Best SHTF rifles have changed - What's the best now?
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- čas přidán 21. 03. 2024
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The best SHTF rifles used to be affordable military surplus rifles. Decades later, thanks to import bans, law changes, ammo imports, etc. the best choice for your defensive needs has changed as well.
#PrimaryArms #SHTF #Rifle - Zábava
Can’t believe I was in elementary school instead of buying tons of cheap Chinese AKs back in the day
I know the feeling! My brother bought a Mosin Nagant at a gun show around 2008, for $59. He used his birthday money and I was SO jealous. I wish I could go back in time and buy a lot of things haha. Granted I was 16, but still.
We should have gotten our dads to buy it
Right. Norinco AK’s go for $1,300
@@gallegaditastv2853 polytechs go for 3500-5000
The one thing that is worth while importing from China.
What happened...??
Garand Thumb already did the PSA test. They ran 6k rounds suppressed full auto before it stopped grouping.
That deserves a WOW!
Honestly, if it had a good cleaning and lubing i bet it would have still put a military acceptable group together which is 4 MOA.
@@shawnsanders9450 Agree.
@shawnsanders9450 I'm pretty sure they were out of ammo and wanted to call it. I'd bet money the barrel was just copper fouled...and they weren't trying as hard to group it because they needed to move on to the next video.
@@pdubownersounds like cope.
I
picked up a $600 AR15 . I am a 77 year old veteran with no m16 experience, As aNavy corpsman trining for FMF deployment, I qualified with te 1911 and an M14 as the M16 was brand new.
Tell us about the 1911 test wich aslo disproves high capacity magazine arguments!
Oooo I find you interesting, how does the ar-15 (m16) feel to you vs your old training with a M14? Love learning from old timers on their beliefs. Is the M16 better then the M14? In your opinion.
@@GunManGunHandI'm a generation younger than Doc, but that also put me in the Navy at the perfect time to answer your question. I trained on the M-14 in the 90s as a ship board security weapon, which could also be used to shoot a shot line between ships, because of the gas select valve that would send all the gas out the barrel rather than back to the action. Cool trick. A few years later I trained on M-16A2, and later M4 for boots on ground security type stuff, and went out to 600yds with an offhand iron sights M-16 doing CMP. All that said, better at what? With the M-14 you have more felt weight, and greater felt recoil, but if you are shooting supported, not such a big deal, but if you are going offhand, the weight is farther out in front of you, and you're gonna feel it quicker, and it will affect accuracy as your posture gets tired. With the 16/M4 it's not just lighter, but the weight is closer in, so it's easier to hold up in position longer, and the recoil is so much lighter that the first time I fired the M-16 on the range I thought I had a hang fire.
@@kinzieconrad105more ammo is always better. That being said if you shoot a 1911 better 8 rounds of definitely is infinitely better than 18 rounds of maybe.
Welcome home. My brother was 173rd AAR 67-69 he refused the M16 kept the M14 and then went to an M1 30 carbine. Also he turned in his 1911 and got a 20 guage double barrel and sawed it off to pistol length. But he was the guy that got the call to defoliate trees so they could take out the snipers. He had some awesome stories. His armorer kept him in ammo and up to snuff maintaining his weapons.
My Grandfather owned the largest privately owned sporting goods store in Washington State back in the 1980's. This was before REI, Cabelas, Bass Pro ect. Mosin snipers $100.00, SKS $75.00, AKM's 89.99, Russian ammo cans 880 count $59.99, Swiss K31's $129.99. Mt Gawd Ibwish I could go back in time. The Golden Years of the 2A were truly golden.
I remember buying my first Mosin M44 back in the early 2000s and it was $100. I recently sold it for $400.
Before antidepressants and mass shooting
Mid 80,s remember it well nashville gun show ak legends, akm, unerfolders 300.00 now ,over 2000, buy a whole crate of sks for hardly nothing, 1100 rds of 9mm for 60.00 man them days are gone forever!!!!
@@mattlord2906 It's not drugs. It's the general degradation of morality and Christianity. The Framers of our Constitution warned us that our form of government would only work for a moral people.
Eh, we got nice stuff now to that didn't exist back then. A greater wealth of information, and ability to network with other firearms enthusiasts. And a LOT more aftermarket parts for literally all those guns you mentioned except maybe the latter mentioned swiss gun. Plus 3D printing.
im surprised this video isnt just five seconds and says "AR-15" lol
Facts.
I really thought there would have been a couple of options or more information here. Kind of a dud
Then you’ve never seen a MAC video before… lol
Sure, but I enjoyed the talk.
Nah. AR10 😂
Rules of an insurgent from my study and experience...have a weapon that is good enough until you can upgrade from your adversary...also, you can get top name uppers and use PSA or Anderson lowers. It saves money and gives you advantages of top name stuff.
It’s funny you say that because my gunsmith always told me the 3 important things in building a good AR is barrel, bolt carrier and trigger. The lower and upper are just parts holder. It kills me when people want name brand lower and upper.
@@frontlinepfknr the upper is far more important than the lower, even if it's less important than the barrel and BCG. An upper needs to be well machined for even wear on the BCG and the connection to the barrel extension needs to be tight for good accuracy. The lower doesn't matter, though, as long as it's in spec.
Meh. Trigger, barrel, bolt in that order is most important. Then Bolt carrier, then buffer assembly? Upper and lower receiver matter so little. Lap the upper to the barrel and use set screw, accu-wedge, or hand fit upper to lower and you can take any milspec upper/lower and make it as accurate as any high end AR15.
@@danielkut the buffer assembly falls in the same category as a lower. As long as the spring and buffer weight are in spec for the gas port size, it doesn't matter. The upper is far more important than the quality of the buffer assembly.
@@zues287There is no spec for commercial port sizes, they size them however the hell they want.....often for under pressured Tula ammo. Someone measured port sizes and put them in a chart for each major manufacturer, and they were all over the place, and well out of TDP ranges. They didn't even standardize on a common port size, it was just whatever the manufacturer felt like. I'd argue that ammunition choice (namely, consistency) is far more important than the trigger. The military has been using mil-spec triggers for 60 years, I don't believe it's ever been an issue. They're single-stage, crisp, with a clean break, and they have a consistent weight. You don't need a Geissele....
Stockpiling ammo is more useful for trading in a SHTF situation than massive gun fights.
Doesn’t matter how much ammo you have if you can’t protect it🤷🏼♂️
Your gonna be trading ammo while SHTF? Sounds unsafe
You guys watch too many movies
@@andoniurquiaga8940 aint nobody gonna haggle nobody for ammo when SHTF HAHAHA. They're gonna go after it. u right
@@flipeverything266actually he’s very correct. In Bosnia the only things people wanted were Ammo, batteries, food and water. It would be no different here. Dangerous? Well at the point you’re trading ammo for food everything and everyone around you is dangerous
I purchased my M1 Garand in the early 90s for $300.00. Times sure have changed
Iam not a gun enthusiasts but I love collecting old rifles and the M1 Garand is one of my favorites. To bad their not $300 😢
Can't find a M1 Grand for less 1500 nowdays
@@markgillaspy7004 you can thank the movie Saving Private Ryan. After it came out almost every guy who saw it wanted an M1
CMP has rack grade for $700.
A garand is still on my wishlist!
I love PSA so much. They’re doing the Lord’s work
Any well made AR-15. I have a Smith and Wesson M&P Sport II, I have had since 2017. It’s an “entry level” AR. I’ve put 5,500 ish rounds in it and NEVER had a failure to feed, jam or extraction failure. Just remember, that “entry level” AR today is the product of 60 years of research and development. As long as you do your part to clean and maintain it, it will work wonders. Also, since it’s “America’s rifle”, there will be ammo, components and replacement parts for it in droves to support it to keep it going, where other platforms are just not going to be supported anywhere near as well.
u have never been in trench for 30 days with mud and rain , ur ar-15 would be junk becuz tolerance level of gas tube is crap and charging handle breaks , it only shoots 400 yards someone with sks could shoots from 440 yards so they can out range you
@@jrocks6969 have you been in a trench for 30 days? 😳
@@jrocks6969lol a trench? Are you in Ukraine? We haven’t been in a situation like that since Vietnam
@@jrocks6969ar15s have more range than an SKS. Also look at inrange TV mud test on AR-15 vs SKS or ak. Ar15s are just better.
Even in a SHTF scenario that were to ever happen in this country, the odds of the average person, “being in the trench and mud and rain for 30 days” is so indescribably unlikely to happen. That is a BS apocalyptic fever dream at best. You’re more likely to be struck by lightening and be eaten by a shark at the same time than for an average joe to be caught in THAT scenario. And even if I WAS caught in that scenario, in the trench, in the mud and rain, I’d be VERY comfortable with my AR not letting me down. MAC covered this very topic from 12:18 to 12:56 in this video. I suggest you listen to it again.
The SKS is a rugged and accurate rifle. I bought 2 new Norinco SKS rifles when they first came out. The full sized was $100.00 and the 16" shorty version was $105.00. The shorty was about the best truck gun ever. The rifle and a chest rig of clips fit behind my pickup seat.
I bought my first AR-15, A SP-1 in 1973. List was $199.00 and I paid $180.00. The Colt carry handle scope was also $199.00. New Colt 30 rd mags were $5.00. Real military ammo was still available and I bought it for $.07 a round. The dealer had two SP-1 rifles on the shelf, covered with dust. No on wanted a rifle with a plastic stock, parkerized in a "groundhog" caliber. They wanted polished blued with a nice walnut stock in a bolt action 30 cal.
You are right about the AR-15. Great rifle. And if you get bored with it, you have "Barbie For Men!" Get some new parts, uppers in different calibers for all occasions, scopes, lasers, accessories are coming out daily!
Great video!
I live in germany and recently brought an ak. In germany ak's run between 650-1499€ while AR's are somewhere between 1200-3500€ most of the at 2k.
7,62x39 is also a lot cheaper here. 350€ per 1000 rounds while .223 is at best 600€. Most of the time they clock at 800€ per 1000. Therefore i will say that in germany the AK is still a strong contender.
Cool
It's weird thinking of Deutschland as being an AK loving country, even considering Cold War history.
@@gang-ridertv5433 you know when the soviet union collapsed a lot of soldiers where stranded in germany. You could buy an full auto ak for a bottle of vodka. They sold all what they had to get enough money to travel back home.
Also shooting was mandatory in school in east germany. So you have many people who know how to operate them.
Love my sig p6 west german
Glad to hear Germans can purchase AK’s
I recall when dealers had stacks of SKS rifles at gun shows for $63 each. I'm not saying I bought a couple and put them away for long-term storage - along with 1,400 rounds of ammo on stripper clips - but I'm quite certain some folks did.
In 1994 my dad bought me a Norinco SKS for my birthday. New in the box, with the bandoleer and oil bottle, for $129. There was a whole pallet of them in the middle of the store and the used, beat to hell ones were stuck in a 55gal drum next to it. Norinco ammo was like $1 abox or something ridiculous. Still have it, and never modified it, thank god.
I got my first one in like 1994, unissued Russian in the box $149 with no waiting period. I wish I still had it! Must be worth $900 today.
West central FL.
New or pre owned AK, 800-900
SKS, 600-700
Cheaper manufacturer AR-15, new or pre owned, 550-800
And these are business or private sale prices.
The movie with Robin Williams and Walter Matthau is called Survivors. An absolute awesome, hilarious movie. That was really a sleeper but is an absolute fantastic movie.
As I recall Robin Williams had a line to the effect 'Time out! I have the wrong ammunition!'
@@stever8776Saw it a long time ago, but it seemed like Robin had a Valmet, Jerry Reed shot Robins' rifle barrel with his 1911, and Robin said something like "Do you know what that cost"!
That movie made me run out and buy a Valmet M76 folder. Still have it.
Your Valmet is highly sought after. The mags can go for 3or 4 hundred bucks.
It's not automatic, hon. It's semiautomatic. Automatic weapons are illegal. Love that movie
I was trained with, and carried the M-16 rifle during my 9 years of military service, U.S.M.C and later the U.S. Army, I used both the M-16A1 and A2 variants. I own a AR-15 which mirrors what I was trained and trusted my life with. ( Minus the giggle switch ) of course. My barrel is not chrome lines, it is nitrided, it operated fine for my purposes. Hunting, recreational shooting and self defense. I will never be without one.....
Another point: people shit on PSA barrels for dying around 5,000 rounds, but forget about the PSA warrantee. If you do ruin the barrel from heavy use, just send the rifle in and get a new one. You'll get to keep practicing on your cheap rifle and like you said, if SHTF happens, your likely round count will be in the high dozens unless you go looking for trouble.
There are SHTF scenarios involving quite a bit more ammo than that. You could run through that in half of a single firefight.
@kreek22 if that's the case, very few people are going to have ammo for said firefight.
Everyone will be out of ammo in a week with that math.
@@Gen_Kael Very few are prepared, which means those who are prepared have much better odds.
@@Gen_Kaelif that many rounds are flying good luck still being alive
@kreek22 My brother in christ, no one is going to waste 6k of ammunition at a time. I have a pretty decent stash but why would anyone waste such incredible amounts of ammunition as if it were Iraq and we have unlimited supply chains and medical support
The best explanation I have ever heard about PSA and I wish I remembered where I heard it is PSA guns are not for the "tip of the spear" fighters.... sure it can be but they are made to be the rest of the "spear" needed to support the tip of the spear in order to be an effective unit.
Between me and my group there's probably close to 30 psa guns in our line up and they have all been fantastic. Seems like as long as you get it and try it out and make sure nothing is wrong you're golden. I always put importance on trying equipment out before relying on it weather its a psa or a dd or lwrc.
Another factor to consider is that most people are going to be on the AR platform. So you'll find it easier to get ammo, magazines, and other accessories if SHTF. There's just a lot of it out there right now in America. Now that you can pick up a quality AR for around $500, it just makes sense.
Have both AR and AK and love ‘em just about equally. But if I have to participate in the defense of my subdivision, I’m reaching for the AK first.
Where I live, and where most Americans live, you’re not going to be engaging anyone past 200 yards. Within that range 7.62x39mm is a better round in terms of penetration and stopping power. Also the AK doesn’t need to be cleaned as often and when it does need cleaning, it’s easier than the AR. Yes the AR is a little more accurate, but there’s not as big a difference between the two as many people think; the AK just takes more practice to be proficient. Yes the AR and especially the ammo for the same is lighter, and if you’re going to be humping around in the bush that’s a very important consideration, but if you’re sticking close to home as I plan to, the weight isn’t a big issue. As for ammo expense, 7.62x39mm isn’t as cheap as it used to be but it’s still competitive with 5.56x45mm; on that issue one doesn’t really have a big advantage over the other, although 5.56 is easier to find and you have a much better variety of projectiles to choose from.
If you’re going to go with the AR I highly recommend a 20” barrel. You’re probably not going to be clearing rooms or jumping in and out of vehicles. I carried an M16A1 in the US Army infantry back in the 1980s and that is only an inch and a half shorter than an M16A2 or -A4; I spent plenty of time in APCs, deuce and a halfs, and jeeps, and I never considered my rifle to be cumbersome. With a 20” barrel you get a rifle-length gas system that gives you the best reliability with the platform, and you make the most out of whatever ammo you’ve running. Out of a 20” barrel, even Plain Jane M193 is pretty lethal; Mr. Stoner designed it that way for a reason.
But most of all, best to stay out of trouble if possible. I served in peacetime myself but I’ve known many combat vets. You don’t want to go through that if you don’t have to. Remember, a situation that really requires you to get out a rifle and shoot at people will be a situation where they can shoot back. Everybody goes into battle thinking they are bulletproof but nobody is, and taking human lives, even if justified, turns many people into drug addicts or alcoholics.
We live in dangerous times, no doubt. But I hope that none of us ever wind up having to shoot anything with our “SHTF rifles” besides paper, tannerite, or perhaps game.
Wise comment, best I see on this video. I'm biased of course because my thoughts on the matter are similar.
I'll add a dependable 12gauge shotgun. Quality long-range buckshot like Federal FliteControl, and high pellet count 4buck can add A LOT of defensive capability. That said, when lead is flying, it's best to stay invisible out of sight dug in with true cover as long as possible.
Alot of it is environmental for sure, for example where i am at you can get x39 for less than half the cost of 223, and its probably the most common cartridge along with 12ga
Also the mechanical-characteristics of alot of x39 rifles actually cater to the weather conditions where im at too, especially anything roughly based off of an ak(ie, the loser tolerances, paddle mag release, etc etc)
10000% to everything else you said too
I'd most likely grab an AK as well. They are just tougher guns in my opinion..
I live in good old England where we are allowed to take on all comers with a rolled up news paper and a blunt spoon.... bring it on.
I’m more of an AK fan myself but green tip 5.56 is a lot more common than steel tip 7.62 so I wouldn’t say AKs have better penetration
My budget go-to rifle is a PSA. Blem receiver that bought back when PSA had their grand-opening at one of their stores, mated to a PSA blem upper that I picked up almost 10 years later (NOT one of the Freedom Series). Magpul sights, Sig Romeo red dot, Streamlight ProTac HL-X, PSA Nickle Boron 2-Stage trigger, WPS Sling, a bunch of P-Mags, and quite a bit of AAC Sabre Black Blade ammo...all for less than the inflation adjusted price of your 80's Colt. Add in the cost of the CMMG 22lr conversion and the mags for it, and a few bulk boxes of jacketed ammo, and I'm just over that price.
Actually in the 80's the survivalist gun of choice was the mini 14. Got one in the late 80's right after graduation for a little under $300. At that time the AR market consisted of Colt, Bushmaster, and maybe Olympic Arms. The Ruger was the more affordable option and had a sizable aftermarket support, most of what admittedly was crap.
Minis like Ruger mags
7 moa accuracy oh boy
The new ones are re-designed and are FAR better than the old ones....they did the re-design in about 2003 or 2004 so it would be very hard to buy one of the old ones currently as 'NEW'
I have one and its as good as any inexpensive AR is and it doesnt have that 'black rifle' thing going on with it.....put a 10rd mag in it and nobody even looks twice at it.
@@jason200912
@@jason200912 you are just a lousy shot.
I had a 182 series mini 14, blc2 powdered loads shot under 1 inch at 100 yds. Great rifle but scope mounting was not over bore, but a side mount similar to an ak47. It was the best after dark rifle, pointed naturally. Ar15 has survived so long because you can work on it yourself with very little gunsmithing knowledge.
Tim, you remember when you could get an authentic WWII, M1-Carbine for less than a $100. We're the same age. and I always tell people. A great time to collect cool overseas, mil-sup, was back in circa 1980's to mid 80's. I have a 2 Norinco and 2 PolyTech AK's. One set I don't touch, they're in pristine condition. The other 2 I use, but not that often. I also purchased 2 FN-FNC. A HK93 and HK94....The models I thought would be collector pieces, I always purchased 2.
You're obviously correct. I picked up FALs at Roses's stores, a Southern Five & Dime, for 300. 308/7.62x51 was maybe $.40 a round from South America and Europe. I found a few boxes of Norinco 9mm 115 in a safe with a $4 price tag. And it worked well in the Beretta 92 that were the rage back then.
Just helped my neighbor assemble 3 rifles off of PSA lowers and parts kits. Used fully assembled PSA mid-length uppers. 3 perfectly good rifles for his grown boys, right at $1500. Just in case :)
Good man! Now get him to purchase 3 more BCGs, buffers and lower spring kits ... just in case. 2024 might be wild and who knows what the anti-2A caucus will go after next.
YEAH...the PSA stuff is great for that 'what if' kind of rifle as long as you have the parts and ability to replace what WILL break on them if they are used HARD for more than a couple thousand rounds. Buying a high quality BCG and all the associated bolt parts should increase the longevity of the system a LOT. I have several PSA rifles that I have put together and upgraded their triggers and BCG's....not with $$$$ stuff but with 'better' stuff. they have a nickle/boron .mil spec trigger that is shockingly good for $40
@@f-ducket4586
Building your own is the way to go for sure! Bear Creek arsenal is another entry level company worth looking at too. I bought a complete upper w/ barrel and pieced together the rest of the parts. Total cost was under $400 in the middle of covid.
Atf gonna raid you for admitting that. Good luck and I hope you bought steel plates for your dog
DONT GIVE THEM ANY IDEAS!!!!
@@jason200912
Del-ton Sport is what i went with about 10 years ago. Light weight - in part due to its light contour barrel - but i don't expect to do constant mag dumps with the rifle so I don't mind the thinner barrel. The rifle has never jammed and is accurate. I have a red dot sight co-witnessed with the srandard front sight & a pop up rear sight. I put a small piece of a rail on the factory handguard for a light. Combine that with a chest rig, 9 total mags and a small stockpile of 55 grain ammo that works great in the 1/9 twist barrel and I don't feel undergunned in any situation..
the best is what ever you happen to have in your hands at the moment....any gun is far better than bare hands
I catch the "Blem" sales at PSA for AR lowers, then catch a sale at Bear Creek for my upper. I built a .300 AR pistol for under 500, including an optic. Just put together an AR-10 in 6.5 Creedmore for just under 650 with the same combination upper and lower (With a Stainless heavy barrel.
Proper video Tim. Relevant. Informative. Good stuff. This is Tim from 7 years ago making good videos. I like it!
I've got an M&P Sport II. Magpul rear flip up, A2 front post, and a Romeo 5 on top. Top tier budget setup in my opinion. Saving for a flip magnifier.
I lean towards versatile platforms like AR-15 variants for their customization options and widespread availability of parts and ammo.
PSA sells a Glock 19 & M4 clone package for $799 as a regular price that would serve most people well.
Hi Tim , I really enjoyed this video 6:am in Commy Ct.needed something good to think about !!!! Thanks a lot for being there 💥🔫🇺🇸
I am going to want something that doesn't require a lot of maintenance. One that can be easily field stripped and quickly maintenanced on the go if, IF, there are any malfunctions. I like big internals so as not to lose them if I'm on the go, and one that can use its own internals as tools to remove other parts if need be. One that delivers a heavy hitting round, doesn't have to be long distance accurate, as long as it has stopping power in a pinch. I think you know where this is going.
You can't go wrong with either. It doesn't have to be one or the other.
I have a norinko hunter I purchased right after the assault weapons baby lapsed for$125.00 20"chrome lined finned barrel, milled receiver This one is still new as it is bringing 1200 to 1400 bucks. The other one I purchased I used for hog hunting. Most accurate akm I own. I forgot to mention it has a 20" barrel. To all the ppl who ruined these by trying to make them galil clones you suck lol. Just kidding but you hurt the value tremendously.
well your not the only person to think like that. 👍
At least you’ll have a reliable boat paddle when you flee by canoe
A trick we use to cut wind noise at work is "put a bandaid on it" it will cut some of the wind noise out. We use it a lot on our radios. Up in the crane basket and up tower.
The best SHTF firearm(s) is what you already have on-hand, and are familiar with.
That said:
9mm handgun- cheap ammo, and firearms are affordable.
AR15 - much cheaper than AKs (!?!?). See PSA 😊
I remember (back in the day) when AKs and x39 were both cheeeep 😢😂
(Edit: AK is waayyy easier to maintain (disassemble/clean/reassemble) - but the cost (today) makes it a tough entry level firearm). We old timers had it easy 😁)
One of the other things that we are seeing come out of Ukraine is that AKs, while rugged, are difficult to add modern features to. Things like optics, lasers and lights are far easier to mount on more modern designs like the AR.
@@chrisr251 True, but I ordered a few inexpensive parts and pimped out my Zastava M92 and now it has a light/laser combo, rails everywhere, etc.
You need to field repair and maintain what you have etc.
@@chrisr251Unless you're using night vision with an IR laser, you don't want to be using a laser. Lights are easy enough because they don't have to be "zeroed" and manufacturers have found 1,001 ways (maybe more) to put a light on the AK platform. As far as optics, if you have an AK with a rail, you have the best way to mount an optic to an AK. Just get a side mount from a reputable company and you're good. A lot of those Ukraine videos you're seeing are straight up horse shit. It's just propaganda. AK's are not far behind AR's in terms of modularity. Literally the only issue would be a place to mount a PEQ or other IR laser module. With longer handguards, it could be done though.
I bought a Chinese 56 from an older lady who didn't know what she was left with. I still kinda feel guilty for the low-ball offer of all my money $700. But I had to get it before it left my eyesight.
Here in va , we had a Roses department store , like a target today and they had a gun ammo counter, and we used to get a sales Paper in the mail , late 80s , early 90s and they always sold nagant , sks , m1 carbine (non matching # , and had a few runs of m1 garands ( non matching as well) they sold lots and lots of chi com and Russian ammo , what great days this was , great memories
Love the sound of the brass hitting the walls/floor!
And the steelcase ammo, don't forget the steelcase...
Another thing to consider is that most AR parts are plug-and-play and easy to find. Any teenager can read the manual, put one together from a box of parts, take it apart, replace parts, and clean it - it's like a Lego set. The SKS and AK requires actual gunsmithing (hand-fitting, lathe work, drilling, etc.) to put together or repair, which will be scarce and difficult to maintain. The SKS/AK was popular for SHTF in the 80s because the price was so low that if it broke, you just trashed it for another one.
The design is so simple it is genius... so easy to work on.
Hey Mr Tim, I can remember crates of these were sitting in a favorite LGS for $49.00. That was in the 70s when I graduated Highschool...
Another cool aspect of the “budget” AR is you can upgrade as time goes by, like with a high grade BCG or drop in trigger, or any of the hundreds of products you can get for tac furniture and lights and slings
I run all 3 … I like guns !
The AR platform is the one we will be relying on if things go bad.
A few years ago at work me and a buddy were browsing PSA website. If you bought a lower and upper separate you could “build” one for right at 250. Needless to say we took advantage of the good times.
Zastava M70.
Picked mine up when the first chrome-lined barrels came out with the bulged trunnion for about $850 in 2022.
Gets under 3 MOA with irons at 100m or with an optic at 300m.
Still hits targets out to 500m (haven’t tried further than that, but 500m honestly was crazy far).
Fallback, I have two 5.56x45 AKs (converted Saiga AK-101 for $400 and Zastava M90 for $1000) that both work great.
This was a really good video. Thanks. Subbed.
Since I can gauge all the important tolerances, I still use quality barrels and bolt carrier groups in my AR rifles..Replace the cheaper ejector, extractor springs with Sprinco or colt springs and make sure to check the head space with at least a go and no go..If possible find a place with a function gauge to make sure the chamber and throat is good to go.. Finding a good armorer with the right gauges and know how is important and is worth the money..
Mr Tim always has informative to the point videos. He was the first gun tuber I ever subscribed to back in the day..followed be Hickok45 and FPS Russia..sic🇺🇸
Thank you and thanks for following all these years.
@@Militaryarmschannel keep up the great work Brother! I’ve bought a few firearms based on your reviews. Just hope you never run out of guns to review! lol😜🇺🇸👍🏻🥓
A Glock 17 and a M4-ish carbine with an aimpoint is suitable for most situations. Both very reliable, part around enough, effective ammo and easy to maintain. And also very important: they are light. Remember that you need to carry you stuff 99,99% of the time. This was what I carried in the Dutch army for 4 years (Diemaco C7= Canadian M4 copy) under various conditions from freezing snow and ice in the German mountains to very hot and dusty in the south of France. They never failed.
Another thing is that, because so many ARs are made and sold nowadays, you can also be patient or get lucky and pick up something like the $900-$1000 AR sold for less as blemished. I got an Adams Arms AA15 (adjustable gas, short-stroke piston) AR as my first AR for like $600 if I remember right. Definitely not Gucci, but a bit better than your standard $600 entry level AR. Still running flawlessly today.
Great video and knowledge
I think the Windham Weaponry MPC is the best affordable rifle. Right before covid i scored one with full hyrdo dipped magpul furniture for 420$ slightly used.
Now people want 8 to 900 new and about 700ish used.
But anybody whos handled a Windham weapony knows they are the best built basic ARs on the market and are worth a few hundred more over a PSA or radical level gun
even if I have to spend more now Im sticking with the AK platform. undeniably the AR is a good choice though especially on a budget. best thing to do is get both!!!!!!!
Back in 1988, I worked at Radio Shack and my Manager was going through a Divorce so he offered me his Colt AR-15 A2 Match Grade Rifle for $350 and he tossed in a High Standard Police Riot 12-Gauge (6+1) for FREE! Today I recently built a PSA "M16A4" with a Full-length Stock and Mid-length Gas-tube 16" Barrel that went together for right at $400 - PLUS I have a PSA 10.5" AR Pistol that I built for less than $200! Yeah, Palmetto State Armory makes good quality components at extremely affordable prices!!! 😁
I already have my shtf guns. I have 5 Galil Ace's and 10 AK's. All covering from 556, 762 NATO, 762x39 and 545. Also have different length barrels. I have everything covered with my AKcs and Galil's.
"Now the communists run the show." 😭😭😭
Sadly true.
McArthy was right.
They won ww2
In canada we have type 81s and sks. 1200 and 500. These are the best value guns we have. No AR 15s but Chinese surplus
Guns are still legal In Canada with the dictator treadu In power ? Lol good to know
Awesome work! 👍
I hadn't really thought of stockpiling the same gun X5 or X10 for friends and family. I have a few guns, but most are different manual of arms and ammo. Good idea!!!
Another great video! It had me thinking... MAC is not the most entertaining channel I watch, but every time I watch a MAC video I can't help but agree with 99% of what he says. Quality, informative, UNOFFENSIVE content. Great channel for helping people understand American gun culture.
MAC is base on facts, not circus.
I am offended that you called it inoffensive! :-)
Several decades ago I bought my Chinese SKS. Never had any trouble at all. At the time I bought a crap load of Chinese ammo with clips . Checking my ammo stock I found a couple boxes of the Chinese stuff. I have had several AK type rifles but I always go back to the SKS for fun shooting. That being said, I have my Colt AR for serious business. Having the SKS for backup gives me peace of mind.
I remember pallets of them at a gun show in Ohio early 90s, 75$ each.
Garand Thumb recently ran a PSA upper budget model on a full auto lower and got over 5000 rounds before they started to have malfunctions.
To be clear, that was over the course of a few days, not mag dump after mag dump.
Great video! I would also add the Ruger American rifles in the budget SHTF rifle category. The 5.56 and .300BLK versions use AR mags, and they can be bought cheaper than a lot of budget ARs.
I saw a blem Palmetto for under $500 the other day. Especially if you don't have a repeating rifle I would pick one up. Train with it!
I'm with you Tim. 15 years ago I would have said AK. But today, there is no way I'm giving up the AR15 as my GTW rifle. I'm so heavily invested in the platform between training, parts, and ammo, that's nothing else that remotely comes close. I've seen new Blem guns for $379 plus transfer fees. Nothing can touch it for the capability at its price point.
As much as everyone poo poos mil-spec it's the sole reason why America's rifle has taken off the way it has. Everything is standardized and interchangeable. You can't say that about the AKs. Heck even the AR10s up until a few years ago.
Great video. Practical information and I was practically giving you a standing ovation when you broke out the inflation calculator - yes, a lot of stuff WAS cheap back then, but a lot hasn’t actually changed except relative to what else is available, which was I think one of your best points. Also need to consider that for the average American earnings and therefore buying power haven’t kept pace with inflation so a tight budget today is relatively speaking tighter than it was in ‘85.
Some other options to consider are used upper assemblies from mid-high end manufacturers, and since you didn’t really speak to handguns LE surplus Gen3 Glocks are dirt cheap when they pop up and parts are still plentiful as the Gen3 is still factory supported (unlike the Gen4s, which I really liked but see why from a practical standpoint they had to sunset them before the 3s). People’s complaints about the Glock mirror those against the AR - but there is a lot to be said for something that is inexpensive, reliable, easy to use, in the most common caliber in its category, with plentiful mags and parts.
i'll never forget the coat rack corner behind dad's big coat there was a .444 marlin and a 870 remington (pederson was rem designer if i remember right) those were the home guns for shtf.
My SHTF rifle is a pimped out Serbian-made Zastava M92 and it is AWESOME!
What exactly would define “shtf”? Everyone talks like they have their specified firearm for “shtf”, and as if they’re going to be able to access it and everything needed for that firearm. Nobody in this current time, even knows what “shtf” means, or what would define it. Furthermore, Nobody can define what it means. Everybody has their own definition and their own make believe shtf scenario where they will have so much time to choose guns they want to use for their “shtf” firearms , and then be able to go to the gun store and get what they need, or grocery store to get what they need for their planned “shtf” meals. These shtf videos are so dumb bc you’re going to grab what you can grab at that moment. Hopefully you own a rifle and not just worthless pistols. I’m with you with Ak platform though. The smoke blowing “patriots” can keep the 22 caliber AR’s
@@jakeh6980you are clueless
@@jakeh6980 it's an apocalypse term
Real G’s use Zastava
@@jakeh6980 I can define "SHTF" real easily. Any scenario where there's no rule of law. Long term, short term or just in the moment when someone's kicking your door in. That's not even talking about societal decay. You seem like you might be taking yourself a little to serious. You might want to be looking up some basic 5.56 vs 7.62x39 comparisons. You simply have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not even trying to "trigger" what I can only assume to be a millennial, I'm just letting you know that you don't know half as much as you think you know.
LMT Specwar and Glock 34 is my go to loadout
Heya meltdown bro!
LMT gang here! My LMT piston eats everything.
@@beanhavok2287 howdy brother
PSA is really the go-to for stockpiling affordable, competent equipment. The Dagger and AR-15 are basically priced for bulk purchase.
Great Analysis and Very Logical. My .02 is a piston drive carbine of any flavor is the way to go.👍👍
I sure wish I had bought some Yugo M59s when they were $140. 😑
Same here, but strictly out of obligation. I'm of Serbian descent, but I've never shot an SKS in my life.
I mean the Zastava stuff is going to be better RN. Much ♥ for Serbia from America.@@pimpovic2
I got my Yugo for $240. It's in excellent condition mechanically with a few age blemishes on the wood. I saw an SKS at a recent local gun show asking $1200. I think mine is a little better, so maybe $1300-$1400?
I bought it for SHTF and now it's an investment piece?!?! (Not ever going to sell her)
Runs like a dream and hits accurate
Shotgun News advertised SKSs for $79.99 back in the 80s, I remember 😂
Yeah, I had a subscription back then and also remember that ... plus the lightning links for 20, the MAC11s for 100, etc... if only we had known
@@georgelstuartYup!
Great video !
Bolt action Tula M91 Mosins were still $100 in 2008. Now 300-500.
Is anyone actually paying that ? For that kind of money, you could get an AR 15..
@@RickNetherythey must be selling if they keep going up. It’s insane, you can just about get a Mauser or Swiss straight pull for what a mosin goes for now. Either will be just as tough a whole lot nicer to actually shoot.
@@RickNethery They are collectables now, just like the Chinese AK in this video. Ukraine was the supplier for most of them, and they are somewhat busy now. The supply of imports, especially old ones, is finite. ARs- unless banned or regulated-are bottomless.
@cemeteryindustrialcomplex3486 That makes sense. I'm old. I bought all my surplus rifles when they were cheap.
It was great. Reloading for them was relatively inexpensive as well. That all changed when components disappeared.
I've still got all that stuff, but I definitely will not buy any more at these prices.
Its funny that in the very early 2000's AR'S were around $1000 and AK'S were around $300 now its bass akwards
Yes sir and I also noticed this upside down deal happening. I'm a the point of selling more than half.
what's more funny are the idiots insisting the AK is a good platform vs other more modern options. The only leg the AK had to stand on was it and the ammo being dirt cheap.
@@Mitsurugi2424one of the most misinformed comments I’ve seen in a while…the AK is no longer viable??? 😂😂😂😂..what a joke
@@RepentorPerish77 not fast enough to penetrate body armor or cause shock, just passes through. There are much better choices.
@@ironmonkey1512and that makes it not viable??? 😂😂
For $375 (maybe slightly more if you don't have a local ffl that sells lowers and have to order one and pay a transfer fee) you can get a "Standard" rifle kit from Outdoor Sports USA, add their BGC and sights and upgrade to an M-Lok handguard then get an Anderson lower and Magpul Pmag from your local ffl it they have them and if not then order a PSA lower and Pmag from PSA.
Ruger AR15, (1,000 rounds NATO 556/ 3 x 30 round clips)
Mossberg 500s, (short/medium/regular 12ga., #4 Buck)
Ruger 380 (10 round clip, 2 x 12 round clips, 100 rounds at home)
I agree, but I also think a PCC is a very viable SHTF rifle... Particularly in 9 mm (my least favorite round)... It has a certain attraction for practical reasons... Not a super terminal ballistics option, but cheap ammo and pretty good performance out to about 75-100 yds.
I went with it just because I can swap mags and only need one type of rounds
9mm + these days has better ballistics than .300bo
And you can have a carbine and a pistol that take the same mags
Low recoil is always a plus.
PCC in 9mm is completely underrated! I’ve taken deer out to 100 yards and certainly would have pushed further out. 9mm is still relatively cheap and available. In a shtf situation my Glock goes on my hip and my Ruger PC charger goes in my vehicle!
In the survival community, or a survival mindset, I would think a rifle in 22LR or a 12 gauge shotgun would make more sense. I live in the Midwest and hunting is something that I would be able to do, or would want to do in a survival situation.
In shtf I would argue a .22 rifle/pcc/pdw (either .22lr or .22wmr) with a high capacity (20+ rnds) for a primary weapon, then a compact shotgun as a secondary loaded with slugs that you can quickly switch to for the rare situations where you need a hammer.
I want to get a Keltec CMR30 for this very idea, comes with 30 rnd mags and you can get 55 rnd stendo baseplates for them. Just have two or three stendo mags and you've got plenty of ammo for whatever.
I remember going to Florida when I was a kid in the early 90s. Gun show had a norinco sks and 1000 rounds of Chinese or Russian rounds for $90.
I love both platforms! PSA regularly runs specials on AKs (GF3) blems for $629 and mine runs flawlessly. I also run their AR platform 7.62x39 (KS-47). Their 5.56 ARs are also good. Good deals can also be found on Sig 516s and others on the used market.
Psa was selling m16a2 clones on sale for 650ish on there website at one point
Nope that’s definitely not me at 4:32 👀
The best SHTF weapon is the weapon you have ammo for. I purchased some 5.45 ammo back in 2010 ish. So the AK-74 was my go to. Also at the time S&W made AR-15 uppers chambered in 5.45 at the time so I picked up a couple of those uppers at that time. Then that ammo dried up, then I purchased 7.62x39. The AK-47 and SKS became my go to, now before the shut downs I stocked up on 5.56 so the AR-15 became my go to.
The beat SHTF rifle is the one you have, that works, and you can use comfortably and correctly.
Garand Thumb did a test on a PSA upper with a full auto lower. Over 4 thousand rounds before barrel was shot out.
And that was with a full auto lower so the firing schedule was harsh to say the least. With a regular firing schedule it’d go MUCH FURTHER. For the money, I’d happily buy a PSA rifle if I wasn’t frankensteining something together myself.
@@1AbominAble1 suppressed also
Please Stop Asshole upper? No human want’s those rifles.
Leave the parts that would want a gun if in, make em [professionalize gun culture] and it was already know that the m4 was unwanted even when more wanted.
Which isn't even designed for full auto considering it's not chrome lined.
It is a strange new world. I bought a unconverted Saiga 12 for 499 just 15 years ago.
Recently I bought a really nice ar 15 for just 599.
I remember thinking 599 for a wasr back in the day was a CRAZY high price....
surreal
I found the Smith&Wesson M&P Sport to be the best bang for my buck. Under$700 and all the videos have shown they run flawlessly 1000’s of rounds through them cycling various kinds of cheap ammo through without jamming.
My shop just sold a new Grendel for $500. This is really the golden age of the AR.
Agree on ammo usage - there likely wouldn’t be very much ammo available. A light bolt action 308 would probably be the best all-around option, like a Remington 700. Best defense would be your anonymity more than any firearm.
Totally agree, bolt actions are easier to maintain imo. And the Mauser action on most? Stood the test of time.
Me that has too many guns already, I'll need whatever Tim recommends 😂
I 2nd the motion.
🤣🤣🤣
Wolf A1 which is sort of an AR with a short stroke gas piston. (Taiwanese T91). I've put a few thousand rounds through mine with zero malfunctions.
Great video thanks from Belfast Ireland 🇮🇪
Agree with your point about how many rounds a person will expend in a SHTF scenario. Everyone seems to focus on romantic what-if’s versus the probabilities. Sure, have a reliable rifle and other weapons with a modest stockpile of ammunition (AR-15 is logistically the best), but it’ll be those daily use resources (food, safe water, place to escape from the elements, etcetera) that will become scarce. Skills with weapons are fun to learn, but it’s highly unlikely you’ll be part of a team clearing buildings or guerrilla squad.
If you get into a gunfight that requires more than 1 magazine, thats a lot of dead people or a lot of missed shots, when it comes to not being able to replace ammo like we can right now, every shot matters. You dont know how long you need that ammo for.. I agree with you!
@@channeellll7623 Yep. I figure a standard infantryman’s load-out, seven magazines, will suffice to keep in reserve for whatever may go down. For most people, including veterans, the chances of needing it are statistically improbable. Also, what physical shape are the majority of “prepared” citizens in, again, including veterans, to perform the rigors of combat operations. I’ve seen quite a few militia gear showcase videos done by guys who wouldn’t last a day lugging their load-out. Some of them boys sure eat their biscuits.
If SHTF, either you are gonna be toast right off, or if you survive, there will be plenty to choose from. You just need something good enough until you can find something you feel is better.
I have a PSA and it runs smooth like butter. No malfunctions to date.
"The Communist run the show"... sad fact.
Well, you never finished the BCM AR 10,000 round test and now you want to start a PSA rifle test that proberly won't get done. I feel like I'm watching an ABC show that always get cancelled right before the climax!
I was wondering what happened to the BCM 10,000 round challenge?? I'm a BCM fan boy. I have a 16" BCM and 2-14.5" BCMs. All 3 are as reliable as the day is long. Also, Paul Buffoni puts his money where his mouth is regarding 2nd amendment support.
He just started back. Currently at 8,600 rounds!
An AR is like a lightsaber, you need to build your own the way you like best.