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Buy one rifle and one scope for SHTF. Your one survival rifle.

Awhile back a friend was thinking of selling his Saiga 308. It looks similar but with plastic furniture and has most of the accessories. If you like I can see if he still selling it.

That is a Yugoslavian M56 Sniper rifle not a saiga. They are for sale at many dealers. They are pricy but are a great rifle. You can sometimes find them for $900 but most places they are $1200 or more. They also chamber an 8mm round.
 
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That is a Yugoslavian M57 Sniper rifle not a saiga. They are for sale at many dealers. They are pricy but are a great rifle. You can sometimes find them for $900 but most places they are $1200 or more. They also chamber an 8mm round.

I think you meant M76. If so, I believe you are correct. However, to my knowledge, M76, PSL, VEPR and Saiga are all based on AK. Different models stretched to different size to accommodate different calibers, but they all just AK. IOW, M76 is no Dragunov or Tiger, it’s just AK chambered in 8mm. Sure build quality might differ and some might use heavier barrel, RPK trunnion, etc., but at the end of the day it’s the same platform designed to produce 1.5-2” groups. I believe “survivalists” prefer 308 to 8mm. So I thought he might be interested. Of course maybe you are correct and he only wants 8mm.
 
I think you meant M76. If so, I believe you are correct. However, to my knowledge, M76, PSL, VEPR and Saiga are all based on AK. Different models stretched to different size to accommodate different calibers, but they all just AK. IOW, M76 is no Dragunov or Tiger, it’s just AK chambered in 8mm. Sure build quality might differ and some might use heavier barrel, RPK trunnion, etc., but at the end of the day it’s the same platform designed to produce 1.5-2” groups. I believe “survivalists” prefer 308 to 8mm. So I thought he might be interested. Of course maybe you are correct and he only wants 8mm.

You are correct my goof, I meant M76. The M76 has a much heavier barrel than a PSL as well as the receiver is milled. Also the gas system has an adjustment to allow for such things as higher pressure ammunition and when the gas system becomes dirty . As with most Yugoslavian rifles it is built like a tank and the fit and finish is far superior than the Romanian. It scopes were also unique. I have a Tiger and my M76 can shoot as well as my Tiger. As you stated its a basic design and can produce 1-2inch groups. Good enough for combat or hunting.I also like the 8mm round. It packs a punch and with a 198 grain projectile its a heck of a round.

If you have the extra cash a M76 is a great rifle to own[wink]
 
I have a Tiger and my M76...

Nice.

I agree on all counts. 8mm is good cartridge. And PSL would be my last choice. Coming out of Socialist rifle - I actually prefer 7.62x54r to both 308 and 8mm. Assuming Tiger is out of the price range I would get VEPR. If I cannot, Saiga. And only as a last resort PSL. Having said that I believe properly build Saiga 308 has its advantages. For instance, his rifle has heavier 24” barrel with AK brake, RPK trunnion, and reasonably good trigger. The Saiga aftermarket is booming. So mags, furniture, etc., are plentiful. And so are the 308 rounds and reloading supplies. So unless the would be “survivalist” already has a stockpile of 8mm, I would lean towards VEPR in 7.62x54r or Saiga 308. Do not get me wrong I have nothing against M76. I think it’s a cool rifle and I’d love to own one. I also think it’s must for any serious collection of Eastern Block’s equipment.
 
An AR would be infinitely more useful than a bolt gun. As far as reliability is concerned all those screaming about AR reliability in various conditions are rediculous. They worked fine in Afghanistan and more importantly they work fine in the U.S.

I've never seen or heard of a clogged gas tube. With 20k+ psi going through it nothing really builds up. 90% of issues I've seen have been mag related. I've trained foreign militaries using A1s with shot out barrels that still functioned.

If you cant take enough care of your rifle to keep it running you deserve it if you get bit. There are also spare parts, ammo, and rifles everywhere.

Mike

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
 
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Anything in 5.56. That ammo will be the easiest to "find". You can have the finest rifle in the world but if you don't have ammo, it's just a club. I keep a bare bone AR With a BCM M4 upper, early Bushmaster lower and iron sights. It's light, easy to transport and accurate to 200+ with iron. No batteries to replace. I have a moderately priced scope for it, if I need it. I keep a spare lower parts kit and a spare BCG and enough Mobil 1 to keep it wet. But any lubricant will work, even heating oil.
 
An AR would be infinitely more useful than a bolt gun. As far as reliability is concerned all those screaming about AR reliability in various conditions are rediculous. They worked fine in Afghanistan and more importantly they work fine in the U.S.

I've never seen or heard of a clogged gas tube. With 20k+ psi going through it nothing really builds up. 90% of issues I've seen have been mag related. I've trained foreign militaries using A1s with shot out barrels that still functioned.

If you cant take enough care of your rifle to keep it running you deserve it if you get bit. There are also spare parts, ammo, and rifles everywhere.

Mike

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

You never have heard of a gas tube becoming so dirty it wont function, maybe its because if your deployed you keep it clean. As to being ridiculous to say it never happens because you never heard of it. I have been at the range more than once when guys with little or no experience with AR's and never clean the gas tube. Take a breath my friend. This is just a conversation of what rifle folks would like to use.

You can recommend an AR, me a bolt rifle will far outlast any AR and to say it wont is just ridiculous[rofl][rofl]. Sorry just had to say it, see how foolish it sounds to make such a statement as "ridiculous" when folks are having a discussion about what they would choose if the SHTF.
 
One rifle? That's a no-brainer. Get the platform that's been effectively killing America's enemies for almost 50 years, the AR15. You want a scope, put a flat top upper on it. You don't wanta scope, leave the iron sights. You want a rifle that offers flexibility in any SHTF scenario, the AR is it. It can go long, it can be configeured for compactness. Nothing beats it for the power to weight ratio. Try carrying close to 400 rounds of 308. The compare that to the relative ease with which you can carry the same amount of 5.56.

Chris
+1 AR in 5.56 is golden. I may be nuts but have an AR in 9mm also, that with a 92 FS makes a good pair.
 
I you said 1 gun but...What about that Mosberg bolt .223 that takes AR mags? Have the AR with iron sights and a scope on the bolt .223?
 
hmm...

Shmittey, the Mossberg MVP looks very interesting to me given its barrel being chambered for 5.56 and the AR mag feed--that reads for a lot of flexibility. But I'm finding mixed, if not polarizing, reviews, for or against. As a new rifle, maybe time and trial will tilt the scale one way or another. That said, are there any other bolt action rifles built first/foremost for the 5.56? From my quick research, the MVP looks to be the only off the shelf 5.56 option?
 
You never have heard of a gas tube becoming so dirty it wont function, maybe its because if your deployed you keep it clean. As to being ridiculous to say it never happens because you never heard of it. I have been at the range more than once when guys with little or no experience with AR's and never clean the gas tube. Take a breath my friend. This is just a conversation of what rifle folks would like to use.

You can recommend an AR, me a bolt rifle will far outlast any AR and to say it wont is just ridiculous[rofl][rofl]. Sorry just had to say it, see how foolish it sounds to make such a statement as "ridiculous" when folks are having a discussion about what they would choose if the SHTF.

Are you for real? First of all if you can keep your gun clean in a war you can keep it clean here. Next, cleaning the inside of the gas tube is pretty much the only thing you are NEVER supposed to do. Finally, ARs are good into 10s of thousands of rounds. You'll likely see failures with bolt guns at those round counts as well.

If I haven't seen it then its probably not likely to happen, though certainly possible. At the same time I know our STA platoon has had to send M40s back for repairs.

Any mechanical device can fail. The failure rate on modern ARs due to the design is increadably low.

Mike

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
 
Are you for real? First of all if you can keep your gun clean in a war you can keep it clean here. Next, cleaning the inside of the gas tube is pretty much the only thing you are NEVER supposed to do. Finally, ARs are good into 10s of thousands of rounds. You'll likely see failures with bolt guns at those round counts as well.

If I haven't seen it then its probably not likely to happen, though certainly possible. At the same time I know our STA platoon has had to send M40s back for repairs.

Any mechanical device can fail. The failure rate on modern ARs due to the design is increadably low.

Mike

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Yes I am for real. ARs can last 10s of thousands of rounds. Sure they can.[rofl][rofl][rofl][rofl]
 
Yes I am for real. ARs can last 10s of thousands of rounds. Sure they can.[rofl][rofl][rofl][rofl]

They can and do. The only time I've ever seen a clogged gas tube was when some dumbass got a q-tip jammed in it.
 
I like my AR-15.

But a friend has a Ruger Scout. And it's growing on me fast.

Bolt action
Iron sights
10 round magazines
Compact ( sort of )
.308win/NATO
Flash suppressor

Add the sling that works for you and ... someone else can suggest the scope , cause I don't know much about them , I'm a red dot kind of guy.
 
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Check out Steyr's Scout. Forend is a bipod and weighs less than the Ruger. Havent tried one but it seems more rounded.

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My choice would be a .22 bolt gun. I would not choose it for a battle rifle but for a shtf bug out rifle I cant see a better choice. It is small and light, accurate for the distances I would be shooting in the New England woods, do to there simple construction I can make most if not all of the replacement parts I would ever need, and I can easily carry thousands of rounds.
 
I have the Rem 700 SPS in .308 with 20" barrel. A Trijicon Accupoint 5x20x50 sits on top of it. I love it.

I'd most likely join the " gotta have an AR" crew though and grab my Stag 8 with Trijicon Acog on it if I could only take one rifle.
 
I like the Ruger Scouts. With a 4x , just because I do.

But , I have a 20 inch upper and a 16 for my AR15. If/when I go 308 it'll be an M1a , again , just because.
 
You can get a Mini-14 or a Mini 30 (no pistol grip)

Fellas—

I don’t mean to disrupt ChrisATX’s question/thread, but I live in Boston and heretofore am under the legal understanding that I don’t have shat for rifle options other than bolt action. Given my predicament, I’m keenly interested in the bolt action recommendations put forth so far. If not mistaken, Rem 700 short action or 308 seem to be ideal options.

Independent of this thread, the CZ 527 looks very interesting, but I’ve yet to learn if it’s MA compliant.

Presuming ChrisATX has similar legal considerations, I would love to see more bolt action recommendations in response here. Sadly, AR15 is off the table for folks like me (and yeah, I know, move out of Boston : )

Thx!
 
Buy a Savage or Remington and go big on the glass. Even a Ruger American (I think they are in .308) I have a first focal plane, mil dot Leupold.
 
Can't imagine why you'd pick a bolt action as your only SHTF rifle, but if you do get a CZ 550 FS in 308. Because it's so damn good looking.
 
finnish m39 mosin. nuff said. damn accurate rifle and ammo is dirt cheap. Simo Häyhä the "white death" had over 500 confirmed kills with iron sights with one back in the 40's
 
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