Try a FAL with the stock folded...I just had a thought that maybe a FAL would work good for a Indiana SHTF rifle.
It can shoot out to 500yds or farther with open sights.
With the paratrooper version (folding stock) it should be short enough to do a little house clearing. The 7.62x51 NATO (.308) round is plenty heavy enough to take any game in Indiana. It has been in service since 1954 so there are surplus parts out there. Ammo is plentiful just a little on the expensive side. Mags run about $20 ea. (20rd)
Most I have found are right around 1K, remember you get what you pay for.
I would stay away from the Century Arms FALs I have been told they are not very reliable.
http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=GDPCT-7lL4Tq6gG189yeCg&ved=0CHYQ8wIwAQ
FN FAL - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And the best thing it is not an AK or AR!
My first choice would be the CZ 527 Carbine.
I've been in the market for a good SHTF rifle, I never considered a lever action, that's a nice Marlin , I looked it up on Marlin's website but I can't find the stock used in that photo. Do you know where I can get it? As well as that optics mount? I'm seriously considering get a Marlin 336 BL....Marlin 336BL
Slap a forward rail on it and mount a used aimpoint M2.
It'll do anything that 99.9% of shooters are capable of, even if it ain't pretty. Trust me when I say it's a hell of a fast shooting platform with accuracy to spare, and nobody will argue the effectiveness and availability of the 30-30.
Similar but a little more pricey to do. IMO it's drop dead beautiful.
When I have some more income I plan on doing a a shortened 45-70 SHTF rifle. I would go 30-30 but I can't be arsed with loading a rifle caliber yet, I have some weird fear of loading anything bottle necked.
In all honesty, I'd prefer a platform like this to anything offered in the tactical market. A self contained system, such as wheel guns and lever guns will be much better in a situation where you don't have much support behind you, plus you'll never need to worry about the laws leading up to then. Regardless what anyone says, a self contained system has its merits.
I would also consider a Mosin. Ammo is relatively available, decent stopping power for hunting and self defense. Some people would consider the Bolt action a negative, but if you know what you're doing, you'll take the first shot
Taking the first shot is not the easiest thing to accomplish...I would also consider a Mosin. Ammo is relatively available, decent stopping power for hunting and self defense. Some people would consider the Bolt action a negative, but if you know what you're doing, you'll take the first shot