM. And always, a .45 IWB. I have plenty of ammo for all of those. Budget? Start with an SKS, but build from there. It's awesome. Drop a stripper in the bolt, RRRIP, you're reloaded. Yeah, a Mosin is great for someone that can handle it, but what if your petite wife or offspring has to guard the household? You gonna hand a 12g to a 6 yo?

 

[.45 Dave]

.30-30 hands down! 7 rounds, light, could brush gun, can take a scope, ammo plentiful and easily found. Lever action have been around for a hundred years and are proven.

 

[badmac183]

.30-30 hands down! 7 rounds, light, could brush gun, can take a scope, ammo plentiful and easily found. Lever action have been around for a hundred years and are proven.

sks hands down! 10 rounds, light, could brush gun, can take a scope, ammo plentiful and easily found. automatics have been around for a hundred years and are proven.

 

[.45 Dave]

sks hands down! 10 rounds, light, could brush gun, can take a scope, ammo plentiful and easily found. automatics have been around for a hundred years and are proven.

If we meet up somewhere if the SHTF we'll be unbeatable!! Your SKS, my 30-30! We'll rule the world bwa-ha-ha-ha!!!

 

[badmac183]

If we meet up somewhere if the SHTF we'll be unbeatable!! Your SKS, my 30-30! We'll rule the world bwa-ha-ha-ha!!!

Actually I don't own any more sks rifles,
but I do have a couple ak47's

 

[.45 Dave]

Actually I don't own any more sks rifles,
but I do have a couple ak47's

Wait a minute. Can you legally play this game then??

 

[bigmich]

Have to go mini 14 or ska

 

[EvilBlackGun]

Boil them carefully ...

(subject: rat-burgers)... in bleach, pull the hides off, add hot-sauce, then let them dry in the sun. No head, feet or tail. Need lots of water due to the hot-sauce. We ate rodents this way in 'Nam. Taste like jerky, but TUFF! Little crab-meat brains fried was worth 1-pack of Winstons per pound. When it's dried, it'll last for weeks. Also -- very true : sow-belly on rice-bread with a special, red, Hoi An sauce was a meal for a king, and wouldn't spoil for weeks. These foods didn't smell too much either, so no-body was aware we were there; it was the same thing Charlie ate, minus the rice. Even your turds didn't smell so much. We'd burn them to cook. What fond memories. As for my Bail-Out-Bag, it'll have a Marlin Camp Carbine folder in 9mm to match my carry auto, plus a very lightweight Mosin, for the accuracy and light weight. Still looking for a carry-revolver to match the round. And for eating Homo Sapiens for survival, it has drawbacks, but if properly advertised, it can be sold as "SHTF-meat." You sell IT, and YOU harvest the brain, oysters and other organs. Harvest quickly!!

I have heard that rat burgers have some serious protein.

Just have to watch out for those pesky diseases.

 

[lovemachine]

... in bleach, pull the hides off, add hot-sauce, then let them dry in the sun. No head, feet or tail. Need lots of water due to the hot-sauce. We ate rodents this way in 'Nam. Taste like jerky, but TUFF! Little crab-meat brains fried was worth 1-pack of Winstons per pound. When it's dried, it'll last for weeks. Also -- very true : sow-belly on rice-bread with a special, red, Hoi An sauce was a meal for a king, and wouldn't spoil for weeks. These foods didn't smell too much either, so no-body was aware we were there; it was the same thing Charlie ate, minus the rice. Even your turds didn't smell so much. We'd burn them to cook. What fond memories.

That's disgusting...

 

[24Carat]

Mini-14 Stainless Ranch and my old H&R Topper in .30-30.