Best Milsurp rifle for SHTF

Galt said:
Didn't Ian from forgotten weapons have one he reviewed?
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Yup... Well, a repro anyway. Long time since I watched that video.

Interesting gun for its time, not sure why it didn't catch on. Pre-loaded cylinders, relatively easy to swap in, on what was essentially a deck-gun (small calibre cannon). Would have been just the trick for ship-to-ship CQB (which was a nasty, and all too common, thing at the time).

In all seriousness, though, not a bad choice for SHTF. A small cannon that could knock out light vehicles, no PAL/rPAL needed (blackpowder rules). Be flaming expensive to get one, would have to be custom made.
 
Does a Mil Surp firearm specifically have to be formally owned and issued to a military, and then disposed of, or does Mil Surp mean any firearm of the same design as one owned/operated by a military?

Are all SKSs Mil Surp just because an army or two use that design, or are only the SKS previously owned by a military considered milsurp.

What I don't understand is why in a SHTF scenario you would limit yourself to just Milsurps.

Oh, and an AR. Cause spare guns, mags, parts, optics and ammo will be lying all over the place of the S ever HTF.

I might like the Mosin, but I highly doubt I would ever stumble upon one while getting out of dodge.
 
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KEEPING STRICTLY (Technically at least ) to MILSURPS )

.... In the spirit of the original post, here are three viable Milsurp choices: 1/ M98,( the Israeli version in 7.62/ .308 ), 2/ Winchester Model 94 in 30-30 (used/deployed by the Canadian Rangers in WW2) and finally, 3/ Lee Enfield, No3 or No 4, in .22LR. ........ David K
 
I don't own one anymore and I long ago lost interest in them but SKS.
SKS all over.
M43 is probably rivaled only by .223 Rem for intermediate rifle cartridge in North America. There's ammo a plenty in Canada anyhow. AR's are great but they're aluminum and plastic. If I had to choose a gun I could use as a club and then still be able to flip it around and fire it.
Plus the permanently attached folding bayonet!? Come on!
 
GreenBob said:
To much?

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;)
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he said when the #### hits the fan. not when the sand hits the fan.
 
Since one can only carry so much ammo on themselves..

Sks is probably a good choice however I've seen .308 or 30-06 ammo on every gun store shelves, even small ones. Not 7.62x39.

For me a K98 in 30-06 or 308 for its accuracy, simplicity and reliability and/or a Lee enfield in 7.62 so both the K98k and No4 Mk1 would be my top choices in milsurp
 
What are the main reasons for having the SKS though?

Is it something innately good with the rifle or simply down to ammo/parts availability?
 
The SKS is the Honda Civic or, more correctly, the Lada (Zhiguli) of the rifle world.
They're just everywhere, and everyone knows how to tinker with them.
The Barnaul soft point is an adequate deer round.
The milsurp with the steel rod down the middle will NOT bounce off a bear's skull.
SHTF? Take SKS. Go inna woods.
 
Cameron SS said:
Does a Mil Surp firearm specifically have to be formally owned and issued to a military, and then disposed of, or does Mil Surp mean any firearm of the same design as one owned/operated by a military?

Are all SKSs Mil Surp just because an army or two use that design, or are only the SKS previously owned by a military considered milsurp.

What I don't understand is why in a SHTF scenario you would limit yourself to just Milsurps.

Oh, and an AR. Cause spare guns, mags, parts, optics and ammo will be lying all over the place of the S ever HTF.

I might like the Mosin, but I highly doubt I would ever stumble upon one while getting out of dodge.
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Well, this is a Milsurp forum for a start. :)
 
commissar_lubi said:
What are the main reasons for having the SKS though?

Is it something innately good with the rifle or simply down to ammo/parts availability?
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Rugged and simple to maintain. Good calibre, x39 is more than enough to hunt deer with, and the gun is accurate enough to do it ethically (I've hunted deer with an SKS, and it's easily a match for a typical lever 30-30). Semi auto means you can lay down some firepower if you need. Not a "light" carbine by modern standards, but still pretty reasonable. Stripper clips are a pretty efficient reload method, and you can carry a lot more ammo on stripper clips, for the same weight and bulk, as you can carry in magazines.

I still vote for AR. It has nothing to do with how many are in private hands (although there are more than you might think), but the vast numbers of them in LEO and military stockpiles.
 
If I had to choose milsurp I would hands down go with the SKS as others have said. However if SHTF, I think I'm just taking an AR15 with me
 
Airborn_69 said:
Since one can only carry so much ammo on themselves..

Sks is probably a good choice however I've seen .308 or 30-06 ammo on every gun store shelves, even small ones. Not 7.62x39

For me a K98 in 30-06 or 308 for its accuracy, simplicity and reliability and/or a Lee enfield in 7.62 so both the K98k and No4 Mk1 would be my top choices in milsurp
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That's because sks ammo is commonly sold by the crate, not the box. Forget the shelves, check the isles. Most places carrying SKS ammo don't even both to unload it from the pallet and just wheel the whole thing out on the shop floor.
 
I think the commies made the sks as a shtf firearm for Ivan and his patriotic buddies. More decadent bloc firearms are for the elite.
 
pw58 said:
I think the commies made the sks as a shtf firearm for Ivan and his patriotic buddies. More decadent bloc firearms are for the elite.
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Exactly and if it can work Russian conditions it can work pretty much anywhere. I have a couple of SKS's and an AR15. Either would work fine but if I only had one the SKS would be it.
 
Cameron SS said:
That's because sks ammo is commonly sold by the crate, not the box. Forget the shelves, check the isles. Most places carrying SKS ammo don't even both to unload it from the pallet and just wheel the whole thing out on the shop floor.
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