Posted on 12/14/2015 1:47:21 PM PST by w1n1
What rifle calibers are you stockpiling?
If you were going to pick a rifle caliber for a long term SHTF situation, what would that caliber be?
For some reason I woke up this morning thinking about my 7mm express / 280 Remington, and how the panic buying back in the first half of 2013 caused a shortage in ammunition supplies.
When I got my Remington model 700 chambered in 280, I wanted something that was around the 270 or 30-06, and that would also work on heavier game such as elk and moose.
In all honesty I put too much thought into picking the 280 Remington. While it's a fine caliber, the price of ammunition has gone up so much that shooting has gotten downright expensive. With a box of 20 rounds costing more than $25, stockpiling is cost prohibitive.
And let's be perfectly honest, there is nothing the 280 Remington / 7mm express can do that either the 270 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield cannot do.
There comes a point when survivalists are stockpiling too many calibers. We need to get out of this "buy a new rifle, stockpile a new caliber, buy a new rifle, stockpile a new caliber" roller coaster.
During the great ammo panic of 2013, what calibers were available? Or maybe the question should be what calibers were not available? I'll tell you what, let's talk about both.
30-30 Winchester After its introduction in 1895, the 30-30 Winchester has won a loyal following for its reliability. There is a reason why the 30-30 is considered to be the gun that won the west. Excluding military calibers and the 22 long rifle, if I had to pick a single cartridge for a long term SHTF / TEOTWAWKI situation, it would probably be the 30-30 Winchester.
Why the 30-30 Winchester? Because it has a proven track record of over a hundred years on deer sized game. Chances are no other modern caliber has killed more deer than the 30-30. Read the rest of the story here. What are you all carrying?
Agreed... the fewer leave the fight with you the fewer to murder others like you.
30-06. Depending on the cartridge, works well from rodents to rhinos
Rather than listen to many opinions, use your head and existing evidence. Think of the last ammo shortage as a blip compared to what would likely precede a SHTF incident that was protracted. 5.56 mm and .308 NATO was unobtainable, as were most every other “favored” tactical cartridge. What WAS always on the shelves? The common hunting rounds like .270 and 30/30, even .30/.06 to a point (Garands take a bite out of this though). Having at least something that shoots highly available cartridges well should be a priority. If you want your M4 or battle rifle, that’s fine, but the source will run dry quickly, and for those that think they can grab military stockpiles, it is extremely unlikely that a protracted situation could occur with that level of disorder, and if it did you would be competing against the best organized and trained who were going for the same targets.
5.56/.223 in a high quality AR.
I’m sure you have heard this plenty.
If you want to go bigger then .308/7.62
As a side note, I also have a beautiful Marlin model 1936 that I never showed you. I think I still have your address, your first name is E..., right?
Rifle for what? The gubmint will take care of us all!
.22, .45, .308 and 12 gauge...
Pretty much takes care of everything in my abilities.
30-06 would be my preferred arm, if I had to police a parade.....from atop a building...
.308 for deer.
22lr for squirrel.
5.56 for people.
Yes. One of my co-worker’s father worked for Marlin for 30 years, he had a collection of their earlier guns, many engraved.
If the e-mail gets bounced, let me know and I’ll freepmail it too you.
Thanks for a thread to cool my treads after such concentration on the news!
I like your .30-30 WIN choice with 6-7 rounds in a nice light carbine size rifle like the M94 Winchester or the Marlins.
Make mine .308 WIN for 2 different guns I would keep close by in your scenario; AR10 full float 18” bbl QD mounted 1-6X24 scope illuminated post/dot reticle with quality BUS, bolt action rifle 24” bull bbl 6-24X50 high end scope in B/C fully adjustable stock.
The AR for afoot, both for bug-in. Both very accurate and good for close or long range work. That’s if it happened today, who knows what I’ll think or have in a year, especially since I go fishing quite a bit.
I see five real needs:
Big bore rifle - anything 30-06, 30-30, .338, .308/7.62, or in that general neighborhood is fine, and the details depend more on the shooter/terrain than on differences among calibers.
Small bore rifle - roughly a .223/5.56 for personal defense at a lower weight and lower cost per round than big bore.
Rimfire pistol and/or rifle - .22LR, .22mag, .177 or some similar variant for bunnies, squirrels, and other meat for the table where there would be nothing left after a big bore shot. Also for target practice at a more manageable cost, and for starting kids on shooting.
Pistol (other than .22LR, which is already covered) - .38, .357, .45, 9mm, or something bigger than a .22LR, for those who can handle those options, just for a defensive weapon that is easy to carry at all times. A pistol was good enough for my great-grandfather, and it’s good enough for me.
.12 gauge - everyone needs a shotgun, even Joe Biden.
Beyond those options, a specialized case can be made for various calibers, but I think all real needs are covered by those five choices.
For spraying lead go with the 7.62 x 39, for stopping power go with the 7.62 x 51 and for fun add in the 5.56.
Those should keep you busy when the Islamic infantry are coming at you.
But I like having my bones broken and arm ripped off!
I grew up on a subsistence farm until I was five. There was no electricity in rural Florida but we managed to survive just fine.
I don’t much worry about roving bands of ferals tho a few would certainly be a possibility. Back then we knew everyone in the area for miles around. We attended church with them etc. They were not a threat, but a support system.
Still I could see someone needing a self defense rifle and a Colt H-Bar is about as good as any. Of course a .22LR rifle and pistol (or revolver) and a shotgun.
A Ruger 10/22 just because of all the accessories and parts available for it. A Remingon 870 because I personally have seen 3 of them which had to have gone over 100,000 rounds between them.
5.56, 7.62x39, .22, 30.06, 3.08, 300 winmag, 9mm, .45,... ;-)
Barrett 50
.243.....
.22-250....
.270.....
.25-06....
7 Mag.....
.220 Swift...
Whatever you should the best..is what I like.
The popular combo in the 1870s and '80s was the 44-40 black powder cartridge chambered for both the 1873 Winchester (the real gun that won the West not the 30-30) and Colt revolver.
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