Best all around survival rifle.

[kyle]

This was something I was thinking about and saw it mentioned in the Rifle/shotgun sling thread:

Not sure where I'm gonna go with it at this point, it still ranks as a perfect PAW rifle over both my M14 and the AR15 (they are sexier, but the SKS is much more practical).

I was concluding that as well but I thought maybe I was just being bias.

5.56mm rifles - AR15, Mini 14
The .223 cal isn't as useful for other duties like hunting or anytime where you need stronger knock down power.

7.62x51mm - FN-FAL, M14
This round has better knock down but it's much heavier so you don't want to use it for tactical purposes over longer periods of time.

7.62x39mm - AK-47, SKS
AK-47 isn't a bad choice. You have detachable mags so it's far better for heated tactical situations but it's loud and not as accurate without profesional tweeking. You can get an Chinese SKS-D that takes AK mags but I don't know that much about them.

My opinion is to go with the SKS if you can't keep multiple firearms with you for different jobs. I've actually never fired a FN-FAL. I just tossed it in there so the M14 wasn't lonely.

Thoughts?

[Norseman]

A buddy of mines dad was spotting for artillery in Vietnam from a prop plane and had a VC grab an SKS out of the water in a rice paddy and fire at them. They called in artillery, killed the VC, landed the plane and he retreived the rifle. He said any rifle that can be treated like that and still fire, he wanted. He brought it back as a War Trophy back when that was still legal.

Bottom line - the stock SKS is an extremely durable and reliable weapon for a survival rifle.

[-Jason-]

I would say the AR-15. It uses ammo more commonly found in the US and is more accurate, and you need accuracy when hitting something as small as a head. Also it may not work after being pulled from the water and things like that but you really shouldn't go in the water with guns anyway. And if I recall wet bullets still misfire so it doesnt matter as much if it still shots or not.

[Mugwug]

I've thought long and hard about this, and the SKS is the perfect rifle when it comes to survival/PAW/zombies, here's my thinking on this...

1. The 7.62x39mm round is a perfect compromise, you get .30 cal at damn near .223 size. Neglible recoil compared with full .308, and still a little more punch than .223. Good enough for hunting, sufficient for defence, not too much and not too little.

2. The SKS is one of the most brutally simple semi-auto rifles I have ever seen, it was designed for use by illiterate peasants, functions when filthy and just keeps going (the energizer bunny of semi-autos if you will). A proven track record of functioning despite abuse.

3. They are DIRT cheap, which means for a minimal investment their owners can put their money into ammo and practice, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!.

Was thinking about this the other night, and the more I thought about it the more I figured if the SHTF I'd grab my SKS and leave the other toys in the closet when it came time to bug out....Its the cheapest firearm I own, and I'm pretty sure it'd be the one I'd take.

[raptorman]

My opinion for survival purposes;
AR-15 family firing .223.
Why? High muzzle velocity, and better accuracy than most common 7.62 weapons. (AK clones)

When on the run, the .223 is a much more common round to find when scavenging large military caches (the factories that should already be marked on your bugout charts).

The worst survival rifle;
Probably most bolt action hunting rifles. More expensive ammunition, longer load times, and slower firing rates.

I would still pick my CAR-15 over any of my other weapons, but also consider this;

If you have a rifle that fires the same rounds as your pistol, (a la MP5 & Glock 17) then you have a serious advantage in a "oh fuck here they come" scenario.

I have been in some high stress training situations when an instructor would ask my name, and I honestly couldn't remember it....Are you going to be the guy that attempts to load your .223 or 7.62 X39 into your pistol mag under pressure? You may, you may not be...the point is, YOU DON'T KNOW. You have not had your metal tested.

Another obvious advantage to having the same ammunition for both weapons is the definate logistic advantage...interchangability.

In summary, I would still go with the .223 AR family, however, the simplicity of the SKS and AK 47 (designed to be dismantled and cleaned by a 17 year old conscript) cannot be over stated.

I'm still going with the trusty AR/CAR/M4 variant, and I have the luxery of choice by owning the weapons I have commented on in this thread.

[jamoni]

I have been in some high stress training situations when an instructor would ask my name, and I honestly couldn't remember it....Are you going to be the guy that attempts to load your .223 or 7.62 X39 into your pistol mag under pressure? You may, you may not be...the point is, YOU DON'T KNOW. You have not had your metal tested.

Not gonna tell any stories, let's just say you can get a good nights sleep while tangled up in concertina wire.
I like the SKS. Believe it or not, I like the internal magazine: One less thing to lose.

[kyle]

If you have a rifle that fires the same rounds as your pistol, (a la MP5 & Glock 17) then you have a serious advantage in a "oh fuck here they come" scenario.

Aww... someone is getting soft on that MP5. You're going to make your CAR-15 jealous.

The swappable theory is probably great for a lot of situations but I don't think it would be optimal for long term survival. Can you take a deer down with a 9mm?

Can you drop any large game down with a .223?

Granted, with our super smart learned up brains we can trap animals. You probably won't worry about trapping laws if you're trying to stay alive. What if you're on the move? You might not have that kind of time.

[jamoni]

Chuck Hawks claims to have taken 4 deer with a Browning HiPower. I don't see why he would lie about it.

[raptorman]

You could kill a bear with a .223 round. You could easily hunt with the .223. If you can kill a man with it from hundreds of yards, you can kill game.

Now, as for a 9mm round, It would take forever for me to get close enough to the game.

[Joe Ghoul]

While I don't think I'd start out with the SKS, it would be essential to have back in reserve.

Its a perfect 'bury gun'. Wrap it in oily rags, and throw it and a couple of cases of ammo in a PVC pipe, and stick it in the ground. When the other guns start to go, pull out the old SKS. It would probably outlive you in the PAW.

In the early days of the PAW, however, I'd want something with more accuracy and capacity. Either my AR or AK, especially since I just put the folder on the AK. It would be a great trip gun.

I almost sold my SKS, just because I had a few other long guns. However, the last time I shot it, I couldn't bring myself to sell it. Hell, they're so cheap right now, I'd get next to nothing for it anyway.

[Red Panda]

I'm pretty much set on the SKS being my main battle rifle. The rifle/ammo is very cheap, that being a concern for my friends who want to get into shooting.

It seems as though a lot of Canadians who have their licence has a SKS. I guess us commies like to support each other.

[Mugwug]

I have beaten the hell out of several different makes of the SKS, and there is no rifle I have owned that has lived up to the reliability of the SKS.

The integral magazine makes reloading less complicated (no holding on to your external magazines for reloading). The stripper clips mean all your ammo can be carried "ready to use" / "ready to load" so theres no fumbling with single rounds, the rifle comes with (as do so many milsurp rifles) its own cleaning kit and rod. The rifle is a semi-auto, and can deliver a fair volume of fire when needed.

The biggest advantage however is that an SKS owner can spend the extra money on ammo, and afford to practice a lot. My SKSs have seen more shooting time than any of my other firearms, and possibly more than the rest put together. Simply because the ammo weights in at $0.15 a round (compared to $0.60 and $0.40 each for the M14 and AR15 respectively)

Hell, don't get me wrong. I'd love to say my AR or M14 is preferable... I've got $1000 or more into each rifle when you count mags, optics and so forth, and to shrug them off in favour of a $200 rifle hurts.

[Gundown]

[quote="Jamoni]" Not gonna tell any stories, let's just say you can get a good nights sleep while tangled up in concertina wire.
I like the SKS. Believe it or not, I like the internal magazine: One less thing to lose.[/quote]

Heh... It's that first four hours that's hell. Are my friends gonna’ find me? Man I hope they find me? Shit where are they? Ah screw it I'ma take a nap.


I have a picture somewhere of me sleeping on my vest with my A-5 clung to my chest and my left leg wrapped up to my hip in wire.

The ONE damn time I didn't have a pair of snips on me and I'm branded for life.

[Valarius]

Survival firearm, Valarius-style:

A single barrel shotgun. No matter what conditions I run from, I know my slightly rusted baby doesn't have that many moving parts, doesn't take that long to clean and doesn't weigh much. It comes with me in the PAW.

I like the idea of an SKS for my battle rifle, though.

[Jonas]

I also like the idea of a single shot. NEF/H&R breaks have few moving parts, are inexpensive and come in rust proof versions with synthetic stocks.

From a tactical stand point they'd be pretty useless for fighting off zombies..though after you fire your shot you'd have a pretty handy club but for hunting and such they'd be awesome.

Also take into account if you get a rifle the same reciever can be fitted with other rifle barrels and shotgun barrels which makes it exceptionally useful.

If you were traveling at the speed of light and you fired a gun...would the bullet even leave the barrel?

[Jonas]

http://www.atigunstocks.com/product-HRNEF.html

Cool

[kyle]

If you were traveling at the speed of light and you fired a gun...would the bullet even leave the barrel?

I think the bullet would fail to fire. Doesn't it need air?

Cheap sing shots would be good for packing in sealed containers and storing in various locations for bugging out to later but I wouldn't be comfortable using them as all around surival rifles.

[Mugwug]

If you were traveling at the speed of light and you fired a gun...would the bullet even leave the barrel?

What'd ya shooting at while travelling at the speed of light? I'm guessing I'd be too busy screaming "Holy crap! I'm travelling at the speed of light!" to shoot anything....

[michelle]

If you were traveling at the speed of light and you fired a gun...would the bullet even leave the barrel?

Sort of. The speed of the bullet relative to the gun starts at 0, so it can still increase. However, you can't travel the speed of light. Faster or slower is ok.

[jamoni]

The closer you approach the speed of light, the more time compression there is. At the speed of light, the time compression becomes effectively infinite, meaning time stops. So you couldn't shoot anything at the speed of light.
Edit: and I'm pretty sure you'd destroy the universe.

[kyle]

Edit: and I'm pretty sure you'd destroy the universe.

Hmm.. maybe we need to reconsider this "Zombie" Squad thing now. There seems to be bigger threats to the world than zombies.

We need to dispatch some Anti-Jonas Squad agents out to swpa ASAP.

[michelle]

The closer you approach the speed of light, the more time compression there is. At the speed of light, the time compression becomes effectively infinite, meaning time stops. So you couldn't shoot anything at the speed of light.
Edit: and I'm pretty sure you'd destroy the universe.

Again, it's a relativity thing. If you're the one moving "at the speed of light" time certainly doesn't stop for you. It may look like it to an outsider, but the insider knows differently.

However, moving at the speed of light may well destroy the universe.

[Jonas]

Edit: and I'm pretty sure you'd destroy the universe.

Hmm.. maybe we need to reconsider this "Zombie" Squad thing now. There seems to be bigger threats to the world than zombies.

We need to dispatch some Anti-Jonas Squad agents out to swpa ASAP.

I invite the Anti-Jonas Squad to my house for cookies and guess what animal I'm pretending to be...........I'm a SNUGGLE-PHANT!!!!!

[SMERSH]

the mini-14, M14, and SKS are all damn fine rifles, and are must haves, but what about the M1 garand?