Blacksheep,

You're correct in stating that wind is a variable that should be considered. This variable however is sometimes discarded.

Wind compensation can easily cause you to over-compensate bullet trajectory. Because you have a 10 knot wind from the west at your location, doesn't mean the wind will be the same at the target. This isn't always able to be determined. In the city (for example), you might have noticed how variable the winds are around buildings. These are much too erratic to plot into a shooting solution. The lay of the land 1000 meters from your position can wreck havoc with your shot.

Wind is the most difficult thing to predict (even more than my wife). 🙂 That's why snipers don't automatically work it into every firing solution. Obviously if you have a strong consistent wind at your location and this can be verified at the target, that's a different story. Winds in Canada however are highly variable and contain gusts. This presents a problem much more complex than it initially seems.

Tactical sniper's like to think that they can predict or determine by measurement all of the factors into a shooting solution. This just isn't always the case. An experienced sniper knows what is within his control and what isn't. Perhaps Chris Kyle said it best. Some of the hits we get are 'straight-out luck shots.' Perhaps with the era of rifles like the tracking-point, things will improve.

Blacksheep,

"Wind compensation can easily cause you to over-compensate bullet trajectory. Because you have a 10 knot wind from the west at your location, doesn't mean the wind will be the same at the target. This isn't always able to be determined. In the city (for example), you might have noticed how variable the winds are around buildings. These are much too erratic to plot into a shooting solution. The lay of the land 1000 meters from your position can wreck havoc with your shot.

Wind is the most difficult thing to predict (even more than my wife). 🙂 That's why snipers don't automatically work it into every firing solution. Obviously if you have a strong consistent wind at your location and this can be verified at the target, that's a different story. Winds in Canada however are highly variable and contain gusts. This presents a problem much more complex than it initially seems."

How true. A friend of mine once told me that one day, on the range during his sniper coarse, he could see that the grass was blowing in one direction up to a couple of hundred meters out. Beyond that, it was blowing in another direction. Then beyond that it was again, blowing in another direction. Very difficult to compensate for.

Just a little off topic here.
Last weekend I attended a C.A.R. & tactical carbine course. The course was taught by Mr. Jeff Johnsgaard of Natural Tactical Systems. Jeff spent several years with the British S.A.S and is currently serving as a detective with the Saskatoon Police Service, he also has a list of shooting qualifications as long as your arm.
I have to say that due to letting myself get out of shape over the winter months, I was into the T3's by the end of the course. But, I had a lot of fun and learned a lot of good stuff. If you get a chance, check out some of his YouTube videos at NaturalTactical.com. He also has an online course that pretty much the whole class signed up for by the end of the weekend.
Because of firearms restrictions in Canada, we had to do the course with airsoft weapons, but that didn't take anything away from the course content. Several of the students were airsoft enthusiasts and on day two, one of them said that when playing airsoft, he was always one of the first to get hit and knocked out of the game. He said that after class on day one, he stayed to play a few games of airsoft and out of three games, using what he learned in class that day, he won two games and was the second last to get shot on the other.
I definitely plan to take another of his courses again next year.

The AR 10 is my favorite BATTLE rifle. And in a short barreled, light weight version, properly set up for versatility, would be one of my favorite SHTF/Prepper/Survival rifles.

But there is a vast difference between a versatile, all around, general purpose, "survival" rifle, and a "SNIPER" rifle.

For a civilian SHTF prepper , a properly chosen survival rifle should be suitable for hunting and protection, against human and other dangerous animals. "Protection" is defined as CQB and also engaging genuine threats out to reasonable ranges. A bear at 25 yards is a valid threat. A human at 1000 yds is NOT a direct threat, especially when for a prepper, unless cornered or restricted in movement, avoidance, a low profile, invisibility, escape and evasion, should be more desirable.

For a civilian prepper, a sniper rifle is most useful in a STATIC tactical scenario, perhaps last ditch defense of your home. So unless your SHTF planning involves you in making your stand in a location with clear fields of fire out to almost infinty, a sniper rifle has limited real world tactical justification ... for a civilian prepper. A much better choice would be a light, compact, VERSATILE rifle, suitabile for mobile/runNgun tactical scenarios like bug outs, and for CQB. These scenarios will probably be more common to a SHTF civillian prepper, so a heavy, bulky, huge sniper rifle won't be as effective.
Just my personal opinion
YPMMV
(;-{)

And here in Canada,when it comes to the AR 10 type rifles, it gets ... complicated

I have owned several of the ORIGINAL GENUINE AR 10 rifles, the military issue Dutch built AI Sudanes and Portuguese models, which were originally capable of full auto firing. These were modified / converted upon importation into Canada to fire SEMI auto only. At one time, these AR 10 rifles were NOT restricted. But in 1992, with the changes in Canadian.firearms laws, any CONVERTED AUTO rifle became prohibited, and legal to own only by CA permit holders. The GENUINE MILITARY ISSUE formerly full auto AR10 rifles fell into this category.

However AR 10 rifles that were built as SEMI AUTO ONLY, never were prohibited.

At the same time,
by order in council,
the AR 15 rifle was NAMED as restricted. Most of the modern SO CALLED AR 10 rifles are actually a HYBRID AR10/AR15, because for reasons of economy and standardization, manufacturers decided to build them with as many AR 15 parts as possible. These AR10/AR15 hybrides are still restricted in Canada. DPMS and Armalite are the two best known manufacturers of these AR10/AR15 HYBRIDS.

HOWEVER, some manufacturers, Canadian and others, are now building SEMI AUTO ONLY AR 10 pattern rifles, using the original AR 10 specifications, and zero or minimal AR 15 parts content. These AR 10 rifles are NOT restricted.

CONFUSED YET?

STAG ARMS, and BROWNELLS both make Canadian NOT restricted AR 10 rifles. Various Canadian manufacturers have attempted to build NOT restricted AR 10 rifles, with various modifications from the original AR 10 specs, with various degrees of success.

If you actually require a POWERFUL semi auto big bore rifle for your SHTF/ Prepper/ Survival armory ( and some valid arguments can be made to justify this opinion), a NOT restricted SEMI AUTO ONLY AR 10 would be a great choice... although an EXPENSIVE one.

However, in Canada, the incredibly inexpensive, NOT restricted Chinese semi auto only M14 type rifles, have flooded the market. These M14 type rifles are possibly the most popular FULL POWER military pattern semi auto available. And, these Chinese M14 clones can be modified to perform similar to the AR 10.

Here are a few I have built,

Thanks, LAZ. A good synopsis. I look at firearms like I do my toolbox. You select the right tool for the job. Each person also selects a weapon based on his or her personal preference and competence with the firearm and in dealing with the situation at hand.

Certainly, a sniper rifle is not the right selection to thwart a home night invasion. However in many cases, a trained and properly equipped sniper can make a huge difference in many situations.

I was thinking of a situation where a person needed to hunt for survival. The available supply of ammunition may be a factor. Also not every shooter is a professional. Many people who may end up in this scenario are not paid to keep marksmanship at a high standard. The shot required may be short or much farther away. The rifle discussed will provide a one-shot kill every time, regardless of the shooter's ability.

Wayne, I respect your knowledge and ability at long range shootng, and agree with you that in certain scenarios, the ability to reach out and touch some one further than they can touch you, can literally be a life saver.

However, as military people, say,
"Terrain dicates tactics, and tactics dictates tools".
Aka
YPMMV
What works for you may not work for me.

My chosen terrain is the tropical paradise known as Vancouver Island ( aka FANTASY Island). Around here, on most of the island, a very long shot might be 200 yds. As a former DCRA competitor, I used to shoot at Heals range, out to 1000 yds, but Heals was shut down for civilian use, and restricted for military shooting years ago. These days, finding any place for real long range shooting is quite difficult, but I know a few people on the island that do it.

I have considerable personal experience with the AR 10 family. The AR 10 is my favorite BATTLE rifle, and PROPERLY set up to match your terrain, a great choice for a Prepper/SHTF/Survival rifle. If your terrain and tactical scenarios include lonnnnng shots, at multiple rargets, I agree with you that an AR 10 target variatiion is one of the best available choices.

If your tactical scenarios include runNgun or CQB, again an AR 10, properly configured can be one of the best choices. For BEAR protection, and for hunting medium to large game, a .308 Semi auto AR 10, is infinitely better than an AR 15.

I have shot at 600 yds at Heals, using an AR 10 with iron sights, and placed 5 shots you could cover with an 8.5"x 11" sheet of paper. I have competed successfully in runNgun matches, with a custom short M4GRY type AR 10 using 125 gr light loads. I have been on a Moose and Bear hunt with an AR 10. And I have run an AR 10 on full auto, keeping short bursts on an IPSC sil standing 25yds, and prone 100 yds.

There is no other rifle I know of that has the all around capabilities and VERSATILITY of an AR 10. AND, when you consider that you can have multiple uppers configured and optimised for specific tactical rokes, all on the same lower, the AR 10 simple is my choice for best " one rifle that does it all" .

That being said,
I am also heavily invested in the M14 platform. As a consultant for M14.CA, I was deeply involved in the BLACKFEATHER CHASSIS SYSTEM for the M14 rifles. The M14.CA system was specifically designed to duplicate as much of the great AR 10 ergonomics, balance and handling, as possible on the inexpensive, rock solid M14 platform. And one little know fact regarding the BLACKFEATHER CHASSIS SYSTEM ...
it also allows multiple " uppers" on the same "lower".

Personally,
For my current prepper rifle requirements, all I NEED is an SKS, or perhaps an AR 15 in .300 BLK. Of oourse, with a .308/7.62 Nato system, you can always power down, but with the lighter assault rifle cartridges, you can't power up. So for Preepers, where the best versatility and adaptability are a high priority, , a .308 Win rifle is the better choice.

PS: I keep trying to cut down to just one gun. Of course, if cost and carrying capacity are not limitations, having a selection of guns to choose from for each tactical role is obviously more efficient for each individual role. But if you can have only one gun, for me,
Today,
That one gun is a Chinese M14.
(;-[)
LAZ 1

Hi Laz,

I agree that the M14 is often sold short in many circles. Perhaps people forget that it was what the rifle that U.S Army Snipers used in Vietnam, The M21 used in Iraq is an M14 variant. The M14 is a great rifle that anyone should be proud to own.

Admittedly, I'm rather partial to long-range shooting. I wasn't always attracted to it, but after serving as an assaulter on the tactical team for some time, I was selected for sniper (and later counter-sniper) training. After getting shot at several times and stabbed, I learned to appreciate the benefits of distance. 🙂

Wayne,
My military training was REMF Milita platoon commander Infantry ...aka a leader of infants. And before that, C2 gunner. My only real training as a door kicker was with the old FN C1. Dragging that beast throigh a room clearing exercise was like racing a VW van ...uphill. And with the C2, house clearing was defined as simply cutting the house in half. Watching the C2 chew through concrete or cindercrete blocks, was a real lesson in the differrnce between cover and concealment.
(;-[)

After my military stuff, I got into ?pRACTICAL? shooting competitions, aka runNgun gaming. And gaming it was. IpSC ( Irritating People Squabbling Consrantly) was great when it first started out, with real world tactical scenarios serving as models for the stages, and real world shooters showing up to practice real wprld skill sets. But then, trophies and prizes entered the picture, and the split between WARRIORS and gamesmen took place. If you wanted to win a match, you basically needed a maximum $$$ hispeedlowdrag RACE gun, and your lawyer following you around to make sure you could get silly with any real world rules.

I was building and selling equipment for the games, and resisted the urge to go gamesman for a decade. I shot the IpSC Canadian championships several times with a genuinely PRACTICAL pistol, a custom DETONICS COMBAT MASTER super shorty, carried small of back, and under a coat. Never won much with that rig, but enjoyed myself tremendously, gloating about my "purity", and teasing any gamesmen with their race gear that I beat.

But last time I shot the IpSC Canadians, 1992, I sold out all my purity principles, and used a 14 shot double stack Para Ordnance, with an ultra light slide for faster cycyling, a 5" ramped and coned barrel, a very effective double port comp of my own design, a HARRTS mercury filled recoil reducing guide rod, and 155 gr hyper velocity .45 ACP loads, which easily made Major power factor, shot into 2.5" at 50 yds, and had enough residual port pressure to really work that comp ( double taps at 25 yds were a valid possibility). Shooting .45 MAJOR fast and accurately was so much easier, even for a limp wrist wannabe like me, that I was actually competitive. And my scores as a sell out were up 20% over my Detonics.

The proper tool optimised for a specific task can make a BIG difference.

One of my shooting buddies taught CQB to Canadian Navy peeps. Working a ship is just about as CLOSE QUARTERS real as it gets.
He is still teaching carbine and pistol courses, with a no BS tactical approach, and us one of the best shooters I know.
When we finalised the BLACKFEATHER M14 CHASSIS design, we had him run the rig through some CQB drills. He liked it enough to recommend it.

Another shooting buddy is a former police SWAT sniper. He has two of my M14 builds, one short, one long, and one of my AR 10 builds, a DPMS that I customised ... 2 lb trigger, 20" fluted barrel, compensator, etc. His favorite grabNgo truck rifle is the shorty 14. His favorite long range rifle is the AR 10. PS: His truck is usually full of enough gear to start a small war, and give a Liberal a coronary.

My favorite M14 is a short barreled BLACKFEATHER build. If an AR 10 and an M14 had mated and had offspring, this is what it would look like.

My favorite AR 10 was a genuine AI Dutch military surplus Sudanese model,, barrel chopped to 18.5", compensated, carrying handle milled at front for weaver rail, micro red dot co- witnesed, forend replaced with AR 15 handguards, skeletonised butt stock, and change lever modified for extra set trigger position ( plus retaining R&R setting). Basicall the world's first AR10 M4GRY, a decade before the M4 came along.

My last AR 10 was a DPMS AR10T, with short HEAVY barrel. This one was capable of one hole 100 yd accuracy, but was very tight chambered, with a carbine length gas tube, so was over gassed and a bit fussy about ammo. 7.62 NATO was not recommended.

My favorite AR 15 is, believe it or not, the CHINESE NORINCO M4 clones. I have owned dozens and DOZENS of AR 15s, and built about three dozen from piles of parts. I see the AR 15 as a generic commodity, like desk top computers ... all of them are about the same ... and the Chinese M4GRY versions do the job at the lowest price point.

But today, the RUGER AR 15 would be my choice as best bang for the buck ... for only a few dollars more you get US quality.

And I would get another upper in .300 BLK, for more useful performance on larger game.

These are metely my PERSONAL opinions, based on my personal experience.
YPMMV
(;-[)