Aside from hunting I find they have two real uses. The first, for the right kind of rifle, is home defense. Sure you need a pistol, both to carry outside your home and for those 11pm knocks on the door which are almost surely the next door neighbor wanting to borrow ice or needing help with something. Don't need to scare them half to death with a rifle but you do want to be armed. However if you are reasonably certain there is a person or person's in your home a reasonably compact semi automatic rifle is a great choice. In fact it is very arguably the best choice. The next category is for worst case scenarios where you may need to defend yourself or otherwise project your will past pistol range. That being said rifles have a far more limited role than one might think.
I personally like to take a rifle with me for long trips, both for defense and in case something happens. There are situations where the presence of a semi automatic rifle will make people see the light about their evil ways when a pistol might not.
I hate to tell you this but scenarios where you would openly carry long arms while going about normal visiting, commerce and errands are quite slim. That stuff just doesn't happen much outside fiction novels.
However lets just say something did happen. What, where and how would you be carrying a rifle. One thing that I have seen personally is how convenient fully collapsible (H und K type) or folding buttstocks are. They make the package of a rifle much more compact. One of the real flaws of the M4 in my opinion. Obviously you will need some sort of a sling. There are many types so find one you like and don't pinch too many pennies.
Next comes ammo. Over here in Iraq and Afghanistan we carry 1 mag for our weapon while doing stuff around the base. The thinking is that 1 mag is enough to deal with any immediate threat from direct fire or action. Is that enough for you around the house/ barn area if things get wonky? We have lots of other friends with guns as well as guys on guard and QRF forces that beat what even the biggest survivalist group could realistically put out. Also we all carry the same rifle so I could grab a mag from somebody with their loaded vest on. That is yet another reason to standardize rifles. I would probably be inclined to have 1 extra magazine, either attached to my weapon in some fashion or on my belt. Clint Smith promotes having a small home defense pouch with a reload for your weapon a flashlight and a charged cell phone. To be honest in and around the house if you need more than 2 20-30rd mags either you are back inside in a prepared defensive position, have won or are dead. Sorry but it's true.
If I was taking a walk to the neighbors or the corner of my property maybe a couple extra mags (2-3) wouldn't be a bad idea. The new camelback's have the PALS system of webbing so you could easily stick 2 spare mags on one. If I was going to town, or ye olde barter faire or really anything except some sort of intentional military operation I would feel fine using this sort of setup and having my full out chest rig sitting on the seat of the car or whatever.
I guess the likelihood of contact, speed of backup if applicable and the group you are traveling in would dictate what is reasonable. If I was walking around in Mad Max ville 7 mags doesn't seem like a bad idea but I probably don't need that to walk to the neighbors or around the block.
Really I would probably put more emphasis on being able to carry multiple mags for the pistol, concealed or not, which is far less likely to cause me any problems.
Thoughts?
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10 comments:
My only concern for using a carbine inside my house is thin walls I have seen too many errant rifle holes that penetrate all the way through a house. I do agree with your setup on how many rifle mags you really need. The S.O. used to issue two 20 rds per patrol car. Probably issues alot more now days course they were using mini 14s back then.
What are your thoughts on using a pistol calibre carbine for your long gun, to share mags between your pistol?
Me? I'd stick with a 'Scout Rifle' either a Savage or maybe one of the new Ruger SRs.
A 'poodle shooter' just doesn't cut here in the mountain west.
Don't forget we are not military. We do not have the luxury of a massive logistics system supporting those, ammo hungry, spray and pray plinkers.
Better to have a more versatile weapon that is also harder hitting, and more ammo efficient.
What are your thoughts about the role of a .308 battle rifle?
Ryan,
Some good points.
and
I would like to add my thoughts. First, you size the rifle to the person. My eldest daughter and wife are never going to carry a FN FAL rifle, but her younger brother will carry one when he is older. That's why I like the SKS rifle; it is a good inexpensive compromise for almost everyone in the family.
Next, if you need, really need, to carry your rifle, you need at least three filled magazines with you. The only way to do that effectively is having LBE or a chest rig. I think the little pouches that you sling over your shoulder are a bad idea. You want the magazines to be easily accessible not flopping around on your shoulder.
Lastly, your need a no nonsense sling to carry your rifle, over your shoulder. The United States military black nylon silent sling, that has two metal slip buckles, that you can buy for less that $10 is a good sling. The single point, fancy two-point, and complicated three-point slings take training. Training that a prepper/survivalist may not have time for.
PS.
Are you going to keep blogging when you are promoted to Captain, Major, and/or Lt. Colonel?
Good Hunting in Southwest Asia
What are your thoughts about the role of a .308 battle rifle?
Bingo ! Read the Boston Gun Bible for more on this good idea :-)
Anon 8:36
I dislike that idea because pistol caliber carbines are at
best a very poor substitute for a real rifle. Primarily because they
shoot pistol cartridges and cannot defeat even soft body armor. Also the
ones you are talking about take pistol mags which have a lower standard
capacity then rifles.
Einherjar, To each their own. I have found the scout rifle to be on the
list of ideas that just never really caught on for a good reason. As an
all around hunting rifle maybe but the price of the word 'scout' is
steep over a generic bolt gun. As a weapon for defense I find bolt
action's seriously lacking. They have a poor rate of fire and a low
capacity. Given that you are far more likely to find 3 thugs in your
house then to be sniping at 400 meters a bolt gun has issues. As for
fire control that falls squarely between your ears. It is about
training.
Anon 9:06
This is kinda a Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge thing. I am not against
.308's. If you live in a wide open place and have enough cash to
properly equip and feed one then go for it. Personally I don't own one
but likely I will someday, if just to round out the collection.
I used to run a pistol caliber carbine. Beretta CX4 Storm in 9mm Luger. I liked it. My wife loved it.
Pluses:
1. It used the same ammo as my pistols.
2. It was light.
3. It was short.
4. It had some intimidation factor (most folks thought it was an SMG)
5. 20rd mags
6. Light recoil
7. Use at the range
Cons:
1. It won't penetrate armor.
2. 100-150yd range
Lets look at that. In the house, a short long gun is to be preferred. I could take this gun and use it at the pistol range. Recoil was almost non-existent.
I never should have sold it. Bottom line, it worked for me. Everyone who shot it, loved it.
I have always carried a rifle when I go on walks in the national forest around my place. Force of habit, and the knowledge that not all the inhabitants of the forest may appreciate my presence or that of my dogs. I'm not carrying the same kind of weapon you are though. A good Mauser is adequate for my purposes.
Been off the air a couple of years, good to see you are still blogging after all this time.
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