Some outside the box defensive rifle options

[GatorFarmer]

ARs and their ammo/mags are getting to be a bit of a problem to find. Other semi auto rifles are in the same category. So I thought it might be worth considering some alternates in case someone needs a rifle and is not able to find an AR.

The first thing that came to mind - I thought about getting one if I sold my ARs was a Ruger Scout. But.... it seems that 308 ammunition is also becoming a problem. Plus a scout is expensive. So what does that leave?

Option one - a pre 1899 Krag sporter ought run around $350. In most states it will ship to your door without needing an FFL. Sportsmanguide has the ammo for about a dollar fifty a round. That is starting to compare favorably to 5.56 prices... Krags are quick to load and easy to top off. They were among the original proto-forms of scout that Jeff Cooper experimented with. The round is more powerful than most think having taken all North American game animals.

Option two - Enfield sporters in 303 Brit are cheaper than military configuaration rifles. There is no run on ammo yet and the ammo is cheaper and more widely had than Krag ammo. For a bolt action they are fast and hold ten rounds. The mags can be loaded with strippers. Most pawn shops seem to have one lurking somewhere.

Option three - Carcano carbines and sporters in 6.5 mm are inexpensive and unlived. They are solid rifles though and Prvi has made the ammo available and inexpensive. You will need enbloc clips though.

 

[Gunslinger808]

A good lever action in .44 or .357.

 

[VMaxSplat]

The Scout would be fun, but as you say, there's no ammo available now. I am interested in the Scout as an all around hunting/target shooting rifle. I wish Ruger would chamber it in 7-08 and 243. That would help with the ammo problem, though Cooper wouldn't approve if he was still around.

 

[Smith357]

The Remington 760 or 742 are common and often under $300.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Remington 7615
Pump action .223 on the 870 platform.

 

[perrazi]

plain old lever 30-30. ammo available and usually reasonable. if you reload it is cheap to load with cast bullets.

 

[feralmerril]

Here is a couple I have. First you can find a pump remington cheap. They are light, accurate and fast. You can get extra clips. Mine is in 30-06. I just have a peep on mine, you could put on a scope.
Secound is a bar in 30-06. The same can be said as for the 740, but they are heavier and more costly.
My 3rd choice is a winchester 88 in 308. Again, fast, accurate and powerfull. Picture doesnt show it but I have it scoped.
A pet of mine is a 357 in a rossi. Has possibilitys with a matching revolver. Also have a brrowning 92 in .44 mag.
Then I have a winchester 94 in 30-30. Have a peep on it and I have owned it for almost 55 years. I should be used to it. I dont own a "assult" gun. I havent even got into my bolts yet, but I dont think I am hurting.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Rifles in 7.62x54R are pretty common and affordable. The ammo is in the 30-06/308 power class, They are durable and "Privite proof". I agree that the British 303's are great guns, especially the "Jungle Carbine", which is pretty much the last bolt action main battle rifle introduced by a major power. It and the SMLE's are a little more money thay the Russians, with ammo again in the 308/30-06 class. I have one of the last model Martini's in 303 also, and have loaded it with 3f black powder (Around 40 grains-use a drop tube! and a heavy bullet, If possible cast a 200 to 220 grain round nose w/gas check). Early model 303's have Metford Rifleing (roundish cut lands and groves) to use Black powder and jacketed bullets. Many millions of rounds were reloaded with BP in the British Empire, as cordite is difficult to reload with and hard to come by even in the old days. And with smokeless there are lots of diffent powders that work well IMR 4350 and 3031 come to mind but lots of others will work, use bullets of .311 to .313 diameter in both 303 Brit and 7.62x54R Russian. Model 1895 Winchester military contract rifles were made in both the British and Russian chamberings, and use the .311-.303 bullets. The Mosin-Nagets made by Westinghouse and Finnish models were made with .308 bores, but can use either diameter bullets.

 

[feralmerril]

Heck, here is the bolts too.
First, a old winchester 70 in 300 H&H for long range snipeing, then a browning safari in .308 and then a ruger 77 in 7X57. Dont need no cool looking assult guns.

 

[Grayfox]

M1 Carbine
Mags are cheap and ammo is still avalible.

 

[HotRoderX]

Mosin Nagant I would not feel under gunned and practice makes perfect not to mention ammo is cheap and plentiful.

The other rifle I could think of is a Ruger 77/357 its bolt action 5 round mag of 357 magnum is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[J. W.]

While there are a lot of very viable "outside the box" options, there are few chores around the old homestead that can't be handled with a good lever gun. I'd think one of the .44 mag variety loaded with some flavor of "light" 180-200g JHP would make for a very effective fight stopper.


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[feralmerril]

Most anything will work. Here is another I have but I wouldnt want to carry it far. It`s a .270 done up on a mauser supream commercial action.

 

[mc5aw]

I'd go with a nice SKS if I could locate one in VG condition.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

I think the lever guns would be considered assault rifles of their time period.

I've told young "tacticool" guys that and gotten blank looks.

Very few have seen me shoot a lever gun or any of my Smith magnums.

 

[quneur]

The question is somewhat restricting. A defensive rifle should be able to throw a lot of lead and should handle easily or be in a caliber strong enough to penetrate most common materials like wood.

In tight quarters like a house and with limited capacity, a rifle would not be my first choice. A shotgun first and handgun second then a rifle. It wouldn't have to accurate just be able to fire continuously and quickly. My choices would be Rem 760, Savage 99, etc. Bolt action would be my last choice.

If the problem is out on the property then any rifle able to hit a plate size target at 100 yards would do like a lever action 30/30. If the person(s) is firing back, the first thing I would do is to try to find a way out of there.

 

[walnutred]

I bought a Mosin Nagant Type 53 carbine when they were on sale recently. Handy size, reliable design and relatively cheap ammo. There is a gun shop in my area that for the last 3 years has been selling a Mosin Nagant package deal. An arsenal rebuilt Mosin Nagant 91/30 and a spam can of 440 rounds of ammo for $199. Based on the number of Mosins I see at the range a lot of people are buying them.

 

[H Richard]

Just about anything you would use for whitetail deer would suffice. A .243 with 100 gr will do the trick, and out to several hundred yards.

 

[desi2358]

A 30/30 is an excellent choice caliber wise. Winchesters and marlins are widely available, very reliable and sufficiently accurate for most needs. Surplus military bolt actions are a good option though some calibers can be hard to find at times. Brit 303's are excellent rifles and the old Mosin's are good shooters and virtually fool proof. 7.62X54R is also widely available and still cheap.

Really, any good rifle that you have ammo for and can shoot well enough to hit your target would do in a pinch.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Let's be realistic here. If a good lever action with a decent supply of ammo can't protect you and yours then it's likely more the shooter's problem than the gun...