What battle rifle should I get?

[Chuz Life]

I'm curious as to what battle rifle I should get. Obviously most people prefer carbines, like the AR15, for self/home defense, but I want a rifle that can do more than just defend me and can also be a good hunting rifle. I would rather get a battle rifle than get both a hunting rifle and a defense rifle obviously, so which would you recommend?

I don't think the ideal battle (bug out) rifle exists yet. Not for me, anyway.

That said, I would opt for the AR-10 in NATO .308 for a present day selection.

My closest 2nd would be a 5.7mm x 28

But I hope the selections and styles improve.

I would also want the companion handgun in the same caliber. Very important to only have one caliber to deal with in a SHTF situation.

 

[1srelluc]

Pardon my misunderstanding. I have never heard the term battle rifle as a specific term. The rifle I carried into battle in Vietnam was not .30 cal. The only .30 cal I saw in that country was an M-14, scoped and carried by snipers.

OK, so get an M1A.

Battle Rifle....Easy Peasy.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Was an M-14 or M-1 Garand battle rifles? Hmmmm. WWII, Korea and Vietnam veterans would disagree.

M-1 Garand is my suggestion.

 

[Chuz Life]

OK, so get an M1A.

Battle Rifle....Easy Peasy.

One of the most beautiful designs ever.

Edit: Except for that safety / lock.

Personal story on that feature could well have been my last.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

OK, so get an M1A.

Battle Rifle....Easy Peasy.

those are expensive.

 

[1srelluc]

One of the most beautiful designs ever.

I've owned a few but never really warmed to them like a FAL.

Oddly enough the one I kept the longest was a Norinco that I dropped a SA bolt into.....That thing would flat shoot.

About all I did to it was put some teflon tape on the flats of the trigger group where it meets the mag well.

 

[there4eyeM]

Any semi-auto .308.

 

[1srelluc]

those are expensive.

Not really, I see used SA base examples all the time for around 1K.

 

[Chuz Life]

I've owned a few but never really warmed to them like a FAL.

Oddly enough the one I kept the longest was a Norinco that I dropped a SA bolt into.....That thing would flat shoot.

About all I did to it was put some teflon tape on the flats of the trigger group where it meets the mag well.

LOL, Norino finally gets a good review!

I had no idea their parts were interchangeable with SA.

Mine (now at the bottom of a lake somewhere in Alaska, I think). . . was a synthetic Springfield with 2nd gen scope mount (I think), Harris bipod, bayonet mt. It shot great, but certain mags would self-eject after a couple of shots. I gave up trying to figure that out.

 

[M14 Shooter]

Oddly enough the one I kept the longest was a Norinco that I dropped a SA bolt into.....That thing would flat shoot.

The Norinco M14 receivers were very very good - hard and strong.
The bolts.. weren't. After 500 or so shots the lugs would compress enough you'd lose headspace.
Toss in a GI bolt, a match barrel and maybe a NM gas system, and you have a shooter.

 

[Zincwarrior]

Any semi-auto .308.

"Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range."
"Hey, just what you see, pal!"

 

[Chuz Life]

I've owned a few but never really warmed to them like a FAL.

Oddly enough the one I kept the longest was a Norinco that I dropped a SA bolt into.....That thing would flat shoot.

About all I did to it was put some teflon tape on the flats of the trigger group where it meets the mag well.

Always like the looks of the FAL's in .308.

Especially, when they are all dressed up, like this.

 

[1srelluc]

LOL, Norino finally gets a good review!

I've never had a real problem with any Norinco I've bought......Many more with CAI weapons.

Still and all if you know your way around the particular weapon some CAI stuff is OK.

My first SLR, a R1A1 was a inch CAI build (Imbel receiver) I bought around 1990.....I still have it and even scoped it.

LOL....That said I pretty much rebuilt it with all new inch pattern parts.

 

[Chuz Life]

I've never had a real problem with any Norinco I've bought......Many more with CAI weapons.

Still and all if you know your way around the particular weapon some CAI stuff is OK.

My first SLR, a R1A1 was a inch CAI build (Imbel receiver) I bought around 1990.....I still have it and even scoped it.

LOL....That said I pretty much rebuilt it with all new inch pattern parts.

I've never fired one. Very nice, very clean. Especially for an original (mfg) design look. The barrel being so much lower than the scope seems like it would be an adjustment for a shooter who is used to having the end of the barrel somewhat in their sight picture.

 

[Failzero]

those are expensive.

CA3 ( FMP based HK 91/ G3 ) under 1000.00$

 

[Failzero]

I've never had a real problem with any Norinco I've bought......Many more with CAI weapons.

Still and all if you know your way around the particular weapon some CAI stuff is OK.

My first SLR, a R1A1 was a inch CAI build (Imbel receiver) I bought around 1990.....I still have it and even scoped it.

LOL....That said I pretty much rebuilt it with all new inch pattern parts.

My L1A1 ( 1961 BSA ) SLR is the Flagship of my collection ( but I had to wait 6+ Months for DSA to do a run of Commonwealth Inch Receivers to build my OG Barrel kit around )

 

[Zincwarrior]

Always like the looks of the FAL's in .308.

Especially, when they are all dressed up, like this.

View attachment 1262039

Wait, thats a FAL?

 

[Chuz Life]

Just thinking. . .

I wonder how one of these would perform with a longer BBL.

 

[Chuz Life]

Wait, thats a FAL?

I'm not 100% sure.

It came up when I searched for FAL's, and the BBL is dropped below the gas assy. But, on closer examine. . . I can't say for sure.

More details. The Powerful SLR due to return to the British Army - Military Lodge #1422

Looks like a variant called an SLR?

 

[Failzero]

I'm not 100% sure.

It came up when I searched for FAL's, and the BBL is dropped below the gas assy. But, on closer examine. . . I can't say for sure.

More details. The Powerful SLR due to return to the British Army - Military Lodge #1422

Looks like a variant called an SLR?

Para ( Folder ) FAL Carbines are trick and cool & spendy