well, now that you're changing the subject from "urban sporting long guns" to the prepper topic, I will chime in and say I just whole heartedly agree!!!
A prepper should make sure they have something to cover basic self-defense (concealed carry hand gun and a suitable long arm for defending the home - and something effective for out to 300 meter engagement - if you don't have anything, consider an SKS - that Russian 7.62x39 is still pretty much available, the stripper clip loading system is actually very, very sensible and still plentiful to purchase too, and this Russian cartridge is about par with a 30-30 - though sports a pointy bullet instead of blunt).
But then should have a 22LR and and a decent air rifle. Buy pallets of 22LR (okay, at least several bricks) and 5 gallon buckets of pellets for the air rifle.
And if the SHTF and have to forage for small game, those air rifles will do a dandy job. Tons of rabbits running around. Clip one of them with an air gun. Lots of wild turkeys - take a head shot on one for the dinner table (air rifles can sport scopes too).
And from a prepper perspective, I'd then have a 30-30 lever gun. Well, hell, something in either .308 or 30-06 too (but maybe you don't live in elk/moose country) - as eventually going to get tired of eating rabbits.
Got my air rifle for taking out pest - spent little over $100 but it's a great value. Is a single shot, stroke, and came with a scope. You can spend crazy money on air rifles, but $100 vicinity will get a perfectly adequate prepper air rifle. (I really love scoped, single shot firearms of any kind.)
Good old SKS. I have a soviet one. This is the only gun I have that has never malfunctioned. Not once. Not a jam or anything. I feed it shitty Chinese ammo, and the dumb rifle just keeps firing. I swear I could put gravel in there and the stupid thing would still fire. I kept it as is. Initially I had ideas about optics and Tapco stock. But after a few trips to the range, I decided it was perfect the way it is, like uncle Stalin wanted it. It's never going to be anything but an SKS, but it's a good Commie gun.
The best is stripper clips with a mag. Like the FN or M-14. But since your average Commie conscript would lose or sell a mag, the built-in one is fine. If I were to be picky, I would say the SKS has too many parts. A bolt carrier, a gas piston that pushes on the bolt carrier rod, a spring in there too. And beware that SOB flying off if you field strip it. I suppose you are not to do that in the field in the dark. Probably supposed to get shot before you have to clean the rifle. Personally I think the M-14 has it right. A few big clunky parts and no tools needed.
well, now that you're changing the subject from "urban sporting long guns" to the prepper topic, I will chime in and say I just whole heartedly agree!!!
A prepper should make sure they have something to cover basic self-defense (concealed carry hand gun and a suitable long arm for defending the home - and something effective for out to 300 meter engagement - if you don't have anything, consider an SKS - that Russian 7.62x39 is still pretty much available, the stripper clip loading system is actually very, very sensible and still plentiful to purchase too, and this Russian cartridge is about par with a 30-30 - though sports a pointy bullet instead of blunt).
But then should have a 22LR and and a decent air rifle. Buy pallets of 22LR (okay, at least several bricks) and 5 gallon buckets of pellets for the air rifle.
And if the SHTF and have to forage for small game, those air rifles will do a dandy job. Tons of rabbits running around. Clip one of them with an air gun. Lots of wild turkeys - take a head shot on one for the dinner table (air rifles can sport scopes too).
And from a prepper perspective, I'd then have a 30-30 lever gun. Well, hell, something in either .308 or 30-06 too (but maybe you don't live in elk/moose country) - as eventually going to get tired of eating rabbits.
Got my air rifle for taking out pest - spent little over $100 but it's a great value. Is a single shot, stroke, and came with a scope. You can spend crazy money on air rifles, but $100 vicinity will get a perfectly adequate prepper air rifle. (I really love scoped, single shot firearms of any kind.)
Good old SKS. I have a soviet one. This is the only gun I have that has never malfunctioned. Not once. Not a jam or anything. I feed it shitty Chinese ammo, and the dumb rifle just keeps firing. I swear I could put gravel in there and the stupid thing would still fire. I kept it as is. Initially I had ideas about optics and Tapco stock. But after a few trips to the range, I decided it was perfect the way it is, like uncle Stalin wanted it. It's never going to be anything but an SKS, but it's a good Commie gun.
The SKS is one of the few things those old school commies got right
I actually kind of like its stripper clip approach too - AK 30rd mags are kind of bulky and heavy
And you're right, it's pretty much a waste of time to customize the SKS with after market do-dads. It really is much better to be left just as it is
The best is stripper clips with a mag. Like the FN or M-14. But since your average Commie conscript would lose or sell a mag, the built-in one is fine. If I were to be picky, I would say the SKS has too many parts. A bolt carrier, a gas piston that pushes on the bolt carrier rod, a spring in there too. And beware that SOB flying off if you field strip it. I suppose you are not to do that in the field in the dark. Probably supposed to get shot before you have to clean the rifle. Personally I think the M-14 has it right. A few big clunky parts and no tools needed.
Well, I don't think I could field strip the M16 in the dark either, but did get pretty quick at in regular light