What Do You Own for Your Protection Rifle

[Rapier]

Thread Deleted

[270man]

Rapier & others, this is a great topic and one where I've spent many hours discussing and debating the subject with a good friend. Our subject was a "truck rifle" - one that we would carry in our vehicles for protection, targets of opportunity and of course protection from both 4- and 2-legged varmints.

There are thousands of crisis scenarios and one can't really prepare for all of them. I am probably not at all prepared for an armed insurrection with multiple BGs assaulting my home. For home protection in case of the common break-in, I prefer shotguns and handguns.

For vehicle weapons, my friend preferred a bolt action rifle in one of the 30 calibers. He wanted an older, low-cost weapon that would be effective but wouldn't break his heart if someone stole it. This could also substitute for a hunting rifle if his primary rifle went out of action. He was more interested in single-round power as opposed to rapid-fire capability.

I'm still not sure what is best, but a Ruger Mini-14 or AR-15 would be powerful enough for 2-legged predators at a reasonable range -- and rapid fire at close range. I've also think my old Marlin 336 lever action in 30-30 should do an adequate job. Will be interesting to hear opinions and comments from others.

270man

[Rapier]

270,
This was to be a poll post but could not get it to work right so when I tried to delete the post, I could not get it to delete so I could start again. I guess you can delete an interior message but not the original post for a new thread.

I also did not want folks to read this as a reveal your guns type of thread so tried to alter the heading to What Would You Own, that did not work either.

As you have noted there are various levels of need, from home to vehicle to urban to rural, etc. I will see if I can repost this correctly today.
Sorry guys,
Ed

[Tater]

Since I live in an apartment I just stick with my Taurus .40 at home and on road trips. In camp I keep a 12g close; mix-loaded with 00 buck and slugs. I would like to get an M4 for all around use but I gotta wait till I get my taxes back

[huntingvet]

I just recently bought my first AR 15 (Colt M4) and haven't yet had a chance to take it out for a spin. Also own a Mini 14 and Mini 30. But, hands down the most fun to shoot and my go to if given the chance would be my dad's .30 Carbine. Puts the lead out there quick, puts it where pointed and reloads very easily. Has never failed when out plinking and having fun.

[Rapier]

There are several sites on the web that will give you tips on tuning up the Mini. You can do so for little out of pocket and get to an AR class of accuracy. The thing about the mini is that as a copy of the M-14 / Garand system it is a very reliable platform to start with. Get the Mini to shoot MOA and it becomes a real bad hombre. Oh, the 30 is a .308 not a .311 if you did not know, so you have a wide choices of bullet weights for it.

Do not trust your life to an M-1 Carbine. Its failures as a man stopper are legendary both in Europe and in the Pacific during WWII and then again in Korea. Many if not most of the front line troops issue carbines ended up decorating rivers, creeks and swamps, replaced by Garands and Thompsons.
Ed

[Skinny Shooter]

Not sure how I missed this thread.

For the woods, a lever action in 45-70.
For everything else, an M4.