SHTF: 5.56 or bust?

[Shemp]

For a poor man, one-gun operation, is choosing anything other than a 5.56 AR pure idiocy? Or do you think another caliber with sufficient stockpiles of ammo would be ok?

I have a friend in the Reserve that was asking about what to get for his first rifle and he does have a SHTF mindset, albeit in the back of his mind. I was about to tell him AK74 then realized that when you get down to brass tacks, as much as I hate to admit it, a "me too" tacticool AR might really be the best choice.

Thoughts?

 

[Willy Leadwell]

What can you do with one that you can't do with the other? He's probably pretty familiar with the AR platform, so I'd say stick with that if 'both' is not an option.

 

[Shemp]

What can you do with one that you can't do with the other? He's probably pretty familiar with the AR platform, so I'd say stick with that if 'both' is not an option.

Can't shoot an AK74 at most indoor ranges. You can get 7.62x39 in range/legal flavors but it is expensive and cost prohibitive.

His familiarity of with the AR is limited to boot camp and one qualifying shoot once he got to the unit....otherwise he is gun illiterate.

Like it or not a well built AK will be far less maintenance and cleaning intensive than an AR over its service life, but the AR is far more common. The ability to be able to go to any rifle range and shoot is a huge plus....with an AK you are limited to private ranges on land unless you can stomach the cost of copper jacket ammo...

 

[Willy Leadwell]

Can't shoot an AK74 at most indoor ranges. You can get 7.62x39 in range/legal flavors but it is expensive and cost prohibitive.

His familiarity of with the AR is limited to boot camp and one qualifying shoot once he got to the unit....otherwise he is gun illiterate.

Like it or not a well built AK will be far less maintenance and cleaning intensive than an AR over its service life, but the AR is far more common. The ability to be able to go to any rifle range and shoot is a huge plus....with an AK you are limited to private ranges on land unless you can stomach the cost of copper jacket ammo...

That's why I fall into the "both" category.
I can't comprehend the idea of just having one rifle and being ok with that, but most of the people I know outside of this community are.

And I never knew that about the ranges. Bullseye has never had a problem with it.

 

[FatAlbert]

For SHTF on a budget a $500-$700 AK is a better option than a $500-$700 cheap AR in my opinion.

 

[Shemp]

That's why I fall into the "both" category.
I can't comprehend the idea of just having one rifle and being ok with that, but most of the people I know outside of this community are.

And I never knew that about the ranges. Bullseye has never had a problem with it.

Sometimes it's not a choice.....sometimes $1000 is all someone can spare to buy a rifle, mags, and ammo and still put food on the table. I can sympathize. Buying something you won't use often for a remote possibility when bills need to be paid is difficult to explain to you wife...


As for ranges, there is not a single indoor, non-club range within an hour of me that lets steel jacket ammo in.

 

[Hayata]

Is the concern being able to scrounge ammo after the apocalypse?

 

[Shemp]

For SHTF on a budget a $500-$700 AK is a better option than a $500-$700 cheap AR in my opinion.

I know a few people that can get him a Colt 6920 complete upper and a decent lower for around $600.

 

[Hayata]

Sometimes it's not a choice.....sometimes $1000 is all someone can spare to buy a rifle, mags, and ammo and still put food on the table. I can sympathize. Buying something you won't use often for a remote possibility when bills need to be paid is difficult to explain to you wife...


As for ranges, there is not a single indoor, non-club range within an hour of me that lets steel jacket ammo in.

Do you live an hour away from Sandy Springs Gun Club? It's an indoor public range and they allow all ammo. Well, no incendiary, but you know...

 

[Shemp]

Is the concern being able to scrounge ammo after the apocalypse?

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.

 

[Shemp]

Do you live an hour away from Sandy Springs Gun Club? It's an indoor public range and they allow all ammo. Well, no incendiary, but you know...

Northern Kennesaw...so 55 mins if the roads are wide open

 

[FatAlbert]

I know a few people that can get him a Colt 6920 complete upper and a decent lower for around $600.

That would be good. I got a $600 PSA that I got a lot of faith in and if things went south it would probably be my primary weapon, but if I didn't also have a AK or 2 I would probably be selling the AR and getting one. That's just me.

 

[Shemp]

That would be good. I got a $600 PSA that I got a lot of faith in and if things went south it would probably be my primary weapon, but if I didn't also have a AK or 2 I would probably be selling the AR and getting one. That's just me.

I'm personally torn between the two...well between an AR and my Arsenal SLR104 AK105 clone. If I had to pick one and only one I lean towards my AK105....but at the same time ARS are just so damn everywhere it's hard to ignore that.

 

[Willy Leadwell]

For SHTF on a budget a $500-$700 AK is a better option than a $500-$700 cheap AR in my opinion.

I would agree with that.

 

[Willy Leadwell]

Do you live an hour away from Sandy Springs Gun Club? It's an indoor public range and they allow all ammo. Well, no incendiary, but you know...

I went in there once & I would never go back.

 

[Shemp]

I went in there once & I would never go back.

Why? I've been to the parking lot twice for deals but never went in....

 

[Willy Leadwell]

Why? I've been to the parking lot twice for deals but never went in....

Country club attitudes & high prices.

 

[Shemp]

Country club attitudes & high prices.

Perfect place to shoot an AK then lol

 

[Shemp]

I must admit I figured this thread would be solidly in AR favor.

 

[Willy Leadwell]

I must admit I figured this thread would be solidly in AR favor.

That's because you've been on ODT for so long.