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2 months in deep wilderness which rifle

Backpacker,I would like to know why you dont think that you are not going to be attacked by a wild animal,Mt lion,bear,wolves,etc.
 
so that narrows it down a lot, you dont neda medium caliber, so a .22 rifle it is, as far as the .410 this is an experts gun, i would not consider it for a game getter unless you are very practiced.

you know that there are such things as hunting seasons and licenses and such, getting caught without a license or off season with game will get your rifle confiscated and get you a hefty fine.

yes i like the 1022, i also like the ar7 with a scope, there are a lot of used 22 rifles out there and for about $50 dollars or so many of them go pretty cheap. the remington nylon 66 comes to mind. they are very nice little rifles, and light weight also, made their reputation with the trappers in alaska. make sure semiautos are legal to hunt with in the state in which you are traveling, not all states allow semiautos for hunting. in which case there are a lot of bolt action 22s available.

as has been said before the ammo is light weight, so you can carry 300 rounds without much problem. i woudl try different ammo in the rifle to see what the rifle prefers as far as accuracy is concerned. and have a good time.

alex
 
FEATHERSTONE,

This is just my personell opinion, but, I have done alot of backpacking & hunting in very remote wilderness ares over the years ( I am 42 ) and I have never had a close encounter. Alot of my friends backpack & hunt and they have never had a close encounter. As a matter of fact I do not know anybody that knows anybody that has had a close encounter.

I am not saying that problems with animals do not exist, but, if you look at the number of people that are in wilderness areas, the reports of problems are very very low. Even mountain Lion attacks out here in California are few and far between.

My belief is, that you always have to be aware of your surroundings and keep your camp clean. I think most of the fear from animals in the wilderness is brought up by people that have not spent alot of time in the wilderness. After all, most trappers only carry a 22 rifle while trapping.

One qualification, If I was in Canada, Alaska, Montana or Wyoming this changes. Some of the criters up there do cause more consern. Also, they are in much greater numbers than most of the other parts of the United States.

Be careful, aware and enjoy.
 
I'd bring a .22--probably an AR7. I love 1022s and have been thinking about buying a Nylon 66 for nostalgia's sake, but the AR7's compactness is a good thing. I have and would hike in Cougar or Grizzly country unarmed, but if I was going to spend two months there I might consider something else--Maybe one of the large-caliber AR15 conversions sold by Tepu Jutsu LLC (I'm only being a little bit facetious--they are COOL!).

In my part of the Cascades, though, I'd leave the gun at home and bring some fishing gear. Mmm . . . Trout ;) Then again--few places in my part of the Cascades would qualify as "deep wilderness".
 
I have a Springfield M6 stainless that is very accurate. After an initial fouling shot, it put 5 rounds in about an inch at 50 yds. At 100 yards, it still shoots minute-of-bunny. However, I agree that the 410 ga. is not the greatest. Too bad it isn't available with the lower barrel in 28 ga. or 20 ga.
 
I would vote for the M6 Scout. I grew up hunting with a Savage 22/410 combo gun and it was never a question of whether I could kill something with it. I just did it. My M6 is extremely accurate. Three shot raggedy holes at 25 yds are pretty common. Slugs will print in 3 inches at 25 yds and have more energy than a 357, which is adequate for deer sized game. The M6 was often carried by Calvin Rutstrum, a professional guide and writer who often spent months on end traveling the trackless wilderness. Can the M6 do it? It's already done it. :)
 
I think that I'd go with a short barreled 12ga. pump and carry a good mix of rounds, from bird shot to some big critter slugs and since it wasn't specific about whether or not I could carry a pistol along with the rifle, I'd carry a long barreled Ruger .22 with me too.
 
I've got a bull barrel Ruger Mk. II and it's a great piece. I can hit tenpins at 75 yds. reliably (off sand bags), so it's accurate enough.

All the same, were I going out into real wild country for more than a week, and expected to do subsistance hunting successfully (and not at the range with my pickup parked 20' away), I'd take an over & under .22/20 ga. - it's a much more versitile piece.

db
 
I got to shoot the .22LR and .22 Hornet versions of the M6 and liked the Hornet chambering the best. The rimfire barrel hit coke cans every time @ 100 yards (from a bench), though. I just realized that in this particular firearm, you want the most powerful chambering you can get. So I picked a CZ mfgd one in .22H and have been very happy. The .410 barrel did not group as well as my H&R Topper, though :( I got "skeet" groups from my full choke.

I'd pick my M6, and 300 rounds of reloads(can be reloaded cheaply).

I'd then fill my backpack with a satellite phone and GPS receiver, incase "Survival" called for a helicopter :)

What a mad notion. Is this the result of a dare, or a bet?
 
I did spend almost 7 months in the Everglades area of Florida, living out of a pack. There are lots of critters that might attack there: thousands of wild Brahmas from the rodeo breeding farms, wild pigs, gators and crocks, big cats, bear and I never had an actual attack. I did get VERY concerned when a few dozen Brahma crosses formed a congo line and started stomping and glaring at me.

I carried a .22 and never used it, nor my 12 ga. nor my .45. But, the feel of my little shorty 12 ga. and the .45 were nice to have.

Now, I'd carry a ParaOrd, .45 with 2 hi-cap mags (one of .45 regular and one of SMC), a .22 conversion kit which is more accurate than most .22 rifles and two boxes of QuikShoks, and some .45 SMC from Triton Ammo. Depending on the area, I'd have two or three snake shot loaded first then some regular .45 and finally some SMC. The .22 kit would be for game getting.

In most areas that I've been I'd opt for non-hunting solutions to my food as it is easier, faster, and more certain. I've found that MOST of the real outdoors folks who stay out for long periods don't take a gun; but several edged tools.
 
Brothers & Sisters of Armed Outings,

.44 magnum carbine with the same caliber sidearm, both by Ruger. Back it up with a .22 for smaller game. Did anyone consider the primary contention "Deep woods". True, you could miss a lot of wildlife clunking through the outback; then again you might meet up with your worst nightmare.
Just tell a grizzly "no" with your .22!

Regards,
Lance Gothic
Shibumi
 
Lance,

It just takes a couple of careful shots to the eyes and the tonsils... of course it is a real test for your steadiness and for remembering the front sight... :eek: But it IS shot placement you know.:D
 
Originally posted by backpacker
FEATHERSTONE,

This is just my personell opinion, but, I have done alot of backpacking & hunting in very remote wilderness ares over the years ( I am 42 ) and I have never had a close encounter. Alot of my friends backpack & hunt and they have never had a close encounter. As a matter of fact I do not know anybody that knows anybody that has had a close encounter.

I am not saying that problems with animals do not exist, but, if you look at the number of people that are in wilderness areas, the reports of problems are very very low. Even mountain Lion attacks out here in California are few and far between.

My belief is, that you always have to be aware of your surroundings and keep your camp clean. I think most of the fear from animals in the wilderness is brought up by people that have not spent alot of time in the wilderness. After all, most trappers only carry a 22 rifle while trapping.

One qualification, If I was in Canada, Alaska, Montana or Wyoming this changes. Some of the criters up there do cause more consern. Also, they are in much greater numbers than most of the other parts of the United States.

Be careful, aware and enjoy.
Click to expand...
 
I live by the old adage "better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it"....let me explain.

The last time I had a flat tire was 1971...but it would be foolhardy to drive around without a spare.

Two summers ago my youngest son and I drove 13,500 mi on a two month trip to Alaska...camping along the way.

I brought along a shotgun for the trip..declaring it at customs at our first border crossing to be in compliance with the law.

It was the trip of a lifetime and neither the shotgun or spare tire were needed.

A short time after returning from our adventure we were watching a show on bear attacks...we had camped at about half of the locations mentioned in the show on our trip.

I have had one encounter with a black bear on a 100 mi wilderness canoe trip with my oldest son and numerous "minor incidents" with aggressive bull moose while bird hunting during the rut.

To not think these encounters could happen to you is foolhardy...I would sooner drive without a spare tire!!!

PS above encounters all took place in Maine and New Hampshire
 
Although the 12 ga. is hard to tote, it is the best. All this is convincing me of what I already knew, it' hard to carry what you might need. With a vehicle, it's far easier to arrange to have the right stuff, just in case. With a pack... each ounce becomes a pound at the end of the day.:)
 
I'd take an M4 with a surefire millennium light and 3x compact ACOG. (5) 30 rd. mags only weigh about 3 lbs. Backup weapon? Glock 21
1*
 
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