Posted on 08/05/2026 7:33:47 AM PDT by jagusafr
The Colonel's Wife has finally agreed it's time for a rifle.
If you get an AR, be sure to get one chambered in 5.56X45 NATO rather than .223. The difference between the two is the chamber dimension between the bullet and where the rifling starts in the barrel (the 5.56 has a longer distance than the .223 chamber). The longer distance results in lower pressure than the shorter distance so a full pressure .556 cartridge will be over max pressure if fired in a .223 chambered rifle. But, you can shoot .223 just fine in a 5.56 chamber, it will just be slightly lower pressure.
That's not to say it's the only answer. A shotgun might serve your needs very well, 20 gauge if the recoil on a 12 proves objectionable to smaller frames. It's more versatile than any rifle but is strictly a short-range weapon. Again, budget for training, it's worth its weight in gold.
Home defense? What kind of home….and whom are you defending against? If you are on a farm vs. a retirement complex of condos? It makes a difference.
Are you of the age where you will leave your home and go join the militia? Are you going to be manning the barricades at the end of the street?
Are you hunting for food?
The old rule of needing a handgun for upclose, a shotgun for down the hall, and a rifle for down the street still applies.
If you want a fun gun to shoot, that is OK as well.
Not to be too cliche, but the best gun is the one you can handle and that you’ve practiced shooting. For example, if you get a 44 magnum revolver, your wrist might not like it until you’ve trained with it…a lot. But a 9mm pistol might seem like an extension of your arm.
I’m sure that I’ll get a little bit of pushback on this, but if cost is a factor, you could do a lot worse than checking out the Palmetto State Armory (commonly referred to as PSA). They started as a “deep discount” retailer, but currently have a lot of truly solid options at good prices.
If you want something a little nicer, but still not overpriced, I’m very fond of small manufacturer here in Texas (San Antonio) called “Sons of Liberty Gunworks”. Their AR pattern rifles are, in my experience, well made, with nice lockup and lots of build options.
There are also many fans of the AK platform, (I’m among them), but if this is your first rifle in a while, the AR is hard to beat as a starting point. Plus, you’ll already be familiar with the manual of arms from the M16.
Be Safe!
What ever you get, be sure to keep backup weapons and ammo at a location other than your house.
AR
All you neighbors have one so you can share ammo and MAGAZINES.
Case closed.
AK is dependable. 7.62x39 has more punch than 5.56. Hard to repair if anything does go wrong. AR is more versatile and easier to fix by layman. Gotta keep them clean. If you go AK look for one with a full length picatinny rail. Im not a big fan of AK’s with the side mount rail lock.
ARAK? Yeah, used to drink it all the time, not so much nowadays.
Presuming you are gun literate
PResuming you don’t about running something high-speed like a 28 YO Operator would carry.
PResuming you are no longer 30 and highly mobile.
Presuming this is for both homestead defense, and something fun to shoot, which they are.
1. I recommended a ‘budget’ AR, in .223/5.56. Look for a rifle that will handle both cartridges, as the pressure differences matter, and the sale prices for ammo often vary widely in the two cartridges. Why ‘budget’? They work just fine. I have multiple ARs, and the budget ones work just as well as the pricey one.
2. By saving money on the base rifle, you can afford a tritium red dot scope. The advantage is no batteries required. And you can hit what you aim at with aging eyes.
3. buy some spare firing pins (they’re affordable) and cotter pins (sometimes called the jesus-pin) They are the big failure or loss points with an AR
3. consider buying an adjustable (maybe Magpul) stock, so the rifle has a good fit for you and the Missus. An AR has so little recoil, both you and the better half can fire it easily as you mature. Not so true for the AKs; and they are SO loud compared to the AR.
4. Buy quality plastic mags. I would guarantee that 99% of the misfeeds you might get would be due to a cheap mag. Get six, and keeo them loaded with 28 rounds. IF you ever *NEED* to use the rifle, it helps to have plenty loaded and nearby. At the range, you’ll shoot a lot of ammo, cuz it’s fun, and having extra mags increases the fun factor.
5. Get a decent and SIMPLE 2-point sling. ARs with furniture and a loaded mag can push 9 pounds. The sling helps you steady the rifle as well as carrying it.
6. Optional - get a second bolt carrier, and consider buying an aftermarket charging handle with a large grip.
My best ‘budget’ AR is my Bushmaster., second best is Delton. FYI, they all work.
Is the SHTF ever gonna happen?
Lots of great ideas, all of which are right.
My only add is: get two in same caliber. In the time where you need it supporting fire is more important than which item, and what if one malfs? (Or did I just remind buying 3?)
If the SHTF there is a different paradigm. Well scoped .22 semi + a .22 large capacity pistol. No one can carry all that shit people are recommending. And I can put 1000 rounds in my right jacket pocket.
I echo the post about Palmetto Arms being just fine.
You won’t win the ‘mine is better than yours’ contests at the range, but you’ll have more money left over for ‘accessories’ and ammo.
Well if you are gonna go THERE, and you were right, I’d add a Remington 870 pump in 12 Ga alongside that .22.
If you want to go deaf.
I recommend belt fed.
Re the .22 for ACTUAL SHTF -
I have a .22 LR “Plinkster” made up to look like an AR. Why? super easy to load the mags. And it’s CHEAP to go waste 1,000 rounds ;-)
It has the same rails as my ARs, so I can plug and play.
Is it legal to purchase a full auto at trigger group and tuck it away still in the box for shtf?
The different ARs are like pizza. No such thing as a bad one.
But you could have the ATF at your door if you don’t thread the needle just right.
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