SHTF .308

You all bring up some credible ideas about such a scenario and it's possibility of actually God forbid coming to fruition. My opinion in this matter is a bit different having lived in a state that usually gets at least one major storm per year, I have seen first hand just how evil people can be. I have seen looters and robbers, I have also seen the good come out of people at least when they know help is on the way. The reason why the Great Depression was not as widespread is simple, the population was much smaller than it is now over half to be exact and many more people became self sufficient by owning farms and inhabiting the Midwest which if I recall was and still is for the most part rich in wildlife and resources http://www.genealogybranches.com/1930census.html In my state of Florida we are just as relaxed as Texas is about guns we too have a Castle doctrine and never once had a Duty to retreat. What curbs and shapes my thought is protection for me and my family that's all a .308AR is just an added layer of that protection, I don't have a need or want for that matter to hurt anyone who isn't intending on hurting me. If The Sh*t ever does hit the fan I want nothing more than to be self sufficient and well prepared. hell if need be I have a means to go out and shoot hogs with the .308 or varmint with the 9mm the possibilities are endless, I agree a gun in every sense of the word should be used for peaceful purposes but as we all not everyone thinks like that some don't consider it to be a tool some consider it to be a weapon. I have a understanding after seeing a friend of mine take a few hogs with a bolt in 308 the out right power of the round and in knowing such I feel pretty comfortable saying I never use it as a CQB weapon unless I had no other choices or options the risk for over penetration is too great. I believe it was the military guy who quoted this Rule #4 know your target and what's beyond it, always be aware of your backstop should that bullet decide to continue traveling. The harsh reality for me is that their are 19 million people in this state of which 60 or more percent occupy the southern half from West Palm Beach County and southward. I stay just South of West Palm Beach and just north of Miami Dade County. In a literal sense how long can 19 million Floridians live off of Hogs and Varmint before we begin to overrun each other for their resources. I really don't want to turn this thread into a survival thread at all, I just want you guy's opinion on the reliability of the platform, cartridge advantages v disadvantages, and just the overall pros and cons of the platform itself. That was the real goal as I said earlier I have a friends who owns a saiga in .308 have shot extensively but me being the patriot I am would like the American standard while perhaps using Russian ammo for plinking and range time. And I honestly hate the fact that this is my reason for the thread but it is the guns most important purpose among others because I practice with my 9 the most at the moment until I decide whether or not to even buy a .308AR. I am not becoming a freedom fighter or a Rambo-esque maniac or even a Survival nut, I just want some ideas on the use of this platform for a hypothetical situation. Thanks again!!!!!!

I wasn't lazy I was texting from my phone while at work is all, I was kind of in a rush to get the reply out. This is just my 3rd or 4th day on this forum and I am already being attacked for some petty stuff. I thought this was a forum about guns not grammatical errors for collegiate purposes. Thats how you the administrator respond to things you don't like by disrespectfully and distastefully telling others about how you disagree with something. If you want your forum to be graced with such benevolent intent all you had to do was approach me like a man. Thats all, hey shtf.308 could you clean the writing up a bit I'm having a hard time understanding your writing or I want to keep my forum formal. That would have sufficed but you couldn't do that. Instead you like the military guy on page 1 attack me for my purposes and choices or lack thereof. It never ceases to amaze me how cut throat people can be over petty BS. YOU are the admin and this is your attitude on some out of all things writing, it's not like I was talking about the space time continuum which would have absolutely no place on this forum. I mean damn though it's writing as I mentioned before all was needed was a professional approach to an informal means. I like the people on here who have since responded with the exclusions of a few but you don't see me making that known either. Nope that ain't me I give each and every person respect until they decide to do away with it. You were also so right its your sole opinion and view I respect that but often the way we say things, the words we choose, the tone we use, the facial expressions we present will provide all the necessary information one will need to access another's attitude. In lieu of that, the above still wont stop me from replying to your comment with a civilized response. At least this time. You do what you have to do to...

I was looking into that one as well, I was actually leaning toward that one because it already has the magpul accessories installed and will come out to about the same price it would cost me to do the same with the DPMS. how do you feel about adding a brake to it preferably the one from Primary Weapons Systems?

Sweet thanks for the input, What type of ammo you recommend stockpiling

Did i say something offensive? If I did I apologize

My intent is not to use this thread as Gospel, I look it as asking people who I would think have some sort of experience using the weapon platform in question personally. I have never shot any AR platformed weapon and after doing research on it vs the many other types of guns there are to choose from in this caliber I decided to ask you all what you thought about it as it pertained to my main purpose for purchasing one. I outline before I think on page two its versatility I could use it as a Long Range gun at a range or site large enough to let me do so and then still have the capability to use it for CQB. This was answered respectfully by sum and distastefully by others personally I don't care because anyone can say what they want behind a screen. I take every bit of information I get from the internet as a grain of salt unless I can prove it against professional and or expert facts and opinions. To me SHTF does not include 2012 because we have Galactic alignments yearly on that very same date. SHTF perhaps may be more dire to me than it is for someone else, I mean I do live in South Florida where we do have hurricanes; up until Katrina we had the most costly hurricane to date named Andrew in 92 and in 2005 we had Wilma which left the Tri-County area without power for weeks as long as 5 weeks in some areas. We had looting, trolling by scavengers who wanted to pick off what they could etc. With that said this is not a thread I started to introduce myself but since it was my first I thought it would be courteous to do so. I started this thread to get ideas and insight on a topic that has risen to the top as the forefront of discussion by many Americans. All to often we hear about Americans who don't have faith in their Government, or see the actions of the incumbent president as a seed to tyranny, or the floundering economy as perhaps not having the resiliency it once had long ago. The question was merely about protection of ones self in the event that all hell breaks loose and the government cannot respond in time enough to stop it from becoming state, region or hell even worse nationwide. likewise, if you really believe that this country will continue to stand the test of time as a major superpower, which I respect as your opinion. I'm really not sure i would agree with that because all great civilizations rise, flourish and then fall, just look at Rome, imperial Japan, Mongolia, Ottomans, Egyptians, French, and the Greek civilizations that all had a lot of wealth and ability to cope with most any situation yet they failed because they did not take the time to recognize their inherent weaknesses. I love my country I am a patriot to the day I die but in the event we are invaded by China or Russia because we decided to engage Iran over oil or back Israel because they want to strike before they are, then I'm sure you would want to be ready as well even if that meant you were going to die, the idea we all have is an unyielding spirit and devotion toward our country it's citizens and our liberties I just want to protect those as best I can while sitting my fata** at home minding my own business until evil comes knocking at my door at which it may be too late but I will go down knowing I gave it my all and was prepared the best way I could be. All I ask for is an opinion on how anyone that responds to this thread feels about this platform at that caliber in that type of situation whether it be hunting or whatever what are your pros and cons. I mean (in essence) since you have shot this gun for hunting purposes with the properties of therein would you use it in a defensive scenario if you had enough where with all to do so?

I appreciate the input you have provided thus far

Let me make this clear. This gun is a last line of defense after a glock 17 and mossy 500. It wud b used only if i needed to bug out so i dnt care about training to infiltrate when i say training i mean learning my weapon inside and out. Knowing how to shoot under stress will definitely b the first task. This is jus my choice of rifle because its in my opinion very versatile. It has more uses than trying to infiltrate a base or encampment. The question is simple given the known advantages and disadvantages of the ar308 wud you use it in a shtf scenario. I have shot a saiga.308 so i know the inherent properties persay but not on this platform.

That actually isnt a bad idea

That was my premise for purchase. Essentially you can do more with less. And as I stated originally I plan to stay put for as long as my surroundings will allow me to.

I definity appreciate the insight you have from experience. Great write up. Will take the AR15 into consideration as I was gonna acquire one anyway later this year. The classes I did not know existed and such is worth asking. Do they offer these classes in South Florida. The ar10 as stated earlier is my last line of defense beyond a mossy with #4 buck to watch the premises. Let me ask you this. If and when i get my .308 what do u recommend i do to familiarize myself with it?

how much ammo would you recommend to start with. Also I gotta ask Have you ever thought of firing russian steel cased ammo at all?

I was thinking that as well but the reason I eluded to the Hornady Tap 110gr HP is because from my recollection it is the lightest load one can find in .308 versus a stronger soft point or FMJ I could be wrong though at any rate I'm gonna stock up on Surplus ammo particularly I have my eyes on Prvi FMJ Surplus 1000 rounds for 500or so $. What do you think?

no AR experience at the moment but I plan to train extensively once i get it so i can maximize familiarity. as far as pimpin i want to go all magpul Rifle handguard black ergo grip i actually plan to buy a pws muzzle brake as well moe stock all black since i am in a suburban environment

I'm a new guy so please forgive me: How is everyone today my name is Ja'carr and I'm from sunny South Florida. I have been doing searches on a subject that has been eating me alive in recent months and after finding this site I cannot be happier for it's existence. I have been inquiring a few friends who have extensive experience with firearms mainly the AR platform and the various issues that often arise when discussing such. OK so what's your point? As we all know this country is on the brink of collapse whether that be economically, civilly or tyrannical control by the Gov't otherwise all can be coined under a common phrase: SHTF (Sh*t Hit the Fan) I really want a AR in .308 to serve as my go to gun should the fan be traversed by bowel. Particularly I have been looking at the 1. DPMS Panther Oracle 7.62x51mm NATO 2. Bushmaster .308ORC or Mid length .308 3. or suggestions from you all I don't want a sniper rifle I just want a arm that has more energy than the .223/5.56mm. the .308 will be used tactically so engagements are only when I deem the foe to be too far outside range for a shotgun or to far to be reached effectively by a pistol perhaps outside of 30-40 yds. Anyway enough of my rambling. Here are my accepted trade-offs Recoil - I am 6'1" 270lbs so I can deal with the recoil. Ammo weight - I plan to stay put for as long as my surroundings will allow. Over penetration- I plan to purchase a massive amount of both full metal jacket( used when possible) and Hornady Tap 110grain HP so no prob there and also again note that this gun is a last line of defense but used for patrols along with a pistol. Please Help!!!! Thanks in Advance!!!