Good Rifle For Auto Defense? (Vanity)

11/08/05 | JoeGar

[JoeGar]

I have a SIGARMS P239 .357 SIG for concealed carry and inside-the-home defense, but I feel I need a good rifle for neighborhood defense outside -- just in case somebody wants to torch some cars. I'd love an M1 Garand -- just to hear the ka-ching when the clip ejects -- but it's too expensive. The Ruger Mini Thirty looks interesting. What are your suggestions?

[festus]

ha you're right I didn't even notice that.... ;-)

[VeniVidiVici]

bump

[Sensei Ern]

[Redcloak]

I think you underestimate the psychological shock that a person receives when he or she sees the effects of a .223 bullet or two ripping through a nearby individual.

You are correct. Members of mobs don't stand and fight when their buds start turning into kufta all around them. They run like hell.

[Redcloak]

A slight correction: Those were Korean shopkeepers defending themselves during the Rodney King riots.

[SolidRedState]

12 GUAGE PUMP remove the plug, load with buckshot. You do not need a rifle for close in work.

[Sam Cree]

"I agree, and that is generally a good thing, but I also think there is a concern for militias that are no better than thugs. Not everyone is noble and wants to save their family/neighborhood. - Power corrupts . . . It is not unlikely that when the SHTF some militias will prey on the less armed. - In 3rd world countries they are called warlords."

True, but when authority fails, people will have to band together as a matter of survival. They will simply need to devise a defense from those very thugs you mention.

If we were to experience a truly catastrophic event, say an asteroid strike, or perhaps a multiple WMD hit by Islamic terrorists, it is possible or likely that we'd see a breakdown of our civilization.

With traditional authority gone, survivors will fill the vacuum one way or another. It may be with warlords, it may be with democratic socialism, hell, it may even be modeled on American tradition. But people *will* band together and create some form of authority and society for their own protection.

I believe that in the entire history of the world only one society, ours, has been purposely based and designed on a premise of individual liberty. The tradition of that premise means that some will, in case of such a catastrophe, endeavor to reproduce it. Hopefully, enough will endeavor to actually reproduce America.

OTOH, so much of our society, from the president on down, are abandoning our traditons that who knows what Phoenix might arise from the ashes of our civilization. And what happened here in the late 1700's was definitely a long shot.

[WilliamWallace1999]

Well, I knew they weren't Norwegian, so I took a guess at the Asian persuasion. I did recognize the AR-15's they were deftly wielding against the angry mob.

[Centurion2000]

If you plan on shooting someone for lighting up your cars, I suggest you get a lawyer....

Remember one word LIABILTY

In Texas during times of civil unrest or emergencies as declared by the governor that argument goes right out the window.

[Lancer_N3502A]

All this talk about lawyers and liability is a bunch of hoey. IF there were to be a situation where rioters are "burning down the house" then we would be in a state of insurrection and ANY means you use to defend yourself, your family AND/OR your property would be justified.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Agreed, I've just got a little something for all occasions.

[fisherman90814]

Nothing like an AK-47 to get your local thugs attention. If they are not allowed in your area, you may consider an SKS. Very reasonable semi auto military rifle with cheap ammo available. My personal choice would be a riot shotgun with 00 buck. I also like my bolt action .308 scoped Mauser action..................that is when I want to reach out and touch the car vandal 500 yards down the block. Your milage may vary.

[gatex]

" These people are kidding themselves if they think they won't do serious time for shooting someone while defending a car. "

Several years ago in Houston a vehicle repossessor was killed by a rifle bullet fired from the window in the house as he drove away - he was out of the driveway and on the road.. He was found in the cab of his vehicle, which was in a ditch.

No charges were filed.

[planekT]

placemark.

[scout34]

Hiram Maxim, who invented one of the first machine guns, couldn't get the US armed forces to even talk to him. Te result was we faced 180,000 German Maxim guns with bolt rifles and pistols in 1918

[SVTCobra03]

"In a typical breakdown in civilization either rural or urban, I don't think it would make a bit of difference. Having a 39-30 or better yet, a .44 mag lever gun with a pocket full of cartridges would probably be better than an AR. Those spare mags are nice but awkward to pack around."

I have a assault vest so spare mags are not a problem.

[marktwain]

The SKS is the East Block equivalent of the Garand. Cheap, accurate and effective out to 350 meters or so. It is an excellent militia arm. The only thing that I don't like about them is the open sights, but Lyman, I believe, makes an aftermarket peep that takes the place of the open rear sight.

[FFIGHTER]

It does in Texas. Cite: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/PE/content/htm/pe.002.00.000009.00.htm

[marktwain]

"Just curious.My father in law passed and I became the owner of his Model 94, .32 caliber. Do they still make amo for that model ??Thanks ."

Your model 94 is probably chambered for the .32 Winchester special cartridge, which is ballisticly equivalent to a .30-30. The cartridges are commercially available, my latest wholesale price for 20 is $11.39. If you wish to shoot a quantity of them, you could do so more frugally by reloading.

These are popular hunting rifles, and will certainly serve for a defensive arm if you have done your "homework".

[scout34]

Boston's Gun Bible has the best info on all of this. He rates all the battle rifles (1.M1A, 2.M1 Garand, 3.FN FAL) and dedicates over 100 pages to why he reaches the conclusions he does. Don't get your feelings hurt if he doesn't choose your personal favorite.

In this thread I've seen alot of people advocating lever actions and AR 15s. The lever guns have the advantage of being able to reload or top off in midstream, you don't have to drop the magazine. For guns in a pistol caliber like the .44 Mag you can have a companion piece, and they don't make people nervous. Down side is the power is anemic compared to rifle cartridges, capacity is low, and who cares if I make people nervous. If I have to use this rifle in anger I want to put people down. End of story.

The AR has commonality going for it. ATF has banned any imports that could plasticly compete with it. Those cheap AK's you can get are built on parts kits which have now also been banned. (Get one now before the price goes up) The AR is also very accurate and easy to get mags/ammo and is probably one of the most ergonomic and easy to use weapons out there. The downside is that it's fairly flimsy, the gas system vents directly into the chamber making the weapon maintenance intensive and very sensitive to dirt, it has no operating handle to use when clearing rounds jammed in a dirty chamber, and lastly the 5.56 x 45mm round does not do the job. Soft points are better than FMJ, but the .223 is a varmint round not a manstopper. Hate to sound bloodthirsty, but I've seen guys run away from 3 solid hits with 5.56 at a range of 10 meters. 7.62x51mm (.308) puts them down hard.

In the end however, it is the skills of the person wielding the weapon that matter. Only hits count, and if you can hit with a .22CB cap, it's better than harsh language.