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Bolt Rifle or Semi-Auto for Survival Prepping
A Shooting Journal ^ | 12/28/2015 | D Johns

Posted on 12/27/2015 5:15:00 PM PST by w1n1

There are many choices when it comes to selecting a long gun for multiple uses. Many of the questions and inquiries I get from preppers, and survivalists are gun users attempting to buy a firearm(s) that can yield effective results for many applications, including home defense, ranch, farm or homestead protection, as well as hunting for food and predator control. That is a pretty tall order for sure.

After much thought, counseling, and work in the gun related industry these past 40 plus years, the basic conclusion I have come to is that the rifle preference really boils down to personal choice. I mean, in terms of overall quality, reliability, functionality, and accuracy, there is not a significant difference between major makes of long guns now, whether a bolt action or a semi-auto.

While the caliber choice may be the first priority, that is no longer a huge issue either because the most popular choices in the .223/5.56 range (up to, say, the ever popular .308/7.62) are readily available in either platforms with numerous brand and feature choices to select.

It would be easy to recommend if all you could afford was one choice, then for sure, I would say the .308 would get the nod. It is fully capable with available factory ammo choices to perform work in protection and certainly for hunting and dispatching vermin regardless of the foot count. Read the rest of the story here.


TOPICS: Hobbies; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: banglist; boltrifle; guns; survivalprepping
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1 posted on 12/27/2015 5:15:00 PM PST by w1n1
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To: w1n1
The nice thing about a mil-surplus bolt gun is that if sometime after losing it in a boating accident, you go back and are able to find it and pull it up from the bottom of the lake, just clean the muck out of its bore, load it and it will work.
2 posted on 12/27/2015 5:18:48 PM PST by fso301
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To: w1n1

Lever action. Winchester 94 Trapper in .357.


3 posted on 12/27/2015 5:20:32 PM PST by South40 (Ted Cruz = the only conservative in the race)
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To: fso301

many versions of the above in large calibers.


4 posted on 12/27/2015 5:22:31 PM PST by kvanbrunt2 (civil law: commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong Blackstone Commentaries I p44)
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To: w1n1

If you choose an AR style you better fall in love with taking it apart and cleaning it.


5 posted on 12/27/2015 5:22:55 PM PST by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: South40

semi auto 9MM 15 rounds or better to retreat to a 12 gauge shotgun semi auto with the plug out. Reloads handy om both. Shoot through walls and doors with the 9mm. I like GLOCKS. Practice 1000 rounds minimum.


6 posted on 12/27/2015 5:25:22 PM PST by WENDLE (Trump is not bought . He is no puppet.)
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To: w1n1

One issue not addressed- brass recovery. You are almost always going to loose brass with a semi. If you reload this is an issue. One thing I like about the FN FAL design is that you can close the gas port and effectively make it a straight pull bolt action.


7 posted on 12/27/2015 5:26:20 PM PST by CrazyIvan (Hey Pope Francis- The Gospels are not Matthew, Marx, Luke and John.)
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To: South40

What’s that cost,if you can find one?


8 posted on 12/27/2015 5:26:38 PM PST by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY!)
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To: WENDLE

I love my Glock 19 I keep loaded with 115 gr JHP.


9 posted on 12/27/2015 5:28:17 PM PST by South40 (Ted Cruz = the only conservative in the race)
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To: w1n1

Both.

I had .22s in semi and bolt, plus .308 in AR and bolt until the boating accident on the Chestachee river.

Pump shotguns for sure.

For any ARs that might persist in your inventory, get several “Jesus pins” and firing pins. The bolt assembly maybe just one space for all you ARs.


10 posted on 12/27/2015 5:28:19 PM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur: non vehere est inermus)
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To: fso301

Hate it when that happens.


11 posted on 12/27/2015 5:29:04 PM PST by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: Blueflag

Space = spare.


12 posted on 12/27/2015 5:29:09 PM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur: non vehere est inermus)
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To: WENDLE

Glock 19 is the perfect Christmas gift.


13 posted on 12/27/2015 5:30:00 PM PST by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: Big Red Badger

I inherited it. I don’t have a clue what it is worth.


14 posted on 12/27/2015 5:30:14 PM PST by South40 (Ted Cruz = the only conservative in the race)
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To: CrazyIvan

I did not know that. My L1A1 is ammo-sensitive, and the eject can be inconsistent from brand to brand. I’ll give that a try!


15 posted on 12/27/2015 5:30:21 PM PST by pingman (Cruz or lose!)
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To: South40

Lever action. Winchester 94 Trapper in .357.

I hand loaded a box of ammo for a neighbor with one of those. Used Winchester 296 powder to get full use of the long barrel. He told me they worked great for koyote.


16 posted on 12/27/2015 5:30:40 PM PST by CrazyIvan (Hey Pope Francis- The Gospels are not Matthew, Marx, Luke and John.)
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To: w1n1

Also consider if the firearm will be for defense or hunting.

If hunting - bolt action for sure. Plus spare glass.


17 posted on 12/27/2015 5:30:42 PM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur: non vehere est inermus)
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To: w1n1

I will stay on my rural property with a semi-auto Ruger 10/22, a Remington 870 pump and a lever action Henry Big Boy in 44 magnum. I’ll make as far as these take me.


18 posted on 12/27/2015 5:31:40 PM PST by jy8z (When push comes disguised as nudge, I do not budge.)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Both no reason just to have one.


19 posted on 12/27/2015 5:35:12 PM PST by riverrunner
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To: pingman

Look up the manual online. The gas port is supposed to be adjusted to the ammo used. Easy to do. Mine is an L1A1 also. Parts gun I put together. A real mutt parts wise but shoots great!


20 posted on 12/27/2015 5:35:16 PM PST by CrazyIvan (Hey Pope Francis- The Gospels are not Matthew, Marx, Luke and John.)
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