Why Do I Need a Rifle? by Larry Mudgett (Gunsite)

[ShadeWPI]

As a guy who owns rifles and has way too many magazines (yes, you can have too many), I probably shouldn't be the one talking, but the type of situation that would require a rifle is really far-fetched. A rifle is a long distance weapon and/or numerous opponents weapon. So we are talking about 100+ yards and 5+ BG. Can you imagine a situation where you could “legally” shoot a bunch of people at 150 yards? Think about it.

A Pistol is a weapon of convience. A pistol is selected when a rifle is inconvient due to its size, bulk or attention.

A rifle or shotgun is a weapon of choice in most situations. They are far more powerful than pistols and generally easier to follow-up with due to their larger size and weight. As the author of the article points out, rifles offer an advantage over most shotguns because they have higher magazine capacity.

In peaceful times, if I hear a noise in the house I can't identify, I will sweep the house while carrying a shotgun because the expectations are 2-3 intruders at most and 5 shotgun shells should be sufficient.
If there are riots breaking out in the area, the 5 shell capacity of my shotgun might not be enough and I'd be more likely to reach for an AR-10 or 15, not because I need their longer range, but because I want their higher capacity.

The age old saying, "The purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to your rifle"

 

[Titan]

Great article.

You need a rifle (at least one for each in your 'party'), and enormous quantities of ammo!

 

[GSG]

It wouldn't take a world wide crop failure to cause food riots. A regional crop failure that resulted in a doubling of basic food prices or a contamination scare could drive a lot of areas into food riots. People who are "barely making ends meet" would suddenly be unable to afford food legally and starvation will force people to take risks they would never take normally.

Anyone remember this is Detroit last summer?

http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/06/news/economy/detroit_food/index.htm

DETROIT (CNNMoney.com) -- On a side street in an old industrial neighborhood, a delivery man stacks a dolly of goods outside a store. Ten feet away stands another man clad in military fatigues, combat boots and what appears to be a flak jacket. He looks straight out of Baghdad. But this isn't Iraq. It's southeast Detroit, and he's there to guard the groceries.

In peaceful times, if I hear a noise in the house I can't identify, I will sweep the house while carrying a shotgun because the expectations are 2-3 intruders at most and 5 shotgun shells should be sufficient.

Jim Cirillo shot a few violent felons with shotguns...you should read up on some of those shootings of his and rethink your numbers.

 

[SemiAutoSam]

YES, There is another reason why people collect rifles and its not always for them alone.

IE I cant shoot 25-50 rifles myself at one time but they could be used at one time if need be.

"A rifle"?

More like ten rifles ...