Or any rifle that looked similar, what rifles would you be into?

For what use? Range? Home defense? Hunting?

I do think some have tunnel vision towards an AR, plenty of other options. One could even get a version of a VZ-58, but still kinda similar.

A lever gun offers fairly good rates of fire, not many restrictions. The bolt action covers many bases, which I usually choose for hunting.

What do you mean "if"?

(In truth I decided on Mini-14 back when it was legal to own an un-neutered AR.)

For whatever use you choose. Garands would probably get my attention.

I’m in the same boat kkina. I live under Pritzkers bullshit rules in Il.

SIG 551.

When I lived in New York, it was a Garand.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably have a Garand.

I’m torn between an AR10 and one of those little tanker springfields.

M1A or a Garand here...or a Mini-14 if Ruger would build one that doesn't suck.

I had a Mini, which was pretty fun until I got serious about learning to shoot rifles and discovered that its mechanical accuracy was just absolutely horrendous. That's one of the few time in my life that I can honestly say that it wasn't me, it was the gun.

I'd bought the Mini because I couldn't afford a Garand and it seemed like a cheaper approach to the platform. Then I discovered the CMP, and added a couple of M1s to the safe, both of which are far better and more accurate rifles than that Mini could ever hope to be.

I miss the handiness and lighter cartridge of the Mini, but those benefits were negated by the inability to reliably hit a paper plate at 50 yards. I'm allowed to have ARs here and could easily put one together that more accurate than that for not a lot of money, so there was absolutely no reason to continue putting up with that mini's bullshit.

An M1A is still on my want list. Probably a Tanker or Scout Squad, just to have something a little handier than my Garands. But the price has made it hard to justify when I have other stuff to spend money on, and the Garands have rendered it somewhat redundant.

I've kinda been drooling over an M1A lately. But that's .308.

If I were going 5.56, either a Mini-14 or a Galil Ace, but the Ace might be too similar to an AR/M4.

Or I'd go with a Pistol Caliber Carbine.

With my HOR being NY, I've had to deal with this.

Ruger PC9 or Mini-14. The Mini 14 may not win the national match, but it's worked for PDs and Normal Folks for a number of years. My main complaint is the position of the controls, I don't like where the safety is or the mag release (I'm spoiled by my AR). I've got a PC9 I'm playing with, it's got some limitations, we'll see how it shakes out. I wish Ruger would make an OEM P320 mag adapter.

For close in work, a 12 gauge either semi or pump will put a hurting on someone. REM 870, Mossburg 590, Ithaca 37, Winchester 1300, etc. Beretta 1301, Benelli Nova, M4, etc.

When the SAFE ACT dropped and I thought that the Albany Aholes were going to try and go full stupid I picked up a Ruger Gunsite in .308. It's a nice rifle and bolt action worked for the great war. Mossburg makes a similar rifle in.223 that can take an AR mag. If you can cycle the bolt, make hits, it can be rather lethal.

If you want the cowboy motif, a Lever gun in a Pistol caliber or a .30-30 (approximates 7.63X39) can put bad guys in the ground and look heroic while doing it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CD228, July 15, 2024 01:47 PM

5.56, maybe a couple KelTec SU16s or a Mini
PCC: Probably a Scorpion. maybe a Sub2k

In an attempted order of choice.

M14, Mini 14, M1 Carbine, Garand, FN49, SKS, Remington Model 8, Ruger American .223 AR mag, Ruger Scout .308, FR-8 with trench magazine, lever actions.

M1 Garands, M1 Carbines..and some .303 Lee Enfield models.

quote:

Originally posted by JoshNC:
SIG 551.

This right there. Then a FNC. Maybe an AR70. So many quality choices.

I hadn't considered a lever gun. The AR of its day, and there are lots of good options these days; of course that applies to any firearm.

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
In an attempted order of choice.

M14, Mini 14, M1 Carbine, Garand, FN49, SKS, Remington Model 8, Ruger American .223 AR mag, Ruger Scout .308, FR-8 with trench magazine, lever actions.

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
In an attempted order of choice.

M14, Mini 14, M1 Carbine, Garand, FN49, SKS, Remington Model 8, Ruger American .223 AR mag, Ruger Scout .308, FR-8 with trench magazine, lever actions.

I had to look up the FR-8 with trench magazine, Neat!

I am with Josh and Delta. The Sig 55X. But, I do think it's outside the purview of the OP, as it does look similar to an AR.

That being said, I'd probably go for a lever gun.

Honestly I reread the OP, I posted a list of defensive rifles I would use in an “assault rifle” ban state, depending on severity of the ban. I actually don’t have a completed Garand, Model 8, or Ruger bolt action. Not for a lack of wanting though! While ARs can be interesting, I really see them as practical tools. Foreign Cold War era rifles are my interest. I have 2 FR-8 mausers, so I stuck a repro trench mag on one. It would take some work to make it reliable, shimming for length at least, fitting a G3 magazine follower and spring at most. I suppose I am lucky, I went rifle crazy when I was younger, wanting to get a collection before another assault rifle ban. Now that my state has one, the most tactical you can get is a Mini-14 with the top handguard removed. Some shops are selling fixed mag ARs, nothing is consistent.