Posted on 12/26/2009 9:43:36 AM PST by wintertime
I will soon purchase a rife.
Purpose: Protection in the very unlikely event of civil unrest.
I am a woman in my early sixties who is fit and healthy but I do not have a lot of upper body strength.
Before purchasing a rife, I would appreciate any comments Freepers might have regarding the suitability of the rife I have chosen in regards to the purpose and my physical strength.
At the moment I am considering buying a DPMS Panther 5.56 NATO Sportical AR 15. This rife seemed to be the easiest for me to handle.
By the way, I grateful for the comments of the Freepers before I purchased a handgun. Because of your very helpful suggestions I bought one that was perfect for me, my abilities, and the purpose.
5.56mm different than 223cal. ????
is like Clazy Man!
7.62 x 39 is Russian
.308 is 7.62 x 54 , am I Right?
not that I Know anything about icky guns.
What caliber is your handgun? If you insist on a rifle instead of shotgun, I recommend a carbine (short rifle) that shares the same ammo as the handgun. Even better, a carbine that shares the same magazines as your handgun (assuming it’s a semiauto).
Not to diss the AR. I got one of those too, but only after acquiring a handgun/carbine combo, Beretta’s PX4 and CX4 in .40 cal. (Those can be matched in 9mm and .45 caliber as well.) Should you go that route, make sure your gun dealer *knows* you want to have matching magazines, as Beretta’s carbine magwell can be fitted to the PX line or the older 92/96 models.
At least one FReeper has recommended Kel-Tec’s line, and I second that brand. I admire their innovative line of products, tho I only have their 5.56mm pistol. I bought this gun for one purpose and one purpose only: bad guys wearing Kevlar kicking in the door. It feeds from standard AR mags. You can forget about concealability, as this pistol, in profile, resembles a small pistol-grip shotgun. To compensate for the lack of a stock, I attached a loop at the balance point and hooked on a single-point bungee sling, using it as a tensioner for shooting. But with my small female hands, I kept having to adjust my grip after every couple of shots. (As it is by definition a pistol, the Batfags frown on installing a forward pistol grip on the railed fore-end.) My shooting partner said it was the loudest of all we fired that day, including the shotguns, and you really wanna get the optional flash suppressor, as well. I don’t recommend it as one’s only pistol, more as a special-use item once you already have an AR and a buttload of mags.
You’ve gotten good advice on shotguns, but I’m awful partial to the semiauto Saiga 12, which feeds from a detachable box magazine. Think of it as a big brother to the AK-47 rifle. Mylife has a couple of nice ones he’s customised. (Hint for gun porn)
One thing I noticed about my switching off with a friend’s pump shotgun is that I kept forgetting to cock his Mossberg after each shot. So if you think you might make the same mistake in a panic situation, go for a Saiga. That some recoil gases are bled off in feeding helps. There are always tradeoffs, and the Saiga unfortunately has the tilt-in magazine lock like an AK, and won’t automatically lock open the bolt on an empty magazine unless you install an aftermarket accessory called the last round bolt hold-open. But golly it’s a hoot to shoot!
.308 is 7.62x51
Shhhhh! That’s supposed to be a secret!
Looks like someone shot the “l” out of your rifle. I hate when that happens.
OK
Ok
OK!
This is getting Strange....
Thanks for the Post,,PLM
Using commercial .223 cartridges in a 5.56-chambered rifle should work reliably, but generally will not be as accurate as when fired from a .223-chambered gun due to the excessive leade. [3] Using 5.56 mil-spec cartridges (such as the M855) in a .223-chambered rifle can lead to excessive wear and stress on the rifle and even be unsafe, and the SAAMI recommends against the practice.[4] Some commercial rifles marked as “.223 Remington” are in fact suited for 5.56 mm, such as many commercial AR-15 variants and the Ruger Mini-14, but the manufacturer should always be consulted to verify that this is acceptable before attempting it, and signs of excessive pressure (such as flattening or gas staining of the primers) should be looked for in the initial testing with 5.56 mm ammunition.
Yeah,
I thought I was Off...
Tanks !
SOoo...
Mini-14 Is happy WITH 5.56 mm. More so than 223.??
Love Them FReepers!
Thanks ,Learn somethin everyTime,
Now if I can Find a Rife...
The nice thing about the saiga 12 is that if you want to secure it from kids you just pop the mag out.
I love mine
I figure a bolt action is the most reliable, and a .308 will stop anything in North America with one shot, including a good number of automobiles and aircraft.
I don't think a lady in her sixties should have to clear a jam, fire twice, or guess if she hit her target, at any distance.
Never yell “Rife!” in a crowded teather.
***Answer: AK-47 variant and LOTS of ammo.***
Ding, Ding..I concur.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jugmbARIVtM
Me too. I refer to it as “that ugly shotgun” but it’s a term of endearment. It’s darned good at what it’s made to do. Haven’t customised mine yet, just had too many other things going on.
Dunno. As the biker said, "if you've got a ten dollar head, buy a ten dollar helmet."
If you want to slog arount in the mud and sand, like pretty good chances at a 100 yd shot, and too tired to clean a weapon, buy an AK.
You wanna make the 700 yd shot, buy a 7.62, Remington BDL is a good choice.
Do our boys carry an M4 because it's a toy? Our boys are the kick ass best on the planet. Got evidence otherwise?
I guess any excuse for Saturday night gun pr0n is a good excuse for a ping.
A saiga is easier to shoot, IMHO, than a pump. A recoil pad might be a good thing to add to it, if you don't want the imprint it leaves otherwise.
Most saigas have the bolt hold open now.
And that is a definite necessity
pull the bolt and go
Absolutely. I think the sound that makes, when you let it fly is way scarier than any sound a pump makes. I love how the whoosh of the gas coming off of it when you fire can be felt by someone standing 12 feet away.
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