SHTF: 5.56 or bust?

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freedom

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gotcha (I'm too cheap for a decidated .22 upper for now); I tend to do a full clean after most shooting, but was honestly curious as to how much junk gets past the .22 conversion.

The .22 conversion shouldn't affect the chamber at all. The end of it replaces the chamber with basically a hollow .223 shell casing.

I have a cmmg dedicated upper and like it. You can build one fairly easily since the don't require a gas system.
 
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Hayata

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I need to put a scope on my 5.45 AR just to see what I can wring out of it with surplus ammo.

Right now I have a bump fire stock.

Never needed a bump fire stock on my Tantal though...
 
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EugenFJR

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Just my .02 worth.... I have shot my AR in a 3 gun comps, more then one time w/ the budget silver bear ammo...It sucks for accuracy... So much so, it key holed at 25 meters...I think there are budget builds that will work for you. In a rifle in 5.56... We need to get lunch, or meet Dobbs place again.
 
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AirOpsMgr

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The .22 conversion shouldn't affect the chamber at all. The end of it replaces the chamber with basically a hollow .223 shell casing.

I have a cmmg dedicated upper and like it. You can build one fairly easily since the don't require a gas system.
I just had never thought about crap getting back into the chamber up until this thread so I figured I'd ask. All I ever worried about was the barrel and gas chamber; I wasn't sure if the conversion kit end would allow enough space for gunk to to get back there. Sorry, just me thinking out loud
 

Bruce

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Who only has one gun? In a SHTF, they have proven they will confiscate what they catch you with (remember Katrina), so have backups and a dedicated do not touch until you have to, ammo supply in a remote well dug hole. To be honest, the AK is a more reliable weapon, with a better round, and with a folding stock it is easier to hide. As for repairs, AR stuff is everywhere.
 

DarthVader

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Who only has one gun? In a SHTF, they have proven they will confiscate what they catch you with (remember Katrina), so have backups and a dedicated do not touch until you have to, ammo supply in a remote well dug hole. To be honest, the AK is a more reliable weapon, with a better round, and with a folding stock it is easier to hide. As for repairs, AR stuff is everywhere.

1) What's your basis for the idea that the AK is more reliable? They do fail, just as a quality AR will run and run and run.

2) Better round is pretty subjective. If I can make 8/10 hits at 300 with an AR, but you only hit 5/10 with an AK, which is better? Obviously, the 762 hits harder, but the trajectory and sights suck. Only hits count in a defensive situation. To me, that's simply a matter of personal preference.

3) SBR / AR pistol negates the overall length issue vs a folding stock.
 
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Mac11FA

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AR all the way simply due to the platform and the ability to change calibers. Not a 5.56 fan, then get a 7n39 upper, etc. You can't do any of that with an AK.

People like to criticize the M11 platform. I chose it for FA due to the flexibility of the platform. It is very easy to change the upper and run 5.56 or 7.62 as well as .22 lr.

With an AR or the M11, I would deal with the same fire control group and no matter what caliber I am shooting. Try that with any other platform. You will never achieve 100% reliability so it is best to know your weapon systems inside and out and know what to do in a malfunction. This and always have a back-up weapon or 3.

Remember, all it takes to kill Zombies is a good blow to the head. Any 2 by 4 will do!
 

Laufen

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Somewhat.

I personally don't put too much stock in 5.56 being available post SHTF because it's common. Quite the opposite I think....you will have LEO and everyone else trying to secure as much of it as possible and won't be giving it away. Look at the availability of 5.56 after Sandyhook....and there wasn't even an emergency.
You'd better have everything you need before the shtf. Buying a caliber based on your perceived anticipation on it's availability post-problem, is just foolish.
"enough" is also pretty subjective, but I'll bet the number (quantity of ammo required) is much, much lower than people anticipate. If you're blowing through thousands of rounds, odds are you aren't going to be around very long. The person that makes it will probably do so with a few mags, being careful not to engage people, and staying hidden, quiet, and out of trouble.
 
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Shemp

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You'd better have everything you need before the shtf. Buying a caliber based on your perceived anticipation on it's availability post-problem, is just foolish.
"enough" is also pretty subjective, but I'll bet the number (quantity of ammo required) is much, much lower than people anticipate. If you're blowing through thousands of rounds, odds are you aren't going to be around very long. The person that makes it will probably do so with a few mags, being careful not to engage people, and staying hidden, quiet, and out of trouble.

Agreed. 1 tin of 7n6 is exactly 36 mags. Anything after the first 1-2 mags means that each mag afterwards exponentially heightens your chances of not making it to the next mag.
 
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Laufen

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Agreed. 1 tin of 7n6 is exactly 36 mags. Anything after the first 1-2 mags means that each mag afterwards exponentially heightens your chances of not making it to the next mag.
About 5 years ago I was on a bachelor part y trip and we went to a paintball war place. They had a city set up with houses, burned out cars, culverts and other obstacles spread out over a pretty large area. A friend of mine won the whole tournament firing a single paintball. He hung out in a car, didn't shoot at anyone, kept his head down and just waited until everything got quiet. He peeked up and saw a guy wandering through the middle of the field assuming he was the last man left. Jake shot him at 10 feet and won, lol. There's a lesson there.
 

Strider12

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About 5 years ago I was on a bachelor part y trip and we went to a paintball war place. They had a city set up with houses, burned out cars, culverts and other obstacles spread out over a pretty large area. A friend of mine won the whole tournament firing a single paintball. He hung out in a car, didn't shoot at anyone, kept his head down and just waited until everything got quiet. He peeked up and saw a guy wandering through the middle of the field assuming he was the last man left. Jake shot him at 10 feet and won, lol. There's a lesson there.
Sounds like a shitty bachelor's party.
 

Mac11FA

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Man I hate trying to post on my phone this sucks. I am using the voice speech to text whatever you want to call it and it works a little better than typing I still have a problem with some of the emoticons and stuff anyway cool.
 

sewerman68

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Tell him to buy a 30-30 and a good semi auto pistol. A used model '94 is cheap, ammo is easy to find and its one of the most underestimated cartridges in existence these days. It will do the job and he can get an AR later or pick one up off the ground after the shooting stops.