Suggestions for a rifle for tropical environments

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FarLaugh9911@reddit

Stainless Mini 14, It's good to go for.223 and 5.56

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wtfredditacct@reddit

Might as well have said m1 garand. Super cool, but not exactly practical for OP's request

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Lethalmouse1@reddit

Medium game, defense, durable, easy to keep clean?

No?

I mean, a Yugo is less good for a more humid environment, but other variants are great. You can also get a synthetic stock if you're concerned about wood swelling.

They are also more likely to dodge various weapon bans, are notably lighter and shorter than the M1. And generally way cheaper.

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wtfredditacct@reddit

Assuming OP is in the US, it's still much less practical than any similarly priced AR in 5.56 or AK in 7.62.

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Electronic_Merkin@reddit

AK47. 23 years in the gun industry here.

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THICCBOIJON@reddit

Don't overthink it, just go with a decent AR brand with a chrome lined barrel. Take somewhat decent care of it and it won't rust.

If you plan on straight up neglecting it then all guns are gonna rust and go to shit. At least with an AR every part is easily interchangeable and fixable with a few tools and a YouTube video. AKs, mini and full size M14s... Not so much.

You're not reinventing the wheel or doing the undone simple answer is the right answer.

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Ok-Crazy30@reddit

AKs are a hundred times easier to work on then an AR what are you smoking

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THICCBOIJON@reddit

Have you ever built an AK or changed any parts beyond drop in handguard or grip? Any barrel or trunnion work requires special equipment to headspace and rerivot. Most aftermarket handguards need at least filing and Dremel work to fit correctly.

Most surplus magazines don't fit in AKs right off the bat without filing. There are entire threads in the AK subreddit about finding magazines that fit in their AKs.

Someone with a handful of tools can build an entire AR in an afternoon. Even experienced builders send AKs to professionals to get most of the gun assembled.

Not smoking anything I just have experience.

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Ok-Crazy30@reddit

I should premise I have an American made AK from century arms and never had problems with mags fitting of course a WASR or something is going to be a piece of junk

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HobbitonHuckleshake@reddit

So the answer is no, you don't know what you're talking about lol.

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Ok-Crazy30@reddit

No the answer is is I don’t have a piece of of junk cheap one so that’s a big difference

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wtfredditacct@reddit

So the answer is no lol

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Ok-Crazy30@reddit

It’s also a milled receiver

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J999999AY@reddit

You might consider looking into a marine grade shotgun if you’re not shooting too far. Plenty of loads to choose from and a long history of use in the American swamps (even the old wooden stocks). No matter what you go with you’ll need to keep things oiled, of course.

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Living_la_vida_hobo@reddit

The marine grade Mossberg 500 is a pretty good choice

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J999999AY@reddit

Yeah, the more I think about it the more convinced I am a marine grade mossberg is the right answer. Can’t do better for home defense, dead simple maintenance, designed to function under heavy abuse, and built in corrosion resistance. Short shooting distances seem likely in a jungle/swamp/tropical environment and there may be hunting regulation that prevent the use of semi-auto rifles (or any rifle) for some kinds of hunting OP might want to pursue. Sometimes the right answer is the time tested one, provided OP isn’t going to war anytime soon.

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dittybopper_05H@reddit

It's definitely more versatile than an AR. Small game with shot, big game with slugs, and for social situations buckshot at shorter ranges and slugs at somewhat longer ranges.

I mean, you're not likely to get into a sniper duel, and ranges are limited in rainforest and mostly also in marshland due to limited sight distances and thick vegetation.

If you're looking at it from a fighting standpoint, you're already failing because that's what you do when you don't have any other choice. Which means you screwed up somewhere, big time.

So the search should be biased towards a long arm that is optimum for hunting both big game and small game in that environment, and that can be pressed into service for fighting if necessary, instead of a gun that is optimized for combat but can be used for hunting.

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Elandycamino@reddit

SKS the true winner of Vietnam

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The_Latverian@reddit

This is way too far down the list 👍🏻

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Unicorn187@reddit

I wouldn't say a 5.56 is the best for medium game. Maybe 300 blackout for close range or a large frame AR in .308 such as the AR10 or one of the others (that use a different magazine than one of the Armalite AR10 models).

Maybe a FAL. Those have been proven in most every climate.

If you're really.worried, you can get the exterior refinish. A matte or flat nickel or chrome. Birdsong's Black-T, a Teflon finish over nickel plating. Or Robar's NP3 or NP3+.

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SnooMarzipans4304@reddit

Try and find surplus Canadian military diemaco ar’s. Heavy hammer forged chrome barrels, polymer stocks embed with resin for extreme weather (hot/cold) full length m16a2 with m4 butt stocks.

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Eazy12345678@reddit

ar15 is the best rifle for the US, reason they issue it to soldiers in the army. durable and just works. simple to use and operate.

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hobobob423@reddit

Gonna break from the majority and suggest a lever action in stainless finish with either polymer or composite wood furniture. Get it in .357, .44mag, or .30-30. In a dense tropical environment with a lot of greenery, you probably won’t be making too many shots out past 100–150 yards. Hot .357 from Buffalo Bore or Underwood can get damn close to 2,000 fps out of a rifle-length barrel, which would be quite effective up to deer-sized game. And it can shoot .38 special, which makes plinking muuuch more affordable. But if you do need more power, you can step up to the larger calibers. Most of the pistol caliber lever guns are dual fuel - .357 & .38spc, .44mag and .44spc (this one doesn’t net you any cost savings really…), .454 Casull & .45 Long Colt. And since it’s manually operated, it’ll run everything from super hot hunting loads to Cowboy Action loads, so you can tailor your ammo to your game. One big drawback however is deep cleaning and maintenance - lever guns are not nearly as easy to take apart and put back together as an AR. But the occasional toothbrush/Q-tip cleaning and oiling of the bits that you can easily access should keep them running for a good long while.

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Many-Health-1673@reddit

The AR15 is the answer for this situation. Clean it every few hundred rounds and keep the BCG lubed and the dust cover closed.

The AK isn't nearly as bomb proof as Boomer urban legend makes it appear. If I had a dollar for each time I heard a Vietnam Veteran tell me the Vietcong stored their AK's buried in 3 feet of mud in rice paddies and they functioned like brand new after they used their sandals to kick open the bolt to knock off the rust, mud, and rice plants I could retire to Tahiti.

That argument has been tested and the AR performs better under every single circumstance that involves mud, dirt, water, and debris.

It doesn't matter if the AK was made with the souls of Soviet dictators in Russia, or by a former block country, the open design allows mud, dirt, and debris into the chamber and trigger group causing the rifle to become at best a single shot rifle or at worst to not fire at all.

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gilbert2gilbert@reddit

The ak and the m1a. Source: vietnam war

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Many-Health-1673@reddit

I want to post a nice response, so I will say that those would be two of my lowest ranked choices.

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MS-18E_Kampfer@reddit

The m14 did terrible in vietnam. Its almost all boomer myths. The wood swelled stocks leading to degraded accuracy. Even with polymer,it's unnecessarily heavy for jungle use and the marksmen version shot themselves apart. The accuracy issues/poor machine work were problems even in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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Complex_Impressive@reddit

Agreed but I'd recomend the composite plastic stock variants of both. Wood swelling leads to degradation of accuracy and reliability in humid tropical environments. Source: vietnam war

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PearlButter@reddit

M1A and Vietnam

Lmao

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zaraguato@reddit

This is the right answer

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dank_tre@reddit

‘Defense’ is broad, but from my perspective & military experience, you’re way unlikely to experience an extended gunfight

So, focusing on actual use, hunting, I’d look for a simple weapon, like a marine-grade mossberg or remington 870 — lots of choices for ammo for anything out to about 80 yds

Or, a stainless steel revolver to carry—a longer barrel revolver w a detachable buttstock

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HalcyonKnights@reddit

On that last note, what are your thoughts on a Circuit Judge Carbine? I know lots of people think they are more novelty than anything, but as a 5-shot revolver carbine w/ 18" barrel that can fire .45 or .410 shells, it's both mechanically simple and flexible for different situations.

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dank_tre@reddit

Sounds like you need AK-47 type durability, in which case, the Circuit Judge is not that type of weapon

Manufacturing is inconsistent, so if you get a good one, great—but you could just as well end up with a stinker.

I don’t hear great things about shootability either — firing 410 shells through a revolver will work in a pinch, but it’s not the idea platform. You get flash that can scorch you if you put enough shells through it

Loading/unloading is not a smooth operation w the stock, nor is changing calibers.

I mean, if that’s what you’ve got, or you particularly like it, then sure, it will work — but it’s a nifty idea that was never really developed all the way through to be a highspeed platform

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Halofauna@reddit

Make sure it’s in a highly used caliber for wherever you’re planning on it being used. An AK variant in 7.62 isn’t going to have the ammo supply that 5.56/.223 will in the US, vise versa in the countries that use/used AKs

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MrPeanutsTophat@reddit

If you're in the US, the correct answer is always AR-15. Even in wet environments. You aren't stuck with the issued cleaning supplies they were using in Vietnam, so don't think that what happened there 60 years ago is any indicator of how well they perform in wet environments today.

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Rounter@reddit

I'm an AK lover for entertainment purposes, but u/MrPeanutsTophat is right. An AR-15 is always the right choice in the US. They are cheap, prolific, reliable, and easy to shoot. Ammo and replacement parts are easy to find.

An AK will run rusty, but an AR-15 won't rust. Just keep a little oil on it.

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bikumz@reddit

Look at what they carry in the pacific north west. Lots of bolt actions and lever guns. Get a stainless and polymer stock in a decent caliber, be set.

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nunyabizz62@reddit

Stainless CVA Scout 300 Blackout

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PineapplePiazzas@reddit

Kalash

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PNWoutdoors@reddit

Are you headed to Venezuela, too?

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JRHLowdown3@reddit

"Ak straight from the Russian Empire" -heard that in a song recently LOL

Seriously though. Have used and greatly abused AKs since 1987. My original Polytech has over 50K rounds through it, likely higher. So much so the "no go" gauge now fits in it. It's in that "break glass if Russian paratroopers land on the football field" case LOL.

Arsenal AKs are the top of the line, outside of some custom build like Krebs. Century imports are close to the bottom of the barrel but cheap enough. Have had 6 century rifles over the years, 5 could not be zeroed due to incorrect assembly of front sight assembly, gas tube out of alignment, etc. But those are the ones you are going to see the most of in the US cause like a PSA AR, they were cheap.

Fun facts- back in our younger, stupider days we used to pack ours in mud, pull them out and fire them, pack sand in them, fire them. Never an issue. The stories you had heard of reliability are true.

On the flip side, since it's not an American centric rifle, you will hear that it's not accurate. Well, if you can't shoot worth a shit maybe... Meanwhile my (at the time) 15 year old son and wife and I were making 621 yard measured hits at UKD range at Arena with Arsenals with 3X30 ACOGs. But they also shoot our ARs accurately also.

The problem currently with AK is logistics, as "cheap" ammo has dried up. At $200-300. a case for X39, we used our AKs a helluva lot more, close to $600. a case for x39 and 5.45 that much or more, we are currently shooting ARs a lot more. Have enough to continue practicing regularly with it for many years, but would prefer to see prices come down first.

Get real metal Euro surplus 30 round mags or a quality polymer mag like Circle 10 or US Palm. Add a Krebs custom safety and an optic- this is all you need- IR laser also if you have NODs.

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Freebirde777@reddit

Polymer stock, unless you want to spend time and effort maintaining wood. Plenty of cleaning supplies, avoid graphite powder, it tends to collect moisture. Shorter barrel, rarely will you shoot more than 150 meters, most will be less than 100 meters. If the defense is against jaguars or leopards you will want to be able to make quick follow up shots. A 12 ga with 00 buck shot will stop most tropical big cats including a Bengal, though more than one shot may be needed. With proper shot placement, a .22 will take most game up to a large 'gator.

The main thing to ask is what kind of ammo is available? Without ammo, most guns are just awkward clubs. The next thing is what can you shoot? If you are 160 cm and weight 55kilos, you will not want to shoot a .460 magnum more than once a day. If you mass challenged, you may want a 16 ga or 20 ga instead of a 12 ga.

Using metric because most tropical places use metric.

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warrior_poet95834@reddit

I like stainless. Either a mini -14 or mini-30.

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unknownaccount1814@reddit

For tropical environments I would suggest that whatever you get should have a chrome lined bore.

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Due_Satisfaction2167@reddit

M1A with an aftermarket polymer chassis if you’re in a NATO country. The wood stock is bad for tropical weather.

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HomersDonut1440@reddit

A Rhodesian FAL is the only option

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zaraguato@reddit

Reddit folk aren't too fond of those guys, that although military geniuses they where racist pos

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Kevthebassman@reddit

The shorts must match.

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AlphaDisconnect@reddit

A colt ar15. The 20 inch a2 variant. A supressor. 3d printed titanium with inconel baffles. A Gillespie trigger. And the cherry on top. An elcan specter.

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GSorosSnr@reddit

AK. Insanely easy to maintain. Keep an additional firing pin, recoil spring and get a cleaning kit (the little class surplus cleaning kit is plenty).

Do not get an American made AK. Do not get an AK in 5.45.

7.62 is classic tried and true. Pretty available anywhere and 5.56 is definitely available anywhere.

Buy a Romanian WASR, a WBP, or a Zastava and YouTube how to field strip & clean and that gun will last you forever. Don't worry bout cleaning it every time ya shoot.

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Spnszurp@reddit

anything can if you maintain it. even a blued steel gun. go on a duck hunting forum- painted guns with synthetic stocks seems to be the high end/lower maintainence option, but plenty of duck hunters carry blue steel shotguns into the salt marsh every morning of duck season for decades- even today. it's not an issue as long as you keep it clean and dry after you use it.

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DeFiClark@reddit

Ruger American stainless or 77 Hawkeye All-Weather

Savage Axis or 110 stainless

Tikka T3 stainless

Browning Stainless

Winchester 70 stainless

That said, smaller springs and any parts that are not stainless will be prone to corrosion so both frequent application of protective lubrication (eg Boeshield, Barricade), storage well oiled in a VCI bag and keeping a supply of spares in a greased ziplock is recommended.

243, 6.5 Creedmoor or 308

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Full-Metal-Jack-off@reddit

AK variant? Even if it rusts it’ll still work