Inexpensive SHTF rifle?

Mosin-Nagant M-44 is inexpensive and gets the point across very nicely. Makes for a very nice trunk gun.

SKS's are cheap and excellent. Same cartride as an AK, but about $150 plus transfer fees from aimsurplus for unused Yugo's versus $400 or so for a new AK. You can replace the standard mag for something with higher capacity very easily too.

 

SHTF Rifle on a budget

The best SHTF rifle on a budget is the SKS. It fires the popular 7.62 X 39 round which can be found almost anywhere. It, like it more famous relative the AK-47, is a reliable, battle proven weapon. It has a fixed 10 round magazine and is typically loaded by stripper clips or one round at a time. With practice, stripper clip reloads can be fairly quick. It is not the most accurate rifle in the world but it will do it's job out to reasonable distances. A good model can be found for under $250 and if you do your shopping on the internet, you maybe able to get one under $175.

 

Isn't 7.62x39 getting harder to get? What with all the stocks being sent to Iraq for our new ally?

 

Well I am buying "battle bricks" of the stuff with no problem. I have heard that it is harder to find because of that reason but I have got someone locally.

I do agree that the AK is the better SHTF rifle but you can't beat the SKS for the price which I think is the point that I am trying to make to the orginal poster.

 

Mauser

I have an 8mm mauser and it is great!

 

Not sure exactly what you are going to do with it and how much are you going to spend.

Is it a SHTF car gun or a SHTF house gun?

1) Mosin-Nagant rifle. They are cheap and powerfull. Great gun to keep in your trunk. If it gets stolen you are only out about $50-100. Looks like a hunting rifles so less hassle from a LEO that might see it in your car. This gun wouldn't be my first choice as a SHTF house gun.

2) An SKS. They are great, and semi-auto. Like others said you'd do just fine with one of these in a SHTF situation. I think you can get one of these for about $150. Some cops might see these as "assault weapons" though. Might get hasseled by a LEO. You won't be out too much if it gets stolen.

3) A cheap AK. I think this is your best option but they are a little more pricey so you won't regret it in the long run. I'm not sure if you want to leave a $350-400 rifle in your car trunk and risk it being stolen. You cannot go wrong with one of these in a SHTF though. If a cop sees it you will probably be hasselled like a criminal. In a "Katrina" type situation an AK screems to the cops "Take me away!" I think it is the perfect cheap SHTF rifle.

 

I have both SKSes and 2 flavors of Mosins. I just load up like a fiend on the ammo. Both have dies and brass for reloading.

As a side note...a Mosin wouldn't be a bad investment when you get the chance. They can double for an exellent hunting rifle that can take down most North American game...including black bears from some reports I've read.

Both are very rugged and reliable...throw them in a mud puddle and they'll still fire.

ps. SOME models of SKSes can be modified with pistol grip/folding stocks and high cap mags. Even Yugos can be modified if you play the 10 and under game to make it 922R compliant.

 

CETME

The guy already has a Hi-Point carbine, so I would think that he's covered for short-range work. If you want to reach out to 300 or 500 yards, and if you want a rifle round that will penetrate cover, crack engine blocks, etc. I think it should be at least a 7.62 x39, but preferably a 7.62 x 51 (.308 Win.) And it should be accurate enough to hit targets at those distances, too.

In my experience, an SKS is more accurate than an AK. But the only AK's I've tested have been Chinese and Bulgarian (or was it Romanian?).
My Norinco SKS gets the same group sizes as any other open-sighted rifle I've fired except for the M1 Garand and the M1A. But the SKS does match my Mini-14, Winchester 94, G.I. .30 Carbine, and an H&R single-shot rifle.

How about a CETME? This is a semi-auto version of the German G3 and the H&K 91 battle rifle. They assemble these in the USA from mostly imported military surplus parts, with new American-made receivers, and the finished rifle is very accurate, rugged, reliable, powerful (.308 caliber), and uses cheap and plentiful 20-round magazines. One of my friends got one of these a couple years ago for $350. Oh, and the muzzle break is the most effective one I've ever seen. Literally zero muzzle climb. The gun pushed gently straight back, but did not lift up at all.

 

Adam5, take a look at the M1 Garand. $500 from the CMP. They have ammo also. 30-06

Before you buy anything I would like to let you borrow one of my books. Boston's Gun Bible by Boston T. Party. Lots of great info IMHO. Not only the book but I'll let ya " dance " with one of my girls I'll let ya shoot a 1953 service grade.

I am at Bullseye in Cumming every Tuesday night for the USPSA match. Just let me know when.

Now I'm not doing this because I'm a nice guy. ya don't know me yet

I think the S___ will hit the fan one day and when it does I want you and every PATRIOT to have a Battle Rifle. I want you to be able to hit man size targets out to 500 yards from field positions-- not from a bench but in the dirt like a grunt. I'll tell ya about that later. When you hold that rifle in your hands, sling on your arm and everything is tight and you own everything within 500 yards, It's a feeling I don't have words to describe.

So if ya want to shoot a rifle ya don't have to clean and ammo ya don't have to buy let me know. PM, email or get word to me from the guys at Bullseye.

Man, I hope I didn't scare ya.

 

i may be brain dead,to much work to little sleep,but what is an SHTF rifle

 

Basically, for a bad situation that would make a pistol useless. Like if Russian paratroopers start falling from the sky.