by JIR, SurvivalBlog

For budget preppers, I think the Enfield bolt action rifle is an excellent choice for a main battle rifle. Most of them are British weapons chambered for .303, which is an obsolete caliber. I don’t recommend a .303 weapon, but it would be perfectly adequate if you could get ammunition. A better choice is the Ishapore 2A1 rifle. It’s a redesigned Lee Enfield SMLE Mk III (one of the best rifles ever issued to an army) but chambered for 7.62×51 (7.62 NATO) and has a 10 or 12 round magazine. (The later production 2A1s have a 12 round magazine. Mine both do). This is a no-nonsense weapon in competent hands and fit for serious business.

A little known feature of the Enfield SMLE family of weapons is the speed sight, which also makes a pretty good night sight. These rifles have a U shaped post or frame around both the rear and front sights. If you paint these posts with white or luminous paint, you can quickly index the rifle in almost complete darkness. The posts are large and easy to see. It works as well as most night sights and it’s free.

Other than painting the night posts to increase visibility, I don’t suggest modifying this rifle in any way. It’s a fine weapon just like it is. One of it’s few faults is that mounting a scope is not very easy or neat because it was not designed for that. Most scopes also interfere with the capability to feed from clips. If you want to modify it much and “trick it out”, you will probably be happier with a modern rifle. Right out of the box, the SMLE is pretty nice, but it’s not easy to improve.

The 2A1 is fairly heavy at roughly 10 pounds loaded with a sling, and it kicks slightly harder than a .303 SMLE (or a M1A for that matter), but it feels and shoots almost the same as the SMLE. Here is why I love it:

• It fires 7.62 NATO rounds. They are standardized and easy to get. Because it has a gentle bolt action, It will also shoot .308 civilian ammunition with no danger of a slam-fire. Some .308 rounds are reportedly a little hot for a 7.62 NATO rifle, but the tolerances of the Ishapores are pretty generous. I have never heard of an actual case of one being damaged in any way by firing .308 rounds. I routinely fire .308 factory loads and reload the brass. I have never noted any signs of too much pressure or deformed brass from the chamber dimensions.
• All SMLE load from stripper clips. This is a very powerful feature that was once considered mandatory for a military rifle, but it’s mostly a forgotten loading method these days. The original SMLE uses 5 round charger clips, but you can get 10 round (M-14) clips for the nato rounds and they fit the Ishapore perfectly. NcStar .308 stripper clips are available on Amazon, cost 13 dollars for 20 clips and work well in the Ishapore. Once you get used to using clips, the 2A1 reloads very fast and the sustained rate of fire using clips and the Enfield action is excellent. While not as fast as an automatic, it is still pretty good. With practice an average shooter can maintain 20 rounds per minute of accurate fire until the rifle catches fire from the heat. You can shoot twice that fast for a short string. BTW, the speed record for a bolt action rifle is held by the SMLE. Check out this article. It’s not made very clear in this article, but the standard was 15 hits in one minute on a 12 inch round target at 200 yards (not 300 yards). Every recruit in 1914 had to be able to do at least that well. The real pros were twice that fast. In competent hands, this is a real killer.
  I have trained with these rifles and I am confident in their ability to hold their own in a gunfight. I can sustain well over 20 rounds per minute and hold every one within a E-silhouette target at 200m with absolute surety (I can’t do very much better with an automatic). This may not sound like very good shooting, but you should try it with your choice of weapons. I consider it more than adequate. I carry a 2A1 in preference to my M1A (which is also no slouch). After training with it for a while, the SMLE rifle just feels good to me.
• 3. It is very accurate. If you take your time and really aim, you can hit about anything you can see using only iron sights. Most of the models I have fired are around 1 MOA right from the arsenal, which is better than I can shoot. The sights are excellent and adjustable out to 800 meters (and that’s no lie! It will reach out that far accurately enough to kill someone’ in a few rounds if they don’t take some serious cover.
• 4. It’s super tolerant of dirty or old ammunition. It always shoots. If you reload, you can load light loads for small game. (Warning: Be careful to use a safe load , as very light cast lead loads can leave a bullet lodged in the bore, which might then cause a virtual detonation if followed up by another shot!). I use a 120 grain cast lead bullet and 5 grains of Unique and the report is about the same as an air rifle. If you don’t reload, you can buy a chamber adapter for .32 auto and shoot commercial ammunition with similar results. The 70 grain Speer loads sound like an air rifle and don’t destroy small game too badly.
• 5. It’s cheap to own a complete weapon system. You can still get one for around 200 bucks and since you don’t have to buy scopes and rings to have a good weapon, there are no hidden costs. Clips are dirt-cheap and can be left loaded for eternity without damage. I suggest a shoulder bag to carry clips of ammunition. This is much cheaper than web gear and maybe more convenient and faster. You can use the money you save to buy more ammunition…you will need it.

So, what’s the catch? Here it is, and it’s a big one. You have to train with this rifle. It doesn’t shoot itself. You have to manually chamber each round and then get back on target. You also have to practice reloading from charger clips to develop any kind of speed. Get some dummy rounds (at least 20 if you are serious) and dry fire it until you can do it in your sleep. Load and fire thousands of times from the standing, kneeling and prone positions. Aim your rifle at a distant target each time you dry fire it and concentrate on marksmanship and speed. Then take it to the range and do it with live rounds. This is no M16 that can be trained using only a couple of hundred live rounds. You will need a thousand at least.

I wouldn’t feel under-dressed carrying a 2A1 in a gunfight unless it happens at extreme close range. Even then, it’s hard to feel too outgunned carrying a SMLE. It’s a very solid, reliable shooting platform that will never let you down. Having used a M16 and variants in the Army, I love the solid, feel of the SMLE. If you are on a budget and can’t afford a quality automatic, scope, and lots of magazines, the 2A1 (or even a .303 SMLE or No4 rifle) gives you the ability to buy a complete weapon system for a fifth the price. The 2A1 is (IMHO) a viable choice for a survival MBR.

by Michael Gaddy

While anyone with an elementary knowledge of firearms recognizes the advantages of a handgun for concealed and close quarters defense use, the time where a battle rifle could be used for self-defense is rapidly approaching. The size and weight of a handgun provides many advantages but these factors also become a liability if one is forced to defend themselves at a distance of more than a few yards. While there exist handguns used for hunting and target shooting, those are not usually carried or used for self-defense and their effective range is still limited, especially when compared to a battle rifle.

Everyone, with the possible exception of those who still believe answers to our financial woes can be found within the democrat or republican paradigm, know that eventually those economic issues will lead to chaos in this country. When that happens, some 40 million plus who have been told by politicians that they are “entitled” to the property of others will use whatever means available to forcibly take that which they want. The logical scenario will see these folks banding together, most likely in roving bands. They will use numbers and force to steal what others who have seen this coming have set aside for themselves and their loved ones. This criminal activity very possibly could happen with the blessing of the government, for those who are stockpiling food, water, guns and ammunition are already being demonized. The Lever Act of 1917 gave government control over food and fuel storage amounts; it can and will happen again.

Using the events that occurred after Hurricane Katrina as a template, one can see that those who were armed were able to secure themselves and their property on several occasions by simply displaying a firearm when confronted by these roving bands of criminals. Of course after this happened the government moved to forcibly disarm law-abiding citizens. Simply stated, the criminals in government moved to protect their brotherhood among the street gangs and criminal element by disarming law-abiding citizens. This explains in vivid detail why the government continually seeks to disarm the public: it is easier to steal from and enslave those who are unarmed. Considering the police in New Orleans became thieves themselves continues to blur the distinction between government employees and thieves.

Several factors should go into the selection of a battle rifle; there are many platforms and calibers available and strong consideration should be given to the environment in which one believes they will operate when events lead to chaos in this country. What is the maximum range one can actually see and determine if a possible target is a threat? Is one’s environment urban or rural? Is there a chance the environment could be fluid due to attempts to move about in both environs? What is the experience level with rifles and engaging targets at distance?

Bolt-action rifles are more inherently accurate at long-range than semi-autos, especially in the larger calibers. Semi-auto rifles offer greater firepower and magazine capacity as a rule. Lever action rifles are accurate and shoot well at short to medium range, (200 yards max) mainly due to caliber selection. If one were to determine the maximum range at which they believe they would encounter someone bent on mayhem at 300 yards or less, lever guns and smaller calibers could suffice. Consideration should also be given into the amount of time a person is willing or able to devote to practice. To master a battle rifle at distances over 400 yards requires a great deal of time, effort, and projectiles down range. I have been shooting long-range battle rifles for over 50 years and certainly do not consider myself a master.

For the great majority of people interested in a battle rifle I suggest the AR-15 platform for several reasons. The platform is extremely accurate for a semi-auto. Five shot groups at 100 yards measuring less than an inch are certainly not uncommon with this rifle with some quality time at the range. Extreme accuracy can be expected if one is willing to spring for an upper designed for that type shooting. If this tweaks your interest, check out White Oak Precisionhere. When one thinks of an AR-15, usually the immediate thought as to caliber is the 5.56 NATO round or the .223. What I consider to be the greatest advantage is the number of calibers available in this platform with the purchase of an “upper” in different calibers which can easily and simply be attached to your existing AR-15 lower. While I consider the .223 round to be marginal for a self-defense round, the firepower, accuracy and availability of ammo makes it a must-have. There are a wide variety of uppers in different calibers, many of which can be found here. This gives the shooter the capability of several calibers with the purchase of only the basic AR-15 lower assembly. My personal choice for the off-the-shelf AR platform is Rock River Arms. I have a Rock River lower with uppers in .223 and .458 SOCOM. As previously stated the .223 for accuracy and ammo availability and the .458 for sheer knockdown power out to 200 yards. Due to the availability and price of the ammo to feed the .458, I reload my own. I like this combination for I can use the same magazines for .458 that I use for the .223. For those who choose to have some longer range capabilities for their AR platform I recommend the 6.8X43 or6.5 Grendel calibers, which provide longer-range capabilities. With the new available ammunition and for those who reload, the Grendel gets the nod in my estimation.

While the original platform for the AR was the AR-10 in .308, uppers and lowers for this weapon are not interchangeable with the AR-15 platform. The AR-10 is a fine choice for those who like the AR but desire the versatility of the 7.62X51/.308 round. Also available is the FN/FAL configuration. This too is a fantastic rifle with great dependability and accuracy.

My personal choice in a battle rifle in .308 caliber is the M1A made by Springfield. I own more than one with full size and carbine versions known as the M1A SOCOM, which has a 16″ barrel and composite stock. The .308 is a most effective round out to 800 yards and beyond with an accomplished rifleman. Again, this caliber and platform is harder to master than the AR platform in .223. While the ideal situation is to have a caliber and platform in which one could engage an adversary at a greater distance than they could engage you, being able to hit that target is of primary importance. Again, a couple of hits with a .223 are far superior to 8 misses with a .308.

If one is available, a M1 Garand is also a very effective battle rifle. While limited in firepower due to the 8-round “clip,” the 30-06 caliber is very effective at ranges up to 1000 yards and has been battle tested for almost a century. Owning an original M1 Garand allows one to own a piece of history and a fine battle rifle as well.

Of course there is the choice of the venerable AK-47. Packing more knockdown power than the AR-15 in .223 and at greater range, it is the favorite choice of many. At one time the cost of the firearm and the availability of cheap ammo made this a great choice. The increase in price of both the weapon and ammo over the past couple of years now brings this choice into the price range of the AR platform. The discussion of which weapons platform (AR/AK) is the best battle rifle began over 40 years ago and is still the subject of some great conversations.

Having the ability and the equipment to engage, at distance, roving bands of criminals who are bent on stealing, confiscating and imposing their will on others could prove an invaluable asset in the coming months. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

While this article should provide some basics on selection of equipment for long range shooting, the challenges are many if one seeks to become proficient with such equipment. To that end, I am teaming up with a friend and fellow long-range shooter, Mr. James Lawson, in a series of articles dealing with optics, ballistics, bullet trajectories, wind, temperature, relative humidity and shooting uphill and downhill for those who are interested. The first of these offerings should appear shortly.

Folks, this is one of the best reviews of Boston’s seminal work I’ve ever read.  If you don’t already have a copy of Boston’s Gun Bible, I suggest you get one sooner rather than later.  Whether you’re a gun nut or new to firearms, it’s one of the greatest books you’ll read.  -Aaron

by Terence Gillespie

I’ve just read Boston T. Party’s Gun Bible and it transformed my thoughts and skills in the areas of liberty and self-defense more than any book I’ve read. William Buppert’s energizing article, Arm Thyself, left me scrambling to obtain a copy and I thank him for setting me on such a fruitful path.

My enthusiasm for the book came from being out of balance. Most of the effort of “Arming myself” in the past 15 years has been spiritual, intellectual or emotional. Like most, I place a higher value on avoiding physical confrontations than performing well within them. But, the time has come to bring physical preparation into line with the spiritual and intellectual. Mr. Party’s Bible has been the right “tool” for that job.

While no beginner to self-defense or liberty my premises and beliefs in the physical aspects of these areas were disassembled, investigated and reassembled into a higher state by reading (and acting on) the authors’ advice.

The book is an entertaining nonfiction reference book (yes, such a creature exists!) written by a guy with a knack for putting things simply. Take its 848-page size as an indication of its value. The author gets right to the point and covers a lot of ground.

The Basics

Prior to discussing the first rifle (the authors’ passion) there’s a normal size book of material on:

• Safety & Handling
• Self-defense & The Law
• Tactics & Training
• Women & Guns

Reading this “introductory” material it’s obvious the author is one thorough gun advocate. He takes no shortcuts, every subject is addressed head on and I found myself scribbling little to-do lists in the margins.

Picking a small section out of “Tactics & Training” Mr. Party tells where he believes guns fit on the “Force Continuum.” It should go without saying to this audience that the “Force” Boston is referring to is defensive, not initiated.

Force Continuum

Mr. Party recommends using these tools & tactics (in this order) before using a gun:

1. Avoidance
2. Guile & Wit
3. Verbal warnings & Profanity
4. Sly escape
5. Pepper spray
6. Baton
7. Hand-to-hand combat

If you’ve tried all this and are still facing threat of death or great bodily harm then you’re exhausted and at the losing end of a series of failures. What reasonable man would question the use of a gun, at this point?

Using a gun may not mean firing a gun. According to Gary Kleck, a criminologist from Florida State University, Guns prevent an estimated 2.5 million crimes a year, or 6,849 per day. There was a study done on police encounters involving a gun and the avg. number of shots fired was 2.3 over 40,000 encounters. Although I’ve seen no formal study I suspect the number of shots fired per “civilian” encounter is also quite low.

Sure, guns are fascinating. But, Mr. Party’s gun bible has the appropriate use of these tools in perfect perspective. Perhaps this is why his urgent advice to acquire and learn about them is so “disarming.”

“Only Rifles Can Win Wars”

We hear military types say that “Boots on the Ground” are needed to occupy and control territory. Boston would add that they’d better have rifles and know how to use them.

With all the high-tech weapons out there a rifle is the primary tool of an invading force. And, if the opposing force knows how to use rifles then the whole “conquest” rapidly becomes a giant pain in the arse. I wonder if this point is being made in present day Iraq and Afghanistan. In the old news stories of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, when I was a kid, it seemed like the Afghanis got Russia to withdrawal at the point of a bunch of old bolt-action rifles.

Nukes, smart bombs, artillery, tanks, machine guns and grenades wipe out scores of resisters. But, such methods are PR problems. With indiscriminate casualties the moral high-ground is lost and a very pissed-off enemy is created. How much more difficult is “occupation” or “removal” if locals resist with whatever rifles they have?

Mr. Party explains, “A man with just one rifle can effectively control all he can see.” And, “Three coordinated and efficient Riflemen (using .308 MBRs) are more effective than a full squad of enemy soldiers.”

With this in mind you also have to wonder if an invading force is ever as motivated to conquer as locals are to protect home and family. Adding rifles to this resistance is a very significant factor.

Handguns In Perspective

Boston puts handguns in perspective by saying: “A handgun is merely a weapon used to fight your way back to your rifle – which you shouldn’t have left behind.”

Or, how about, “A rifle is what you go to a fight with; a handgun is what you get caught in a fight with.”

Handgun aficionados, take heart. Mr. Party has oodles of experience and advice on them and you won’t be disappointed. Boston does recommend having handguns should you ever get “caught” in a fight. But, they are far down the list from his rifle choices.

The takeaway for me is that handguns should be used to evade and escape from a dangerous situation. The number of rounds in the handgun represents the time available for the escape. The place your escaping to is . . . wherever your rifle is.

You do have a rifle nearby, don’t you?

BTP Optimal Armory

The authors “Shopping List” in section IV is one of my favorite parts of the book. It’s so specific and well thought out it forces you to think about your own choices (or lack of them). Boston gives comprehensive and specific advice about building your armory. Even if you don’t take his advice there’s much to learn by contemplating the choices of a consummate warrior.

Prior to reading Boston’s book I wrote an article called Your Optimal Armory. Given the authors vast expertise it was gratifying to find many similarities between my article and Boston’s recommendations. Whereas I start with a simple revolver and expand outwards (IF you feel the need) Boston recommends a Battle Rifle first (more likely to be banned) and throws in a revolver if you can still afford it.

Mr. Party’s recs come with a background and rationale that few could articulate. And, once you think you’re all set he hits you with ideas like:

• Having a duplicate battery (like Ripley in Aliens)
• Should you cache anything off-site? What and How?
• What about arming your family, friends or travel companions?
• Do you have spare parts for all tools?
• Do you have several thousand rounds for each caliber/cartridge? (A one-week training course could eat up to 800.)

Yes, Mr. Party has thought of these things.

M1A and FN-FAL over AR-10

After a detailed review of every worthy battle rifle Boston assigns himself a tough choice on behalf of his readers: Choosing only one. After all, they’re expensive and the reader may not have the nerve or the bucks to dive-in.

Mr. Party admits to being taken in by the ergonomics of the AR-10 as a natural follow-on to the AR-15 platform. Then, after much field experience he comes out with the M1A or FN-FAL as more reliable choices. One is betting their life on the reliability of their battle rifle in the circumstances in which one would have to be used.

My article recommends a .308 Battle rifle as the most extreme weapon you’re likely to ever need. My level of expertise at the time was to say that the choice of the .308 cartridge for your battle rifle (not the .223) is more important than its launch platform (the rifle). That leaves the reader with a lot of choices. Boston’s book gives the rifleman the benefit of specificity and experience in choosing their platform.

.308 over .223

Given the range of cartridge choices I was happy to find Boston’s enthusiasm for the .308 cartridge. With no experience with the .223 I came to the intellectual conclusion of questioning the point of it. With vastly more knowledge and experience Boston has the same question. His answer is to recommend a battle rifle in .223 for less than 200-yard encounters, city dwellers or “Perfect for the ladies and/or children” who might not like the recoil of the .308. After working through all sorts of volume and weight tradeoffs he also says the .223 may be suitable for long patrols, but, not ones where you know there will be problems. In that case, you’d want to some kind of .308 to bring along.

Since reading this I’ve also heard “experts” say that criminals have taken to using body armor. Without researching whether this is true it would be a point in the .223’s favor for stopping such loons. But it favors the .223 only over a pistol or shotgun. A .308 still comes out ahead, in this scenario. If you’ve got guys invading your home with body armor you’ve got bigger problems than over-penetration.

What nobody seems to bring up in either case is that you or your family will most likely have their hearing damaged with one shot fired out of a .223 or a .308. You’d better have hearing protection by the bedside or have a silencer which is a hassle all of its own requiring FBI background checks and such.

After weighing the pros and cons (and costs) I’ve decided to skip the whole .223 rifle craze and save the money for something else on Boston’s shopping list. I would not feel at a disadvantage in the theoretical scenario where others recommend a .223 to have a shotgun and two .40 S&W handguns. Back when the M16 was still unreliable I recall actual troops in Vietnam who dumped it for a pump action shotgun. Now its more reliable. And we also have .308 battle rifles in the AR platform.

Travel Rifle

Because “A handgun is merely a weapon used to fight your way back to your rifle . . . ,” Mr. Party would advise having a rifle you can get to at all times, even when traveling.

Low key, collapsible stock and powerful enough to be decisive in a jam is the way to go, Boston says. Three cheers for a .44 magnum lever gun next to the spare tire on your next trip to Reno.

I remember putting a shotgun in the back seat for the ride home from work during the LA Riots. We counted 22 plumes of smoke on each side of the freeway, that day. The traffic forced us to take the side streets home. I was glad to have “shotgun insurance,” in addition to car insurance, for the trip home and the rest of the week.

44 over 357 Mag

Mr. Party is fond of the 44 magnum in a revolver and/or lever gun. They outperform the same combination in .357 magnum. I recommend the .357 magnum combo in my article as an extension of using the .357 revolver for your carry gun. This maximizes utility while minimizing cartridges stored.

However, for specific trail gun use the power and simplicity of the 44 magnum revolver/lever gun combo can’t be beat. Perfect for cougars, alligators, bears and whatever other bad guys you might encounter camping or fishing. Take along 200 rounds and forget about which gun they’re for.

Note: Since there’s no such thing as a concealable .44 mag (at least, not for me) your .44 mag revolver will be an additional gun to keep and maintain should you make this choice.

About the Author

It’s rare to find a person with a huge amount of understanding and experience on a subject who can write simply and well about it.

Reading Mr. Party’s Gun Bible I got curious about the author and found a link to an online interview with him. Listening to the interview it struck me how understated and reserved the author is in dialogue.

In the interview Boston recalled a conversation with a police officer who asked him, “Why do you have so many guns?” Boston’s answer was simple, polite and the great hope of every law-abiding citizen: “You’ll never have to know if you’ll just leave me alone.”

Thumbing Through the Bible

Think of this article as me thumbing through this Bible and writing 50 words on the verses that caught my eye. Come to think of it, this is probably why I’ve seen recommendations, but, few reviews. It’s hard to get your mind around so much material delivered so simply. Who ever heard of an entertaining nonfiction reference book?

I don’t recommend limiting exploration of this subject to one book. But, if I had to choose only one it would be this one. It delivers more insight with every read and takes on more depth as the readers’ experience grows.

Kind of like, say, a Bible.

PART I: THE BASICS
1 Terminology
2 Safety & Handling
3 Self-Defense & The Law
4 Tactics & Training
5 After The Smoke Clears…

PART II: BATTLE RIFLES
6 Combat Rifle History
7 Modern Combat Self-Loading Rifles
8 Combat Rifle Cartridges
9 Rating the Combat Rifles
10 Battle Rifles (i.e., at least .308)
11 Battle Carbines (i.e., .223, 7.62×39, etc.)
12 The AR15
13 Dealing with the Post-Ban Blues
14 The .264 Boston & Its Rifle

PART III: GUNS IN GENERAL
15 Handguns
16 Shotguns
17 Bolt-Action Rifle Cartridges
18 Bolt-Action Rifles
19 .50BMG Target Rifles
20 Other Rifles
21 pre-1899 Guns
22 Women & Guns
23 Gear
24 Caching
25 Odds & Ends

PART IV: ACQUISITION
26 A Quick Shopping Guide
27 How To Buy, Sell, & Trade
28 You & The BATF
29 “Curios or Relics”

PART V: CITIZEN DISARMAMENT
30 Federal “Gun Controls”
31 Politically Corrected Glossary (by Alan Korwin)
32 Letter to a Columbine Student
33 The Real Goal of “Gun Control”
34 Gun Laws in the 50 States & D.C.
35 Creeping Citizen Disarmament
36 Coercive Buy-up Programs
37 Why I Will Not Obey California’s Gun Registration Edict (by Brian Puckett)
38 Confiscation
39 When The Raids Come

PART VI: COURAGE
40 Wealth vs. Liberty
41 Preparing for the Worst
42 Patriot Light!
43 Outrage, Then Courage
44 Boston Is Nuts!
45 Sources