Trying to narrow down which rifle to get is tough!! Looking for something that's versatile but packs a punch if SHTF.

I had my heart set on the Saiga 7.62x39 because it's reliable, affordable, and AK mags can be modified to fit, but governor terminator here in cali passed AB962, preventing any online ammo sale; there goes my chance in the future to order cheap 7.62 and finding it locally isn't going to be fun. Saiga in .308 would be nice but it's sold out and cost more. M1A is too expensive for me right now, and I hear a lot of mixed reviews about the Mini-14. What to do??

Miliary surplus rifles are cheap and ammo is plentyful.

Mosin Nagant M-44 7.62 x 54 (Big 5 used to sell them under $100.00)

SKS 7.62 x 39 (still shoots ak ammo, but a great gun for the money, can find bulk ammo realitively cheap at local gunshows)

8 mm Mauser (bolt action, accurate and still realitivley cheap)

Remington 700 .308 (accurate and ammo easy to find)

Norinco M1A (Cheaper than springfield armory)

12 gauge pump shotgun (Remington 870, Mossburg defender) Pack a punch for SHTF, can use slugs and buck shot.

Marlin 336 30/30 (cheap gun and ammo is cheap, lever actions are nice too)

Thanks for recommendations! I'm going to do my research on those. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I regret getting one of those Saigas back in the day when they were like $250.00, especially the .308

I love these discussions. What a great problem to have... Here are some questions to consider. How you answer those can greatly improve specificity of the information given.

1) What's your price range? (cost of gun and cost of ammo)

2) What are you planning on using this for and what percentage of time? (what are you hunting, where are you hunting it? how do you hunt, how often?)

3) What other guns do you have that play a similar role?

4) Do you reload?

5) Is there any feature that you have to have or are definately against?

Here is what a stock 308 Saiga looks like.


Here they are after a lot of work.

Sportsnut,

Those are great!!

I have, or have had, all of the rifles that have been mentioned thus far. All were respectable shooters. Another one to consider is a Savage 110 or 111. I own several and all have shot circles around my Remingtons unless the Remingtons were rebarreled. Savages are also much more affordable. Do not be afraid of the used ones as well. If you are patient you can get one with a shot out barrel for cheep and swap out the barrel. It only takes simple tools and skills to change these barrels… Just a thought…


If money is the true deciding factor mosin nagants are impossible to beat. I have three that I have purchased for less than $100 and have killed elk with them bone stock.

You can still get a M1 Garand pretty cheap now from CMP, think the Springfield Armory sell for around $550.00.

I got one a few years ago and its a sweet shooter and 30.06 ammo is still decent priced from there too. I don't know if you can get them delivered to california though. just another option for you.

MRpink stipulated that the rifle would be for a shtf scenario, not necessarily for hunting. I think that the SKS would be a decent choice, as the ammo is still reasonably cheap and it's still powerful enough for hunting deer-sized game. It would enable him to get several rounds downrange in a hurry if needed, and they are very reliable. I saw first-hand what they are capable of in VietNam - they will get the job done! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Good call on CMP. I'm having trouble finding .30 (M1 Carbine) locally but have no problem finding 30.06 or .308. I like to think that I have ammo requirements that will not be hard to find down the road.

I just got bonus of sorts so I think I may try to snag a SGL21 if I can. The prices are creeping back up but they were around $500 a few weeks ago. $550 now...

Just have to find a FFL I'm okay with. One owner of the place where I work could probably do it but he is also the guy I told that I was quitting because they suck. Probably don't need to ask for any favors right now.