The question came up at work today, "What if you were only allowed one rifle"? What would it be. Now I work with some real corn fed country boys, and their general leanings were toward .270, .243. and .30-06, all in bolt action. I thought their heads would explode when I chose an AR-10, though after explaining it was .308 caliber and semi-auto and damn accurate at 500 yards, they kinda saw my point. So without knocking any thing, what would you guys choose?
What I would choose and what I can actually afford are two different things, and what I actually need is a matter of conjecture. So, unless I hit the lottery I'll stick with my Yugo SKS. If I do hit the lottery, then the AR-10 in .308 might be an upgrade for a one and only one rifle, but I would have to put it through some testing to see if it would really work for me. A semi auto in a caliber of available ammo that has more power than a 5.56, and ditch the long magazines as I tend to lay down when somebody is shooting at me and prefer to return fire with as low a profile to the ground as I can achieve. So, maybe. Ugh, I heard that sacred cow grunt when I kicked it in the long magazine udder. Moooooo! Keep your head down, and stay alive.
I suppose I would have to go with my national match M1A. Not only is it my favorite weapon for just about anything that moves, I have several thousand rounds of ammo and hand loads for just about anything I want to shoot. RH hooked me up with a Sadlak Titanium mount for my Leuplod Mark 4 mk3-10X along with their unitized gas piston and extended magazine catch. It is the weapon I am most familiar with, my father having been on the NG rifle team when I was a child and giving me access to one of his finely tuned M14 rifles along with as much Lake City NM ammo that I wanted to shoot. Did pretty much the same with 1911 handguns and I just can't see any reason to mess with perfection, although I truly enjoy playing with my AR platform rifles in a variety of calibers.
"Allowed" one rifle? I guess I would be a lawbreaker. Perhaps the Windham RMCS-4...in 5.56, .300 blackout, 7.62x39 and 9mm...if I really had no choice.
Oh.....definitely a .22lr ......It has strong recommendations from a certain wheelbarrow pushing banned member.
Hmmm... I'm really starting to like the 6.5 Grendle.. as accurate as any ar10... lighter ammo...AR15 platform lighter weapon weight...
Been there, did the research, and had my custom DPMS AR10 sporting a 24" Stainless Bull Barrel, topped with a Burris EliminatorIII 4X16 50mm w/Laser RangeFinder & Ballistic Computer built-in, Optics.... Now understand, I do own MANY different Rifles, and in MANY different Calibers... However the Rifle above was designed, and built, primarily to be my "Reach out and Touch Something" Weapon... It also serves as my Big Game Weapon, should one of Old Mort's cousins happen to walk in front of my cabin... I now have the Barrel, completely characterized, for it's SweetSpot Loadings.... I have solid loadings for both a Nosler 168grain SPBT, and a Hornady SST 150 Grain...
My tribe is well equipped with various military type and style anti personnel rifles, up thru 50 cal, but no one has a proper material messer-uppers. I'll take a Lahti 20mm anti tank rifle. Only partially funny, folks. Destructive devices aren't so cheap, nor convenient, but bugging in with the rest of the tribe might call for special cases.
I cut my centerfire rifle teeth on a Navy M-14, and shot expert with it 1st try on a very windy day. They did give us 5 extra shots to sight in weapons due to that 15-20mph crosswind. Then with clean targets we shot for score. Quite frankly I couldn't afford the M1-A1 civilian version. I bought a Remington 788 in 308 instead. With a cheap 3x9x40 scope I was able to shoot 100yd one hole groups of 5 to 10rds the size of a dime off a bench, and knock down 10 inch steel disks 1 inch thick rapid fire at 300 yds 9 out of 10 for sure. I took a lot of deer and hogs with that rifle. Still have it and on occasion use it or loan it for a local hunt to a friend without a rifle. Standard routine is to pull it out of safe and give it a quick cleaning, grab my reloads and a target. I pop two shots on it at 100yds lazy man style sitting and with a makeshift rest. We go check the target. Waste of time 99% of the time they are right where they should be. Return to shooting position, or a lesser distance and have guest take 2 shots. Most who I hand a rifle to have a good deal of experience and usually those 4 shots are all is necessary to impress the shooter he can trust the gun and ammo he was given to do the job. I have 2 other 308s, and H&K SL-7 and an AR-10 also with the 24" stainless steel bull barrel. For hunting it used to be the 788 or the H&K. Now days I use a pet 300 Blackout AR-15
Tough choice in these days.... Originally I would have gone with a .22 magnum, but the brass is not reloadable and there is limited supply. So, in today's world I would have to go with an AR-15 rifle 20" bull barrel 5.56X45..
Tough choice, but ultimately the one rifle I would choose is my 1903 A3 Springfield NRA Match that has been seriously tricked out with tip off scope mount, and reflex suppressor! Proven Battle tough,Superior accuracy, reliable as death and taxes, and deadly as hell, Field serviceable with zero tools and cleaning equipment, and can be reloaded by hand in the field far away from a bench! Most choose some sort of modern semi auto battle rifle, but for serious SHTF long term survival where every single shot counts, the 03 is the best choice over all for me!
My old .22 mag bolt action. Even with the drawbacks Dunerunner notes, it is one of the two weapons I keep adding a good supply of ammo for, A couple dozen cases of CCI Maxi Mag HPs cover both defense and game. Second choice in rifle would be the Browning bolt action .300 Winchester Magnum although it is limited to pretty much deer and bigger for game. But it can really reach out and touch someone with velocity. The upside to it at least around these parts. When all of the .22s through .308s are not to be found the slots on the ammo shelf with .300WMs are always full.
This is true I do see 300 winchester mag on the shelves when there isn't much else. 30-30 will sell out before 300WM.
My 10-22 take down shooting cci stingers or the Aguila 60 grain sniper sub-sonic. Food and protection also.Also able to carry more ammo.
