Posted: 1/25/2010 11:01:44 AM EDT
| I have seen alot of weapons questions in this section but in a SHTF would it be better to have a bolt action or semi auto in 308? I have the shotgun for close along with the 9mm and 45, I have a 6920 for moderate distance, and I am looking at getting a 308 in the ar platform for long distance to go along with the bolt action that I already have. it wouldnt be for fighting crowds in the streets. I live in a sub division where there is nothing but forest perserves around me. |
The correct answer, of course, is to get both 
It sounds like my choices in defensive/survival/SHTF/zombie/Red Dawn/Mad Max weapons are fairly similar to yours: I have 9mms and 45s for CCW use, 12ga shotguns (870s and Benelli M3s) for special purpose, and M4 pattern carbines for distances out to 200m. I do own a DSA Para FAL in 308, but I don't train with it like the M4s and handguns. In my (admittedly feeble) mind, most of the cul de sac engagement scenarios I can conjure up are well within 200m, which negates some of the utility of the 308. Not focusing on training at standoff distances might be shortsighted on my part. |
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I have seen alot of weapons questions in this section but in a SHTF would it be better to have a bolt action or semi auto in 308? I have the shotgun for close along with the 9mm and 45, I have a 6920 for moderate distance, and I am looking at getting a 308 in the ar platform for long distance to go along with the bolt action that I already have. it wouldnt be for fighting crowds in the streets. I live in a sub division where there is nothing but forest perserves around me. If you have a bolt action 308 why do you feel you need it also in semi- auto? I'd save the money or if I felt my AR was not enough round I'd spend the money on a 6.8 upper. As you know the cost of 308 ammo is just high right now most places are $0.50 around just for FMJ. I know the 6.8 is not much cheaper but you would be shooting for the same platform as you 5.56 |
| the reason I asked is the 308 bolt I have is a marlin. I just bought it and I was told after I bought it its not a good rifle. I was hoping it would work for 500-700 yards if I needed it to. the semi auto 308 would be a Larue. and I guess to some people the name is all that matters I am looking for reliability and durability.( Not saying anything about Marlin or larue) |
| I have a Springfield M1A and it fits the bill nicely for defense and hunting. HOWEVER, I am considering picking up another Savage .308 rifle which is bolt action. I went away from bolt action because of the M1A and the AR but after a few jamming issues with both rifles and a few mag issues I have had a serious change of heart. If a bolt action messes up then you just rack the bolt and go to the next round where a semi autio has had the problem of not feeding correctly and being a pain to eject occasionaly. I love both my M1A and AR but if I were to get a new rifle in .308 it would be a Savage for a few good reasons. One, it is a quality rifle for a GREAT price. Also, you can change the trigger feel yourself on the Savage as well as hit anything inside 500 yards without a lot of trouble. |
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You know what to do http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c241/Hawk_308/Guns/IMG_0786.jpg http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c241/Hawk_308/Guns/DSCF0148.jpg Chance you will need a semi auto over a bolt 308 or 223 : 0.0005% but you never know.  I'm with Hawk_308 with the STG-58 this is an old photo of when I bought mine in 2008! 
If your looking for a nice bolt action CDNN has a FN patrol 308 for $599. Your bolt action should be good for past 500 yards and if its not sell it and buy what you want. I love my STG-58 it will eat any kind of ammo you place in it and its rugged as hell! I'd take it over and AR in 308 any day. I was at the range one day and a guy was shooting a 308 AR it was a nice rifle told me it set him back $2,500 but it was so picky about its ammo it had problems with ammo that cost $35 a box I just picked up all his left overs asked if I could have them he said I could. Loaded them in my mag shot all 20 round no problem. |
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First, I wouldnt listen to anyone telling me one of my firearms is a POS. Folks just love to jack that jaw spout'in there knoledge, mostly a lack there of...
I say get your Marlin set up the way you like, optics, and what knot to were you can take deer size game out to what ever is feasable range for your area. This will work for gathering game out to reasonable distance, and any other use one might find for a .308 Heck, if you dont already, now would be a good time to start deer hunting, get some use out of your rifle, and living so close to forest preserve (unless preserve means no hunting) There are some big deer in your neck of the woods, and there are few better ways to spent a fall day. Now if you just want to have a semi-auto 7.62 nato AR, get one. You probably wont regret it. |
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I have a Springfield M1A and it fits the bill nicely for defense and hunting. HOWEVER, I am considering picking up another Savage .308 rifle which is bolt action. I went away from bolt action because of the M1A and the AR but after a few jamming issues with both rifles and a few mag issues I have had a serious change of heart. If a bolt action messes up then you just rack the bolt and go to the next round where a semi autio has had the problem of not feeding correctly and being a pain to eject occasionaly. I love both my M1A and AR but if I were to get a new rifle in .308 it would be a Savage for a few good reasons. One, it is a quality rifle for a GREAT price. Also, you can change the trigger feel yourself on the Savage as well as hit anything inside 500 yards without a lot of trouble. I'm sorta in the same situation in that I recently picked up a SA M1A which I'm very happy with. However, I'm a firm believer that 2 is 1 and 1 is none so I want to pick up another .308. I don't know what the future will bring, but the ability to place one non-firing weapon down and pick up another of the same caliber counts for a lot in my eyes. I just need to figure out if I want to go the FAL, AR10 or bolt route. I'll probably go the bolt route for the reasons you state above. |
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In what scenario do you see the possibility of needing to shoot someone at 700 yards? I'll take a stab at this 
In a true SHTF scenario where there is no law but the law you make and roving gangs preying on the unprepared I can see myself and those I have "arrangements" with shooting that distance. There are a lot of scenarios we could get into based on that, but if you let your imagination run wild a little it wouldn't take much to see the benefits of having a long range rifle. As I said before, this is for a true SHTF scenario. |
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I'd see if your current bolt .308 serves your needs... if not, get a Remington 700 SPS Tactical or other model 700, spend the rest on quality optics, ammo and training.
You can setup a 700 with quality optics (maybe not top of the line but good quality) for just over $1,000, and have the rest to spend on ammo and training. With a OSR/OBR it's going to be over $2k for the base rifle, then add optics and such on top of it and you'll be close to $3k. That said I picked up a LR-308C and will be sending it out for some ADCO lovin soon, but my total price w/ optics will be just under $2k. |
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I believe in having a gun for every occasion. So here's my set up, maybe it will help you decide:
Sidearm: Springfield XD .45 breaching/hunting: Remington 870 12ga Mid-range/multi-purpose: DDM4 5.56 Long-range/hunting: Remington 700 SPS .308 I have more guns put these are my main four that I spend time training with so that I remain proficient. |
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In what scenario do you see the possibility of needing to shoot someone at 700 yards? Prepare for any need. What if BGs start shooting at you from that distance. Like it or not a AR can still put rounds out that far. Not well but well enough to give you the blues. Or perhaps they have a "sniper rifle" that was a deer rifle for the previous owner. I want something that I know I can with first or second shot. This is in a "Lights Out" type of SHTF. Do I expect it? No but I didn't expect heart disease at 47 either. But I was prepared for it. WJ |
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OP, if the woods surrounding your subdivision are as thick as they are in my area, you won't be making any shots past 100 yards or so. Seriously, woods here are so thick that seeing 100 yards is impossible, let alone hitting something in the woods.
Having said that, I don't have any woods surrounding me––I have crops and fields. I could easily envision a 400-500 yard shot across one of those fields. If you can afford a semi-auto, by all means go for it. I'd prefer a good bolt-action with quality glass and a sturdy bipod myself, but I certainly wouldn't turn down a semi-auto, either. I have an HK-91 .308, but scope mounts are expensive and limited, and the trigger isn't conducive to accuracy. That FN Police model for $599 somebody suggested above would make a good base rifle to build on, in a bolt-action platform. Then again, when it comes to long-range guns, I just prefer a bolt-action––preferably a Savage model 10FP with a good Leupold or US Optics scope. |
