While I don’t expect or hope to ever need it, as an American, I would like to be prepared to resist as much as necessary if needed. It’s looking like it might be needed at some point here.
I’m looking to get a rifle or two for that specific purpose just in case. Can anyone recommend specific brands/models and/or features I should be looking for? I’m disabled in a way that limits my ability to hold anything heavy, so lighter weight is good. I have a revolver, but that’s probably not the best for standing up against a repressive regime.
I plan to train with whatever I get, of course. Thanks in advance.
Edit: There way too much information here for me to reply to it all individually, but I would like to say thank you to everyone for your very helpful responses.
I’m no expert by any means, but I have a little experience.
Revolvers load slowly and have very limited capacity. If you’re going to choose a handgun, a semi-auto will be more useful. 9mm ammo is plentiful, so that’s going to be a fine choice. A longer barrel will provide more accuracy and range, while a shorter barrel will be more concealable.
Rifles are far more accurate at longer ranges. I know from shooting an AR-15 that those are heavy, unless you’re shooting from a supported position with a bipod. AR-15 build kits (that you just have to add a registered lower receiver to) can be very inexpensive. Add a bipod and a scope, and you’re ready to post up - just don’t expect to be doing a running gun battle with it unless you’re young and strong. (Edit: I see people here saying AR-15s are lightweight. The one I shot was 5.56, and it was not light.)
On the other hand, a 22 rifle is much easier to handle from a standing position, and 22LR ammo is cheap. Unless you get a lucky shot, 22LR isn’t going to stop someone wearing proper body armor, but it’ll give them pause, and certainly be useful against looters and hooligans and the otherwise unprepared troublemakers.
Another option that I’ve been considering is a pistol caliber carbine. Should be relatively light compared to an AR-15, and I’d only have to worry about one caliber of ammo to use for both the pistol and the carbine. Not quite the range of a proper rifle, but plenty more than a handgun.
I’ve used a Canik TP9, full size 9mm pistol, I liked it a lot. Mossberg MC1sc, 9mm carry pistol, quite nice. Taurus G3C 9mm - it definitely works, I don’t like the trigger. Hammerli TAC R1 22LR, looks like a battlefield weapon, goes pew pew - liked it. Some random AR-15, definitely fun to shoot, but if I “had to use it,” I would absolutely want a bipod and a fixed position. Scopes on rifles make them so much more easy.