Gun Legends: Meet the 5 Best Rifles if World War III Breaks Out – 19FortyFive

What rifles make the most sense if society were to suddenly break down? A  global pandemic ,   COVID-19   or  coronavirus has taken the world by storm–oh, and a possible war with Russia. One of the most important tools a person could have to maintain their survival in the event of a total societal collapse is the rifle. Able to reach out and hit targets at a range that pistols and shotguns are unable to, rifles are ideal weapons for both self-defense and hunting situations. And in today’s article, I’m going to show you the 5 best survival rifles  (along with a bonus one) to defend your family with.

What Makes a Good Survival Rifle?

There are plenty of  powerful guns   with nifty features, but what makes one uniquely good for supporting survival?

A success rifle must be accurate. If it can’t hit anything, the particular weapon is useless.

A survival rifle should be light. As we all know, every ounce counts. If it’s too heavy, you may not want (or be able) to carry the weapon into a situation where it’s needed.

The survival gun should be durable. You’re likely to be on the move (a lot) and your rifle will get strike. Plus, you may not have access to replacement parts for your weapon.

Others might argue for more factors to the list, but we’ll stick with these three — accuracy, weight, and durability. With that said, let’s take a look at the best survival rifles.

Ruger 10/22 Takedown 

Chambered in. 22 LR (long rifle), the  Ruger 10/22   weighs in at a light 4. 6 pounds. The Takedown model can be easily split in half for easy transport. The particular. 22 LR caliber bullets are light, cheap, plus plentiful. The rifle itself is blisteringly accurate. Perfect for  hunting small game , the. 22 LR can be used for self-defense as well, particularly in the hands of an accurate marksman. Rust-resistant, the 10/22 will shoot when you pull the trigger. The immense popularity of this rifle created a huge market for after-market accessories, so you can further customize your own Ruger 10/22. Not only is the  Ruger 10/22 a quality rifle , but it is cheap as well. Get two or three, and you’ll have access to alternative parts.

Kel-Tec SU16C

The  Kel-Tec SU16C   — while not as maneuverable or transportable as the 10/22 — packs a heavier punch.   Shooting 5. 56 mm rounds , the SU16C has greater stopping power than the Ruger 10/22. While the weapon doesn’t break down like the Ruger 10/22, the stock folds under the gun, shrinking the tool to a tight 25. five inches. The particular Kel-Tec accepts the enormously popular AR-15 magazine, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding magazines that fit in the societal collapse situation. The last neat trick of this weapon is the forearm folds to become a bipod — allowing you to stabilize your gun easily for more accurate shooting.

Kel-Tec Sub2000

This rifle fires pistol calibers — either 9mm or. 40 S& W rounds. Unfolded, the  Kel-Tec SUB-2000   measures in at 30. 5 inches (with a 16-inch barrel); folded, the gun shrinks down to an impressively little 16. 25 inches. Weighing in at only 4. twenty five pounds, the  gun easily fits into a standard backpack . While the gun’s straight blow-back system means it has higher recoil than most, the particular 16-inch barrel guarantees accuracy. The heavier rounds mean you can take down small to midsize animals in looking situations while being sufficiently lethal with regard to self-defense scenarios as well. Equipped with M-LOK accessory slots, you can attach further accessories.

Savage Model 42 Takedown Compact

A combo gun, the  Savage Model 42   weapon boasts a two-barrel over-under design. The bottom barrel fires. 410 shotgun shells while the upper barrel or clip fires. twenty two LR. This allows a shooter to hit short to medium range focuses on with the shotgun, while still being able to reach out and hit targets at a longer range with the. 22. Not only is this weapon incredibly versatile, it’s remarkably transportable. Breaking down along with only one button, the Design 42 breaks into two pieces which can be easily carried in a regular backpack. The final kicker: it only weighs 4. 65 pounds. This is definitely the most versatile weapon on the listing.

Henry AR-7

The  Henry AR-7   is the definitive survival tool. Originally designed for Air Force pilots to use in the event they were shot down, the gun had to be compact, good for hunting and self-defense against hostile forces. The modern-day version of that original design may be the Henry AR-7. Chambered regarding. 22 LR, the AR-7 comes with 2 box magazines holding 8 rounds. Only weighing 3. 5 pounds, the AR-7 is as barebones a rifle you can get. Without a handguard, the weapon will heat up when fired – it’s definitely not meant for high volume shooting. When broken down, the clip or barrel, receiver, and ammo all fit inside the watertight share, which, extremely, floats. Perfect for small game, the AR-7 can be assembled and disassembled within one minute. This lightweight and precise rifle is a fantastic weapon intended for survival situations.

Bonus: DPMS Sportical AR-15

No  survival rifle list will be complete without the AR-15 . While there are hundreds of AR-15 variants across the United States, I recommend the  DPMS Sportical AR-15 . Lightweight, having a 16-inch barrel, this phenomenally accurate tool is perfect for hunting and  self-defense circumstances . You’ll be able to find ammunition plus (likely) substitute parts should you need them. The thousands of accessories created for AR-15’s allow you to create a gun custom-tailored to your needs.

Richard Douglas is a firearms expert and educator. His work has appeared within large publications like The Armory Life, Daily Caller, American Shooting Journal, and more. In his free time, he reviews optics on his  Scopes Field   blog. This first appeared in the National Interest.