Poodles versus Grizzlies ... 10, 14, 15
I've had about three dozen of the original AR 10 Dutch made rifles, Sudanese and Portuguese models. I've also built about four dozen AR-15 rifles, of various configurations from 7" shorties to fluted heavy barreled target models. I've lost count of the M-14 rifles I've had, but probably around six doxen or so.
For an all around = SHTF rifle, my very first choice would be an 18.5" barreled original AR 10 ... IF [ and only if ] I had the necessary spare parts and extra mags to keep it running [ the original aluminium AR 10 waffle mags were a bit fragile. Unfortunately, without a time machine, this just ain't a viable choice. The original TENS are collectors now, and parts are not available.
While the original AR 10 was one of the most reliable, durable and effective practical firearms ever built, the more modern TEN clones are designed to use as many AR 15 parts as they can. This is great for parts interchangeability, but IMHO, most of these designs simply MUST compromise on some of the original design's reliability and durability.
Stoner was a genius, and the original AR 10 design in 7.62 NATO was near perfect ... scaling it down to 5.56 NATO was a less than perfect compromise, which took decades of fine tuning to fix. Scaling the new generation of AR 10 rifles back up again to use AR 15 parts, must lead to some engineering compromises.
Of course, as with all opinions expressed on the internet, your personal mileage may vary.
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The AR 15 is like an epidemic on the planet ... you can find parts for it ANYWHERE. It is also ergonomically one of the best designs out there, and after decades in use, is pretty well a mature system. So my second choice would be an AR 15, 16" barrel, with a very few mods. I once had a couple of 16" SS OGW barrels in .300 Whisper, which at the time I thought would be the ultimate solution to the AR 15 / AR 10 dilemna. I even had 1000 rds of formed .300 W brass. But eventually, I decided a non-standard caliber, like .300 Whisper, was just not viable for a SHTF tool.
Unfortunately, this means my AR 15 is now a .223 "poodle shooter", which of course compromises both the power and the range. But with 62 Gr "Zombi Loads", it is possibly the best CQB system out there [ but I wish some army would adapt .300 Whisper, make a billion rounds of the ammo, and turn the old poodle humper into a really viable SHTF gun ]
Once again, as with all opinions on the internet, your personal mileage may vary.
These days I shoot mostly M-14 type rifles. Parts are available, the design is rugged, accurate, and easily maintained. Unfortunately, my M-14s are not as fast as an AR 15 for CQB. So I guess I just can't let those Zombie sneak up to close to me. But if they do, then I suspect one round of 7.62 Nato is all the Zombi repellent I'd ever need, instead of using the infamous AR 15 Double Tap, to ensure reliable takedowns.
Just so long as I am not humping the ammo in a ruck sack, and trying to outrun the Zombie hordes, then the M-14 would be my third choice.
But where I live, I am much more likely to be eaten by a bear, than I am to be savaged by poodles or Zombis. So 7.62 NATO make the most sense for me.
Bottom line, right now I have an AR 15 AND several M-14s, and am just fine with that.
But if someone offered me an AR-10, I'd really have to think it over.
TTFN
[;{)
LAZ 1