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Old April 21, 2017, 12:07 PM   #18
44 AMP
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Join Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Upper US
Posts: 28,833
Quote:
I am wondering if it would make a good rifle for a SHTF situation because we are getting there.
As a general rule, we don't discuss TEOTWAWKI /SHTF scenarios here on TFL. If you want to talk about what to use for the zombie apockyclips or a Mad Max situation, there are other places on the web to do that.

We do discuss survival situations, and those situations where civil law & order breaks down (FOR A LIMITED TIME) due to something like a hurricane, flood, earthquake (volcano??) or something similar.

A Russian infantry rifle, designed before 1900, will work as well as any other centerfire rifle will, though the specifics of the MN design make it less convenient, and more awkward than other designs.

IF, by "survival rifle" you mean living off the land, there are better choices than a full power .30 caliber military arm, but it will serve, and if you are a handloader, you can create suitable "small game" ammo. OF course, to be useful, you'd have to have that ammo with you....

All of the European military rifles of that era shoot high at 100yds. It's intentional. Many of them were built to be zeroed at 300 meters, and doctrine of the day was that soldiers were taught to aim for the enemy's belt buckle.

A long range zero, and aiming for the middle of the enemy meant that a mis-estimation of the range (which soldiers do, a LOT) still usually resulted in a torso hit (somewhere).

The 91/30 was intended to survive use by peasant conscripts in combat, and the fact that they are still around today proves they did. Odds are you'll have to work at it to seriously damage the gun. SO, as a survival tool that will take a beating and still keep going, something that will stop deer for food and stop predators (2 or 4 legs) it will work.

There are lots of other rifles that will do those jobs as well, or better, both milsurp and civilian design, but if you are adequate to the task, the 91/30 will serve respectably.
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