Being prepared for a survival situation implies more than thinking about food, water and shelter. Any well prepared survivalist knows that self defense is a very important aspect of, well, staying alive and safe. That’s why today we’re going to discuss why you need to learn self defense techniques and why it’s very important to choose your self defense weapon really carefully.
Most of you may think “I have a knife, a machete and an axe, what other weapons do I need?” Yes, knives and axes make great weapons but they are also tools that you need for as long as possible. A gun’s only purpose is self defense and you can intimidate and incapacitate an attacker from the distance without having to engage in a close body confrontation.
Now, that we’ve learned the purpose of a self defense weapon it’s time to discuss which ones to choose. Do we go with a simple pistol or we choose a machine gun? History showed that the best self defense weapon in case of a survival situation is the assault rifle. It’s an all-purpose firearm that proved to be perfect for various combat and self defense situations. The only problem is that there are almost endless options and you need to choose the best assault rifle for your needs.
Its versatility and diversity is actually what makes the assault rifle to be such a great weapon and, finding the one you need is a more a personal choice given the fact that each model has tactical aftermarket parts that can be added later.
If you’re a beginner when it comes to guns, you’ll have a difficult time until you find the riffle that’s best for you. You can always ask advice from a professional which is actually recommended, but you can also read more and educate yourself in the area. In order to make your life easier, we put together a few tips to help you find the best assault rifle for you:
- If you’ve just been introduced to shooting and you need something to learn with, look for a small caliber rifle. A .22 caliber rifle is great for beginners and it fits in a small budget. There’s no point in investing money in this from the start because it will take a while to find the rifle that you feel comfortable with;
- Choose a rifle that’s simple to use and easy to maintain. In order to become a better shooter you have to practice a lot and this won’t happen if you spend more than half of your practice time taking care of your gun;
- Know what you’re going to use the rifle for. A rifle can be used for both hunting and self defense which in a survival situation makes it the perfect weapon. Still, if you want to go hunting, you need to know what you’re going to hunt. There’s an old saying that goes something like this “.30 is a squirrel gun, .40 is a rabbit gun, .50 is a deer gun and .60 is a bear gun”. The measuring may not be as accurate today, but the idea is the same. Big caliber rifles are not recommended to beginners though. Better start small.
- Take your budget into consideration – actually, this should be the second step after you establish your level of experience. You can dream at a super rifle like the AR-15 but if your budget doesn’t allow it, you’ll have to make peace with this and choose the best one you can afford.
- Ammunition availability is an important factor to consider, especially when you’re facing an end of the world scenario. You need to have access to as much ammunition as possible because without it all you have is an expensive club.
Storage and transportation are also important when you consider making a purchase. Before you decide, make sure that your rifle comes in a durable carrying case made of high-quality fabrics. If you want to buy the rifle without a case it’s best to consider buying one separately. Especially in a survival situation, having a durable case like the Condor Rifle Case is paramount.
A FEW WORDS OF CAUTION
Owing a gun and not being prepared for this can lead to a disastrous situation. As a gun owner you have to understand that your responsibility towards others increases to a whole other level.
You need to be in control of your emotions and capable to understand that a gun doesn’t give you power over other beings. You also need to know how to calmly assess a violent situation and when to introduce the gun in the equation.
If you’re facing a big, wild animal that feels threaten by your presence a rifle will prove its efficiency. Still, you need to be able to keep your calm and wait until you can take the decisive shot that will save your life. If you’re not able to correctly assess the situation and start shooting at random, you’ll only anger your opponent which can never end well.
Regardless of the fact that you are in a survival situation or a self defense situation, the gun should be used (against another human being) only as a last resort. It’s great for hunting in order to keep you and your family fed and it’s really good to have around for self defense but you also need to know when to use it.
If you’re a beginner, you have to practice shooting a lot so, when the time comes, you can shoot directly at your target, without hurting anyone else around. Owning and using a gun will make you a better person who’s more in control of their actions and thoughts but only if used properly and with training.
THE BEST ASSAULT RIFLE ACCORDING TO BUDGET
Moving forward, it’s time to discuss a few popular assault rifles and see what makes them so wanted. As we discussed earlier, after you know your experience level, you need to know how much you want to invest in a rifle. Let’s see if any of these rifles make your budget.
THE AR-15 – VERSATILITY AND SPEED
This is one of the best assault rifles in America and its popularity is mainly due to the fact that the owner can customize it after his or her licking. The base platform is a combination between the military M16 and MA14 platforms and it’s widely used by law enforcement organs and US soldier in combat situations.
You need to be extremely careful and well informed when choosing an AR-15 rifle as there is a wide variety of models on the market with notable differences in quality and versatility. If you don’t know enough to make the difference between models and understand why one is cheaper than the other then you should better ask advice from a specialist.
Remember one rule of thumb: in guns (as anything that is of quality in life) quality doesn’t come cheap. Before striking a deal on a cheap AR think if you really want a cheap rifle in your hands when facing a life or death situation.
The AR-15 platform for military rifles has been in use for a long time and it was tested and improved during this period. The ammunition used for this rifle is the 5.56 NATO caliber but the gun is capable of firing other calibers if the upper receiver is changed. You can fire calibers such as the 300 Blackout or the .458 SOCOM by simply purchasing the complete barreled upper receivers.
One of the greatest strong points of the AR-15 is the possibility of rapid fire without compromising accuracy, which makes it so great in the battle field. The 5.56 round offers high velocity due to the small caliber. Also the 5.56 is lighter than bigger caliber bullets so it’s easier to carry in larger quantities which makes it the ideal ammunition in a survival situation.
Don’t expect to put a bear down with this rifle but you can inflict enough damage as to get out alive. In our opinion, it’s one of the best guns to use for self defense in a survival scenario. The price may be a problem though, as you can’t find a decent AR-15 under $1000.
Even so, you’ll only be able to buy the very basic system without any cool gadgets. Anyways, this is an investment that will be with you for life if you take care of it so maybe you consider saving some more before doing the purchase. Remember that you have endless upgrading possibilities so, in time, you can actually own a pretty bad ass rifle.
However, you should also keep in mind the fact that the AR-15 has multiple intricate parts that require intensive maintenance. This asks for an advanced cleaning kit that can be easily carried around even when you have to travel light.
THE AK47 – DURABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY
We all have heard of the great AK47 and its unique shape makes it very easy to recognize wherever in the entire world. The main feature that actually made this rifle so popular is durability. This gun will withstand years of use and abuse and still work under any conditions and combat scenario.
According to actual users you can drop this rifle in a well pit, hold it under water, drag it through mud and then drive it over with a tank and it will still work. The story may seem a little bit stretched here, given the fact that this model was built 60 years ago and technology evolved a lot since then. If we think about it, no modern weapon can withstand the same abuse and still be OK with it. Well, the AK47 is special and its creator a genius. Back then, they actually needed a gun that won’t fall apart under bad terrain conditions and the AK47 was the end result.
When it comes to accuracy, the rifle is not the first you’d think at but it compensates with a 30 round magazine. The idea is that out of 30 shots, at least one is bound to reach its target.
If you’ve never seen an AK47 in real life you may be a bit disappointed by the simple, minimalistic design. Also it doesn’t have any cool accessories that can make it look more bad ass. You have to keep in mind that the gun was not made to look cool but to function under the most difficult conditions; job that it does successfully. Actually, it’s because of the simple design the AK47 works so well under difficult conditions. It doesn’t have intricate parts that need intensive maintenance like the AR-15 we discussed earlier.
The ammunition is very common and given the fact that these rifles are used all over the world it won’t be hard to find it in case of a survival situation. You can buy a basic AK47 for about $500 which makes it pretty affordable in comparison with the AR-15. Still, you need to be more careful when purchasing this rifle because there are many low quality models on the market. If you’re new at this ask for advice from someone who knows the AK47 very well.
If you don’t feel comfortable with having a real AK47 or you can’t find it on the market, you can always and AEG that copies the AK. The AK47 Airsoft Electric Rifle will not be as useful as the real thing in a combat with live ammunition, but it will be great when you’re trying to fend off enemies without weapons.
THE RUGER 10/22 – GREAT FOR BEGINNERS
This is a quality Long Rifle perfect for new and young shooters. The .22 caliber ammunition makes this the best civilian assault rifle for learning to shoot because it doesn’t provide any recoil and you can hit the target from a distance of 100 yards with 100% precision. Professional shooters may dismiss the Ruger as they consider it to be a gun for kids but if you’re a beginner, don’t be so hasty to move forward.
The Ruger is great as a first survival weapon as you will be able to practice without worrying too much about ammunition or recoil. So, if you’re in practice mode, this rifle and a set of silhouette targets should be your starter pack.
It’s true that the small caliber makes professional recommend this gun only for squirrel and rabbit hunting but it will keep you alive in a doomsday scenario. The accuracy compensates a lot for the small caliber and there are a lot of possibilities to customize it. A simple online search will show you that there are many tactical aftermarket parts so you can transform your Ruger in the coolest rifle ever.
One of the smashing pros of this amazing rifle is the ammunition. The .22 caliber ammunition is very common and you can find it everywhere you go. Another important aspect that makes this the perfect rifle to have in a zombie apocalypse is the fact that it’s really quiet (compared to other firearms). With this rifle you’ll be able to make your way through the enemy camp without waking up too many people (or zombies).
If you need even more convincing you should know that the Ruger is light and very easy to carry in a survival scenario. Also it is very easy to maintain and clean and very affordable. The basic model is around $400 and you can customize it as you like afterwards.
THE HENRY ARMS AR-7 – THE ACTUAL SURVIVAL RIFLE
The first time the term “survival rifle” was ever used was to define a light, compact, reliable and accurate weapon that had the advantage of being collapsible. This type of rifle was destined to protect the life of pilots that had the bad luck of crashing on enemy territory – from here the survival term.
Meanwhile, the survivalists showed up and the term survival rifle was extended over other types of rifles like the ones we already discussed. Basically, today, a survival rifle is the rifle you put in your go bag to use when the world goes crazy and the apocalypse starts.
Returning to the current subject, the AR-7 is a collapsible riffle, with two barrels that shoots both .22 long rifle caliber and .410 shotgun rounds. It is the ideal survival rifle as it is very easy to conceal in your bag when broken down. Sure you’ll have to put it together when you want to use it which it doesn’t make it a good self defense weapon in case of a surprise attack but it’s great to have as a back-up weapon.
The ammunition is very common and light to carry which adds to the rifle’s value in a survival situation when you need as much ammunition as possible. Also, due to the small caliber, this is not a gun for hunting bears, but in apocalyptical times we don’t really recommend going bear hunting. Smaller animals like rabbits and squirrels are more appropriate for a protein packed dinner and the AR-7 will definitely provide in this case.
Well, these are among the best civilian assault rifles you could use in case of a survival scenario. Of course that if you’re not a big fan of guns you can use other means to protect yourself and your family but a rifle will save you a lot of trouble. First of all you can shoot from distance which eliminates the close body confrontation. Even if you’re a big, well fitted guy, a direct confrontation can be pretty damaging and when the world is easily slipping to Stone Age you don’t want to be hurt and in need of medical attention.
One of these rifles can be your most reliable friend someday so take a closer look. Choose wisely the weapon that is going to protect you and your family in the wilderness, when there’s no one else to protect you. However, make sure to put your family’s safety first. Thus, if you own a rifle and you want to keep it in the house, make sure that it’s safely locked away.
A safe like the Barska rifle safe, equipped with biometric locks will keep the kids safe and the rifles (it keeps up to 3) easy to access. If you don’t want to invest in a safe, then a heavy-duty rifle case that locks with a key like the Plano Rifle Case is a fantastic choice. You just grab the case and go!
The secret in a survival case scenario is to have the rifle prepared in a safe location where it can be easily grabbed. It’s best if you keep the ammunition close by which is why it’s important to have it locked away when you’re not living alone.
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