Posted on 02/18/2009 8:16:22 PM PST by goose the rio
You all were so helpful with a question on seeds the other day that I have another one for you. Preparing for the most basic needs of a SHTF scenario, I have a wonderful shotgun and .22. As far as adding a high power rifle goes, I know what I'd LIKE to have but that's another story. Is there a consensus on a quality-made, affordable rifle, and what should I expect to pay? Would it be a bad idea to buy from a pawn shop?
For those of you who seem to like to "notice" these things, yes, it's my second post ever on FR. Doesn't make me evil. Thanks.
Depends on your state, in Minnesota no extra license is needed. It's not a carry permit, that's a state matter.
I never had a problem with soft or hollow points in mine if I underloaded the magazines by 10% (27 rounds in a 30, 18 in a 20) the problem went away. YMMV.
I’ve had it four years and have put perhaps 6000 rounds through it. I have never experienced a jam. I keep it well maintained, which undoubtedly helps.
Mine feeds any combination of ammo flawlessly.
Ok, don’t flame me.
Go Ruger Mini 14. Accurize with a Hogue stock and replace the gas port bushing to a smaller size to reduce recoil. Cut the barrel to 16 inches. The new ones have a thicker .625 barrel thickness. They eat all ammo and can go forever without cleaning. VERY RELIABLE. Common .223 ammo.
Also look a Kel-Tec-CNC SU series rifles. 5.56 cal AR clones. Use AR-15 magazines and have features like an integrated bipod. They have a model that is legal in the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia. The are affordable.
Buy two so you have a spare set of parts and you're good to go.
My one big complaint about my Ruger Mini-14 is that when the barrel gets warm its somewhat mediocre accuracy gets ridiculously sloppy. When the barrel gets really warm I’m lucky if I can get 8 inch groups at 100 yards. It’s like shooting through a fat warm noodle. But I view its real value as being good for close-in utility.
I mentioned in an earlier post that I’ve never had a jam. However, my son HAS had jams when he has borrowed the Ruger. I wasn’t there at the time, so I don’t know why he was experiencing jams. I suspect he was over-loading the magazine or just not taking care to load the magazine properly.
I had a .375 Weatherby H&H, which I bought when expected to go bear hunting in Alaska. Took down to the farm and sighted it in, by the third shot, 3 game wardens showed up wanting to know, what I was hunting...elephants.
Two years ago, a man in Carlsbad had a Rigby for sale and I almost bought it, just to say I had an elephant gun.
Because it’s less foolish than the .700 Trex.
One answer would be: Because it pleases me. (To use the apocryphal words of Mulay Ahmed Muhamed Raisuli the Magnificent, Lord of the Rift, Sultan to the Berbers (as played by Sean Connery in The Wind And The Lion)
I like that answer, it seems sufficient for many things.
Another answer would be:
"There's no requirement to justify why you're able to exercise constitutional rights. I and everyone else are able to go to church, they're able to vote, they're able to speak their mind. Even though the city might not like it, we have that right." (To quote Brad Krause who was recently found not guilty after being arrested for disturbing the peace by openly carrying a gun in a holster while planting a tree in his yard.)
I like that reason too, even more for some things.
But in the case at hand, the cartridge was designed for hunting African big game.
Got a reference to a writeup on how to do that?
If you really know what you’re doing, a .303 Enfield is an “elephant gun”.
I make no claims to “really know what I’m doing”.
Bolt? .308/7.62 NATO Savage.
“Assault Gun”?. AK in7.62x39
Lever? Marlin 336 in 30-30, using Hornady Leverevolution Ammo.
I think Ruger is trying to address this with the thicker barrel. The old pencil barrel was just too thin.
Can’t beat that Garand action though.
I hate that gas dumping into the reciever of my AR. I might buy the gas piston conversion kit from Bushmaster for my little Bushie.
SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!
I definitely have the pencil barrel. There are some decent barrel conversions for the Mini-14 and I plan to upgrade mine in the next year or two.
bookmark
Thanks.
If you buy something with a C&R FFL, what sort of records is the seller required to keep on said transaction?
Just relax everyone. BO will support a UN resolution to de-arm America. When the blue hat knocks just quietly hand over your guns. The UN Peacekeepers will take care of all your security needs.
It’s ok. Really.
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