In most areas, I’m a believer in the practice of Keeping It “Stupid Simple” (K.I.S.S.). No where is this concept more important than in your weapons selection for defensive use. Primary considerations for a defensive weapon is reliability, durability, power, accuracy and availability of ammunition, spare parts and accessories like mags, optics and their mounts.
Having full size and compact pistols that have similar controls and of the same caliber are helpful, and having magazine and parts compatibility is an even bigger plus. Just like your pistols, having a “Battle Rifle” (Chambered for full size rifle cartridges like 7.62N/.308 Winchester) and “Assault Rifle” (Chambered for intermediate rifle cartridges like 5.56N/.223 Remington) that are similar in overall feel in use with similar controls is also very important.
Similar or identical controls (safety, magazine release, etc.), grip placement, iron sight type, optics/reticle type and accessories placement can be very beneficial, not only when you train, but when you need to use them in a defensive situation (That’s why you train, right?).
Readers and people who know me, understand that I’m not a fan of the .223/5.56, and I would rather have something other than an AR-15 system. That being said, I think a Survivalist would be foolish to select any .223/5.56 rifle other than an AR-15 variant, or at the very least, have one available for use, just due to the sheer availability of spare parts and accessories, not to mention, it is the military’s issued rifle at this time.
If you select an AR-15 for your “Intermediate” defensive rifle, then that makes it easy to select a .308/7.62N caliber rifle, due to the availability of all the AR-10’s on the market, right? Wrong! Few AR-10 types, on the market, have parts interchangeability or availability, due to the many variants created by different manufacturers. The versions that I would consider for defensive use are piston guns, and those, making the “Cut” (LWRC, HK, SIG, etc.), are ridiculously priced. In the end, I want a design that has shown that it is “Combat Proven”.
So where do we turn if we have an AR-15, but don’t want an AR-10 type rifle in .308? Two rifles immediately come to mind. First is the FN FAL, and second, the G3/HK91. The FAL comes to mind, due to the AR-15 like positioning and manipulation required for disengaging the safety (the most important control to have similarity of function).
Other than that, the FAL controls are nothing like the AR-15, and surplus parts and accessories available for the FAL have dropped off, with the most important accessory, magazines being harder to find, and not cheap, like they once were.
The G3 rifle has the safety in the same location as the AR-15, with the same movement manipulation required for disengagement. The right side, button style, magazine release on the HK91/PTR91, although a stretch, is similar to the AR-15 in location and manipulation, especially for left handers, of which I am one.
The HK G3 (Not the semi-auto HK91) and the PTR91 variant both have the paddle mag release as well as the button, which makes it similar to the AK and the M14 rifles. Charging handles on the AR-15 and the G3 have no similarity, and honestly, the G3’s charging handle is better positioned than the AR type, any day of the week (Charge the AR from the prone with your weak hand and tell me how great the AR charging handle is).
So if we pick the PTR91 rifle to have alongside our AR-15, how can we make the accessories like lights and IR lasers operate identically on both rifles? In my case, I had already put a Midwest Industries Mlok forearm on my PTR91,so how do I make a regular M4 type 16″ barreled upper, with the short carbine handguard anywhere near the same as the PTR91 set up?
Well, since I needed my short handguard upper for another project, I bought a PSA 16″ upper with the 13.5″ Midwest Industries Mlok free float forearm (This is the complete rifle). I have several PSA products, from 5.56 AR’s to 5.45 and 7.62 AK’s, and they have all proven to be reliable, durable and accurate, and I expected nothing less from this upper.
I was able to position the Holosun LS117IR IR laser (AA) and the Streamlight Protac 1 weapon light (AA), on the AR-15 in the same locations as the Steiner OTAL-C IR laser (AA) and Protac 1, sit on my PTR91. I also mounted the pressure pad controls in the same spots on both the AR-15 and the PTR91’s handguards.
I finished off the rifle handguards by placing a short vertical grip in the same location on both rifles, in reference to the locations of the pressure pads. I do this so I don’t mistake one pad for the other, because you shouldn’t need to look at those controls when you’re using you rifle, correct?
Note: There are those who discount or outright are against pressure switches and forward grips on rifles, and are thought to be the “Experts”, concerning these things, because “Combat”. “Experts” are a dime a dozen in regards to firearms, especially with accessories. To the combat experienced, “Experts”, I’ll say this, like them, while in combat, I also used pressure switches on a light and IR laser, as well as a forward grip on my rifle, and the only problem I had was with the forward grip, and only because it was too long (Easily caught on things like vehicle hatches).
The forward grips I use now are shorter, more durable, and with a stronger attachment point, than those I used in Iraq. As long as the pressure pads are a mil spec type/version (Some are not), they will work fine. If they are that much of a problem, do what I did and BUY EXTRAS. You should do that anyway, right?
If you’ve trained realistically, you will know whether your accessories will stand up to hard use or not. Do what suits you best, but put in the time to see what works. In the end, disregard the noise from those who feel a need to be considered relevant.
As you can see from the pics of the two rifles this post concerns, the safeties and mag releases are in the same location, although the PTR91’s mag button is a stretch for most right handers. Another thing I added to the AR-15 is a set of HK416 sights. these sight give the same sight picture and rear sight adjustment as the PTR91. I’ve always like the HK rifle sights better than others, and this was an easy decision to make.
As you can see in the pics, the optics are the same Primary Arms 3x Micro Prism with the ACSS Raptor reticle, on a quick release American Defense mount. The ACSS Raptor works for both the .223 and .308 the same, and it’s illuminated. For the money, Primary Arms makes the best optics on the market. If I could choose only one optic for an “End of the World” survival rifle, it would be the 3x Micro Prism, not a variable, due to the Prism optic’s robustness.
I tipped both rifles with Smith Enterprises Vortex flash suppressors. In my experience, these have the best flash suppression on the market, and they aren’t nearly as expensive as many other name brands versions.
Both rifles have the standard factory collapsible stocks for their model and design. I like being able to make a long gun more compact when not in use, but want a stock that is easy to deploy if it’s needed in a hurry, and they both are.
How many long guns should you have on your “Ready Rack”? At a minimum, a semi-auto defense rifle in an “Intermediate” or “Full Size” cartridge. A long range, semi-auto or bolt action rifle in a “Full Size” (.308 Win) or “Big Bore” (300 Win Mag or .338 Lapua) cartridge. A high capacity (7 rounds or more) 12 gauge “Riotgun” (We’ll talk about these options in another post) for any smooth bore needs. Finally, an accurate .22LR for small game.
My personal choices are an “Intermediate” caliber semi-auto (AR-15 above), a “Full size” caliber semi-auto, set up as a combat rifle (PTR91 above), a long range, semi-auto in a “Full size” cartridge (The PTR91 with a long range optic in this post), a Savage 110 Precision, (Big bore) in .338 Lapua, a 9-shot Mossberg 590 pump shotgun, and a Ruger 10/22 .22LR.
Six long guns that give you the broadest choices for any firearms long gun needs. Con you take it all with you on a “Bug Out”? Of course not. But a “Bug Out” should be the “C” in your PACE plan at best, unless you’re in a big city, then, your choices are very limited on weaponry anyway, right? Options are important.
JCD,
The Bushbastard
Mason Dixon Survivalist Association 