What are the considerations regarding your rifle?
01) Will it function 365 days a year within the temperature fluctuations you experience: I remember carrying an M16 in Alaska as a young infanteer in February at -40F. It didn't work for shit, neither did the 96+ others in my rifle company. Where I live, a couple of times a year I revisit that temperature.
02) Have the gun grabbers banned my chosen firearm in my jurisdiction. In Canada in May 2020 the government banned 1,500 models and variants of firearms. Getting arrested in peaceful times for possession of an illegal firearm can spoil a lot of prepper plans! Choices can be limited.
03) Does it have reputation for flawless reliability if maintained properly?
04) Is ammunition commonly available? Personally I love my Winchester M94 in .32-40 but if I didn't reload for it I may as well donate it to a museum.
05) Support equipment, are things like Magazines, en block clips, ammunition pouches, etc, readily available? How easy for example would it be able to carry 100 rds of .30-30 over hill and dale that you travel? actually very easy .30-30 fits on 7.62mm charger clips and fit 10 clips per used army issue bandoleer.
06) Accuracy: I live on the bald arsed prairie where you can watch your dog spending 3 days looking for a tree to pee on. For me a 500 yds shot is a distinct possibility. For urban dwellers who are packed into a phone booth 10 at a time a shorter range firearm could be a better choice.
07) Experience: One of the most dangerous places in the world can be your local range while "hunters" who have dragged their rifle out of the closet for the first time in 12 months and are trying to zero it.
08) Safety: do you know how to use it proficiently? Will great grandpa's trapdoor Springfield, that hasn't been fired since the Indian wars still work?
No one firearm is everyone's perfect choice.
Haven't got out to use it much though.
