Bolt gun for defense

[Sean LeMasters]

Financially this got shoved to the back burner, but it has given me more time to think things through. As much as I like the idea of a bolt gun for defense I can see the wisdom of using a semi-auto for the job. Probably something like the Sig MCX SBR, short barrel and folding stock and uses AR mags. I'm still thinking of something in the 1x-4x range optically.

[Rastus]

Have you ruled out lever action? 

I don't have any experience with it, but I find a takedown interesting for travel:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Browning-Lever-Action-Takedown-Rifle-a-field-test-review/531840.uts

It's pretty expensive...but you have a lot of caliber choices and you skirt around a lot of stupid local laws with a lever action.
http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/blr/current-production/blr-lightweight-81-stainless-takedown.html

[Timothy]

Mr. Bane just did a podcast about lever actions.  I've been saving for one for some time.  Can't buy AR's here anymore, at least and until they upend the AG's ban on them...

[Rastus]

I had forgotten about that.  How can he do that?

[Timothy]

I had forgotten about that.  How can he do that?

It's a she and she just did!

She reinterpreted the law and stopped sales the next day!

[Sponsor]

[Big Frank]

If you want to get a really lightweight AR the KSP US X-7 Monarch AR-15 carbine weighs a pound less than some AR pistols. It's barely over 4 pounds but more expensive than the average AR. https://www.kaiserus.com/product/x-7-monarch-ar-15-light-as-a-feather-rifle/

[Sean LeMasters]

Have you ruled out lever action? 

I don't have any experience with it, but I find a takedown interesting for travel:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Browning-Lever-Action-Takedown-Rifle-a-field-test-review/531840.uts

It's pretty expensive...but you have a lot of caliber choices and you skirt around a lot of stupid local laws with a lever action.
http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/blr/current-production/blr-lightweight-81-stainless-takedown.html

That's a really good point, I had forgotten about a lever gun. A Browning BLR Takedown in 308 would fit the bill really well. Especially a suppressor ready SBR.

We don't have any laws about AR's to worry about here but my wife has been wanting to get a camper in a few years and a lever action would definitely travel better than a semi auto would.

[Big Frank]

A suppressed .308 BLR would be cool but if you want a lever action you have lots of choices from .22 LR on up to .457 WWG, and even bigger calibers. I don't think anyone makes .50 Alaskan rifles anymore except a few custom makers, but Wild West Guns has brass for it, and Buffalo Bore makes ammo for it starting at $100 and change for 20 rounds.

Suddenly the price on .457 WWG ammo doesn't look so bad. Wild West Guns makes a great looking take-down model .457 WWG but it's priced way beyond the budget many of us have. https://www.wildwestguns.com/custom-guns/ak-co-pilot/
Corbon makes ammo in .457 WWG. It seems really expensive except when compared to .50 Alaskan. https://shopcorbon.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=67_112

.45-70 would be a more realistic choice for a big bore and could be had in much more affordable rifles. The medium bore calibers would be better all around but not needed if you aren't in bear country. A .308 would probably be the best all around caliber because it's big enough to handle 2-legged varmints and most game animals, plus you can get ammo for it at a reasonable price practically anywhere that sells ammo.