Reliable semi-auto rifle???

[Axle]

I am trying to find a good semi-auto rifle for home defense and to take to the range but I dont have too much experience with guns. Ive considered Ar-15's and Ak's but there are so many California restrictions including the 10 round mag limit that make me question buying one of those. Right now im leaning toward buying an M1 Garand but still not too sure about it. The most important thing to me is the reliability of the gun because I plan to have if for the rest of my life and who knows whats going to happen in the next 60 years. Appreciate any help.

[cwi555]

I am trying to find a good semi-auto rifle for home defense and to take to the range but I dont have too much experience with guns. Ive considered Ar-15's and Ak's but there are so many California restrictions including the 10 round mag limit that make me question buying one of those. Right now im leaning toward buying an M1 Garand but still not too sure about it. The most important thing to me is the reliability of the gun because I plan to have if for the rest of my life and who knows whats going to happen in the next 60 years. Appreciate any help.

My first advice would be to get out of commiefornia. You will not have that gun the rest of your life otherwise.

However; for home defense, you don't have to have a semi auto.
The gun in hand and well practiced with is better than the fancy 2K rifle that sits in the safe.

Lever actions will be some of the last to go. If you must stay in commiefornia, then buy a lever and forget the semiauto's. While your at it, buy a lever action that you also buy a wheel gun for. I.E. 44 magnum lever, and a 44 magnum pistol.

Both will carry you out to 100 yards or further, both can take 44 special, and both will drop a man or beast with one shot.

Add to that a .22 pistol and rifle from the same manufacture as your larger bore variants.

Finally a 12 gauge side by side bird gun. In a SHTF scenerio, it's nothing to relieve it of it's extra barrel length.

My opinion for what it's worth.

[Axle]

Im only 18 so i wont be able to leave this state for a while. I already have a semi auto 22lr hand gun, 2 357 magnums, a 38, 2 bolt action 22's, a lever action 45-70 and 2 shotguns and had alot of practice with them, just not knowledgeable with semi auto rifles

[cwi555]

Being 18, your young enough to get started right before you find yourself bogged down.
Given your states restrictions, I would suggest the following:

M1 garand in 308. 308 is far more common.

[cwconnertx]

I suggest the M1 Garand as well,

30-06 is the original chambering and will be cheaper to acquire.
308 is great but I think the extra acquisition cost won't be worth it.

[Centurion]

See whats available and if possible,I would also suggest the M1 Garand it is very reliable

[prkchp76]

yes but hold on

Being 18, your young enough to get started right before you find yourself bogged down.
Given your states restrictions, I would suggest the following:

M1 garand in 308. 308 is far more common.

308 is great but i see 30/06 everywhere now not so with 308 i'm not saying it aint out there ,but 06 is much more aquireable now to the subject at hand you do not need a semi auto rifle for in home defense in most cases a family member may be in the other room it is more suited for long range just m.o.p

[cwi555]

Some surplus 06 has hit the market, but it's old. I stand by the 308 as it's currently being produced in far greater numbers than 06.
If a man is 18, by the time they are 50, what surplus if any will be available then?
The 06 in 32 years will likely be 75-80 years old except for current production hunting rounds. It's rare among the current service weapons, and in general for long term planing is a bad choice.
308 surplus will be and is currently available. The current 308 craze in AR's etc will assure it's available for some time.

In a SHTF scenerio, 308 is still a fairly common service round. Therefore the better choice.

For home defense, Neither is a good choice unless you live on a ranch and your nearest neighbor is 2 miles away, or if you have other people in your home.

[prkchp76]

wow thats observant was in sevierville yesterday no 308 yes i understand what you are saying but 06 is still much more plentifull is still used by our military and will continue to be used the 308 is a nato round that is yes had some recent popularity but there is quite alot more 06 for the simple fact its reliable and it works

[cwi555]

wow thats observant was in sevierville yesterday no 308 yes i understand what you are saying but 06 is still much more plentifull is still used by our military and will continue to be used the 308 is a nato round that is yes had some recent popularity but there is quite alot more 06 for the simple fact its reliable and it works

There is more 308 in the world than 06. Thats a fact. The rare cases where the 06 is used by the military do not make up for the short fall of rounds.

I don't try to dissuade anyone normally, but if your under the impression 06 is more plentiful, then I would advise you do some research.

Being out of any caliber in one location is not a mark of whats available. Nor is it a good mark to take the current hoarding environment to mean there is no 308 out there. It is that very hoarding mentality that is making it an assurety to be there.

That you can find 06 "at the moment" is not a good sign at all. It means less people are hoarding it, so the disparity appears greater when looking at 06 to 308.

To each their own. My money and effort is in the 308. (have you checked the CMP web sites lately??)
http://www.thecmp.org/ammosales.htm

[prkchp76]

cwi i wish you well my friend i am not trying to piss on anyones cheerios i was going on a five state trip these past two weeks and yes i found some 308 but when the stores close and we are on our own If that ever happens it will be more probale to find 12 gauge 9 mm 22 lr 556/223 and 30/06 for a couple of simple reasons those are americas round they are more plentiful here than anywhere else the states i traveled through and made sure to stop at gun stores and commie marts are georgia tennessee north carolina south carolina and florida my finding were some 308 plentifull 06 minimal 223 buckshot and the other odder calibers such as 300 270 260 brittish 303 and the likes were scarse as well as the majority of 380 yes i understand the hoardind you are speakin of,but they are not making alot of 308 simply because it is not as popular a caliber i hope and wish you well with your 308 findings and just to simplfy this discussion get a 223 and be done with it

[avking]

06 or 308 would not be a good home defense round, as you stated you were looking for. 5.56 or .223 should be the preferred home defense round. I have seen a couple shows and we even did some tests ourselves, and the 5.56 will only penetrate and go through one interior wall. The next wall has no penetration, so it is safer for you, the family and the neighbors. Some types of 5.56 ammo may penetrate more, but the three brands we tested did not. So, you can shoot a bad guy hiding behind a wall or door, but not the neighbor by accident.

For our test, we duplicated what we saw on TV. Drywall, framing, insulation then drywall. Built 4' x 4' sections. Placed five sections at 10' intervals, in line. Shot 45acp, 9mm, 5.56, 40sw, 308, 300 win mag, 12ga shot, 12ga slug and 12ga OO. It was a very good learning experience and did not cost anything using scrap wood and drywall.

9mm, 40sw, 5.56, 12ga shot and 12ga OO did not penetrate all the way through the five mock walls. 9mm, 5.56 & 12ga shot only penetrated one wall.

All shooting was done from 2 yards and 7 yards. Those two distances made no difference in the test results.

[prkchp76]

thxs viking our little heated discussion was over the easy accessabilty of 308 over 06 so to let him have his momenty i just switched calibers all together but yes i agree 556 or #8 birdshot all day long

[kenno]

Read "The Shotgun in Combat" a bit dated, but the home defense penetration tests are thurough

[Truesonofliberty]

cwi555

I would agree that .308 being a NATO round that there is probably more of it world wide. But do you think there is more of it in the hands of private citizens than 30.06?

I mean nearly everyone I know has an old 30.06 for deer or elk hunting.

I mean if the SHTF and you are bartering or looking for ammo in the suburbs or such do you really think you will be more likely to find .308 ammo?

Just a question.