Handgun & rifle suggestions?

Question

Background Info:

We are a family of four (with my wife and two college-age daughters) living in an affluent suburb in the vicinity of Dallas, Texas. We have a couple of firearms - S&W M&P15 (.223/5.56), Ruger 10/22 (22LR), Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, 1911 .45 ACP and Beretta 92FS (9×19mm/9mm Luger).

I also have reloading equipment and reloading components for the .223 Rem, 45 ACP and 9mm.

Except for the shotgun, we regularly practice shooting at an indoor range (25 & 50 yds) and outdoor range (50 & 100 yds).
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I have a budget of $1200-$1600; and toying with the idea of getting another rifle and sidearm. I'm open to another Ruger 10/22, or bolt-action rifles (Savage Axis = $280 for .223, .243, .270, .30-06 or .308). No additional reloading equipment will be purchased for these.

Q1: I am NOT interested in hunting for now. This new rifle will be used for SHTF or hunting applications later. Which rifle would you suggest? Ultimately, around 400 rounds ($300) will be purchased with this new rifle.

* Reloading dies & components for the rifle will be purchased (if the cost will be around $300 for 400 rounds).

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Q2: Considering we already have 2 pistols, what additional sidearm would you recommend?

.40 cal? another 9mm or 45 cal? .22LR? Revolver?

* Reloading dies & components for the .40, .38 or .357 will be purchased.

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Please provide your reasoning. Links to sites and prices will be highly appreciated.

Thanks!


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Answer 1

I don't know if a person can have too many AR-15s for SHTF situations. Another one of those might be good. Or a bolt action in .223 or .308. I would also suggest a .357 Mag revolver. You can shoot .38 Specials in it for practice to save some money and avoid the heavier recoil.

Answer 2

I would tend to go a different way than you suggested. First I'd consider an AR-10 style rifle. .308 can be used to hunt, plus being an AR rifle, it's infinitely customizable. Sure, it's more expensive, but worth it.



Then, for a handgun, I'd probably be tempted to get another 9mm of some sort, whether it's a Glock, Springfield XD, M&P SHield, etc. doesn't matter, that's personal preference.



Then, I'd buy reloading dies for the .308 AR. The biggest reason is, reloading 9mm, from what I've heard, you don't save much money. But you can save quite a bit with .308, as .308 ammo is normally $1/shot or thereabouts, and if you have good brass, you can reload for better accuracy and cut the price significantly.



The other ideas...You could get a bolt action rifle in .308 or .338 and then get a high end handgun like a Sig P226/229. But I'd probably go with something like a DPMS LR-308 and a Springfield XD 4" service model in either .45acp or 9mm.

Answer 3

I recommend a Savage in .17HMR for marksmanship practice after graduating from the 10-22.



As a sidearm, I'd recommend another Beretta or other 9mm pistol. This way, as you mentioned, no new reloading equipment necessary.



While I am a fan of the .45acp, the 9mm parabellum cartridge is the most common centerfire cartridge on the planet, and my point of view is from a SHTF situation.



Plus, in many survival situations of a SOCIAL nature, as we have seen in recent decades, a sidearm is the firearm you're most likely to HAVE when a crisis occurs that you need one. This, added to "go with what you know" indicates having TWO pistols with exactly the same manual of arms, magazines, and ammunition, are a huge advantage, especially with a his/hers or mom/daughter situations, where you can be partners, sharing mags and ammo, at those most critical times in your life -- the ones where it could be cut short.



Another option could be, as you have already mentioned, another AR-15, but maybe in a different configuration; If you have a 16" barrelled carbine, consider getting a 20" or 24" barrelled rifle and scoping it...again, the advantage of one system, one manual of arms, one ammo, one magazine type, and one cleaning kit go a LONG way for simplicity during a SHTF scenario.



Shotguns are good for protecting fixed locations where you don't have to CARRY your full loadout, but the main reason why the M16 was adopted was the advantage of weight-per-shot.



And, incidentally, the weight of a live round of .223 is roughly equivalent to a live round of 9mm parabellum, making logistical equations much simpler, and thus, much faster.



Just another thought.



Finally, you can do so much to the AR-15 to customize it, including match grade triggers, CQB or telescopic sights, rail systems, etc...that for SHTF, it makes a lot of sense. Especially in the case of parts availability.



The other thing you should start working on is an armorer's kit for your SHTF guns...spare parts for your AR and Beretta. Because WTSHTF, you may not be able to just toddle down to the gunsmith and have the luxury of waiting 3 weeks for the repair. You may have to do it on the spot. Again, the AR is really good about that -- pretty much everything up to company-level maintenance can be done with hand tools in a pinch -- it will pay off to become a hobbyist and maybe even build your own AR-15 at least once. The knowledge you gain from that will go a long way when it's only you left to do the work.



Those are my recommendations.

Answer 4

Your choice of a Savage Axis sounds like a good choice. Of the calibers you have picked out, I would go with the .308. A scope such as a Nikon Pro-Staff in 3X - 9X isn't too costly,



A Ruger GP-100 in .357 magnum would make an ideal sidearm, and is less costly than a Smith and Wesson 686 or some other comparable S & W.

Answer 5

Rifle - Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle

Caliber Cap. Stock Finish Material Front Sight Rear Sight

308 Win 10 Black Laminate Matte Black Alloy Steel Post Adjustable



Handgun - Good quality stainless steel 357 magnum revolver. Various makers. I have a Taurus 669 in stainless with 6 inch barrel. I follow my own suggestions. If they had the Scout rifle out when I was rifle shopping, I would have got that too.

Answer 6

A 223 in Rem. 700 You have dies & everything. A 22lr. pistol S&W , Ruger. Check out thr Pawn Shops In Dallas you can find really good deals.

Answer 7

The one hole in your collection is a large caliber, center fire rifle. I would suggest a 30.06 (or .308) bolt-action. Why a bolt? In a SHTF scenario (and at the range) it really helps to conserve ammo and it essentially serves the role of a sniper. The goal/purpose of such a rifle is not to just throw a lot of lead, it is precision.

Answer 8

I would recommend getting a Smith and Wesson 686, I've shot one since I was 7 and I loved it, very accurate, durable, fvcking beautiful! And controllable