Firearms for Preppers, ... Semi-Auto Rifles

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Last article, I highlighted the most common military bolt-action rifles from Russia, Great Britain, Germany, and these United States. This article, I will highlight the military-type semi-auto rifles commonly available to the prepper/survivalist.

Prices were found at Gun Broker. Magazine prices were found from various places on the internet.


SKS

SKS Rifle
by
BigBattles, cropped and retouched by Atirador

The SKS rifle was built, primarily, by the soviets and the Communist Chinese. It has a 10 round internal magazine that can be loaded with a stripper clip or individual rounds. The rifle fires the 7.62X39 cartridge, same as the AK-47.

Price: $300 to $500 Magazines: 10 round internal


AK-47 series Rifle

Soviet AK-47, first model variation
by
Cpl. D.A. Haynes

The AK-47, I am writing about is the semi-auto rifle you will most likely find in your nieghbors' hands or the local gun shop. It is a variation of the AKM rifle used by/against every nation on this planet.

Note:
Yeah, yeah, I know it's a little technical, but my point is if you have a "real" AK-47, you better have the $200 federal tax stamp to go with the rifle, or you're going to prison.

The AK-47 series of rifles uses a 30-round magazine. There are some less common (kind'a rare) 20-round magazines for the rifle. The AK-47 rifle fires the 7.62X39 cartridge, just like the SKS rifle.

Price: $475 to $1.000 Magazines: $10 to $20 each




CETME and HK-91

CEMTE B
by
Muretperplagun

Retractable and fixed stock versions of the H&K G3 rifle
by
Edmond Huet, DCB Shooting

The CETME and G-3 are basically older brother (CETME) and younger brother (G-3) The   civilian version of the G-3 is the HK-91. 'Real' HK-91s run in the $2.000+ range. A variation that is less expensive is the PTR-91 rifle. All the rifles use a 20-round magazine.

The CETME can use CETME magazines or inexpensive G-3 magazines (aluminum or steel), but the HK-91 can't use CETME magazines.

Price: CETME $600, HK-91 $1.600+, PTR-91 $1.150 Magazines: CETME $9.00, HK-91 $2.50 each


FN FAL

German G1 Rifle
by
Kevin Murray

Belgian FN FAL
by
Atirador

FN FAL
by
Joe Loong

British L1A1
by
Jan Hrdonka

The FNFAL was used by about 90 nations. With all these countries using the FN FAL there are basically two variations, inch and metric. The inch pattern rifle was used by the British Commonwealth solider, and the metric version was used by everyone else.

The FN FAL fires the 7.62 NATO cartridge and has a 20 round magazine. There are 25 round and 30 round magazines available.

Oh yeah, according to Boston's Gun Bible, the FN FAL is #2 to the ...

Price: $1.000 to $2.000+ Magazines: $15 to $30 each


M1A

M1A Rifle with Bayonet
by
Kafziel

The M1A is the semi-auto version of the M-14 rifle. It uses a 20-round magazine, and it fires the 7.62 NATO cartridge.

Price: $1.500 to $2.500+ Magazines: $20 to $50 each


LAR-8, SR-25, AR-10, and ...

AR-10 T
by
Martin Lotz

These are the bastard 'big' brothers of the AR-15/M-16 series of rifles. They all fire the 7.62 NATO cartridge.

And,

The various rifles are all different and most (if not all) parts are non-interchangeable between each model of rifle. Plus, they all use a different magazine.

So,

They suck for the prepper planning to be able to access a large pool of spare parts and inexpensive magazines like the ...

Price:


AR-15

AR-15 A3 Tactical Carbine
by
Stag1500

The AR-15 rifle is the semi-auto version of the rifle carried by these United States' military, M-16 rifle and M-4 carbine. Parts are plentiful and magazines are inexpensive. Plus, it is an easy to shoot rifle with a light recoil for most shooters.

The fires the 5.56 NATO cartridge. There are 20 and 30-round magazines for the rifle.

Price: $750 to $1.500 Magazines: $10 to $20 each


Mini-14

Ruger Mini-14
by
LWF

The Ruger Mini-14 rifle is, basically, a scaled down version of the M-14. The rifle fires the 5.56 NATO cartridge. Normally, 10-round magazines are provided with the rifle. 20-round magazines are available at $40ish a piece.

Price: $500 to $800 Magazines: $35 to $50 each


M1 Garand

M1 Garand with Three En-bloc clips
by
Curiosandrelics

The M1 Garand is a WWII era rifle. It shoots the 30.06 cartridge, same as the 1903 rifle.


Price: $600 to $1.000 Magazine: Uses an En Bloc Clip $1.00 to $1.50 each



Links:

SKS Rifle

Wikipedia - SKS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SKS


AK-47 Rifle

Wikipedia - AK-47
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47

Wikipedia - AKM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AKM

Wikipedia - WASR series rifles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WASR_series_rifles


CETME/HK-91/PTR-91 Rifle

Wikipedia - CETME
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CETME_rifle

Wikipedia - HK G3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G3

Wikipedia - PTR 91F
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PTR_91F


FN FAL Rifle

Wikipedia - FN FAL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_FAL

Wikipedia - L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L1A1_Self-Loading_Rifle


M1A Rifle

Wikipedia - M-14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M14_rifle

Wikipedia - M1A Rifle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1A_rifle


LAR-8, SR-25, AR-10, and ...

Wikipedia - SR-25
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR-25

Wikipedia - AR-10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-10


AR-15 Rifle

Wikipedia - M-16 Rifle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle

Wikipedia - AR-15
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15


Mini-14 Rilfe

Wikipedia - Mini-14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_14


M1 Garand

Wikipedia - M1 Garand
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Garand

Link Dump, 4

Welcome Preppers and Survivalists,

For what it's worth

io9 - A booklist to get you ready for the economic apocalypse
http://io9.com/5829417/a-booklist-to-get-you-ready-for-the-economic-apocalypse

Billlls Idle Mind - Bringing Someone Along
http://billllsidlemind.blogspot.com/2011/05/bringing-someone-along.html

The Arctic Patriot - Staying Warm: Nuts and Bolts: Sleeping
http://arcticpatriot.blogspot.com/2011/02/staying-warm-nuts-and-bolts-sleeping.html

Accept The Challenge - Homemade MREs
http://www.bisonrma.blogspot.com/2010/03/homemade-mres.html

From Chasing the Crown to Chasing Chickens - Food Storage on $5.00 a week
http://www.chasingthecrowntochasingchickens.blogspot.com/2011/02/food-storage-on-500-week.html

Farm Dreams - Farming, Homesteading, Survival and Prepping Blogs
http://www.farm-dreams.com/page/other-blogs

Wednesday: 15 February 2012, Part Three

Welcome Preppers and Survivalists,

Food, Food, and More Food ... But How Much?
Food prices are going up, and they will probably go higher as fuel prices increase.

So,

You and your family need to store more food, soon.

But,

How much?

Link:
About.com: Latter-day Saints - Food Storage Calculator
http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm


But, What Do I Do With All That Food? ... Sprout It!
Angela, over at Food Storage and Survival, has two wonderful articles on using some of your family's long-term food storage by sprouting it.

Link:
Food Storage and Survival - Seven Preparedness Benefits of Sprouting
http://foodstorageandsurvival.com/seven-preparedness-benefits-of-sprouting/

and

Food Storage and Survival - Sprouting Basics: What You’ll Need
http://foodstorageandsurvival.com/sprouting-basics-what-youll-need/

Wednesday: 15 February 2012, Part Two

Welcome Preppers and Survivalists,

Loose Lips Sink ... Survivalists
The next article, I would like to point out, is from The Survivalist Blog. It's a guest post by E. Evans about OPSEC.

Link:
The Survivalist Blog - Guest Post: Security of Information: Or how not to blow your OPSEC (operational security)
http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/opsec-operational-security/


You Want Me to Bring ... What?
I like the next article, by Bitsy Pieces for two reasons. First, it's a good start on a list, for friends and family, of what to bring, If they're coming to your house. Second, the list gives you a start on your own list of what you might want to store and/or take with you.

Link:
The Survivalist Blog - Guest Post: Checklist for Refugees Post-SHTF
http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/checklist-for-refugees-post-shtf/


Tactical Tealight
Lastly, Riverwalker writing at Stealth Survival has a post on ...

Oops, the title gave it away ; - )

P.S.
Make sure to read the comments; there are some good ideas by Riverwalker's readers.

Link:
Stealth Survival - Simple Survival Gear: Tactical Tealights
http://www.stealthsurvival.blogspot.com/2012/02/simple-survival-gear-tactical-tealights.html

Wednesday: 15 February 2012

Welcome Preppers and Survivalists,

The Devil is in the Details
The how-to article is short and sweet, but doing it may take a few years.

Link:
eHow - How to Live Off 1 Acre of Land
http://www.ehow.com/how_5934505_live-off-acre-land.html


Another Use for Index Cards
It is important to keep a spare set of glasses on hand, just in case, in your bug-out bag. One inexpensive method is to save your old set of glasses every time you get a new pair.

But,

What happens if you can't get to them? They are destroyed? or ...

Link:
io9 - Make a Pair of Glasses from Index Cards
http://io9.com/5545142/make-a-pair-of-glasses-from-index-cards


Did You See That?
Thanks to Say Uncle for the link.

Link:
San Francisco Chronicle - 'Spotting Concealed Weapons and Profiling' is Covered in the Recent Absolute Rights Newsletter
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/02/07/prweb9176132.DTL

Weekly Dose of Doom and Gloom

Welcome Preppers and Survivalists,

Finances and Shipping
One of the ways you and your family can tell bad weather is coming is by looking at the sky. If the day starts out clear and by nightfall, the sky is very cloudy, it will probably rain, tomorrow.

In financial speak, the cloudy sky is a leading indicator.

Well,

It seems the Baltic Dry Index is declining.

Link:
BlackListed News - Why is Global Shipping Slowing Down so Dramatically?
http://www.blacklistednews.com/Why_Is_Global_Shipping_Slowing_Down_So_Dramatically%3F_/17833/0/0/0/Y/M.html


War and Rumours of War
As rumours of armed intervention in Syria increase, the president calling for war with Iran, and ... we need to remember this quote

"... they didn't recognize their homes when they returned. The vegetation was burnt to the ground, their villages razed."

Link:
Speigel: Online - A Dream Island Littered with Deadly Relics
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,813883,00.html

and

Speigel: Online - Photo Gallery: Revisiting Peleliu's Bloody Past
http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-78338.html


Death and Taxes
There's an old joke about death and taxes. Well, it seems it's still true for at least one of them.

Link:
Daily Finance - Why Your 2012 Tax Bill May Jump By $8,000
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/02/03/why-your-2012-tax-bill-may-jump-by-8-000/


Lastly, A Funny, or is It?
From Say Uncle.

Link:
Pinterest.com - 2012 US Government Terrorist Identification Chart
http://pinterest.com/pin/58335757643140400/

Firearms for Preppers, ... Bolt Action Rifles

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

These articles (here, too) are an overview of the most common military-type firearms available to the prepper/survivalist. I will provide links (in the links section) for more information.

Prices ranges for the rifles, I found at Gun Broker. Price for ammunition was ... later


Mosin-Nagant Rifle

Mosin Nagant series of rifles
by
Antique Military Rifles

From Top to Bottom

1. Model 1891
2. Model 1891 "Dragoon"
3. Model 1907 Carbine
4. Model 1891/30
5. Model 1891/30 with 3.5x PU scope.
6. Model 1938 Carbine
7. Model 1944 Carbine
8. Model 1959 Carbine







The Mosin-Nagant series of rifles have been around for over 100 years. The rifles were primarily manufactured by the Russian and soviets (after they took over). The rifle shoots a 7.62x54mmR cartridge.

Price: $75 to $200

Lee-Enfield Rifle

Lee Enfield Mk I (1903)
by
Armémuseum
(The Swedish Army Museum)

Lee-Enfield Mk III (No 1 Mk 3)
by
Armémuseum
(The Swedish Army Museum)

Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk.1 (1944)
by
Victor

Lee-Enfield No. 5 MKI "Jungle Carbine
by
www.adamsguns.com

Rifle 7.62mm 2A1 (1966)
by
Commander Zulu

The Lee-Enfield series of rifles have been around for over 100 years, in various configurations. They were manufactured by the British, and some Commonwealth countries, from just before WWI to just after WWII. The rifles shoots .303 cartridges.

There is an exception, the Rifle 7.62mm 2A/2A1. These rifles were made by the Indians, in the 1960s, and the rifle shoots a 7.62 NATO cartridge.

Price: $200 to $500+


Mauser M-1898 Rifle

Mauser M98 Rifle with Bayonet (1905)
by
Vaarok

German Gewehr 98 (1916)
by
Adams Guns

Karabiner 98K in mint condition (1940)
by
Armémuseum
(The Swedish Army Museum)

Yugoslavian M48: version of the German K98
by
Antique Military Rifles

Polish Wz 29: version of the German K98
by
Antique Military Rifles

Spanish FR 8
by
Klewitz-Shotgun

The Mauser 1898 series of rifle were primarily manufactured by the Germans, during WWI and WWII. The M1898 is the most advanced design of the Mauser series of rifles. The German version of the rifle shoots a 8x57mm JS (8mm Mauser) cartridge.

There were some Mauser M1898s that are designed to shoot 7.62 NATO. I know of one rifle the Spanish FR-8. The Israelis converted (rebarreled) their '98 rifles to shoot the 7.62 NATO cartridge.

Price: $250 to $750+


Springfield 1903 and 1903A1 Rifle

Rifle Springfield 1903

Rifle Springfield 1903A1

Rifle Springfield M1903A3

The Springfield 1903 series of rifle was introduced by these United States just before WWI. The rifle shoots the 30-06 Springfield cartridge.

Price: $500 to $1.000+

Note: Sporterized rifles are are a lot cheaper, $300


Links:

Mosin-Nagant Rifle

Wikipedia - Mosin–Nagant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosin-Nagant


Lee-Enfield Rifle

Wikipedia - Lee-Enfield
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee-Enfield

Wikipedia - Ishapore 2A1 rifle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishapore_2A1_rifle


Mauser M-1898 Rifle

Wikipedia - Mauser: Model 1898
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauser#Model_1898

Wikipedia - FR-8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FR-8


M1903 Springfield Rifle

Wikipedia - M1903 Springfield
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_1903