Ultimate SHTF (side charging, folding brace 5.56) Firearm?

[OhThatGuy]

SHTF firearm...I'd venture to guess whatever weapon you have with you at such time, be it handgun, AR pistol, lever gun, walking stick, whatever. My bias would be toward a standard AR rifle of ones favored manufacturer and some additional magazines. My compliments on a very nice assortment !

Thank you and I agree, the best weapon would depend on the situation and could be rock or sharp stick in the right moment.

For a post-power grid scenario I’m thinking there could be situations where you’d want to appear unarmed, making the foldable, compact 8-11” barreled guns a good option. Once your pantry runs low it’s going to be a lot of scurrying around.

AR’s are great but I just can’t stand the charging handle location and the buffer tube. So to make my short list it’s got to be side-charging and have folding capability.

[SteyrAUG]

How is a brace unreliable?

Given the fact that I've seen some actual factory stocks fail and brake, last thing I'd want is a wonkier version of the same.

[Bret]

I would probably go with that ACE. They seem to be pretty durable. I like the Bren in theory but mine has been finicky.

These are my thoughts exactly.

[OhThatGuy]

These are my thoughts exactly.

Yeah, the Ace is no doubt bomb proof but even this shortest one is so heavy. I’m imagining a situation where you’re tired, hungry, thirsty, hot/ cold and carrying everything you own and that difference in weight might matter. Great truck gun but I’m not sure about it as something you have to wear 24/7.

[HKGuns]

This is my idea of the ultimate SHTF rifle.

No stupid side charging, no folding stock. Simple, light and effective.

[OhThatGuy]

This is my idea of the ultimate SHTF rifle.

No stupid side charging, no folding stock. Simple, light and effective.

Nice. Mine needs to fold down into a backpack without disassembly necessitating the side folding ability.

[HKGuns]

Nice. Mine needs to fold down into a backpack without disassembly necessitating the side folding ability.

I can see a use case for backpack breakdown, but when the S really hits the fan I recon the last thing I'd care about is stuffing it into a backpack.

[SteyrAUG]

Yeah, the Ace is no doubt bomb proof but even this shortest one is so heavy. I’m imagining a situation where you’re tired, hungry, thirsty, hot/ cold and carrying everything you own and that difference in weight might matter. Great truck gun but I’m not sure about it as something you have to wear 24/7.

If you're out living in Zombieland 24/7, that rubber and velcro arm brace stock is going to disintegrate into nothing.

[OhThatGuy]

If you're out living in Zombieland 24/7, that rubber and velcro arm brace stock is going to disintegrate into nothing.

Eventually it probably would but all of these guns would probably outlast their owners in a post-power grid situation.

[SteyrAUG]

Eventually it probably would but all of these guns would probably outlast their owners in a post-power grid situation.

But isn't the point to have one that is gonna survive with you if you somehow manage to survive?

I'm not saying you have to SBR every gun you own, but pick the one that you believe will be your SHTF rifle and SBR that one at least. Survival includes lot of falling down, dropping stuff and other unintended actions. This is why the military has things called "drop test" qualifiers, there isn't a single arm brace anything that is gonna meet that standard. Hell some of the commercial firearms which are copies of military rifles won't even meet that standard.

Hell even if you just have the correct stocks stashed at your buddies house just in case. Cause those arm brace things hold up like airsoft / paintball gear.