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As long as SKSs are still "relatively" cheap, people should purchase at least TWO plus a couple of thousand rounds of ammo, and seal it all properly in PVC...and bury it for later!

I think our house was not unlike many. We had many, MANY different firearms of different calibers and configurations....which is good if you like to collect firearms, but terrible from a logistics and support standpoint!

We sold a good many of the "oddballs" for cash...private sale of course to people that we TRUST. Then we settled for a "standard" long gun, pistol, .22 rifle, shotgun, and scoped distance rifle for each familly member. So far, we're about 2/3 at acquiring this stuff and probably won't get around procuring all of it. But that's not my point.

My point is that people think they're prepared because they've got the ole .30-30 and a couple of boxes of shells, when in truth, I think this is wishful thinking at best. Not that there's anything wrong with the .30-30. It's a fine cartridge, although I don't care for the weakness inherent in lever actions. But these are issues of "opinion". People with a goal for a common defense should choose a STANDARD and then stick to it!...even if they choose the .30-30! :-)

I was voted down and beaten in the debate over a standard carbine type semi-auto rifle. I won't go into any details, but even though it's NOT my preference and I don't like Stoner's direct gas impingement system, and alloy receivers, a charging handle that requires a complete shift of firing stance, and the documented poor kill ratios in recent conflicts... I can't deny that EVERY person (including females!) in my house can use this particular rifle!...and have proven so! Ammunition en-bulk was also about half price to reload with respect to 7.62 NATO, and even though I do NOT favor high-speed .22s, I know there is a lot to be said for being able to carry more ammo. I realize the advantage.

One thing we learned the hard way.... budget for "decent" (or GOOD!) electronic (or Tritium) signts and "proper" weapons lights when purchasing the "standard". There's nothing quite like trying to keep track of your light when things go "bump in the night"...and then when you find it, you discover that peep sights just aren't the same in the dark! The sights and light combined will add anywhere from $100 to over $1000 (ACOGS! :-) to the cost of the weapon, but it's an advantage nobody will want to be without when that time comes! The way our rigs are all set up...ya pick one up, charge it, turn on the sight, and if you need the light, the switch pad ends up being under your left thumb on the front grip (we all shoot right handed). No more searching for a light because it stays ON the weapon, and the sight is just GLARING at you!

One small word about electronic sights. I KNOW that people are tempted to go over to WallyWorld and just buy a BSA red dot sight, and for the money these are pretty good sights actually. We've used them before. But there is ONE big differentiating factor with "dot" sights! This factor is the sights' ability to keep POI (Point Of Impact) when you move your head, thus causing the dot to move within the sight. The cheaper sights will NOT hold POI with movement like this! The better sights (AimPoint, Trijicon, C-More...and a few others) WILL hold POI! We found this out by mistake really. One day, we were running drills shooting least dominant hand/eye around a barrier, and we noticed that my hit ratio was very, VERY good as compared to another guy who usually had a high hit ratio. We swapped rifles and his ratio went UP, and mine went DOWN! This is because when shooting least dominant eye, we tend to NOT get the dot centered! We discovered that the cheap sight did NOT keep POI when the dot wasn't centered!

After the shoot, we fired the rifles from a rest and verified this problem with POI and the cheap dot sight. These sights are still a pretty good value, just so long as people bear in mind this POI problem.

As long as SKSs are still "relatively" cheap, people should purchase at least TWO plus a couple of thousand rounds of ammo, and seal it all properly in PVC...and bury it for later!

Please, do not use PVC for any storage. It outgasses a dilute hydrochloric acid. Look for surplus sonobouy storage tubes, which are made of polyethylene, and already have a nice screw-cap on one end, which can be sealed with silicone sealant. Only bury some cheap SKS and ammo, to be used as a last last-ditch defense. Someone may find it before you do.

Optics: make sure you have a pair of cheap chicom compact binoculars ($20 or less) for each member of your party. You want as many augmented eyes working for you as possible. A spotting scope is also useful to see them before they see you. Make sure you're working from a covered, shaded position. You're looking for glint from the other guy's optics. He may have a sniper looking for some careless reflection off your optics.

Knives: everyday tools that nobody should ever be without. Everybody who doesn't go through metal detectors should carry a decent pocket knife every day. It's one of those tools that you may never need, but if you do, if you don't have your own, nobody else will, either. Also consider a decent sheath knife for every defensive weapon deployed.

Sales: Keep an eye out for the magic word SALE or CLOSEOUT. You may find some great deals out there to upgrade your present equipment at the least likely moment. Keep your older gear. In a crisis, you may be able to turn a trustworthy-but-unprepared neighbor into a valued backup, once you instill some rudimentary skills into him to offset his neglected education.

I LOVE my dowdy old SKS (”Olga”)...if you don’t expect too much out of her, that is, beyond what she was designed for, she’ll never let you down.

300 meters (very optimistic, I know) max - that’s what it was designed for. I took off the wooden stock and replaced it with something more modern (and longer length of pull for my monkey arms). All in all, it does what I want it to do when I use it. 7.62x39 is a capable round.

The AK is a little rougher fit and finish wise, but just as reliable (other than the crappy ergs). Everyone in the house can handle both of these with ease, and that was the purpose for both purchases. If I come across an SKS that takes AK mags, I’ll pick that up too.

I like Commbloc weapons...it’s the ONE thing those dumbass Borscht-sucking B*stards did right.