Requesting Opinions on Carbine Selection

[GUNS-R-US]

Id agree about the Ruger M4 because I havent found an HK 416 civilian rifle out there. (a friend has a semi 416 14 inch registered upper on his rifle) but thats a special case.

I have a plain jane reliable Olympic Car-15 rifle in 5.56 that Im ever so slowly changing over to all tango down furniture and an SKS for deer hunting.

Of late Ive seriously contemplated getting rid of the AR and going totally to a 7.63x39 ammo platform with an AK of some sort with a folder. If it wasnt such a pain getting all new mags ammo and gun I might have already done so. The SKS/AK round is very popular here in WV believe it or not as a deer/hog hunting round and its much cheaper to practice with.

Why not consider a nice Colt M4 like the 6930? (is that the designation?) Its certainly cheaper than the ruger and is proven.

Don't get rid of your AR! Just add an AK to your collection!! 

[Badgersmilk]

Id agree about the Ruger M4 because I havent found an HK 416 civilian rifle out there. (a friend has a semi 416 14 inch registered upper on his rifle) but thats a special case.

I have a plain jane reliable Olympic Car-15 rifle in 5.56 that Im ever so slowly changing over to all tango down furniture and an SKS for deer hunting.

Of late Ive seriously contemplated getting rid of the AR and going totally to a 7.63x39 ammo platform with an AK of some sort with a folder. If it wasnt such a pain getting all new mags ammo and gun I might have already done so. The SKS/AK round is very popular here in WV believe it or not as a deer/hog hunting round and its much cheaper to practice with.

Why not consider a nice Colt M4 like the 6930? (is that the designation?) Its certainly cheaper than the ruger and is proven.

Good move. 

[Ulmus]

I have a few questions for Sethsquatch.

What type of area do you live in?   urban, suburban, rural
How long are you expecting to have to hold out?  2 weeks, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year
Are you looking to stay in place or try to leave for somewhere out of the affected area?
Is this carbine for home/self defense or for hunting as well?

In the meantime this is what I've noticed at our local Wally World when it comes to ammo.

When the ammo shortage was at it's peak I could still find tons of 12 gage bird and buckshot.
All pistol,revolver calibers were long gone including .22lr!
The only rifle/carbine ammo I could find was 30 Carbine and 7.62x39.  (A box or two fo 30-30 could be found sporatically. All others were MIA.)

Now that the shortage is slowly, crawling back to somewhat normal, this is what I find.
You can find almost all caliber ammo at the gun stores, but at W.W. you can only find

40S&W, .38 special, .223, .308, 30-30, 7.62x39, and a smattering of 30-06

This, to me, points out the obvious.  Common ammo calibers are owned by the majority of people and those calibers are the hardest to find in a crisis or during a panic of an upcoming crisis.

And I don't recall anyone offering to trade off any of their ammo during the shortage either.

So my recommendation to you is to put to paper what your Katrina situation means to you;  What caliber of ammo you can find and afford to buy; And if you plan on lugging all that ammo around with you or use it mainly at your homestead. Then go from there.

[tombogan03884]

Ulmas, I used several boxes of 308 and 7.62X39 to supplement my unemployment check a while back when I needed some extra cash, just because no one told you doesn't mean it hasn't been happening.
And you are completely backwards on your reasoning on caliber, the ones that "Common ammo calibers are owned by the majority of people and those calibers are the hardest to find in a crisis or during a panic of an upcoming crisis."
The ones that every one is buying up as fast as it's made now, are the ones you are most likely to find available when the stores are not an option, those will be the ones that the people you run into will have, not the ones that were left sitting on the shelves.

[fightingquaker13]

Ulmas, I used several boxes of 308 and 7.62X39 to supplement my unemployment check a while back when I needed some extra cash, just because no one told you doesn't mean it hasn't been happening.
And you are completely backwards on your reasoning on caliber, the ones that "Common ammo calibers are owned by the majority of people and those calibers are the hardest to find in a crisis or during a panic of an upcoming crisis."
The ones that every one is buying up as fast as it's made now, are the ones you are most likely to find available when the stores are not an option, those will be the ones that the people you run into will have, not the ones that were left sitting on the shelves.

Yup, what he said. Plus, despite the fact that Tom and JC doubt my "resolve", I will say that my choosing  the weapons and calibers  used by the local police and military was not a coincidence. Do not buy an SHTF weapon if you can't find ammo for it at Wal-Mart, or you're local police station or NG armory. Just my .02.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Another thought, don't buy a "Special" SHTF weapon, buy one that will be "All purpose" keeping yourself and companions alive may mean shooting BG's in skirmishes, but it also might mean shooting supper, get a caliber that can do both.
Also, don't write of the 223 for this purpose, if things go crazy you are more likely to find rats and squirrels than deer.
Another thought I just had, buy 2 identical rifles, set up the same, make sure they both shoot to the same point of impact then put one away with your survival stash, and use the hell out of the other. When the situation arises you have a brand new rifle that you can use in your sleep, and a worn one to either arm some one else, strip for parts, or use for trade.

[Badgersmilk]

Yup, what he said. Plus, despite the fact that Tom and JC doubt my "resolve", I will say that my choosing  the weapons and calibers  used by the local police and military was not a coincidence. Do not buy an SHTF weapon if you can't find ammo for it at Wal-Mart, or you're local police station or NG armory. Just my .02.
FQ13

Dude.  You have plan's to get ammo from cops durring a crisis!?!?!  YOU ROCK!!! 

Let us know ahead of time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That has got to be the best news cast of all time!!!! 

[tombogan03884]

 I think he is planning on taking it off bodies in the street, Not asking nicely.
Even FQ couldn't be THAT flaky. Could he ?

[Big Frank]

I think he is planning on taking it off bodies in the street, Not asking nicely.
Even FQ couldn't be THAT flaky. Could he ?

You never can tell Tom. 

[fightingquaker13]

I think he is planning on taking it off bodies in the street, Not asking nicely.

I will neither confirm nor deny that statement.
FQ13