shtf rifle: sks or mini-14?

Neither. Either a .308 bolt action, or my personal choice, a .22LR semi-auto, lever action, or bolt action and a pistol in 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, or .357 Magnum.

Full auto is wasteful and much harder to control than either semi-auto or bolt-action. A .22LR can be very lethal in the right hands, and is much better for supplying the user with food in a survival situation. Deer are too big to eat in one or two days, so you'll have rotting meat after three or four days, which will likely attract predators looking for an easy meal.

A handgun in one of those chamberings will be reasonably easy to supply ammo for, and realistically a couple of boxes of ammo should last for a long time. If you're on the run for whatever reason, you don't want to get involved in running gun battles. Not only do they decrease your chances of survival, but they use up precious energy that your body needs for other things. Not only that, but if you're running from a group (enemy military, police, government heavies) there will be more of them than there are of you. Attrition will wear you down quicker than it will them.

"Red Dawn" is just a movie. Odds are, you'll be shot and killed or captured the first time you stop to fight. Better to move quietly and try to get somewhere remote enough that they won't have an easy time coming after you.

mini 14, a saiga rifle would be just as good if not better and half the price. you can get them in .223, 7.62x39, 5.45x39. and 12ga,20ga ,410ga. a rifle cost $300-$350 new and you can get 30 round mags 7.62 rifles can be modded to take ak47 mags

SKS hacked to FA because it will just end up proving Darwin right. No only would a FA be worthless (AK47s are hard enough to handle in that mode), but it would be dangerous to you and your associates.

Not knowing what king of SHTF you are fantasizing about, but if you ever end up in a running gun fight, you have already lost. I would go with the mini-14. It is lighter, easier to handle, easier to scope and newer. Additionally, .223/5.56 ammo is lighter and easier to find.

I happen to own both......

My vote is the Ruger Mini 14...... The gun is lighter and has provisions to mount a scope..... Also the ammunition weighs less that the 7.62x39MM ammo the SKS uses...... You could carry / transport more ammo if you needed to without the additional weight......

Don't misunderstand.... I like the SKS... Its a fine carbine but just because of the longer length, added weight and limited ammo you could carry I would pass on it......

I would also get a Mini 14 in blued with a wood finish..... Not the stainless.... Its too noticeable.....

http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14RanchRifle/mod...

Full Auto?....... You get caught with one of those then you will be in jail while the SHTF scenario plays out.... Your family and friends may need you so pass on the FA stuff.....

Doing a FA conversion is a pretty serious felony.

Do not attempt. Ever. Period.

Just having all of the components under the same roof can earn you a constructive possession charge.

I would go with the SKS and learn to use stripper clips.

SKS.

an stainless Mini14 will make you stick out like a sore thumb.

SKS is more reliable, less parts, easier to maintain and easier to repair.

you can also have the SKS use AK mags- there is no conversion for the Mini-14 to use M16 mags.

FA serves only to go thru your limited supply of ammo faster, it as no practical purpose. especially not in a Mini 14 or SKS- you waste too much ammo getting too little done.

The mini-14 as it is an American gun and ammo and parts are more easily attainable.

Mini-14.

Neither. Try a nice, solid bolt action .308. Simpler, inherently greater accuracy potential, and NATO ammo can always be found somewhere.