Battle rifle

[jon308]

Here is my dilemma, In preparing SHTF scenario. Which we all hope does not happen. If I have one rifle to grab and go or stay and defend I want it to be a semi auto in 308. I have a DPMS that I would want to change certain cosmetic thing on to make it fit my personnel taste better this will cost about 600.00 to 1000.00

I want a M1A and to trade up will cost about 1000.00
The DPMS has never failed to fire, easy to shoot, but not a battle rifle
never proven. The M1A has and is still a battle rifle, But upgrades on it will cost another 250.00 at least. I have a reliable AR15 but want to stay with 308 for hunting, survival,defense. What would you do
All advice welcome as long as its serious advice.

 

[mattri]

Build a CETME.

 

[jon308]

What is a CETME is it a proven battle rifle, Haven't heard that name before.

 

[jonbearman]

The cetme is a clone of the HK91 and the recivers to build them are all too soft and I highly advise not to buy one.The m1a is a robust rifle and exceeds the hk clones by a landslide.Instead of upgrading the looks,invest in spare parts should something break and the tools to service the weapon.The dpms is a great rifle and it shouldnt be dimished by other junk on the market. Your m1a if you own one is a tack driver compared to alot of battle rifles period.

 

[watercam]

I second the M1A. Decades of service (and still going), lots of parts available, gets the job done.

 

[jonbearman]

Every cetme I have ever seen had a sub par reciever that you couldnt mount the claw mount squarely to the top of the soft crappy receiver.If you had an original that would basically be a fair rifle.The m1a's shoot as good as any average bolt gun and better.It will save your life and they dont jam like some of the garbage out there like the chinese m1a's,now those are trash.

 

[jr600yd]

I can't vouch for the other rifles but having carried an M-14 in combat I can attest to its reliability. If it were me I'd go with the M-1A. My neighbor (OLD guy) swearers by the M-1.

 

[stool]

there is a SIGNIFICANT difference in an M14 and a M1A.......
m14;;;FORGED RECEIVER
m1a......CAST RECEIVER...........CAST.....
this is an issue...like it or not.

GO BACK TO THE AR10 platform and do not look back
( while the upper and lower are aluminum..the lugs are hardened steel)

more accurate out of the box with a match non-lined bbl....

been there done that,,,i own ar10

YOU CANNOT RECOVER FROM SHOT TO SHOT AS QUICK AS WITH AN AR15
you cannot carry as much ammo
the mags are smaller
the gun is heavier
in the field you will find ar15 ammo and very little 7.62x51

i do not believe there is ONE answer to the issue
ar10 where distance is involved, ar 15 for short distance and portability

 

[GerryM]

M1 A M14 both what you need proven around the world, superior gas system, reliable even in the mud { like a Garand}
Cetme is also good but not great like the M1 A or M 14 H a koch very good also but not as good as the 14.
Stamped receiver is not the most desirable in combat. Wood one piece stock is also a plus on the M1 A M14.
They are excellent in Hand to hand combat . You can knock out a guy or bash his brains in with a 14, not as easy with the others.
I would get one with the Wood stock.

 

[jonbearman]

Invest cast receivers are extremely strong and I have never had a problem in all the m1a's I have worked on.All rugers are invest cast along with alot of handgun frames.I realize that the new forged 4 lugs are the best but the standard m1a is fine and very accurate right out of the box.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have heard this argument before regarding cast parts. Lets hear the facts. Why is a cast receiver a problem? What is the data?

 

[M-61]

I have heard this argument before regarding cast parts. Lets hear the facts. Why is a cast receiver a problem? What is the data?

This could be very good in the answers. It should be a great morning read!

 

[Hoier]

I would ar15. It's lighter and ammo is lighter also. Like said before you'll be able to find it laying around if the shtf. And if you're gonna stock up on ammo I wouldn't go the fmj route, that's the downfall with the 223/5.56.

 

[jon308]

From what I understand you can have good in both cast and forged, or bad in either, what you don't want is a cast bolt. Springfield has a cast receiver but a forged bolt. And you don't want cast parts in your trigger group.

 

[abishai]

I would invest in a good shovel . Dig a hole and hide in it for a month . If you try to engage the threats that may arise , you will find yourself in a hole for a lot longer

 

[effendude]

YOU CANNOT RECOVER FROM SHOT TO SHOT AS QUICK AS WITH AN AR15
you cannot carry as much ammo
the mags are smaller
the gun is heavier
in the field you will find ar15 ammo and very little 7.62x51

i do not believe there is ONE answer to the issue
ar10 where distance is involved, ar 15 for short distance and portability

If the above information is a major part of the decision, then why not a Ruger 10/22? It fits all of the above criteria too. Accurate, quick recovery time, large capacity mags, ability to carry huge amounts of ammo, light weight. I am not trying to pick a fight, but I believe accurate firing is far more successful than quantity of firing. I remember years ago when some bank robbers with weapons and armor held off a bunch of police in California, I believe. The cops were so undergunned they went to a local gunshop and confiscated all they could grab. I recall watching the footage of the shootout on the news and thinking that I could have ended the shootout with two shots from my singleshot open sighted .22LR squirrel rifle. I forget the number of rounds fired, but it has a ridiculous amount. I have never been in combat (except my first marriage) and I am sure that large mags full of ammo is comforting when the shooting starts. I personally will take an accurate rifle over a less accurate semi-auto.

All that said, I will have my M1-A, AR-10's and AR-15's all loaded along with the .22 rimfires, shotguns, and archery equipment too.

Scott

 

[Medic505]

No FN-FAL yet? Millions in use all over the world.

 

[signut]

Hopefully it never gets to the " hitting the fan " aspect.
Are we talking " The Walking Dead '' or the urban riots when the food stamps stop.......wait, that will never happen. The people on food stamps and other government handouts will most likely outlast most of us. Our govt. does not want 50 million angry subjects roaming the streets. Look what happened when the E cards failed several months ago.
Get out of the big urban areas.

 

[jon308]

I think I will go for the M1A and build from there, Thanks for the advice

 

[mattri]

I was going to say AK but didn't want to ruffle too many feathers.